Mrs. Michelle Harrington

1st Dan

     I originally met Michelle at one of the Wyoming Invitational Tournaments hosted at the Casper Rec Center.  A quiet and unassuming lady, we chatted for some time before being paired up against each other in the ring for our sparring match.  I quickly discovered a new definition for "sportsmanship" as part-way through the match, we both broke up into giggles!  While we drew a reprimand from the center ref, we both continued to grin to the end.  Here's her story . . .
     "My daughter wanted to give TKD a try but didn't want to go by herself.  I agreed to go with her a few times, just to help her feel comfortable enough to go it alone.  When I got there, I found the instructors to be very passionate and completely immersed in their art and it was contagious.
     "I had been going to the rec. center yoga classes at the time, but I never felt like I was getting much out of it.  It finally dawned on me that I was trying to learn a very complicated discipline from aerobic instructors.  I could see the potential for a life changing experience in learning TKD from people who have "been there, done that" and dropped the "yogaerobics" class shortly thereafter.  I keep coming back because there is always something new to learn or improve on, it's never boring, and the interaction with these people always broadens my big picture.
     "I have been practicing since December 1999.  I started at the age of 40 and wish I'd discovered it back when I was more spry, but it's been worth every ache, pain and bruise.  Whenever the going gets tough, my instructors remind me that you don't see many folks my age around town flying through the air and breaking boards!
     "TKD has helped me learn the true meaning of perseverance.  In the past, if something wasn't easy for me I'd quit, thinking it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I can see now that life is full of big and little victories and set-backs.  The little victories in TKD are deeply rewarding on a personal level and the things I thought were big victories in other areas of my life really haven't moved me down life's path as far as I thought.  I have also learned that pain does go away and is usually relevant to how much I or anyone else is looking at it.  And, I've come to the conclusion that when I give up this life, it should at least look like I used the vehicle some before I trade it in.
     "The big goal I set for myself in TKD was to make it to 1st dan before I turned 45.  I just made it and it has been a real positive turning point in my life.  My daughter's track coach left us with a jewel of wisdom that helped clarify something for me at our last parent meeting.  He said, "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect."  Now my goal is just to learn something new at every class and to work at perfect practice and to never just go through the motions."
     And what makes TKD fun for Michelle?  "The people in TKD are fun!  They have a wonderful sense of humor while showing a great deal of respect for each other.  You just don't see that anymore."
     Michelle is living out her personal dream of rootling in her herb garden, using the results of her labor to turn out hand-made herbal soaps, balms, and body products, which she sells out of her home.  Her on-line store, Lost Arts Found, is a delight to browse through.  A transplanted Californian, she moved to Rock Springs in 1992 with her husband (a Wyomingite) and her two children.  In her spare time she likes to read, hand-spin fibers, knit and do mild to moderate white water rafting with her husband and friends.