It started with no shoes

I work downtown, and when I leave the building at lunch, I enjoy people watching. We wonder where they are off to, marvel at the interesting outfits, and smile at the busyness. However, one day last week, a man strolled by, and it took a few seconds to realize that he wasn't wearing shoes. That started a conversation about the homeless/ or less fortunate, and what is out there for help, but really it's not about just giving someone shoes, or clothes to help them stay warm(although that does help). It boils down to mental illness, a lack of resources, and the stigma that surrounds it.

We had the opportunity to perform a lion dance for the Rotary Run for Life yesterday. Each year it is a blessing to be able to support the suicide prevention program in our community. We need to be brave enough to ask if someone is suicidal, and we need to be strong enough to help ourselves and others get past the stigma.

So how do we get past the stigma? The first step, is to learn more and to talk about it. Talk about it until you are comfortable with it. Mental illness affects more people than we can imagine, but it's invisible, so it's easy to ignore. But I know, that with empathy and compassion, we can make a difference.

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I'm not complaining

I have to start this with an apology. I am really sorry team, but I just cannot do the dragon dance. My little stint in it last class has been bad for my ankle ever since. It stinks, because it was fun. But I can still Buddha!

It has been a stressful week, and it will slowly lighten up, so that's a good thing. It just makes it a little more difficult to stay in the moment, and it is tiring to be on high alert constantly. But this too shall pass.

I am looking forward to classes starting up again, and getting back into that groove. Funny since it's only been a week, but it feels like a really long time. Anyway, thanks to everyone who contributed to the renos, and to those who supported it! It looks fantastic!

See you all on the mats...

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Fresh start

Everything year at this time we have the opportunity to have a fresh start. We close the kwoon for a week, do that we may put things back in order, clean things really well, and out our own selves into the place that we train. It's a humbling experience, and a blessing to do so with all of the other students.

It's also a new start for the kids going back to school. For some, it's going back to your friends in the same surroundings as last year, and the. For others it's strife with anxiety as they enter a whole new school.

No matter what, when you wake up each day, try to remember that it's a brand new day, with a whole new start. Put on a smile, take a deep breath, and it will all come together. Yes, it can be tough, but know that you are tougher than what the new start will bring.

Our attitude sets the stage for things to come.

 

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A lesson learned

Oh, where to start. I had a blog written in my head as I was trying to sleep on Friday night, but alas, it's gone now. I waited too long, and maybe next time I should just get up and write my thoughts down before they sail away.

Anyway, I hope I can articulate my thoughts here. I had the opportunity to attend a Gossip and Slander seminar thing at work on Friday and it was better than I expected. ( I call it a seminar thing because I think it was supposed to be a workshop, but it was more of a talk than anything). I dint have any expectations when I went in, and sometimes that's the best way to experience something. You don't have any preconceived notions or opinions to interfere. You have an open mind, and that is a wonderful thing.

One of the points the speaker said, was that every day, every moment we are changing the world around us. It might be good or bad, but it's happening whether we are aware or not. He also mentioned that we have a tendency to label people, and we forget that they have names and are special to someone. Who are we to minimize that?

This talk really got me thinking about our acts of kindness and the impact they really have. It's a small positive difference, but it is twofold. The receiver feels good, and the giver feels even better. One small thing, can change the world. And another thing, is just how big of an impact our words can leave. Good or bad. I am going to leave you with Socrates Test of Three.

Legend says that one day the great philosopher came upon a young man who ran up to him excitedly and said:

"Socrates, do you know what I heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."

"Test of three?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test of is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," said the man. "Actually I just heard about it."

"Alright," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second test, the test of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

So," Socrates continued. "You want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued." You may still pass though, because there is a third test - the test of usefulness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well " concluded Socrates, if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed, left.

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Back to square one

I had the pleasure Friday night of having my 3 year old nephew over for a sleepover. It's been a while since mine were that young, and I didn't realize how much my family has evolved over the years. He was into everything when I thought we had "child-proofed" my place. Definitely an eye opener for me. But don't get me wrong, I loved having him over, and will do it again.

This brought me back to my training. Sometimes I forget what being a white belt was like. Everything is new and exciting, and there is so much to learn. Now, I mostly find myself focussing with my eye for detail, on the minute things, and forget what it was like to start fresh. It's a completely different mentality now than as a white belt.

There are so many techniques that I take for granted. I don't have to think about them, I just do. I need to find a way to keep that white belt frame of mind in front of me more often. Learning Kung Fu is a gift, and an even bigger one is learning at Silent River. The best second family ever! And the cool thing is, that family is always evolving too. With promotions, and new faces, it's a place that I take comfort in, and I appreciate all those who enter.

 

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Time

Finding the balance between, work, family, Kung Fu and me time, can be challenging sometimes. Only sometimes though, as me time tends to include Kung Fu and family. It's interesting how Kung fu is both something we share as a family, and it's also something just for me.

I am on my own unique journey, and yet I share it with my family and my Kung Fu family, so I am never alone. I am blessed to be where I am right now, and to have so many like minded and amazing people around me. If I look back to when I first started, I didn't imagine where my life would lead, or how much it would change for the better.

I have ups and downs, as we all do, or maybe it's more like hills and valleys, and finding that straight line can be hard at times. But the key is to never give up, reach out for support, and smile at your heart as often as you can.

Have you ever sat on the grass, closed your eyes with your face at the sky, and just felt the sun shining it's warmth on you? For me, that makes me smile, inside and out. It feels like a warm embrace, which helps me find my centre, and to move forward.

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Warm fuzzier and such

Saturday was really great. The energy from the crowd at the parade was very positive, and then the time together at Mr. Duncan's was truly great. I'm not usually one for big get together's, but this was very comfortable for me. You guys are awesome..

I do however, need to learn more about anxiety and the need to keep it front of me all the time. It can very easily turn your thoughts into a runaway train, which is very difficult to stop. Triggers aren't necessarily explainable, and putting those thoughts into words can be really hard. Then guilt can creep in, because a person may be very aware that their response doesn't make sense, but yet they can't control it. It then becomes a cycle, that has to run its course until the pressure dissipates, and things slow down again.

Dealing with someone who suffers from anxiety requires compassion and empathy. We need to remind ourselves that for the person with anxiety, it's a challenge they are faced with everyday. It's a mental illness and we need to have their trust that we aren't passing judgment. That it's ok, and we support them.

I think that at SRKF, we have an environment that supports those with anxiety, so it's a very safe place to try to push yourself without any consequences.

 

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