randomness...

How does time fly by so fast? It's been 2 years already since the King of Pop (a.k.a. Micheal Jackson) died! If there was no record of the date he died, I would never be able to believe it. Seriously, time seems to get swallowed up so easily, days blurring into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. I'm turning 20 in a month! Soon I might be in Japan, training and learning Japanese. Not long after that, I'll be settling down, getting married, having kids! Now that's a scary thought.

Things overall are going okay. Some things are going better, others not as well. Taking a spring course about nutrition right now. Very practical information although I already know a large percentage of the material. Makes it easier to study for the exams! Getting ready for seniors. Had a disappointing tournament last Saturday but I've now come to see it in a better light, as a warning and reminder for seniors to not lose focus. Outside of judo, my trainings are exhausting.... Just finished doing my sprints today (doing the maximum speed and incline the treadmill is capable of), and did my circuits last Friday before Kenora. I told Didi (a friend from Core), "Thank God the human is unable to remember pain, that pain is only temporary. That's the reason why I'm able to come back every week to do my circuits and sprints." But I also never feel as good as after I've completed them. So now for the psychological aspect, I'm going to start doing my scripts tonight. It's something I put aside due to fatigue and laziness, but I know how much it helps me. I also found a great book about NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) that will be very valuable.

Have been reading a lot lately. And not reading fluffy novels, but reading great novels that make me think. Finished One flew over the cuckoo's nest by Ken Kasey. We just watched the movie yesterday as a matter of fact. Then, went on to Janet Fitch's White Oleander, and am currently reading The Book Thief. I forgot how much I liked reading. Through the years, although there have been times where I read next to nothing except textbooks, its reassuring to always be able to come back to a book and get lost in it.

Random thoughts:

• Don't need to put other people down in order to put yourself up. There's enough place in this world for everyone to be the best person they can be.

• Note to self: remember to check the natural disaster risk and history of a place before buying a house there. That is not always enough as we know now, with regions (that have previously never had any problems) experiencing tragic floods. But still, doing a bit of research beforehand can save money and lives.

Trying to improve, one step at a time

Lots of things are going on. I just came back from Belgium, where I had an okay tournament, and a good training camp. Then, had to catch up on tests and assignments, which also went pretty well.

Right now, I'm really trying to improve the way I live my life. I've realized that I'm not satisfied. My life has the potential to be very fulfilling, but I'm not really living it. It seems as if I'm always rushing to do this, worrying about what to do next, and never really enjoying the present moment, the now. I've decided to improve my life.

But how does one do that? Where do you even start? There are so many things I want to change! Well... I'm trying to live in the now, going from nowhere to now here! - taken from the Love Guru. lol. But really, it's the truth. When I'm listening to someone, I'm trying to really understand what they're telling me. I'm practicing breathing exercises in the morning. I'm fighting to override my feelings of irritability and instead, be more patient and open to the others. I'm trying to procrastinate less, and get started on the things I put off. Like my application to Tokai. Just yesterday, I felt so overwhelmed with the number of papers I need to assemble and the people I need to contact to get those papers. But now, I'm trying to take it one step at a time, tackling one thing after another. And it's like a positive feedback loop, when I procrastinate less, I'm more relaxed, and more patient towards others, etc. So that's my resolution for 2011. It's a big one that encompasses pretty much my whole life. I want to become the best I can be, in all aspects of my life, whether it be judo, eating healthy, treating others right, getting my homework down, or appreciating who I am. It's not something I'll accomplish in the near future. Rather, it's a lifelong journey. So I better get started! :)