Random thoughts

[Faye]

I'm still new to parkour, I definitely admit that. My first session was literally a month ago at Sloat, one day before my archaeology final. (Which I know now was probably a bad idea since my quads were so sore the next day I was almost crying when I had to go down stairs, so sitting in a desk for two hours and ever time I moved, I winced...bad.) I remember seeing those parkour videos on YouTube and in movies/music videos, etc. and thinking "Wow...that's amazing. Too bad I'll never in a million years be able to do that stuff."

I don't even really remember how exactly I found this site or what possessed me to join. I think it was my friend, Brandon that had been teaching himself parkour and showing off in front of us girls and then me attempting to do it after him and then as Google is crack, I started researching. I found BAPK and was floored at knowing that this was here. I just remember just wanting to go to a session and trying. What was the hurt in that?

I won't go into a huge long out entry about my history or anything, but I've been struggling with host of issues for the last several years and working my way through it slowly and surely. It's been rough and heart-breaking but I keep having to push myself past all these mental barriers to keep myself going.

After tonight's class at the gym, I was surprised at how happy I was when I left. Almost a two hour workout where I didn't look at the clock or feel like giving up or get down on myself for not being perfect and I actually was enjoying myself the entire time. Parkour is helping me in ways I didn't even expect and I'm incredibly thankful. I'm showing my colors as a total girl right now, but I'm thankful also to how welcoming and helpful everyone has been, especially at the beginner sunday sessions.

I don't really know the point of this entry really, other than to say thank you and I'm looking forward to learning and growing more.

[SafeNSure]

@K ...and, eventually, parkour attracts people with a certain disposition of mind, shapeable... that's where the commitment (and a certain obligation to share) of the people already training comes into play...

@Faye reading your post after class, made me think of the first of these inspirational vids

[Chris]

@Faye - Whatever the point was...it made me very happy. You did so well in the gym!

@G - Parkour (the art itself) hasn't changed in 20 years and never will. Parkour definitely shapes people, but the people define the community of parkour.

[SafeNSure]

...now a question for everybody:
Are the people we train with shaping parkour, or is parkour shaping the people?
'Cause it looks to me like, initially, people are pretty randomly drawn to parkour... or are they?
(that's actually 2 questions...lol)

[orem]

lol, i don't think you have to sound apologetic about sharing honest emotions and being thankful. people don't do it enough, imho ;] for me a massive plus of pk is the people i get to hang out with, and i definitely look forward to training together with you when i get back.

[Ryan Fulmer]

yeah i know what you all mean... when my girl of a couple years moved out a couple months ago it was tough, parkour helps you fill time that you would spend going crazy over stupid shit.

i like feeling accomplished at the end of the night. the endorphins....oooooo.....

[Bio]

Parkour has proven to be one of the best things I can do to reclaim my mind from things that have possessed it for a long time now. When I'm too bent out of shape to do anything useful, parkour always sets me straight again. It's the combination of intense concentration and physical effort, I think. But since I started, parkour's evolved into something much more than a simple outlet for me, and that's a huge triumph.

There are a lot of stories like this out there, I'll bet. Thanks for sharing yours, and keep at it.

[SafeNSure]

...thanks for your heartwarming post (and feelings!).

This is really what parkour is most about, IMO: sharing.
The rest is just jumping more or less efficiently on stuff...
=)