Thinking about karate again

[pegkerr]

I have been thinking about resuming karate again. I was at the dojo this past Saturday, photographing the testing for the website, and I found myself longing so hard to participate again. If I did so, I could only swing it by working off my tuition by cleaning the dojo. I'd clean twice a week, an hour and a half each time, eight times a month. If I did that, they would waive my tuition entirely. Do I want to do that, to commit to three hours a week, on top of class time?

Frankly, I don't know. The thing is, if I started doing it, and then my life changes and I decided I didn't want to clean, I would be really stuck. It would be very difficult to manage the tuition payments without, for example, cutting retirement savings, which I really don't want to do.

I asked if I could try the arrangement for a month before signing a contract, just to see if it would be too onerous. That would help. Still it would be a two and a half year commitment.

I will think about it this week.

Comments

[dreadmouse.livejournal.com]

I think I have an idea how much karate means to you, Peg. At least, I know how much it means to me, and I believe we both get similar benefits from practicing that go beyond the merely physical.

That said, I'm also a new parent and a member of a family. I only have one child, not two, and I'm always pressed for time; I can only imagine how busy you must be!

Despite my best efforts right now I'm struggling to make it out to two karate classes a week, totalling about 3 hours of class. If I had to clean an additional 3 hours every week to pay for those hours of training, well, there would be problems. Firstly, I get more than enough of cleaning right now, and secondly, I just don't know where I would find the time!

I'm the first person to understand that what works for me isn't necessarily what works for others, but right now my free time is very limited and highly precious to me. I've found that becoming a parent means giving up an awful lot of what I thought of as "me." I don't think I could stand another bite out of myself right now.

If I were in your shoes, I don't think I could make the commitment. I would rather set those three hours aside every week and use them in a completely "selfish" way, i.e. in some activity which is for me and me alone.