Day 18: Pushing Through the Chaos

Morning Routine – Back to the Cold

Day 18.
I woke up early again, following the same rhythmn, cold shower first. It’s part of my new routine now, and it’s already making a significant difference in my daily mindset and energy levels. That sudden shock of cold water feels like an electric reminder to wake up, stay sharp, and stay disciplined. Each drop is a wake-up call that jolts my senses and prepares me for the day ahead.

After that refreshing shower, I headed out to work. The day was hectic from the very start, the closer we get to the weekend, the tougher it gets. The workload just keeps piling up, and the students? Way too energetic today. It felt like chaos in motion, with all the excitement and noise in the classroom drowning out any peace I might have hoped for. I barely had time to breathe, let alone relax in the midst of the bustling atmosphere.

During my short breaks, I made the best use of the little free time I had to work on my blog, editing drafts, planning topics, and watching a few Muay Thai videos. Yesterday was my first real Muay Thai session, and I realized just how much flexibility and balance I still need to develop to truly excel in this sport.

It’s gonna take time. But that’s perfectly fine. I’ll put in the work and stay committed to the process.
I may not have the natural talent or years of training behind me, but I’ve got something else, grit. Life toughened me up. I’ve faced enough challenges to know that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t grind. It’s not about being the best right away; it’s about recognizing your weaknesses and working tirelessly to turn them into strengths.

A Long Day Before Training

We had a long training session at work, so I left much later than usual. By the time I got home, I was utterly exhausted. Still, I made sure to eat a solid, protein-rich meal that would refuel my body and help my muscles recover. After the meal, I rested for about three hours. I really needed that nap to feel revitalized for the evening ahead.

When I finally woke up feeling more energetic, I ate again, something light but filling, and started preparing for the gym. I could feel the weight of accumulated tiredness from the past few days pulling at me. My body clearly needed more rest, my fridge was practically empty, and I was short on time as usual.

So, I decided:
I’d only attend the wrestling session (8–9 p.m.) and skip the later MMA session (9–10:30 p.m.). Nutrition and recovery are essential parts of training too. There’s no point in pushing hard without the basics, food and sleep. Prioritizing these elements helps ensure that I’m performing optimally when I do train.

I left home about 40 minutes before the session, hoping to arrive early. But, as luck would have it, fortune had other plans.

Late Arrival, Still Worth It

Two buses passed me by without stopping, both just pulled away as I reached the stop. Add traffic, roadwork, and long waits, and it ended up taking me an hour to cover 4 kilometers. I was frustrated, but I didn’t let it ruin my mood. It was one of those moments where I had to remind myself that sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s okay.

When I finally got to the gym, the wrestling session had already started, but thankfully, they began a bit late too. I was around 7–10 minutes late, which isn’t too bad. I asked the coach if I could join, and he nodded, welcoming me to dive right in.

I jumped right in, literally. The warm-up was intense: running, rolls, sprawls, stretches, jumps, led by one of the top students in our gym. There were about twenty of us, all sweating and pushing through every exercise together. After thirty minutes, the coach took over and added even more intensity, knee strikes, sprawls, side jumps, low and high kicks. It was exhilarating, and the energy in the room was contagious.

Then came shadowboxing drillss dodging, jabbing, crossing, and combining movements to build speed and reflexes. Dodging with jabs, then cross combinations, then kicks and knees added in. Everything flowed fast and sharp, creating an electrifying atmosphere where everyone was focused on improving themselves.

After that, I partnered up with a guy named Ali, friendly, about my size and weight, and he’s been training for around eight months. We started with kick and dodge drills, alternating between attack and defense. I preferred defense today, letting him attack while I focused on perfecting my timing, footwork, and reaction. It was great to work with someone who shared similar goals.

My right leg is finally adapting. It’s not perfect, but I’m learning to move better, kick faster, and absorb the pace. I’m starting to feel more in control, which is essential when it comes to effective self-defense and striking.

The Grind Continues

What was supposed to be just one hour of wrestling turned into two and a half hours of full-on training. We did a mix of wrestling, MMA drills, and bag work, light punches, hard punches, sprawls, and more sprawls. My arms were burning, but it felt incredibly good. I could feel myself pushing my limits, and that’s where the real growth happens.

We ended with stretching and cool-downs, a long, slow exhale after the chaos of training. It was a much-needed way to reflect on how far I’ve come and how each session contributes to my growth.

I left the gym around 10:55 p.m., went straight to do some quick shopping, grabbed a small late-night snack, and took another cold shower before bed. The cold was refreshing, washing away the last remnants of the workout and promoting relaxation as I settled in for the night.

Tired, sore, but at peace. Each day of training builds on the last, and there’s something gratifying about that.

Reflection

Today tested my patience more than my strength. Everything was inconvenient, work stress, long commutes, missed buses, but despite all of that, I still showed up. I arrived late, but I arrived. That’s what really matters in the grand scheme of things.

And that’s what truly counts; perseverance in the face of challenges and maintaining focus on my goals.

Training isn’t always about having the perfect session. Some days, it’s just about showing up despite everything that gets thrown my way. In the end, it’s about the consistency and dedication to my journey.

Day Eighteen complete. Tired but proud. The grind continues.

👉 What do you do when everything seems to go wrong, but you still have goals to chase? Do you push through, or pause and reset? It's these moments that truly define our character and resolve.