Rally 'round the Flag....

I've been put to the test these past few weeks.

Busy is good (I keep telling myself). I haven't experienced this kind of stress level since I had my operation. My body and my mind have been so disjointed. I think my soul has carried the burden for a little while now. Last week at keiko I came in late and I had the hardest time concentrating by the time we got into jigeiko, my feet were in major pain, my shoulders stop working and my stomach was burning. I tried to suck it up and go forward (mentally). Sitting in seiza trying to catch my breath , I tried to get up and get some jigeiko action. SY- came by and told me my face looked purple and said i should take off my men. For her to tell me that was a good indication that i didn't look well. She gave me some pain reliever and rested a little. I felt collected enough to get one more jigeko in w/ T-sensei. It was good to overcome.

Yesterday was a barrage of design missiles. There was a project that was supposed to go to print two days ago and only got images for the layouts Monday afternoon. One person held everything up and had three weeks to get this together. Alas by the time i got them, my back was against the wall. I finally finished it and delivered the CD to the publisher. What a load off my shoulders, then the massive headache came. I still have a small headache. But it was good to overcome.

After keiko last night, Y-sensei, F-sensei and U-sensei and myself were left at the end and were talking about practicing with your heart. It was a really interesting discussion. We all practice for different reasons. F-sensei had a medical condition i which they didn't know if he was going to ever do kendo again. I really understand how he felt. I guess that's why i really listen intently on what he tells me. I also understand and admire SY's tenacious, "never say die" attitude. She's also been in some major medical stuff. If for some reason, I couldn't practice Kendo forever, I'd miss it, but I would be very happy with the knowledge I've been given because its been given freely and with the best intent.

You need courage to live your life. Some days I don't feel like doing work because I'm scared or fear failure. Courage helps you weather the storm and when it passes your confidence rises. Its not easy, but its important.

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I've been trying to find some songs on my iPod that could lift me up and found this.

Steel Pulse's "Worth his Weight in Gold". Its about Marcus Garvey, encouraged people of African descent to return back to Africa and build their respective nations. He had a steamship line called the "Blackstar Line" to bring them back to their home.

"Rally 'round the flag, rally 'round the flag
Rally 'round the red, gold, black and green.....

Marcus say, so Marcus say:
Red for the blood, that flow like a river,
Green for the land, Africa....
Yellow for the Gold that they stole.....
Black for the people they looted from...."

"In our hearts is Mount Zion
Now you know seek the Lion"

Its good to overcome. Time to rally 'round the flag.
upward and onward.