Balance in life

Jack · Black Belt

In the constant struggle of modern life, and juggling of work, play, family, and training, and certain planned balance needs to be achieved to make the most out of life whilst still being able to cover the fundamentals of life.

In a Martial Artist's life, there are several categories which can each be seperated and analysed:

Work or School
Work at Home
Life at Home
Relationships with friends
Relationships with family
Training

Work or school will indefinitely take up a certain amount of time which cannot be adjusted, and then if work at home must be done to assist with this, the amount of time spent on that might be adjustable, but only at the expense of quality.

It is important for the happiness and general well being of the person to keep contact with friends and family, and to have a healthy relationship to them, or at least to somebody (loved one etc.) since everybody needs somebody to be able to talk to, and share problems with and relax with.

Training is purely optional, we do not HAVE to train, although for many taking the Martial Arts it becomes a part of life as important as either of the above, and it has been known to find the above two parts of life 'in the way' of training.

However, what must be found is a simple balance between these parts of life. One must determine how badly they want to train, and juggle aspects of their lives so they get the work that needs doing done, manage to maintain a steady progress in the martial arts and also has time to unwind and socialise with others. You do not wish to overwork yourself and leave yourself with no time to appreciate all the other parts of life. If your job is very important, you may have to spend less time training and/or less time being with others, if you love the people around you then you have spend less time training/working, and if you love your training you may spend less time working/being with others, but often this does not happen. Work hard, train hard, and play hard... and take the time to appreciate life and make the most out of everything you are given. You only live once, work enough to get past without troubles, and train hard if you have your heart set on it, just don't forget to relax and keep your friends, your relatives and loved ones close to you.

Sorry, I know this makes little sence since I wrote this after midnight, no idea why I wrote this, I just... did.

May write it up again to actually make sence later, ok!?

three60roundhouse · Pre-Black Belt

You sound like a busy man.

Well, I am only fourteen, and I have homework, and family, and TKD. I used to play basketball, on 3 teams, and that was totally the busiest year of my life. Now I train much harder, 3 to four classes a week at the dojang, training at home which is usually more strenuous (I puch myslef a little too far) and I also help out teaching at my dojang to pay off my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes (long story), so I am pretty busy. I have friends, but we're all really busy, and I don't have a boyfriend, so MA's don't conflict that much with my schedule.

AnonymousOne · Red Belt

Balance is important. Its also good if you can find ways to involve your family in your training, this can be done if one is creative

_________________
7th Dan Chidokai

A true combat warrior has to be hard as nails in mind, body and soul. Warriors are action takers and not action fakers. If you are cruising, make time for losing

SBN Doug · KF VIP

Good point Jack, but you missed a few.

How about:
work at home (on the house, in the yard, etc)
developing your children (helping with homework, playing, etc.)
vehicle maintenance
pets

I NEED the training to refocus, and keep everything else in life orderly in my mind.

[CT]pizzaboy · Green Belt

Great post, Jack. I sometime spend to much time training, and not enough time with the family. But as you said, balance is the key. When that balance is not found, a good therapist will help. Nothing more degrading to pay someone to listen to your problems. Wouldn't recommend it.

For some of us, it just takes alittle bit more time to find out where we are; to achieve balance in life.

"Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out.That is what it is for. Spend all you have before you die; and do not out live yourself."
--George Benard Shaw

Phantasmatic · Purple Belt

Good post, vewry interesting. Reminds me of the movie Balance of Power with Billy Blanks for some reason!

_________________
"if you have job, you wear the pants!"

[ This Message was edited by: Phantasmatic on 2002-02-14 09:09 ]

shotochem · Pre-Black Belt

I have my son with me when I train

Its a good way to spend quality time

_________________
Pain is only temporary, the memory of that pain lasts a lifetime.

Joecooke007 · Brown Belt

That was a good article was great insight. All of our lives are busy right now. It is good that someone addressed this topic.

_________________
Boards don't hit back.
-Bruce Lee

Jack · Black Belt

Sorry, I could have written it a lot better, but it was written past midnight, while I was incredibly tired. I tried thinking up some more self defence moves, couldn't, decided to write something about life, wrote it poorly but the basic point is there, that balance is needed, and it can be hard to achieve in modern day's society, so people should make the most of their time.

Doug sorry about missing all of those issues, I am only 15, tired, and so not taking into consideration all of the other important things of life. Some good things there that should be included however.

My balance is a bit messed up at the moment, I've said my last good byes to my girl, no idea when I'll be able to see her again. My mind is all over the place at the moment, apoligies.

Ryukyu1 · Orange Belt

Balance is truely essential, without it you can not hope to concentrate fully on the task at hand. I find my training helps relieve some of the stress of working day. In order for me to train and enjoy my family we all train at the same club, our friends train there too so it's easy to work social events into our time also.

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