DOWN BUT NOT OUT...

 (wikimedia commons)

To all my current and future #DCSPeeps (DECIDE, COMMIT, SUCCEED), welcome to my new series in my continuing effort to inspire, amuse, and entertain you! Each Monday I will select a new word to analyze how it might apply to our writing lives and also give you a peek into my childhood growing up in the swamps of southern Louisiana. 

The basis of today's post happened more recently, so kick back, put your feet up, and check out my story about TODAY'S WORD:

PERSEVERANCE

Two weeks ago I was teaching my adult Taekwondo class and getting my students ready for their belt advancement testings.  One of those students has only trained with me for two months now but last night she displayed the essence of PERSEVERANCE.

We were working on controlled leg sweep take downs where a person would end up on the floor if the technique was performed correctly. This student was taken down by her daughter, who also began her training two months ago, and in the process of practicing the take down the mother bumped her head solidly on the mats.

She wasn’t hurt, but it stung and brought tears to her eyes. Lying there on the floor with the whole class watching my student had two choices…

1) Give up before she really even began her journey to black belt because she discovered there would occasionally be “bumps” to deal with and overcome along the way.

2) Or take a moment to catch her breath, mentally (or in this case physically) pick herself up, and try again.

I was so proud of my student when she chose the second option and even finished the class.

Oh, and did I mention this young at heart lady will be 68 on her next birthday?

There have been many times during my writing career that I use some of the lessons learned in my martial arts training. The skill of PERSEVERANCE is one of them.

1. Writing is a lonely endeavor and easy to give up on when the going gets tough, but I PERSEVERE.

2. Finding the right agent to help me grow as a writer is challenging, but I PERSEVERE.

3. Being brave enough to put my work out there with the chance of being rejected is hard, but I PERSEVERE.

4. I may never see my name on the front of another book, but I can't imagine NOT doing this thing I love so much, so I PERSEVERE.

How about YOU?

Just remember my DCSPeeps, nothing is impossible if you have the right amount of PERSEVERANCE. This writing journey we are all on might have some bumps in the road at times, and we might even fall down occasionally while pursuing our dreams, but it’s all the times we get back up and keep trying that will eventually see us to our publishing goals!

I hope you have an awesome day today because you deserve it!

 

 

 

Children's book author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a 'ninja' writer of children’s picture books, middle grade chapter books and young adult novels by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books. She is also a book reviewer for Harper Collins, and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. Donna is a lover of dark chocolate, good stories, and an adoptive mom to 20-pound guard kitty in Knoxville, Tennesse

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads
Linkedin
Amazon
Author Email: www.donasdays@gmail.com

 
Story Catcher Fan Club Emai: www.storycatcherfanclub@gmail.com

No Matter What...Don't Stop!

Most of you know I work at a martial arts training facility. Some of you know I'm a Certified TaeKwonDo Instructor and Fourth Degree Black Belt. But almost no one knows the challenging path it took to get me where I am today.

I like this picture. I like it because it reminds me that anything is possible if you are willing to give it your best. To be flexible in the face of adversity. To step into the wind despite the fear of failure. To know if you just keep plugging away at the goals nearest and dearest to your heart, then one day you WILL see them realized.

I began my martial arts journey thirteen years ago. Nothing terrified me more than believing in the possibility I could do what I saw the others in my son's class do with seemingly apparent ease. At my doctor's insistence I decided one day to jump in with both feet and prepaid for a blackbelt program. There was no turning back.

By the end of week one I broke my little toe attempting a spin crescent kick and my workouts were painful while it healed. 

I didn't stop.

I wore full braces on both forearms for my carpal tunnel (an affliction I had suffered from for over ten years before starting my training) and pushups caused me great pain for the first couple of months until I was able to do away with the braces completely. 

I didn't stop.

At six months I was crippled by pain in my lower back and thinking I had pulled some muscles, I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with inoperable degenerative disc disease and told within two to three years I would be in a wheelchair. The specialist said I would be in tremendous pain continuing to train in martial arts but it might keep me on my feet longer.

I didn't stop.

At every testing for the next two years I would throw up before I stepped in front of the judge's table. Forever questioning my right to wear that next belt, I would fight my demons and eventually sail through each testing with flying colors.

I didn't stop.

