The Old Year and the New

Although it wasn't exactly 'stellar', neither was 2009 really all that bad either. Actually, I kind of feel as though this past year marked a fairly significant turning point for  me. This is the first year since my divorce and the loss of Open Door that I've actually felt some degree of optimism with regard to the year ahead (thanks in no small part to my new job with the UFC Gym). While the situation at the UFC Gym is by no means 'perfect' - and is even downright frustrating quite a bit of the time - in a strange sort of way, I  feel almost 'comfortable' with the situation there. I mean, if they were doing everything 100% right - there wouldn't be as much opportunity. Part of why I love BJJ so much is that it gives me a way to touch the world, primarily by influencing the way people think about reality and the ways things work. This job at the UFC Gym is like the universe telling me 'Oh...so you want a job that gives you the opportunity to help change the BJJ world so that female students/instructors/competitors will ultimately be seen as being every bit as worthwhile/valuable as the men in the sport. Cool. Here ya go! Now prove it. '

I wish I didn't feel as though I had to constantly find ways of circumnavigating the management in order to make my classes successful, but for the time being, that's apparently just the way things are. I'm looking at the situation as though it were just another Black Belt test. Strategy - patience - timing - tenacity.