Date an athlete or don't!
It's really hard to go out with someone who doesn't do a martial art or play sport when you do. They don't understand what it's like to have your training take a back seat to your relationship. To have to put someone else first when making decisions about training or putting time in to your relationship. They've never experienced first-hand the up's and down's of struggling to perfect something that's never going to be perfect, starved themselves for a weight class or felt that warrior spirit that develops after you've told yourself that you can't do anymore but continue to anyway. All fighter's and elite athletes are selfish, you need to be. Although you rarely if ever get to where you want on your own, you do it with help. And, you're incredibly thankful you're not alone! Two athletes in a relationship instinctively understand each other and what's required to support each other on a subliminal level with the challenges of their sports, injuries, emotional highs, emotional lows and everything in between. For the past year I have been devoted to my relationship but not nearly as devoted to my training and it's frustrating. It's hard when someone doesn't understand that you love the sport you do as much, if not more than them. It's harder to watch what used to be your life turn in to TV watching and cuddles because you've compromised and met someone half way and it hasn't been reciprocated with equal effort. I choose not to drown anymore. Sometimes you've just gotta lead by example - take back the selfishness and control over your life and just find you again and immerse yourself back into that healthy lifestyle you love. It's not easy, but as a wise Master instructor once said to me, "the arts never leave you - you always leave the art" ...
