Changing gears, and getting going...

About 3 years ago, I got into SCA heavy combat. If you are not sure what that is, I would suggest googling it, and checking out some videos on youtube. In a nutshell, it is full speed combat wearing heavy armor, using rattan weaponry. During that time, I went to practices once or twice a week, and attended events. I was getting past the extreme novice stage, and learning to defend blows while delivering some decent ones of my own. I was by no means a high caliber fighter, but I felt like I was making real progress. Then came my absence from fighting. I was accepted into a fairly intensive program at the local university, and most of my time was dominated. To be honest, I could have probably kept going a couple times per month, but I decided not to. The feeling of getting beat up and physically exhausted is tough to deal with while doing intensive schooling. I felt like being a fighter was something that I didn't want to do half way, so I decided to put my combat aspirations on hold until my program finished.

Fast forward 18 months since my last fight...
I am finishing my program, and I am ready to get back into it. I went to practice a couple weeks ago just to say hello to the fighters, and get my face known in the community again. It was fun, but I knew that I had to suit up and fight to reintegrate into the group. For me, fighting is also a social activity. It reminds me of when I was in the Army. Camaraderie is an important thing to me, and it enhances the scene. So, last night I suited up and fought. I knew I was rusty, but I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. My shield was heavy, but not overly so. I cut 3 inches off of my sword, because it was something I had mean to do for a while. It really helped with my snaps. I felt quick, although I had trouble putting together combos. I think that going to the gym has helped out, but not hugely. While fighting, it is all about bursts of speed, and whole body movement. I had forgotten what it was like to move in rapid explosions of energy. I must say, I was out of breath pretty early and often.

Today, I am fairly sore all over, but in a good way. I took some solid shots, but nothing that actually hurt in a lasting way. I feel like I got what I needed out of the practice. I did alright, and didn't get seriously hurt. I took enough shots that I am hungry to improve. I have several goals that I want to accomplish. It is all about being dedicated, and continuing to show up to practice.

In use...

While I am in the mindset of self/life improvement... I suppose I will put my thoughts down on paper, so to speak. I find it useful to look back and see where my mind was at the time. Besides, facebook and other microblogging tools are too limiting for my taste. I figure, there might be one or two people that I can count on reading. (most likely just my wife and mother in law) Thats okay by me.
I have been doing well at the gym. I am not going crazy, but I am certainly trying to make it a habit. I have also quit drinking energy drinks by and large. I am not taking a stance, or anything. I am just trying to drink water, and generally make better choices. As I age, I am very conscious of the changes to my health. When I was just 5 or 10 years younger, I feel as thought I was more resilient. Getting enough sleep was not a high priority, and I could always get out of a rut by having a cup of coffee. Well, those days are gone. I feel like crap if I don't get sleep or go too long without exercise. For me, quality of life is very important. I am not willing to trudge along feeling mentally, physically, or emotionally drained. To that end, I am attempting to turn my detail obsessed, over analyzing mind inward. I am trying to self monitor, and reflect.

Exercise, diet, sleep, and many other things are factors. I also recognize that my social health is also a large factor in my over all happiness. I don't want to use loaded terms, but it is difficult not to. I am trying diligently to remove toxic influences from my life. It may seem abrupt, but I think that cold turkey is the best method for quitting bad people. Some people have trouble dropping a "friend", but I am not one of those people. It saddens me that I have people near me that I don't actually respect, while having lost touch with people I genuinely loved at one time or another. Nostalgia colors thoughts of old friends. It is important to move forward, but that does not mean a complete lack of old friends. I heard an analogy relating life to a backpack, I think it was in a movie. Some things you want to leave in the bag, because you cannot imagine going anywhere without them. Other things are simply in the bag because you haven't taken them out yet. Its is time to repack.

This is a rambling beginning, but that is alright. Stream of consciousness is how I work best.

This blog will act as a repository for various thoughts, on various subjects. I think of this as a conversation with myself, and that is the true purpose. I will only update when I feel like it, and will often hide posts that are personal in nature, which may turn out to be the majority. Fortunately, I don't have an audience to feel obligated to.