Buzz-less-ness!!

Hello all... or one... or whomever is reading my bloggings.

My "Enter" key works today and I'm really excited about it!!

Here's a little story. This morning I got up and had to be at the rink early as my schedule was a little different than usual. I was freezing, I was in a good mood but without any drive in my system whatsoever--I would have made the best audience member known to man! It took me almost an entire session just to warm up, which is ridiculous, and I still didn't feel like moving. I was a little distracted, thinking about how today's schedule was different, the business-related conversation I had just finished, the fact that I only had a small cup of juice for breakfast, etc.--mostly non-skating things; none of these thoughts were downers, just non-skating. I was kind of just going through the motions in the hypnotic malaise of the everyday monotony without much focus... doing the "ho-hum" thing. I would say my mind was operating at 80-85% of where it's been recently: focused, determined, unwavering! What does this all mean? NO ONE CARES!! It occurred to me a little later that it was just one of those days; there wasn't the same nationals-buzz in the air... it was just kind of flat... buzz-less, if you will.

I thought it would take an act of congress to do a good program until I told myself, "it's not a choice--that's why I'm here. I do my programs every day and I do them well. Cold, tired, sore (which is better today, by the way), annoyed, unmotivated, etc... doesn't matter; I do great programs every day. Is today one of those 'every days?' Yes. So do your programs. I rotate all my jumps. I land my jumps. I do everything in my program. Etc, etc." Well, I did a short program with a couple very minor mistakes--overall, great job! I then proceeded to the long where I did a great program having only stepped out of my second triple axel. I did two great programs today and wasn't motivated in the least. THAT'S HUGE!!!!!! HUUUUUGGGGEEEE!!!! Hey, look at that--I can do a great program even when I'm not feeling on top of my game. This is the kind of day when mental training pays off; it's the kind of day when you don't feel a hundred percent and still need to operate at a high-performance level. Today was a GREAT day. I grew as an athlete; I grew as a skater; I grew as a person!

Here's to another great day!!

Braden