Removing My Bamboo Progress

I have a bunch of half-written “training progression” blogs that do not seem to be completing themselves, so instead I will focus on my “personal progression” with this post, or lack thereof. Something I have mentioned before is that I struggle with progress and commitment. I struggle in the face of progress. I struggle recognizing progress I do not actively see. I lack faith in myself. I need to see to believe.

For those not familiar with it, bamboo is a very interesting plant. Once established, it is one of the fastest growing plants of all time, with some species recording a growth rate of nearly 2 inches an hour. However, many bamboo plants will stop growing after only a few months and will never grow again for the rest of its lifespan. As a colony plant, it thrives in quantity; the next generation will grow larger than the previous, and so on and so forth. That is how it collectively grows. 

I wish to see my progress grow the way bamboo does. I wish to physically be able to see the growth. But by doing so, I limit my potential. There are certain aspects of my life I do not want to rely on. I want to grow past them. I want to progress like bamboo. Unfortunately, that is not sustainable. To try and rocket past the things I want to let go will only result in quickly and abruptly hitting a wall, much like bamboo.

“Consistency does not happen fast. You need to realize that doing things the way you are is not fixing anything. You are making it worse.”

This is something I was told the other day (albeit slightly reworded). Not what I wanted to hear, but definitely what I needed to hear. Enough so that I needed to blog about it so I do not forget. Observing my numbers at the end of my posts has helped me a little bit this month, but I am still approaching it with apprehension. I am scared to be deterred. Honestly? I am figuring it out slowly. That is what is important. Slow and steady.

The first step is removing my desire for bamboo progress. My progress should be like that of the great oak forest I visualize with my Kung Fu. Constantly and slowly growing, forever and always, even if it appears to be standing still. Once I complete this… well, I think I will figure that out when I get to it. 

Numbers

Pushups: 2570

Situps: 1620

AoK: 52

Katana: 44

Snake: 37

Sparring: 84

Distance (km): 50