I got my running pants on!

I was just watching Bugs Bunny, and when he said this, I knew it was would be a perfect blog title.

Now what to write about! I have noticed my stress level being at a higher level over the past couple of weeks. I have found myself on many occasions in the midst of clenching my jaw, resulting in subsequent headaches, and overall tension. It has taken some thought to try to figure out what is going on, and I think I know now. Maybe I am a dork for worrying about it, especially when I don’t have any control over it.

The only thing that comes to mind, is the change my oldest daughter is heading for on September 1st. She is going to middle school, complete with new kids, a new bus, and a locker. Deep down I know she will adjust, but it has been really difficult this summer watching her grow up. I have dreams about sending her to school totally unprepared, and it has affected me, as much as I try to deny it.

My stress diminished a little once I had all their school supplies, but it is still there, niggling at me. I am just not ready for this! Again, I know she will be fine, and so will I, but this has been way harder than I ever imagined.

Once our routine is settled, I will settle down too. We don’t have any Kung Fu classes this week so the kids can get prepared for and settled into their back to school routines. It is a great idea, but I think that I need Kung Fu more than ever. So I am heading in for a couple of hours this week, not to train, but to put some sweat and blood into the Kwoon. It’s a mental training, and it will help me out a lot.

Sleep, sweet sleep

Orkut Myspace Sleep Well Comments & Graphics

Sleep is something that a lot of us take for granted. Yet, when you cannot fall asleep, the desperation is insurmountable.

Generally, I do not have any problems sleeping. I fall asleep fairly quickly, and I can nap without really trying, so I consider myself lucky. Sleep has a huge affect on us. It is when our bodies heal, and one way we get the energy we need to function.

Some impacts of sleep deprivation include poor concentration, poorer judgement, and a higher risk of injury. It can affect your relationships, how you learn, and how you perform. Long term deprivation is associated with high blood pressure, heart problems, a higher risk of stroke, obesity, and Attention Deficit Disorder. It has a direct impact on anxiety and it can become a vicious circle. Not enough sleep can aggravate anxiety, which can then make it more difficult to fall asleep.

Our environment can affect our sleep as well. Having a tv in your bedroom, having a lot of clutter around us, or having bright lights on as we fall asleep and having pets in our bed can disrupt our sleep.

So what can we do? Have a set routine, with specific waking and lights out times. Keeping that routine as much as possible, sleeping in the dark, so our bodies know it’s time to rest. It helps to minimize clutter, as well as getting some exercise every day, but not to exercise too close to bed time. Avoiding caffeine for approximately 6 hours before bed, as well as not eating a big meal right before bed will help encourage our bodies to rest.

Sleep is important, and we don’t realize it until we become deprived. It effects every aspect of our life. And with school starting right away, our sleep routines should be a priority.

Big Sigh

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have much to say. It will be great when the renovations at the Kwoon are finished, and I am enjoying how it is all coming together. It is wonderful working as a team (although I can't do a whole lot), and coming together as a Kung Fu family. It is slowly coming together, and it's going to be great.

On another note, I am exhausted. A large part is probably because of the major decline in physical training due to injury. Ah well...there is a reason why this is a life long journey to mastery.

Sometimes you just have to stick your neck out...

A couple of months ago, I stuck my neck out. Or put my foot in the door, or maybe I just threw my words out there and hoped they would stick where I wanted them too.

Last week, my effort bore fruit. I had been wanting to get into the health field, and before I took classes, I sent out an email to the Health Services unit in my building. And all I did was say that if there was ever any openings, I would like to be considered.

This past week, I was considered, and it looks like I will be working over there come September. I am really excited, and looking back, I made the right decision in throwing that email out there. So with that being said, I am really glad that I put myself out there, as change doesn’t happen without you making it happen.

I have known many people that bemoan their situation, and yet do nothing about it. They are just sitting around hoping that the opportunity will just present itself, and it never does. It is up to us to create our opportunities, and sometimes that means making your dreams known, showing up at the right place consistently, and being patient until the right time presents itself.

Take Kung Fu for example. If you don’t show up to class on a regular basis, and make that commitment, you could very well miss out on an opportunity to learn something fantastic. How easy would it be to miss a new way of seeing things from an instructor that hasn’t been to your class before? Or missing the opportunity to learn from someone like Master McNeill? Or even missing the opportunity to put your own sweat and blood into the place you train?

Great things don’t just happen. Great things are made to happen.