Oh-So Blessed

Readers, it has been over six months since my last post.

Life has been, to say the least, madness. I have been so incredibly busy with life and school and karate and work that I have been a bit overwhelmed with life.

Recently however, I can say that I have a little less on my plate as far as being spread as thin as I was. I quit one of my jobs over the Christmas break, and just typing that makes the corners of my lips curl up in a slight smile. It feels good to have one less thing to worry about. While I will miss some of my regulars that I get to see all the time, and I will miss some of my coworkers, all in all I am at peace with my decision, and I will shed no tears on this matter.

This past six months have been transformative. Not just for me, but for Sky, our business, and our future as well. I hit the ground running when 26 hit. I was training hardcore for my impending black belt test, we were at odds with the people we were subletting from, and Sky was grappling with some major decisions as far as our business was concerned.

Last summer, we began advertising in Dixie Direct Green Pages. On top of that, we decided to take the plunge and move to our own location with our karate studio. No more subletting for us. Our first month in our new location we made just under $100 more than our rent, but we were determined to grow and make it work. We were paying almost 3x the rent we were paying when we were subletting, but this was a fact we had to deal with. However, we made it work. We got some paint, a whole bunch of cleaner, and some rags and we set to work. We painted the whole studio in a weekend, and did whatever smaller improvements we could over weekends, Improving the studio bit by bit. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. We started growing. We have over 12 new students that have joined just since we've moved.

In the fall I tested for my black belt in front of five masters, I was certain I was going to pee my pants due to the nervousness. But alas, I passed. I did so well on the written portion I am pretty sure a few people think I cheated. (But I didn't. I'm just awesome on written tests.) I am still in awe that I did it. It was a huge goal that I had and I made it. It took a lot of dedication and work but I made it happen with the help of Sky and my fellow students I tested with.

School has been insane, and it has been a lot of late nights and projects. But I'm loving every minute of it. Last semester I got three As, an A-, and a B+. I feel really proud of myself. This is officially my last semester before I graduate with my bachelor's degree. I can't believe I am actually here. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Life is good. Life is a crazy, messed up, blob of nervousness and excitement, and I love every minute of it. I am lucky to have the love of wonderful people in my life and the experiences that have brought me to this point and made me who I am.

Keep it real readers.