I’m not Acting, I am just pretending

I have been Acting Supervisor for two weeks now. I have the title, but really no authority. I can make the most basic decisions, and all others still have to be run through the big cheese. That’s alright though, as that part gives me less stress. But overall, the day to day stress is getting to me.

I am not going to go into details, as that would just be boring. There is always some stuff we would rather not have to deal with, but have to. I am thinking that this position has been giving me migraines though. Not my typical ones, but with the pain and sensitivity, I am sure that is what is going on.

One of my future bosses in Health Services had mentioned to me that Acting will give me some extra experience, and that moving to their unit will also give me more so in the future I can move into a higher position. But frankly, I am really not sure that is what I want. I like not having the extra stress associated with a higher position. My life is busy, and it satisfies me. I think I will leave any future Supervisor/ Manager positions for the others.

I am excited to be moving to Health Services in the next month or so. It is something that has always interested me, and while it is intimidating to start something new, I can’t wait.

For the love of...

Teaching.

Yesterday was our annual forms seminar. I have attended them as a cue belt, and as black belt, and I have to say that the learning never stops.

Teaching a form to a someone different, always offers me a new and fresh way of looking at things. And since we all learn differently, and teach differently, there is always great gains ( in my opinion).

We had 8 students, and while it was a good number for the kwoon, I was a little saddened that there weren’t more taking advantage of this opportunity. Oh well, next year.

What was pretty neat though, was that there was only on student who had attended a forms seminar before. It was truly great to see all those eager faces, and I really hope they got something valuable out of it. I know I did.

Tree Hugger

Children of the fragile forest gather around
Where bird song seems to be the loudest sound
A place called Summer, green as you could please
A place where we all proudly hug the trees.

Hug trees for the walnuts and sweet apples
For the shade above small country chapels
For giving squirrel and crow a place to live
For the priceless gift of oxygen they give.

Follow your feet across a woodland floor
Beneath the tall and ancient sycamore
Under redwood, under tall blue pine
Come with me and form an endless line.

Join the boy whose name is simply ME
Take your turn and hug a mighty tree
A wish we cast upon an August breeze
A dream to cross the seven sacred seas.

Release it now, just like a big balloon...
A prayer to reach the mountains of the moon
To citizens of Earth alas we say
Go find yourself a tree to hug today!

And if a grownup says Don’t be a fool!
Or Is that what they’re teaching you in school
Just find this poem and read this simple rhyme
It’s cool to HUG a TREE from time to time!

Children this is how the world can be
Making Earth plan A and not plan B
Wear Change! Share Change! Sing Change! Bring Change
And start by hugging a tree!


Todd-Michael St. Pierre

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.