As a teen I had a dream of learning Tae Kwon do.

I put it off thinking I didn't have the time with four children, a husband, a home and lots of hobbies to tend to.

Two years ago my youngest daughter hurt her knee playing baseball and had to take 6 months off to heal.

Baseball season was over when the knee healed and she wanted to learn Tae Kwon Do.

We found a wonderful Korean Master and after talking to him I signed her up.

6 hours a week I sat and watched my daughter kick, run, punch and spar.

The embers of my long ago dream were ignited with a fury, pushing and pulling to be set free and acted upon.

I took the plunge and signed up.  I started with two days a week and Master Lee finally told me that if I took 5 hours a week I would "get more better, more faster".

Whew.. night after night I would push myself past the point of what I thought I could stand.

Body aching, muscles throbbing, I would crawl into bed and pass out.

The next day I was back at it again once i got an Advil or two in me.

Many nights I thought I would pass out due to being so totally exhausted and sore.

Master Lee pushed and encouraged telling me "you can do et" in his broken English.

When it came time to jump I was horrible.  My fear of landing face down was a wall that prevented me from getting more than an inch or two off the ground.

Little by little my jumps got higher, my kicks stronger, my punches harder.

A few tests ago I was informed that in order to pass to the next belt I had to jump 10 inches over a pad and kick another pad with a side kick.

I practiced and practiced.  Finally test day came around.

The other person my belt level is a 13 year old boy who jumps like he has springs in his feet.

He was to jump over another 13 year old bent over at the waist.

I watched in awe as he cleared the child and kicked the pad.

When his jump was over Master Lee looked at me and said, "Mama, you jump".

With eyes almost popping from their sockets I muttered, "over a person?  That high?  Me""

"Yes," Master Lee said.  "You can do, now jump"!!!!!

I realized at that moment that I had choices.

I could beg off and give in to my fear or go for it.

I took a few deep breaths, closed my eyes and did the jump in my head.

Master Lee said, "no more meditate, Mama, you jump NOW!"

I took a few running steps and jumped over 36 inches into the air, over the boy and kicked the pad.

The whole school burst out in shouts of congratulations and joy as I shouted, "I did it, I jumped and didn't kill the kid".

It was not the prettiest jumping side kick ever done by Master Lee's students, but the look on Master Lee's face showed he was delighted.

I was high as a kite for weeks after than kick.  I look at the photo often to remind my self that If I can see myself doing it, I can do et!!

Live your dreams, they are waiting for you to come and play.

Love and Gratitude,

Donna