Thursday, June 7, 2012

In HONOR of...

I am a Martial Arts instructor.  I do my very best to inspire my students to not only train to be the best TaeKwonDo artists and competitors they can but to also be the best people they can be.  I desire for each of them that they become amazing additions to their surrounding community.  We have ten tenants that are the focal point of our artistic journey.  Each training cycle we bring special attention to one of those tenants, and talk about what it means, how we (as artists) have demonstrated it and how we have seen it demonstrated in others.  I also require them to submit these points in writing.

This cycle’s tenant is HONOR.  I have been collecting their responses over the past few weeks, and I love taking a moment to read them.  Most of my students, regardless of age, equate HONOR with RESPECT – which is absolutely true, in every sense.  However, a few of my students made me take stock of some things. To HONOR someone is to acknowledge and appreciate their VALUE. To HONOR someone expresses LOVE.  To DO something in HONOR of someone, it is to express our gratitude for who they are, and what their life means to us. 

Four years ago (Come this September) , two ladies began their martial arts journey in two different training academies; knowing each other only by sight at first, then first names.  Our artistic journeys were intertwined from the start.  Slowly we became acquaintances, and then casual friends.  In October 2010, she began a fight for her life – and I moved to begin a new page of mine.  We have spoken every day since then. 

During 2011, I journeyed with her through her battle with Breast Cancer; through fear, doubt, tests, surgeries, and lowered self-image.  Through all of this though, I witnessed an incredible strength and depth of character.  And even during her darkest valleys, she remained a friend to me, and allowed me to be a friend to her. 

I want to HONOR her.  I want to acknowledge just how VALUABLE she is to me, and how much I appreciate and look up to her.  I want to express a love that goes deeper than circumstances and bad hair days.  I want to DO something in HONOR of a woman who does until she cannot do anymore; who gives until she can no longer give.  I want to put first, someone who always puts herself last so that others can be first.  I want to say THANK YOU to someone who never seeks out praise, and who puts off mountains of laundry to enjoy a cup of Mickey Mouse coffee with a friend.

The Tour de Pink Atlanta is my way of doing all this.  I am training now, and riding in September in HONOR of her.  Jean, this ride IS for YOU!

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