A Gift

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

- Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda

I love this quote. It reminds me that there are gifts in every situation if we stop for a moment to look. Take an injury for example, suddenly, you’re unable to train the way you have been and you’re sidelined. The gift lies in the forced change - now you have time to focus on your mental journey which is vital to your physical journey.

I’ve been there. I’ve broken ribs, broken toes, a broken ankle, whiplash, a concussion, and now a chronic back issue. However none of these have stopped me, although they could have. I was given a gift each time. A time to reevaluate my training, how I train, and a time to highlight and address my other deficiencies. I was forced to adapt and to grow, and received a chance to take my training to the next level. It’s hard to give specific examples, however they have been present.

Kung Fu has given me the gift of patience, of increased empathy and compassion, of knowing that my arbitrary limits are just that. Kung Fu has given me the gift of mastery development, a safe place to challenge myself, and another family filled with likeminded people.

Today, gave me the gift of time with 2 toddlers who brought sunshine to my day. I had the gift of teaching our smallest students, and practicing my forms. And I had the gift of time with my husband, which I always appreciate.

Today is a gift you can give to yourself.

Just Be...

 

In some previous years of my I Ho Chuan, I have taken on a requirement of mindfulness. One year was mindful walking, another was mindful hugging, and yet another was mindful eating. This year a requirement was a gratitude journal. So how do these tie together? I guess that’s a silly question, as being mindful guides us to gratitude.

I am mostly mindful when I take the dog for a walk. He meanders a lot, and sniffs even more. So it gives me time to just be. I can take moments to centre myself, to feel the earth’s energy and how everything is connected. I can be thankful for the sun on my face, the breeze at my back, and the world around me.

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to practice both mindfulness and gratitude at the same time. I took my husband’s aunt out to run errands. At 84 years old, she is still funny and full of life, even though life has slowed her down. I took the time to shut off everything and to just be in the moment with her. And I am grateful for her, for taking me in as her “niece” and to be a part of her life. She has a lot of wisdom to share, and I am thankful that she chooses to share some with me.

Our world is so busy, and we forget to stop and just breathe. We need to stop and appreciate what we have for we never know when it might be gone. And with the events of this week in our Kung Fu family, yesterday was exactly what I needed.

I Ho Chuan

 

I have been a part of the I Ho Chuan program for all except 2 years. And both of those years that I was not a part of, I felt somewhat lost. The IHC gives me more purpose, and an extra layer of accountability, both to myself and my fellow students.

It’s a year of setting goals, making plans to complete them, and taking consistent action. Ironically, this year has been the one where my goals actually shifted throughout the course of this year. I am on track for a few, turned 90 degrees in other directions for a couple of others, and one I am just picking up now.

I join this team year after year to better myself. I want more mastery in my life and I don’t want any regrets when my life is over. I have an idea of the lifestyle I want to be living when I am in my 80’s and if I stop pursuing mastery now, that lifestyle will never materialize. I am grateful for the IHC, and travelling on this journey with some amazing people!

There is no blog.

 

I have been staring at this blank page off and on for the past 3 days and this is all I have so far. But is it really a bad thing? Not if I keep trying to put my thoughts into words that make sense. I mean, while I don’t have a specific topic that I am keen on right this second, doesn’t mean that I have nothing to offer.

One such thought, is a phrase that Sifu Brinker often uses, and it’s one that without being necessarily conscious about, I know I use all of the time.

“Where am I? What am I doing?”

In fact, I thought this very thing as I stared at this blank page, and somehow I was able to push forward. I’m writing a blog to track my journey, and as I think about it, I realize that I had an aha moment this week as an instructor, and that felt really good. And that moment will translate to my training as it directly affects my eye for detail.