Just smile

One of the reasons I love teaching the younger kids, is that they are usually in the moment. They don’t worry about anything while they are learning Kung fu. Except maybe that someone else went first... kids amaze me that way. They can spot a small ant carrying something and just stop and watch. Or they just stop and smell the flowers along the way, not worried about slowing anyone down. And they truly experience Kung Fu. They don’t concern themselves with their next stripe or their next belt. They are just in the now.

I find my best time to be in the moment is when I am practicing Tai Chi. And I have learned to just smile to myself when I realize that I have skipped ahead in the form, or repeated a certain part. I have learned to accept that moment and that this is just where I needed to be in the form.

As adults, it’s too easy to forget how to be in the moment, and cherish each one.

Choices

So, I know where I am, and what I am doing. Or not doing. I am aware that I make choices to protect my ego. I am aware of when I choose to avoid things. I am also aware of when I try something regardless of the outcome. I am aware of when I make a positive choice. I can choose to push myself, or hastily retreat. I can fold inwards or spread my wings outwards.

I can compare myself to those around me, or I can compare myself to yesterday and measure my growth. I can let injury or illness stop me, or I can adapt to the best of my abilities. I can wallow, or celebrate.

There are many, many choices to make, each and every day. Every moment. Some will be unconscious, and some will be with purpose

Still breathing

I’m still breathing. I am still moving forward, although not always at a speed that’s visible. I am still adapting. I am doing my requirements, but am not where I should be at this time. I write down my numbers when I think of it, so there is a lot that are unaccounted for.

I am the only one responsible and I am the only one who can change this.

I usually start getting excited this time of year, as we start to prep for Chinese New Year. But this year I am finding it harder to psyche myself up. I worry about how I am going to handle all the practices physically, and how well I’ll be able to handle the whole day of the banquet. But now that I have this written, I understand that there is no point in worrying about it yet. The best thing to do, is to do my best each day. And to take each day as it comes. I’ll adapt. I’ll move forward. I’ll keep breathing.

Breathe and recalibrate

How do you ground yourself when things change in a hurry? How do you adapt? How do you cope? I think we need to understand that change is constant and sometimes it isn’t even obvious. Other times, it’s as subtle as a surprise snowfall. With change, we have to remember to breathe. To stop and recalibrate our plans so that they can mesh with the new path.

Staying grounded during change is important so that your ability to remain calm stays intact. Kung Fu has been important to me in that aspect. It’s like delving into the void and trusting the basics to see you through. I tend to withdraw before I can embrace change. Although sometimes this leads to simply distracting myself until I have to deal with it directly