Last Friday, I tested for an earned my blue belt in Taekwondo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But wait, you might say if you\u2019ve known me awhile, didn\u2019t you get one a long time ago?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, actually, I did. This one counts more than the other one did. No belt skipping, no thin boards, no studying alongside children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s made all the difference this time around. . . Starting over again 18 years after I started this journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve made it a bit of a thing this year to have the color of my toenails match my TKD belt rank. Purple, orange, green, and now blue, with sparkles added for each color\u2019s Senior level. I chose a nice shade of dark blue and got one of the more elaborate packages. It\u2019s how I reward myself for all the work that goes into earning the next belt. It\u2019s been a weird ride since August, between the temp gig and the EMDR, with a couple of events, shows, and a cold occupying my time on top of TKD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve never really been able to develop a good classmate-level connection before. Especially this year, as my class has grown and we\u2019ve made an effort to keep in touch outside of class. We\u2019ve bonded over the art form we\u2019ve chosen to study. We learn and nurture each other as our Master does with all of us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know Kevin would be proud of me for going through TKD from the ground up again, the proper way he wanted me to in the first place. He\u2019d also be glad I\u2019m using it to help process grief\u2014-accomplishing something instead of letting the void in my heart and soul he left keep me from truly living the life that\u2019s only possible because he\u2019s gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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