United Martial Arts Centers Lounge: An Act of Courage is an Act of Love

Merriam-Webster defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one and strength in the face of pain or grief. That second definition really speaks to me. The past few years have been challenging for me. I went through an unexpected and difficult divorce. And like any parent, I cherish my children so much that to be separated from them for visitation weekends or splitting up of holidays has been heart wrenching. In the middle of my divorce I was diagnosed, out of the blue, with breast cancer. I very quickly had to make choices about what steps I would take and I was terrified about how I feel afterwards. Would I still feel like a fierce young woman? I had my doubts. Step by step, I made it through the divorce, two surgeries, chemo, radiation and the onset of hormone therapy pretty well. I felt like a rock star. I felt proud that I could show my boys that whatever you're faced with you just keep going. Honestly, though, in the months that followed I felt like I crashed. It had somehow turned into almost three years that I had defined myself by these crises. I wasn't sure how I could take that feeling of soldiering through a crisis and have it translate for the sake of my boys into how to be strong and centered and ready for anything during the times when life is peaceful. That's when we came to UMAC.#umac

I always love to make new friends, and I cannot deny that I love with all my heart taking out my aggression by practicing my roundhouse kicks, but what I love most about my training is a feeling that's developing in me of core strength. It's really a mental shift as much as a physical one. I know that, should I ever have to face more pain or grief, I will be much better equipped to handle it. I've gotten stronger. And so have my boys. There's so much more to write, but class is starting soon. The three of us will continue to be there as time goes on because I want my boys to see me show them by example that we never retreat in battle.

United Martial Arts Centers Lounge