Can you smell it?

I think that change is one the things in life that you can count on. The weather changes, our jobs tend to change over time, our routines change, our views change, how we handle it all changes too.

Change can be stressful or exciting. It can be the fear of the unknown, or the excitement of a new adventure. Change happens in our training all the time too. We get injured, or we get sick, so our training has to adjust to meet our new needs. We go on holidays or away for work so our routines need to adjust. One of the most important things that Kung Fu has taught me, is that while change is imminent, my reaction is what determines the outcome. My approach, and my attitude make the difference. I have learned to roll with things more, and to adapt.

I have learned to take a deep breath and to seek out the positives in change. Yes, I still stress over things I cannot always control, but I am still learning. Just keep breathing, just keep breathing....

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How do you measure success? Is it through awards, or being told you've succeeded in front of many people? Is it by the increase in your pay, or the stress that comes with a promotion? Maybe it's through the smiles when the task is done, or the hug that says well done? Or maybe it's as simple as looking in the mirror at the end of the day and knowing you made it through another one? It's different for everyone of course, and there are many ways to measure. Success is making cookies without burning them, getting through a speech without stumbling, earning another stripe on your belt.

We can have many successes in a day without realizing it. But I think it's a matter of perspective and how you define success. It's accomplishing something regardless of the size of the task or how long it took to complete. And it's not quitting when you really want to.

Thank you for all the blogs to read. Each one was a shining success.. why? Because you wrote it.

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Where are my feet?

So this past week I was pretty laid up with my low back/hip. Leftovers from my accident last summer, so needless to say, my physical numbers took a bit of a hit. It reminds me of how important it is to build in a buffer so that it doesn't set us too far back when we get sick or injured. I have had some massage and chiropractic work so I am moving again and can actually reach my feet without too much trouble. So things are improving...

Throughout our journey, it is inevitable that we are going to have setbacks of some sort along the way. Physical, mental, or a combination of the two. But it's important to remember that these are the catalysts for growth. It can be extremely difficult to push through these times, but as we do and we find strength in those around us to continue we will find that we grow. We find different ways of doing things, or ways of letting go. We become better for our efforts.

We have each other, but more importantly, we have the whole school behind us. My support doesn't just come from the I Ho Chuan team. It's from the students I train with, the students I have the privilege of teaching, and my instructors. It can also be difficult to find our way when we are no longer on the team. I know that I noticed that last year. Your focus changes, and without the set goals and the team it can be hard to find your purpose.

For that reason, I hope that each one of us can connect with another student that is not on the team and find a way to inspire each other.

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