January 1, 2025. This is the year I will turn 50 years old. No, that is not a typo—although you, dear reader, are probably a lot less surprised by that than I am. Fifty years old. It rolls off the tongue like “Pop Rocks,” which is to say not at all smooth. It’s not bitter, just surprising and a bit odd, a little sweet, but also shocking.
I have spent a fair amount of my time as of late trying to determine what the next “however many years” I have will look like. Since I have developed a love of Taekwondo, part of my mission is to prepare my body so I can participate for as long (and pain free) as possible. The other day, I put all my exercise gear on, feeling motivated to go outside and run sprinting intervals. In my mind, this would help my practice of Taekwondo by allowing me to survive a full sparring round without collapsing in exhaustion. Alas, I opened the door only to realize that it was pouring rain outside. Being a somewhat fair-weather exerciser, I quickly shut the door and re-evaluated. No problem, I mused, I will go downstairs and complete something similar on the elliptical machine. SO, off I went. Unfortunately, what I did not realize is that my husband had stolen the power cord a few days earlier to plug in an amplifier. (What?!) Well, that’s that. It just wasn’t meant to be, I told myself as I warmed up some water for a nice cup of tea.
I jokingly told this story to my husband later that day (as I tried to figure out what happened to the power cord), and he looked me in the eyes and said something about my “indomitable spirit.” Ok, point taken. That IS one of the 5 tenets of Taekwondo after all. Right? I had to ask myself whether I have an indomitable spirit or not. Do you? Do you? The 5-year-old version of myself has been endlessly asking me that question ever since.
According to ChatGPT, an indomitable spirit: “refers to an unwavering, unyielding determination and inner strength that enables an individual to persevere and remain resilient in the face of challenges, adversity, or hardship. It is a quality of mental and emotional toughness that refuses to be defeated, regardless of external obstacles or difficulties. People with an indomitable spirit are often seen as courageous, relentless, and optimistic, continuously striving to overcome obstacles and stay true to their values and goals. In Taekwondo, having an indomitable spirit means maintaining a positive and fighting attitude even when facing difficult situations, whether in training, competition, or life in general. This mindset encourages martial artists to rise above fear, frustration, or failure and to push forward with strength and confidence.”
So, the question remains, do I have an indomitable spirit? I don’t think there is a solid yes or no answer. I think that’s one of the things I love about this sport. It is a journey. I can work toward these things—yes, even as a 50-year-old lady. I CAN learn knew things. I can grow. I’m not always mentally or emotionally tough, but I can pursue that goal. I’m certainly not always courageous, relentless, or optimistic, but I see the value in striving.
I may be on the other side of a century, but there’s still a lot to see over here. I’m grateful for a new year, new challenges, and new insights into this crazy life I lead.