the end of 09 and the beginning of 10

[Matt - a simple hobbit]

2009 was an amazing year for growing and learning. Here were some of my goals ...

Jan. 09 I was a Orange Belt. My goal was to become a Green Belt by Jan. 1, 2010. I achieved Green belt right before Christmas!

In Jan. 09 I was enrolled in a Higher Education degree program. I had eight classes left to finished the Masters program by 2010. I graduated with honors Dec. 14th 2009.

In Jan. 09 I committed to climb 5 mountain peaks in the year of 2009. I climbed Mt. Adams, Mt. Annaes, tried Mt. Hood twice (once foiled due to wind and weather 500 yards from the top. the second foiled by missing the window of time before the ice gets weak), tried Mt. Bachelor (foiled by weather half way up), and wasn't able to attempt Mt. St. Helens due work schedule change, and climbed South Sister. I got in three. It was great fun even though I didn't make my goal.

In Jan. 09 I was enrolled in a Doctoral program with my wife, Carla, to continue to explore concepts of leadership and community service, as well as to intentionally weave our lives together with a great challenge. December 2009 we turned in our module papers and assignments. We passed and may continue with the program.

As for 2010, I have three main goals.

I would like to become a Black Belt prior to January 1st, 2011. I purchased four private lessons at Christmas with some extra money from a wedding we took pictures for. I have used two of those private lessons getting my green material and will use the final two to finish out getting my green material in the next two weeks. I hope then to take the in-between time of classes working on my material so I can progress to red as soon as possible. (little aside here ... I have a recommendation for everyone when they advance ranks. If you can, once you advance ranks, take a few private classes to get the new material from Mr. Bronson personally. You will learn it better, quicker, and will create a solid foundation to ingrain the new material more powerfully this way.)

I would like to climb 5 mountain peaks this year. Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Middle Sister, Mt. Shasta, and Holland Peak.

I would like to finish the academic piece to our doctoral program and began working on our dissertation by Jan. 1st 2011.

Lofty goals, but I have found that I thrive when I have a challenge waking me up in the morning. The journey to become a black belt is towards developing a mastery in physical motion and philosophy in life. The journey to climb mountains is towards mastering fears and finding extreme solitude. The journey to complete the academic piece of the doctoral program is towards further intellectual development, growth as a leader, and for creating a stronger link of meaning and purpose with Carla.