The power of the streak

I've been learning Spanish for a few reasons.  It's one of my I Ho Chuan goals from years past, secondly I've always been intrugued by the Spanish language and thirdly it's part of my preperation for a move to South America in the future.  I've been using Duo Lingo as the main tool for this of which I really enjoy the platform.  What's really interesting about it is how it tracks and uses streaks to keep you motivated to learn.  If I miss a day obviously the streak is over and I have to start again.  I don't loose the progress I've made but I loose the postivity of the streak.  The app also has a leaderboard of everyone that is learning a new language.  The top ten people with the highest points accumulated over the seven days span get's promoted to a new higher league.  

There are so many similiarities between the aproach that Duo Lingo takes and SRKF.  We have stripes and belts that signify our progression to the next level just like Duo Lingo has with accumulated points and rewards through out the week.  Right now I'm on a 18 day streak and I will made sure that even on Christmas Day I got some language training in so that I didn't lose the streak.  I used to take the same approach with my Kung Fu.  I used to be so rabbid about not missing a class that I would leave Calgary at certain time just to make sure that I made it to Stony in time to get to my class.  I'm looking back at these times and I'm actually jealous of MYSELF if that's even possible?  So I have to ask myself "why"?  Why was I so motivated as a lower cue belt to never miss a class and right now I'm struggling to attend classes regularly?  What's changed in me?  The answer is priorities.  With Duo Lingo I'm making it a priority becuase I have a goal of one day working in country that only speaks Spanish.  I know that If I can't comminucate I can't get afforded that opportunity.  I'm extra motivated by that goal and I can visualize my self in that opportunity that I've desired for a very long time.  

When I think about my Kung Fu back then I was visualizing that Black Belt.  I was seeing myself on the stage at the New Years banquet in front of Sifu Brinker and all of my family and friends giving my speech.  Telling everyone what Kung Fu has done for me and being there with everyone that helped me along the way to realize that moment.  Over the past years that vision has faded, replaced by other things that have taken a higher priority than my Kung Fu.  I'm taking a hard look at this past year and looking at the new year.  I have to be brutally honest with myself, can I visualize myself as a black belt like I did those years ago?  If so then I can't break the Kung Fu streak because it's a high priority in my life.

Mr. Repay