When I think and reflect on why do I keep going, why do I keep on practicing, I start to think that it's been enough, that it's time to stop and dedicate time to what really is important. I tell myself: “It's been 12 years now, it's time to stop, do something else. You've already gone to pan american and world championships, isn't that enough?” I have this though in my head for a very long time. Apart from my subconsciousness telling me this, many of my friends and family members ask me the same questions. There has been times when I´m very close to quitting, but then I tell myself: “It´s might have been 12 years already, but look at where you are know, look at what you have accomplished, and you are capable of accomplishing so much more.” Then I realise that the real question isn't “why keep going?” No, the real question is “why quit?”
When I think about the all the moments that I miss with family and friends, I tell myself: “I may have missed moments with my family and friends, but my family and friends are not going anywhere, more moments will come, and if I keep going, new and different moments will arise and I will be with my second family, which is the team. All the trips, championships, and hours spent together have made me see all my friends from the team as not only friends, but brothers and sisters that share my same interests and passion.
Once again I go back to when people ask me why do I keep going after so long. After reflecting on all of this I now have a concrete answer to their question.
“I know it's been very long, 12 years is a lot, but that exactly is the reason why I can't quit. It's been too long, too many years of sacrifice and effort to suddenly stop and throw everything away. Tae Kwon Do has become part of my life, it has made me who I am today. It´s not easy to just let go to something that is so important to me. That´s why I don´t quit, why I keep going. Not only because of the future results I might get in championships in the future, but because it is part of who I am as a person.”