When I was asked to join the instructor team, I thought my chief instructor mad. Who was I to be able to teach others this beautiful art? My own self-doubt and physical limitations made me feel less than deserving when I passed my certification testing and others started calling me an instructor.

I didn't stop.

Four and a half years ago I was getting ready for my latest testing and was practicing my required board breaks with I felt something happen to my leg. Three days later I was enduring the first of many hospital visits due to dangerous blood clots. My world seemed to be falling apart and it wasn't until six months later I was diagnosed with a very rare blood condition. I was told to quit training in TaeKwonDo immediately because the slightest contact during sparring COULD KILL ME.

I didn't stop.

It took me two years to return to the mats...two years of tears and pain and heartache over the loss of something precious to me. I stood on the sidelines as others trained. I stood in the shadows as others tested. I was still able to teach in a limited capacity and learned the true meaning of persistence as slowly, day by painful day, I returned to my training. It was hard to let go of the person I was before the blood clots. I now live with a permanently damaged leg and fragile back that remind me every day of the precarious tightrope I walk in order to share my love of the martial arts with my students. And in October of 2011 I tested for my Fourth Degree Black Belt...throwing up beforehand as usual and fighting my internal demons...and passing.

I didn't stop.

Today I have another goal in front of me. October 2nd, 2015 I go for Master Fifth Degree Black Belt. 

MASTER of TaeKwonDo.

Training is very hard for me these days. It hurts. A lot. Every day. And there are two extremely difficult moves in my current form I simply can't do. Will I be able to do them when the time comes to perform them at testing? I don't know but I won't worry about that right now. I will simply remember how far I have come and the accomplishments I have achieved so far. I'm still on my feet despite the doctor's dire warnings. I endure a few punches and kicks each time I spar and I'm still kicking back. And despite the fact I don't think I will EVER feel like I truly deserve my rank, I know my story can inspire others to never give up trying to achieve THEIR goals, whatever they may be.

I have a mother of one of my students who came to me last week and asked me if I thought she could learn the martial arts. She thought she was too old, too uncoordinated, too overweight, too timid to try. Know what I told her? Just give it your best...

And don't stop.

A Purpose Filled Life

I was certain when I was eleven years old I knew exactly how my life was going to be when I grew up.  I was crazy about animals at the time and just knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. Stray critters wandered into my home and stayed for a while.  Over the course of the years I managed to gather two dogs, a few cats, a pigeon, a few rabbits, some quail, turtles, tropical fish and an odd hamster or two...of course not all at the same time.  But as the song goes, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"...

No, I never got around to following that dream but there were other adventures waiting to take it's place.  I enjoyed a variety of jobs from retail to insurance to radio advertising.  I spent time living down south as well as out west and a few towns in between.  I've climbed a mountain and stood inside a volcano.  I've even gotten married (and divorced) and had a child I'm proud to call my son.  It's pretty obvious, even to me, that I have had an interesting life and yet I still think the best is yet to come.

I moved to this town twenty years ago and twelve years ago I devoted my life to martial arts.  I was in a really bad spot in my life at the time and it was my lifeline back from the spiritually dead.  I poured my energy into TaeKwonDo when I didn't have the energy to exist anywhere else.  I had a purpose and I have tried to repay my Master Instructor over the years for literally saving my life as he did.  

Prior to two years ago I never would have guessed I would return to my writing roots.  Such a dream would have been as foreign to me as trying to roller skate (and if you knew me better, you would KNOW what an impossibility THAT is...;~)

But again, life happened when I was busy making other plans, and I have discovered another purpose for my existence.  There was a time when I thought there could only be one great passion at a time in a person's life but this past year has proven that theory wrong.  Not only did I manage to achieve my goal of reaching Fourth Degree Black Belt at my school (and the highest ranking female in our organization, not counting one of the school owners), but I rekindled my passion for writing and oh, what a year it has been!

Now, when I am about to say goodbye to 2012,  I make plans to greet the new year...full of excitement and full of purpose.  I can only hope that through both my martial arts and my writing I get a chance to bring a little inspiration to someone else who might be searching for the purpose in their own lives....

How about you?

Is the new year going to be one of grand adventures and surprising events?  Have you made a list, like I have, of the goals you would like to accomplish in 2013? When you look back on this past year, do you see a life filled with purpose or just some dull existence?  If you're a writer then I can already answer that question for you.  As Willy Wonka would say..."we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams"

Let us all dream up a FABULOUS new year...

