Progressing Wisely

Training has been a challenge for me again over the past 3 weeks, due to 2 broken ribs. But it’s nothing new right? I think that I am finally have things in perspective and am at a point where I am training/ progressing wisely.

With my latest injury, I took some time off. Not completely, as I continued to teach, and practice Tai Chi, but I did not push too hard. I was/ am aware of the impact of pushing too hard, too fast. I have done it many times before. It is difficult not to train, or to see how far you can go before it hurts, and it takes many reminders to take it easy. It’s so important to know when to rest, and when to push, and I am getting better at this. I have many injuries, that have become chronic from pushing too hard too fast, and I can say that it has held me back in the past.

This time, I made sure I took some time to rest, and I stayed engaged in my training by staying involved with the school. It would be really easy to just sit at home and feel sorry for myself, but by going anyway, doing a little training, and by surrounding myself with my Kung Fu family, I managed to stay engaged. Since it’s been 3 weeks since this rib injury, I can actually say that I don’t hurt too much anymore. I still have to be careful, but it is definitely getting better.

Itty Bitty Acres

This spring, I joined a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture. The idea of locally grown produce, without any chemicals whatsoever, and delivered close to home weekly really appealed to me. The concept is neat - you pay in advance for the season, and then once things are grown, they are harvested and brought to you. It can be a little risky I guess, as you take a chance on the weather like a farmer would. But that risk is worth it.

Interestingly, I had seen these advertised in the US, and within a week or so of discovering those, I found an ad for one here. I was so excited I had to find out more.

It was a decision I am really glad I made. We have only had two deliveries so far, but it tastes better (in my opinion) than store bought organic produce. Maybe it’s because I know it didn’t travel far, and that it was grown with love. I am excited because it is enabling us to eat more veggies this summer, and making an impact on our environment. All it takes is one person, one choice, to change the tide.

Even my kids are excited. When I pulled out a few giant lettuce leaves tonight, their eyes grew large, and the prospect of eating a locally grown salad had them digging right in. I think I have to find a few more recipes, as there is more veggies to come, that we don’t normally eat. But I can’t wait.

www.ittybittyacres.weebly.com

Sometimes

Sometimes it is hard to stay positive when the injustices of the world are in your face.

Sometimes it is hard to keep trying to make a difference, when it seems to go ignored.

Sometimes it is difficult to stay positive about your training when you have a broken rib, and every movement hurts.

Sometimes it is easy to see things from a different angle, when the usual angle is removed.

Sometimes it is easier to smile, when you focus on the here and now.

Sometimes, it is hard to take a deep breath, but not so to hard relax.

Sometimes going to my happy place is all I need to get through the day.

Sometimes perspective on life happens when we least expect it.

Sometimes your training guides you instead of you guiding it.

Sometimes, maybe all the time, things happen for a reason.

And sometimes a good blog is hard to write. :-(

ACME

So, another hiccup in my training has presented itself. I am not complaining, as it occurred during class and it was a great one. It’s amazing what can happen when your timing is off, even just for a second. One misjudged step can really impact (haha) things. I laugh at the word impact because that is exactly what happened.

As a blue belt (I think), I misjudged my timing during sparring, and walked into a kick, thus breaking some ribs and permanently changing how I train to this day. Take this same error in timing on Friday, and I walk into a kick again, and injure my ribs on the other side. Oops.

For the most part I would say my timing is pretty good, but obviously I have to work on it more. I know that with all my past injuries, my relationship with the six harmonies has suffered. I don’t mean to complain, as every injury has forced me to focus more on my mental training and that is a vital part of Kung Fu.

I was part of the Canada Day demo on Thursday, and it felt really good. Obviously the day before this latest rib injury. It has been a while since I was able to put my whole self into a form, without any real pain. The demo was in my opinion, pure awesomeness. It was great to see a whole group of us perform, and the crowd was fantastic. I really enjoy doing demo’s (even though my stomach was a mess that morning). Both Sifu Playter’s did a great job of the demo, as did all the participants. Way to go guys!!!

Alpha

Yesterday was our annual boot camp, and while I didn’t make it to the morning seminars, I was there for the afternoon and the couple that I was most looking forward to.

I missed the Alpha training by Karen Chambers the last time she was out 5 years ago, so it was really great to take part yesterday. I discovered that I have been using a lot of these techniques already, however I came away with some insight and ideas. And the opportunity to try one presented itself tonight.

My daughters were exhausted from the weekend Kung Fu Kids camp. Which is good. They played hard, and had a great time. My youngest daughter is a great sleeper, so while the storm tonight presented a little challenge for her to fall asleep in, it was an enormous obstacle for my oldest.

While lying in bed with her, I decided to try some guided meditation to help her relax, and hopefully drift off to sleep. She found her happy place, and it seemed to work - her breathing slowed down, and I could feel her whole body loosen up. However, those efforts were little for the lasting storm. Whenever I thought she was asleep, a clap of thunder would wake her again. I discovered though, that while guiding her meditation, I was also relaxed. The good thing is, I think I can use this with her on a more regular basis, and maybe, just maybe she can start doing it herself.

Harder than I thought

Somehow, I thought this week’s blog would be simple to write, but I am having some difficulties putting my thoughts into something coherent.

We have put the first three parts of the Tai Chi Long form together over the past couple of weeks, and I love it. I have had some problems in the past with putting them together with any flow, and now it is a little easier. I find that when we are learning one part, I tend to focus on that, and let the rest of the form slide. Shame on me. I am hoping that I can keep this up, and add part four on without forgetting anything. I really love Tai Chi, and the sense of peace it gives me.

I actually get that peace from all my forms - mostly the breathing ones. It feels great to just do the form, without thinking of anything. It always gives me a chuckle when I come out of the void - whether it’s from some injury yelling at me, or whatever brings me back. I always feel so lost. I forget where I am in the form, or what form I was doing in the first place.

I know I have to keep progressing wisely, so as to keep my injuries quiet, and hopefully I can reconnect the six harmonies.

Stealthy Snakes Slither Silently

Where am I, and what am I doing?

I am currently exploring a couple of avenues career wise. I have a meeting with another unit on Wednesday, and am looking into possibly taking a course through distance learning. Where these could lead me, I have no idea. But I do know, that I need to push forward. I will be acting supervisor for my current unit for a 4 month stint starting September, but I am not sure that it is what I truly want.

I have been trying to rest my body a bit - perhaps to heal a little. I guess it’s going alright, but like everything else it’s a journey. It’s a journey fraught with frustration and small joys. I just have to remember to celebrate the small joys, and shrug off the frustration.

I am here, and I am moving forward.