advice or something like it

Motivation Monday: The Proper Response is to Keep Going

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pablo (2)

Just keep going, just keep going…

I’ve already lamented over the fact that not all blog posts can be winners.

The sad truth is that it’s not limited to blog posts. Not all classes can be winners. Not all meetings can be winners. Not all meals can be winners. Not all days can be winners.

No matter how good we are at what we do, how confident we act, that “clunker” is inevitable. We’re bound to stumble at some point. It’s one of those things that comes with being human.

Yes, I experienced a moment like that today.

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5 Things Tang Soo Do Has Given Me

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RWMAF Martial Arts Great Things Happen Here

Sign in front of my school. When I first saw it, I asked what that even meant. Now? I GET IT.

In the three years I’ve been doing tang soo do, I’ve learned many forms, strikes, blocks, self-defense techniques, and sparring principles. (Oh, and I’ve become a little more fit.)

To say that I’ve mastered everything I’ve been taught up to this point would be a big fat lie. I learn something new each time I train, and I always find ways in which I can improve.

But what else has tang soo do given me, aside from the aforementioned (and rather obvious) points above:

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My Brief Bout of Gerascophobia

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Gerascophobia the fear of growing old

Recently, I experienced my first feeling of dread at being in my thirties.

The moment was short-lived, but profound. Typically, I’m not one who obsesses over age. Hell, I still look like I’m in my early twenties. </HUMBLEBRAG>

But that’s a farce. Mentally and biologically speaking, I’m not in my twenties. I can no longer stave off hangovers with a simple combo of greasy food and Gatorade. (I don’t even drink much anymore.) I’m out of that stage where I can get away with making some stupid mistakes because I’m still learning what it means to be an adult, but let’s be real,  I’ve never been a fan of making mistakes.

In my twenties, I was a grown-up, but not too grown. I was still free to be capricious and playful as I gradually evolved into a full-blown adult.

Now that I’m in my thirties, the time for trying-and-failing (and consuming copious amounts of booze) is over. I have to have it all figured out now. I have to be an adult. That’s what society says, right?

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“Having it All” is Not a Lump Sum

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Oprah You can have it all just not all at once

Is it possible to “have it all”? 

Is there anyone on this planet who can truly say that, at this moment, they have everything they could ever want in life?

Maybe, but I’m willing to bet that it’s a small percentage, and that the moment is fleeting.

While driving home the other night, I had a thought about this concept of “having it all” and if it truly exists. In my life, I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment in which I believed I had everything.

That sounds harsh, and even a little ungrateful, but it’s the truth. There’s always something else I’m working toward, a situation that needs improvement, or a dream that must be deferred — hopefully, temporarily — for a larger cause. In my life, many people have entered; few will remain for the long haul, yet all must eventually say goodbye.

As someone who typically demands everything in an instant, I’m learning to be okay with the truth that I can’t have it all…at once.

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Motivation Monday: How I Embraced the Power of Positivity

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new day wwe power of positivity

These three know a lot about the Power of Positivity. (Source: Wikipedia.)

Let’s talk about positivity.

The closing moments of 2015, for the most part, weren’t great for me. Unfortunately, I responded to these events by being a perpetually sullen brat.

What good did that do me? Absolutely zilch. Anything that could go wrong, did, and it only made me increasingly bitter.

It was a vicious cycle. I was reacting to negative events with a negative approach, which only fueled more negativity, both from myself and the universe.

Then…I snapped out of it.

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5 Lessons I’ve Learned About Blogging in 2 Months of Mondays

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c211396f-5a4e-4750-9553-435d8d00123b.png

It’s already been two months of Mondays.

This blog isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been posting my ramblings and rumblings to the Internets for as long as I can remember. I’ve maintained several blogs and blog-like things in the past, and most of those have gone the way of the dodo.

What sets The Monday Diaries apart from my other projects is that I’m actually sticking with it, frustration be damned.

In the couple of months I’ve maintained this blog, I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way:

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Motivation Monday: 4 Inspirational BoJack Horseman Quotes

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widsomofbojack

One of the realest series I’ve ever watched is a cartoon about a washed-up television star. Who is also an anthropomorphic horse.

BoJack Horseman is a comedy, albeit a dark one. It delves into topics that are an antithesis to its lighthearted character designs: depression, narcissism, social and familial dysfunction, the many flavors of addiction, and death. Just to name a few.

The brilliant writers of BoJack Horseman have dealt with these sensitive issues with much care and honesty. As a result, the show is more than a biting satire of Hollywood — it’s a source of excellent advice, especially for those who are embroiled in their own personal struggles. I can speak from experience, as BoJack Horseman has inspired me in times when I’ve been down.

If you’re in need of some motivation, look to these 4 BoJack Horseman quotes to get you going (minor spoilers ahead):

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Table for One: 5 Perks of Dining Solo

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Photo credit: : Katarzyna Białasiewicz

Photo credit: Katarzyna Białasiewicz

Confession: I eat out alone. Often.

Yes, I have friends, and I like (most) human beings. However, I also travel by myself a lot and run plenty of errands on my own. If I’m hungry, I’ll want to take myself to an eatery as soon as possible.

Whether at a food court or in a “fast casual” restaurant, dining solo has never bothered me. It’s a way for me to escape life’s trivialities and enjoy the food that I want at my own leisure.

I know several individuals who have curled their faces in disgust when I suggested the idea of eating alone in public. “Nope, I could never do that, I’d feel like a freak,” they’d proclaim. For them, eating out is strictly a social event, be it a catch-up brunch with girlfriends or a business dinner with stakeholders. (Mmmm, steak.)

What the detractors may not know, however, is that dining solo is a very common activity these days. Per data from online reservation service OpenTable, there has been a 62 percent rise in “party of one” bookings nationwide, with most growth occurring in major metropolitan areas such as Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

The next time hunger calls whilst you’re out-and-about on your own, consider these five perks of dining solo:

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From a Recovering Perfectionist: 5 Ways to Bounce Back from a Bad Day

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Beating Yourself Up

Photo Credit: Shao-Chun Wang

Last week, I had a tang soo do class that, let’s just say, wasn’t my best. Far from it. I stunk up the dojang, and it wasn’t only because of my body odor.

We were doing kicking drills — great, I love kicking! Love wasn’t enough to get me by, however. My techniques were poor, my executions were off, and I was overthinking simple concepts. My lack of togetherness ultimately affected my training partner’s experience, too, which made me feel bad.

When I left the school for the night, I felt embarrassed. As I sat in the car, my mind immediately flooded with a myriad of negative thoughts: What the hell was I doing tonight? Do I even deserve to wear such a high-level belt after this horrible display? I’m letting my classmates, my instructor, and myself down!

Fortunately, those feelings were fleeting, and I allowed myself to get back to center. Sure, I felt embarrassed for putting on such a sloppy show in front of people I respect, but I wasn’t going to allow myself to be defeated.

Now, here’s the thing: I am a recovering perfectionist with occasional lapses, so the very fact that I am offering advice on overcoming a bad day/shift/class/what-have-you may be considered borderline hypocritical to those who know me best.

However, in my ongoing quest to give myself a break I have learned a thing or two about bouncing back from less-than-ideal situations. Okay, to be more specific, it’s actually five things:

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