The Heart Of A Master

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to witness a once in a lifetime event.  It wasn't so much the demonstration of martial arts skill, although I was impressed with that.  And it wasn't even the overall feel of the performance itself, which was electric.  What made yesterday so special to me is the world got a chance to glimpse into the heart of a Master.

Most of you know I have been training in TaeKwonDo for twelve years now.  It is a discipline which sings to my spirit and allows me to show others what they might achieve through perseverance.  But I didn't walk into my school on that first day knowing what I was doing.  It took a bit of courage for a middle aged, overweight, scared-of-the world, single mom to step out on the mats as a white belt.  The most intimidating thing for me was the fact the instructor leading the class was a skinny 17 year old.   Mr. Hargis might have looked like just a kid, but he had the confidence and skill of a seasoned professional.  

Truth be told, Mr. Hargis scared me to death.  Not because he was mean or aggressive or cocky.  It was the fact he seemed so sure of himself and his ability to take charge of his surroundings.  He might have looked like just another kid to some people, but after that first class I KNEW I would follow that man wherever he might lead me in my martial arts journey.

The true heart of a Master is by the life they lead, by the code of ethics they hold close to their heart and their willingness to share their gift with the world around them.  Mr. Hargis is a humble man.  One who  does not put much weight on the importance of belt rank achieved at testings, but rather measures his students by the strength of their character.  He doesn't even allow his own students to call him by his rightful title of "master".    He is simply Mr. Hargis to everyone.  He leads by example and I consider myself fortunate to be counted as a friend in his inner circle.

I don't think Mr. Hargis realizes how many lives he has touched over the years, not just my own.  He may not realize how he took one middle aged, overweight, scared-of-the-world, single mom and quite literally gave her life back to her through his compassion, understanding, and mentoring nature.  He believed in my ability, even as a white belt, long before I could believe in it myself.  And he was there to hold my boards when I went for my Fourth Degree Black Belt testing last October.  There has not been one moment during these past twelve years when I haven't been challenged to be the best I can be...both in martial arts skill and as a person.

To give one's life in the service of others is one of the most selfless acts a person can do and in Mr. Hargis' case, it gives all those who come in contact with him a glimpse into the heart of a Master...

I Didn't See It Coming...

 

 

 

In the martial arts style I train in, TaeKwonDo, we do something called free sparring or padded fighting.  It's a way of perfecting our skills in defending ourselves against an attacker.  Unlike these two, we wear protective gear and use light contact which takes far more control of mind or body than just slugging it out. But sometimes you don't see a punch or kick coming or you don't block in time and you get hit where you least expect it.

 

I remember early in my training when I was still working out with my son.  He always had superior skill to my own but I enjoyed sparring with him because it challenged me to think on my feet and deal with whatever came my way.  One day, however, we were sparring during class and I must not have been paying attention as well as I should because I let my guard down...I dropped my hands...as he was doing a roundhouse kick and I stopped his attack to my head...with my MOUTH.  Needless to say that was a lesson learned from the split lip and permanent scar I have from being able to say "I didn't see it coming".

 

Writing can be like sparring sometimes...

 

We try to arm ourselves with strong writing skills, workshops, and books on how to perfect our craft, but sometimes it's not enough.  Sometimes we don't see it coming and we are hit by those pesky writing demons hell-bent on trying to beat us down.  Things like rejection letters, writer's block, self-doubt, and others sneak in a punch or a kick until we feel like all we are doing is crouching in a corner, cowering. 

 

But we have got to remember we are stronger that that!  We come from a long line of champion authors who are in our corner.  Encouraging us.  Cheering us on.  Lifting us up and reminding us we chose this path for a reason.  Simply put...we have no choice but to write.  It's in our blood...in our very souls...and no silly, self-made demons can deter our focus on this path to publication.

 

So I say bring on the rejection letters...it only proves my work is making it's way in the real world and one day it WILL find a home.  Bring on the writer's block...it will challenge me to be more creative in how I look at my work and maybe it is a gentle message to take a few moments to renew my own spirit before carrying on.  And I refuse to be brought down by self-doubt when I can reach out to this wonderful writing community I am a member of...I KNOW my "sparring" partners have my back and will lift me up while encouraging me to step back into the ring.

