Yesterday

Yesterday was an off day for me. Yesterday was a day that being alone wasn't a good thing, so I was really grateful to be a part of the parade and the lion dance for the demo. It's difficult to be in the moment when my mind is not settled. Unfortunately, while I was a part of our community I wasn't present enough to truly enjoy it nor to truly appreciate my Kung Fu family.

Therefore today, I want to let you all know that I do appreciate all that you do for our school, for each other, and for our community. You are all truly an amazing group of people who accomplish great things every day. We can be strong as individuals but as a group, we can move mountains.

 

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To Meditate

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem.

To meditate means to observe.

Your smile proves it.

It proves that you are being gentle with yourself,

that the sun of awareness is shining in you,

that you have control of your situation.

You are yourself,

and you have acquired some peace.

- Thich Nhat Hanh -

Perseverance and Practice

Perseverance can get you far. We know this right? If you don't quit you can't fail. Mindful and consistent practice will help you grow and succeed.

My oldest daughter proved this yesterday. She has been drawing for years, and spends hours on her days off from school drawing. Many are just on paper, and the rest start on paper and end up digitally. She entered the Allied Art Gallery's High School Art show a few weeks ago, and yesterday came in third for her grade. I think it's nothing short of amazing as it was up against a couple of high schools. (Yes, I am bragging).

Her accomplishment got me thinking about Kung Fu and the I Ho Chuan. If we dedicate ourselves to mindful practice on a consistent basis, there is really no stopping us. Yes, there are always obstacles that will test our patience, our courage, and make us question our ability. Our brains get in the way, and sometimes all we see are the obstacles yet the path is right there in plain sight. But we can do anything that we set our minds too.

And the bonus I see about Kung Fu, and maybe more so Silent River, is that we are surrounded by likeminded people on the same journey. Different paths, but the same journey. We are surrounded by people who have faced the same obstacles, and have overcome them. We have support from both students and instructors alike. If you look, there is always a hand reaching out to hold onto. It's an individual journey but we are never alone.

I feel very fortunate to be training at Silent River Kung Fu, and to be surrounded by so many amazing people.

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Thankful to be a mom

I am thankful. I have been blessed with two amazing daughters. I am thankful for the opportunity to have watched them grow into the young ladies that they are, and I am looking forward to see who they become.

They demonstrate compassion and empathy all the time, even though they may be struggling at the time. They have taught me what it means to love unconditionally and remind me to be a better person today than I was yesterday.

Today, I watched them let go of any inhibitions and just be themselves. Their smiles were joy. Their laughter was contagious. They were completely in the moment, and as teenagers that can be hard to do. They teach me what it means to be a good mom every day. How to listen without judging, how to accept my own shortcomings, how a hug can make things bearable.

I am thankful to be a mom. And I miss mine. I don't think I am as good of a mom as she was yet, but I am striving to get there.

 

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200,000 push-ups

I read an article on CBC about a 65 year old in PEI who has completed 200,000 push-ups this past year.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-danny-mcdonald-200-000-pushups-in-year-1.3553414

I think that's incredible. I thought 50,000 was a lot. It inspires me though, as it reinforces the fact that we can do anything if we set a goal, have a plan and take consistent action.

The black belt success cycle is really the key to accomplishing everything. If you don't have a specific goal, you won't have anything to aim for. Without a plan (and a success coach) you won't have any idea how to get to your goal. It will forever stay in the distance. And then most important is to take consistent action. An all or nothing approach will die out fast. The plan needs to be broken into manageable pieces so that it's easy to stay consistent. Then of course reviewing your progress and your goal along the way keeps you aware of how things are really going. There will be adjustments that will need to be made in order to stay consistent and to keep working towards your goal which may or may not have changed as you evolved over your journey.

Anything is possible if we don't settle for mediocrity.

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Sparring and Earth Day.

I had the opportunity to spar with the advanced black dragons yesterday and I really enjoyed it. It's such a different perspective and gave me a lot to think about. I have never enjoyed sparring, and am not sure I ever will as it gives me a lot of anxiety and stress. However, yesterday felt really good. And the kids are improving all of the time.

I have also been marvelling at the onset of spring. This year I seem to be noticing the gradual increase in green around me. The grass is turning, and the trees are budding. Terrible for all the allergy sufferers though. This brings me to earth day on Friday and our spring clean up at the school and the clean up at Rotary Park on Saturday. It's time to connect by picking up trash, and appreciating the gifts we receive from the earth. Air from the trees, which also provide homes for many. I am thankful for the land we have that provides food, and access to clean water. I hope that by taking time out this weekend, and then carrying it through all year long, we can nurture the earth so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy it.

Earth day is this Friday, April 22. Let's love the earth we have.

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A little less

There was a little less Kung Fu for me this week. But that's ok, as I recognize the ebbs and flows of the journey. Nothing like a couple of migraines and a bunch of stress to slow you down.

At any rate, the Pandamonium is coming up fast. It's an opportunity for us to come together and share our compassion with the world around us. We can make a difference in so many ways, and on May 14 we will. By collecting sponsors for every minute that we are doing Kung fu, we not only raise funds for our 5 charities but we raise awareness in the process. Not to mention Kung Fu for a whole day!

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