If you have not already read Part 1 of this article, please do so by clicking here and you will be taken to Part 1.
If we look at the size of the elephant we can find ourselves being overwhelmed and asking,” What’s the point?”. The elephant is just too large. And then I heard the answer to the riddle, “One bite at a time”. When I heard the answer, I gained hope and courage. I realized that I did not have to consume the elephant or desired skill or ability in one or two sittings. I realized that I no longer need to be intimidated by the size of the elephant. I realized that I could consume the elephant, one bite at a time.
With my awareness, I started to look at my experience and journey as a process instead of as a destination, that I need to rush toward to establish my worth and value as an individual. With my awareness, I began to realize that I could enjoy and celebrate the process of consuming my elephants. With my awareness, I began to apply this principle to remapping my brain and body.
As I have shared in previous articles, I have been a student of the martial arts though out my life time, to varying degrees. In my journey as a student of the martial arts, I have studied and trained in different martial art styles. In my experience, I had the opportunity to train under a Sensei (instructor) whose Instructors original instructor was Bruce Lee. One of the principles that Bruce Lee taught his students was to, “Absorb what is useful; Disregard that which is useless”. This principle changed my life.
In my experience, I have learned and continue to learn to absorb what is useful and in the process, to disregard what does not work for me. Through training under my Sensei, I discovered what works for me and what does not work for me as a martial artist. In my martial arts training I have learned that training both sides of my body through boxing, trapping and muay Thai kickboxing works best for me. Muay Thai is the art or eight limbs – using each limb of the body – hands, elbows, knees and Thai kicks.
The principle that Bruce Lee taught his students has given me the freedom to use what I have in ways that work for me. These ways do not have to work in anyone else’s life for them to be effective in my life.
I have been training and drilling in muay Thai in combination with other martial art styles for the past 17 years. As I have trained and continue to train both my right and left hands, elbows, knees and legs I have seen my agility, coordination, balance, speed, precision and reaction time progressively improve. With my improvement – in bite size pieces – I am encouraged to continue my training as a martial artist to treat my traumatic brain injury as I continue to remap my brain and body.
Because I have worked very hard to enhance my skills and abilities as a martial artist – using both sides of my body – I have seen my agility, coordination, balance, speed, precision and reaction time improve beyond my wildest imagination.
I share the above to encourage you to not give up on your process. Find ways to – that you like and enjoy – to develop your balance, agility, coordination, speed, precision and reaction time. And as you do, my suggestion would be that you train and drill both sides of your body – as you are able my friend. And as you eat your elephant — one bite at a time – and continue to stay committed to your process you will treat your brain injury and remap your brain and body to develop skills and abilities beyond your wildest imagination.
To read more about Muay Thai Kick boxing click on the following link Muay Thai
To listen to Innovative Brain Injury Treatments Hosted by Lee Carlson click on the following link Innovative Brain Injury Treatments Hosted by Lee Carlson
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