 

The only thing I have to worry about is this guy...

 

 

 





Ragu Your Work

My TaeKwonDo school is on a mission to get healthier.  We have a friendly competition going on against another school in our organization.  I've named our team the TKD Transformers and as of yesterday, the team of about ten people has lost around 63 pounds in just three weeks,

For medical reasons I need to get slimmer and I'm happy to report I made up 12 pounds of those hard earned numbers. There are no magic pills to take or incantations to recite...just common sense combined with a good foundation of sound nutrition.  And most of you who know me, KNOW I can create a good analogy to writing with just about anything.  Maybe I should start asking people to leave a comment giving me a topic to compare to writing? Lol...for those of you new to my blog...check out my older posts and you will quickly see what I mean.

I was thinking today about how writing and revising are very much like starting a good diet.   Both dieters and writers look at the overall picture of what they are working with.  They think about ways to trim the "fat" from things and introduce "lighter" versions while hoping the end result will still be as appealing as the original.  Some times too much is cut out and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  

But if you work hard and stay focused on what your end goal should be, the results can be amazing...

Dream Big

When I was little, I had little dreams.  Dreams about getting my first bicycle.  Dreams about getting a puppy.  But as I got bigger, my dreams got bigger.  Dreams about becoming a writer.  Dreams about seeing my name on the cover of a children's book.

No matter how big the dream might have been, I knew if I can dream it I can do it.  

Twelve years ago I walked into a martial arts school.  I had a little dream of maybe learning a little martial arts.  I worked hard even though I was scared that I might not be able to get it right.  I even managed to break my little toe the first week I started my training when my toe turned one way and the rest of my body turned the other.  But still I kept the dream.  After my first belt testing came along and I didn't die from fright, my dream got a little bit bigger.  Maybe I can make it all the way to probationary black belt.  If I can dream it, I can do it.

The years passed, my training continued, and I discovered every time I replaced my belt with a new one, the dream continued to grow.  I wasn't held back by the confines of my limitations.  Instead, the challenges to overcome my "disabilities" only served to feed my passion until this past October I tested for and received my Fourth Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo.  My dream stayed big enough to carry me to a place I almost didn't believe I could reach until I actually did it.

Writing is like that black belt to me.  A dream that means the world to me.  Something bigger than I ever thought possible.  But if I dream it, I can do it.  And there is nothing wrong with a little dreaming...

The Power Of One

Some people are afraid of standing out in the crowd.  Of being alone.  Of being unique.  Some people don't even realize the awesome power of one...

Everybody can handle the good days...you know the ones...the coffee is already waiting for you when you get up,  the eggs and bacon are cooked just right, and you are way ahead of meeting the deadlines you have set for yourself. Nothing but blue skies and a spring in your step as you head out to greet the day.  The power of one is within you and strong, my young Jedi warrior...

But what about those days when the dark forces seek to destroy your confidence?  What about those days when you feel like the power of one is somehow weakened by the struggles of dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life? Kinda hard to turn on that light saber when the batteries have gone dead, isn't it?

It's days like those that give me a chance to take a breath.  Just stop a moment and realize that while the world may be spinning all around me and meteors are headed in my direction,  I am not without forces of my own.  As a martial artist, I have the energy of twelve years of training to strengthen my resolve.  Perseverance is one of the tenets of TaeKwonDo that I repeat every day and it is not just a word to me...it is a way of life.  As a writer, I have the gift I have been given to not see the world just as it is, but to see beyond into a world of endless possibilities if only I take that first step.

And as a human being, I realize the power of choice is mine alone to do with whatever I want.  I can choose to let life's disappointments get me down or I can create a way around the mountain.  I can choose to believe what others say about the power they think they have over me or I can show them differently.  I can choose to accept the path of most people where defeat is an acceptable way of dealing with what life wants to throw at you, or I can gather the invincible strength within me and simply announce to the world what the incredible power of one can do!

And if THAT doesn't do the trick...I'll just call on the Power Rangers...

Perfecting My Juggling Act

Before January of 2011 I would have considered myself to be a fairly busy person.  I worked and trained full time at my TaeKwonDo school.  I would get there around 10 am and leave around 8 pm every night during the school year and put in about 14 hours every day during the summer.  I sometimes felt like THIS guy...trying to juggle everything on my plate and sometime not getting the results I wanted.

