Testing for the Yellow Belt

Last night my granddaughter was tested for her yellow belt in Karate. Why am I posting about this in AR?

These ceremonies are a celebration of success. No, she is not a black belt yet but she is testing for the yellow belt. My friend and my mother watched on with me as Haley (my granddaughter) was tested and she didn't miss a beat. "I am so nervous for her" said my friend. But Haley was not nervous because she has been learning for one year, in little pieces, all the techniques that flowed seamlessly into a perfect exhibition. Haley was, however, nervous about how hard she was going to get hit in the stomach and if she would cry. I did not know what she was talking about until the end of the test. Each new yellow belt would get punched in the stomach by the black belt instructor. The instructor explained that there is pain in growth and the punch in the stomach was to signify the pain they went through to get to their yellow belt; all the hard work and commitment it took for them to get to this point of their journey. They would survive the punch and by doing so the karate students would know that they could handle that which they feared the most. They had prepared for it, would survive it, and they could get to where they want to go.

How lucky she is to learn this lesson so early in life and in such a positive way.