Every year, I throw out the Lenten Challenge to my martial arts buddies. It has nothing to do with Christianity or religion. We are simply using this time as a convenient reminder to rededicate ourselves to our training. It’s kind of hard to miss either Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras, the last day before Lent, which is also Paczki Day!) or Easter Sunday (Bunnies, candy, colored eggs; that stuff). Several of us have been doing this for years now.
The challenge is this: from Ash Wednesday (Feb 6, the day before Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat (子年) ) until Easter (Mar 23, or Apr 27 by the Orthodox calendar), train every day, without fail, no excuses.
It's not as easy as it sounds; things come up. Some days, you might only be able to get a few minutes of training in; but the point is to do it everyday, no matter what.
It doesn't have to be martial arts training either. Whatever it is that you need to really rededicate yourself to: studying, practicing an instrument, walking, watching what you eat; anything - do it every day, without fail.
In the past on some forums, people have posted what they’ve done everyday. I think everyone who’s done that has become tired of writing , and the others get tired of reading it. How about you just post if you’ve had some breakthrough, or you’ve had to overcome some unusual circumstance to continue your training? Maybe just check in every once in a while to let everyone know you’re keeping at it, or to encourage everyone to keep at it.
For those of you who insist that you really do train everyday anyway, by all means continue and be supportive of the rest of us. For the rest of us who intend to train everyday, but sometimes come up short due to life’s propensity for unraveling even the best laid plans, here is an opportunity to put a stake in the ground and show your resolution.
As a gesture of solidarity with my Orthodox friends, I’m going to keep it up through their Easter celebration.
Won't you join me?
Best Regards
Rick
Http://CookDingsKitchen.blogspot.com
Sounds like fun - and discipline. The reason for Lent anyway. I'm in.
ReplyDeleteI have featured your blog on my February 2008 Promote Three blog post:
http://www.mokurendojo.com/2008/02/february-promote-three.html
Thanks for all the material for thought. Keep up the great work.
... and thank you for the plug on your blog.
ReplyDelete