Then I decided that I was going to return to my writing.  My son had moved out of the house and I quickly converted his bedroom into my study before he could change his mind.  But the world of writing is very different from twenty years ago and there was much for me to learn.  And the more I learned, the more things I discovered I needed to juggle. Things like a website, and a blog site, and social sites like Linkedin and Facebook and critique groups and writers online communities and other peoples blog sites and other peoples websites...you get the idea.  Then I started to feel like THIS guy because I now find myself with the idea of trying to juggle two full time careers and determined to make both passions work for me.

So how do I do it?  Keyword...time management.  I want to squeeze as much writing time out of each day as I can so I get up at 6 or 7 am each morning and juggle my writing...whether picture book or fantasy novel or blog post and then I spend the next ten hours focussing on my martial arts.  When I get home,  I spend the next 3 hours reading and responding to emails, catching up on other blogs or websites or online writing groups before tumbling into bed around midnight.  Saturdays I run errands and Sunday I focus on editing, doing critiques, researching submission avenues, and reading articles or books to further my writer skills.  Oh yeah, I also take time out on Sunday evening to watch Once Upon A Time...the only TV I indulge in during the week.

Juggling my time and my life may seem crazy to other people but I feel energized with my life in a way I haven't been before.  I didn't mention the volunteering I do on the side or my charity organizations or school programs I also participate in because I fill those in when I have the extra time...lol...

I can look back on this past year and wonder how did I ever manage to juggle all those obligations of my time or I can just sit back and reflect on how satisfied I am with my writing life and my martial arts life right now.  I'm privileged to be able to share my excitement with others through this wonderful writing community and give back to all the lovely people who have enriched my life this past year.  Now I'm looking more like THIS lady and thinking if I could just learn to toss in some chocolate with those clocks I'd be doing just fine!

A to Z: Verbomania

There are a lot of things in this world that I am crazy about...things like TaeKwonDo...corn on the cob...mint chocolate chip ice cream...hitting the snooze button and snuggling back under the covers on a cold winter's morning.  But todays word describes something that ALL writers are crazy about.

Verbomania means crazy about words and that is exactly how I feel!  I'm crazy about the written word...I love the feel, the smell, almost the taste of books and could easily drown myself in words if I would let myself.  To me, words are power.  Words are magic.  Words are the colors which brighten our lives and helps paint a picture on our hearts forever.  So you can call me crazy if you want,  you can even put me away in a padded cell,  but all I've got to say is there better be some books in there!

The Very Best Doll

Written by: Julia Noonan

Illustrated by: Julia Noonan

Ages: 3-8

ISBN:  10 0525470751

Teaser:  Nell was  a dearly beloved rag doll until a fancy new doll arrived for the little girl's birthday.  Will she be tossed aside for the new toy?  Will Nell every find her way back into the little girl's heart as her favorite?

The Long And Winding Road

Yesterday I received the good news I've been waiting almost a year to hear.  My poor broken house was finally getting fixed.  The battle between the insurance company and myself was over.  It had been a long, winding road to a final resolution and the only thing that helped me be successful at this endeavor was never giving up.  I also began to think that maybe this was how I should approach my writing.  

Before I teach a class each night, my students must repeat the tenets of TaeKwonDo which includes the word perseverance.  I tell them that perseverance means to never give up.  No matter how many times life comes along and knocks them down, they need to keep getting back up and keep trying.  It's the same with writing.  I started my new writing career about the same time a tree fell on my house and I had no idea both journeys would be so challenging.

A year later, after many twists and turns, I am much closer to my goal of having my home restored and one step closer to becoming a published author.  It hasn't been easy.  There was much to learn and overcome.  But I kept my eyes on the goal ahead of me.  When I thought I had no more fight within me  I turned to my friends, my family, this wonderful writing community and drew on their strength to keep me going.  I often wonder how I will ever be able to thank them for their solidarity in my time of need?

It's the reason for this blog.  To remind others...and myself...that no one ever said becoming successful at this writing thing would be easy.  The road to publication is long and winding with many stops along the way.  It can get frustrating at times and some writers may start wondering if it's even worth all the time, sweat, and tears they put into it.  I say yes.  I say keep your eyes on the goal before you and never give up.  Perseverance and success are more entwined than you might realize...