Birthday, Christmas, New Year.... All come one after the other for me. I decided I should sit down and write this final blog of the year, and then start afresh in the new year. A few family days should keep me entertained over the next week and then it's back into training with a couple of days at the infamous Kendal Winter Camp. I've been struggling with a sore throat these last couple of weeks and haven't been able to enjoy my training as much as usual but at least it hasn't been that vomi bug thing that's going around. That's one thing I'm counting my blessings about, as well as many others. In fact I was having a good old sentimental think the other day and lots of things came to mind. I've had a topsy turvey kind of couple of months and embarked on a few different ventures. I've also picked up a few old strands that I'd left dangling and done plenty of reconnecting. I've enjoyed reconnecting with the people 'up north' and going back to my roots in some ways. Being back at Bacup, the club I started at as a kid, and taking some of the sessions as well as doing some of my own stuff, has brought back some good memories. It's definitely inspired me to get more involved in teaching and coaching. I've also been taking a class for adults at a gym in Manchester and it's refreshing to have people so keen to learn. In the new year I'll be running two female only beginners courses as well as hopefully a few seminars and continue coaching at both Bacup and Kendal Judo Club. Other work I'll be doing will be as an athlete mentor for the Youth Sports Trust on various projects and continuing as an ambassador for UsGirls/ StreetGames. All in all it's going to be busy, and I've got to fit a bit of training and some comps in there as well!
I'm still enjoying lots of support to do with the judo and especially after competing for Team GB in the Games. People still ask me what it was like and I still find it difficult to describe. They also often ask how did I do it? How did I manage to train so hard and compete and get to that level? And that's hard to answer as well. Because I look around me and often ask myself "how do they do it? I couldn't do that." And most of the time this is looking at the people closest to me. I look at my older sister who has worked her way into a great position at work despite having epilepsy and having to cope with the medication. They also have a young boy who was only conceived after invasive IVF treatment, and struggle, as many do, with the day to day grind of our economy. Could I do that? I look at my younger sister, who went with her boyfriend around the world for 2 years after completing a physio degree. They lived on a shoestring just so they could experience the highs and lows and daringness that it takes to do something like that. Now the job situation means they have to live 200 miles apart. Could I do that? My other sister worked and worked and took out loan after loan so she could become a doctor, and genuinely cares for each and everyone of her patients. There might be a decent wage packet at the end of it but there is also tens tons of stress and a whole lot more to deal with. Could I do that? And I look at my mum, who has worked tirelessly in the same job for over 40 years and provided us all with more than enough. She works hard to look after her mum and to keep the family a central part of her life. I think I had focus and drive when it cam to my sport, and really put my mind to it.I wanted to get the most out of it. I think my family mentioned here have all put there mind and focused their energies in other areas and I think anyone can do that. My PE teacher did once point this out about me.... still don't think I would have made a rocket scientist though! You also have to have the opportunity to put your mind to something that inspires you. I was talking to a very good friend once and said that I just felt so lucky to have had such good opportunities. And she said "yes but only part of it is down to luck. You make your own opportunities and you do with them what you can."
Without getting too philosophical, I think striving to be happy and successful is a great thing, but it's not always the successful people which are the happiest. I'm at my happiest when i at my most 'giving'. Whether that is giving myself over to the hardships of training and competing, or giving my time and appreciation to those around me, or giving myself to a new project. I still have to find time for a complete veg of course, or some me time lounging around in the sun, but that is just for a quick fix. Gotta think long term sometimes :). Phew well I think I've meandered enough so without further ado and before I read through and delete it all I'm going to sign off. I will finish with the complete lyrics from a great philosopher ;)
