Black Belt Reflections: Christopher Haupt (part 3)
[This is Part 3 of Christopher Haupt's essay on the topic of "What Taekwondo Means To Me" which was written as part of the promotion requirements for his second degree in Taekwondo.]
How in the world could I make this better?
Well, the opportunity presented itself soon there-after. With careful consideration and discussion with my wife, I decided it was time to make a career change and accomplish my second, longer term plan. I arranged to resign from my long-distance job, on amicable terms, and switch to owning my own local consulting business where I could set my own hours, and be home most of the time. All of a sudden, I was able to change from only being that "weekend dad", to being around all of the time.
This was both fantastic for me, and, well, a little startling for my family. "Who IS this guy?" OK, admittedly there was a transition period where we all needed time to get used to the new and old routines and make some adjustments. I frankly didn't know what went on during a given week ("ok, what gets packed in your school lunch again?") and my wife, perhaps diplomatically thinking that my "help" was perhaps best offered elsewhere at times, needed some adjustment too.
That all worked out, and in the process of the dust settling on the new schedule, I was able to ramp up my Taekwondo attendence to a new level. I was also able to start enjoying seeing my young daughter start down the initial path of training at that point too.
I was now a mid to higher color belt, and feeling pretty good. The weight was coming off, the stress had dropped to a manageable and normal level, and we were all happy.
My interest in Taekwondo continued to grow, and as I aimed for achieving my goal of learning more about the physical, mental, and philosophical aspects of the art, I found that all of the other parts of my life were reinforcing that progress, and being themselves enhanced by my participation with martial arts.
Within another year, I really didn't know how to separate my non-martial arts life and my dedication and steadfast appreciation for what Taekwondo was helping me to accomplish. Namely, a balanced, happy, and healthy life that paid all kinds of dividends to me personally, to my family, and to what I could share back to the community.
And sharing is what I wanted to do.
My son and I had continued to train together as we could over the years, and the first level of sharing I could accomplish was sharing more of my time and enthusiasm with him. Over time, my daughter graduated from the Little Ninjas and as she was about to embark on her colored belt journey, we were all able to convince my wife to start too. There-after, we became a "Taekwondo" family. It brought us together even closer.
As I achieved my first degree black belt and proceeded with training for second, I reflected back on the previous years of training and development. I looked at those goals I kept in front of me, and the paths I had taken.
Of my own physical fitness, I had managed to lose nearly fifty pounds. I was back down to the weight I had been when I had started that long distance career so many years before. My mental frustration and daily stress of my travels and dealing with unpleasant large company issues were gone. They had literally melted away along with my weight. I was able to enjoy much harder work-outs, have a level of stamina, and accomplish new challenges much much more easily than perhaps I could have ever done in the proceeding ten or more years.
Against my goals of being there for my family, I couldn't have been more successful. My initial consulting work turned into a new company I co-founded with a former colleague, and that has gone on to be a successful web design software company. I have the freedom to work from a home office, and the flexibility to be there for my kids and wife. I'm able to go to school functions, chaperone school trips, and be there in times of need.
I have even learned to stay out of my wife's hair and not mess with daily schedules.
Ok, I'm still working on that goal.
I've also achieved some goals I didn't realize I had. I've made life-long friends with the students and instructors I train with. I've stretched to increase my ability to share by learning how to be a Taekwondo instructor. Doing so, not only do I hone my own knowledge and skills, but I get to replicate it to many new practitioners. The simple joy of sharing the fun, the health benefits, personal safety, and the sport of our martial art is hugely rewarding.
I can say without a shred of hyperbole that Taekwondo has been a personal life-saver for me.
I'm not really sure what more Taekwondo could mean beyond that, but I look forward to trying to find out in the coming years.
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