What's important to you?

I was in karate tonight helping a fellow student with a technique when it hit me. "This is really important. This technique could mean his life one day." Sometimes in life we have to prioritize. My life has came to revolve around God, family and karate, and in that order. God should be first and foremost in your life because he is our saving grace. Through him we live and through him we were created. Family should be before job because they are your life. They are what's important on this Earth. Raising your children with your beliefs (not necessarily Religious) is the best feeling you can have. You're responsible for not just yourself but your spouse and your child. Not as easy feat. Then karate. I absolutely love karate, I would eat, sleep and breathe it if I could. But there's a point in life when you have to prioritize. It's a part of being an adult. "What's important to you?"

Karate is important to me because it gives me self confidence. Not something I really grew up having. I was the country girl, the tom-boy, the one that sat in the back of the room and studied, held great grades all through school, had tons of friends but wasn't popular. In essence a COMPLETE 180 from me now. I am still the tom boy, I don't think I could ever be a "girly girl". I still study each night, but I am no longer the shy little girl sitting in the back of the room. I am outgoing and confident. Karate has taught me how to be confident in myself. When David was born, I didn't go anywhere alone with him in fear that someone would attack me and try to kidnap him. I didn't go out alone until I was a green-tip in karate. Now, I go anywhere and everywhere when needed. I'm no longer afraid. Karate gave me my life back.

Karate has also given David so much more than he had before. I took a child who the doctor's said was deaf in one ear (turns out he had a lot of fluid and tubes helped that), with a seizure disorder, diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and to top it off an only child, into Karate and he is a completely different kid. He started out being very slow running, he would fall trying to keep up which started to frustrate him. Now, he's one of the fastest kids in the class, keeps up with them all if not passing some. When he started karate, I had to sit behind the wall and listen to him in class because he couldn't hold his attention long enough without being with me, remember, he's an only child and until then, his life revolved around me. Now, I can actually leave him there and have a few moments to myself. Some say that karate isn't important, it's a hobby. But to a kid like David and a parent like me it is important.

I think importance comes down to happiness because at the end of the day, that's all we have right? God is important because I feel happy when I think about my faith. My family is important to me because we share in moments of happiness. When I met Nick, I didn't think I could be more happy. We were married at 19, moved into a house the next year, bought 2 cars, we were happy. I found out I was pregnant and that happiness was knocked up 500 notches. Now, I'm a mom and wouldn't change it for the world. Karate makes me happy because I am being productive. I am learning how to protect me and my family. I am learning how to be a better me, and to complete the circle, karate is teaching me how to be more spiritual. I strive to do my best and that makes me a better person.

My thoughts: There are no mistakes in life, only a need to re-prioritize. Think about the little things because sometimes, they're the most important. Live life for the fullest and most of all, BE HAPPY