I am thankful for:
My husband/ best friend, my children and all of my family,
My Kung Fu family and training with them,
The home that I am privileged to live in, and
The food that I eat.

I am thankful for:
The privilege of an education,
The opportunity to work,
The freedom to vote, and
To make my own choices.

I am thankful for:
The health care that I have access to,
The different therapies available,
Mental health awareness, and
That we are actively fighting the stigma.

I am thankful for:
The country I live in,
The trees that surround me,
The earth beneath my feet, and
The air around me.

I will try not to take these things for granted, and to cherish it all while I strive to live in each moment.

Patience

I spent 3 hours at the Stollery on Saturday night where I was reminded of the value of patience. When our daughter cut her finger in the midst of an art project she immediately had an anxiety attack. We had to be patient while we calmed her down and treated her before we visited the hospital.

I was also impressed with patience displayed at the hospital. The nurses and the doctor were all amazing, but I guess when you are dealing with sick/ injured children and their stressed out parents it’s vital. (On a side note, no stitches were required).

Patience is also important with our training. If we aren’t patient, we can’t make the progress we desire. We have to trust our instructors, and the guidance they give. They have paved the way and have made all the mistakes already. They have the knowledge and experience to provide us with what we need on our individual journeys. They make sure we have a strong base before we can build up our pyramid. And so we need to be patient and not get lost in the race to Black Belt. The Black Belt is not the end, it’s the beginning.

So let’s practice patience. With our training, and with each other

Yoga power

Flexibility is something I don’t have a lot of anymore. But thankfully, Sifu Stoddart’s yoga seminar is a tool that I can use. I am really enjoying this seminar and the time goes so fast.
These seminars are a great way to expand our knowledge and fine tune our training. A big thank you to all the instructors who have led them, and we appreciate your expertise and your time

Tiger Challenge = My Challenge

Yesterday I started playing with my Kwan Do in preparation for the Tiger Challenge. Competing still terrifies me, but I think if I do a creative musical form that might take some of the edge off. In a way, I find this approach funny. Why? Because I don’t think I am very creative when it comes to creating my own form. I do know that the more I get out there the easier it will be. And it’s something that I knew I would have to do. So let’s make the best of it. I can’t wait to see everyone out there!

Where am I?

So where am I at? Lately, there have been highs and lows. I have felt a lot of anxiety and stress over school - specifically our daughter going to university. I have worried a lot about how she will cope and adapt, and how we as parents can help while at the same time giving her ample opportunity to grow as an adult. That’s way harder than I ever thought. And so with the extra stress, my body has been in a lot more pain, I have had less sleep because of that, and my training has taken a little hit. However, that being said, I feel good after the first week of our Kung fu classes. A lot of faces that were missing over the summer have returned and there are some new ones too. I cherish the reconnection and love making them with the new kids.

So where am I at? Somewhere in the middle I guess. Right now, the negatives are balanced by the positives and I can’t complain about that.

So fresh!

The kwoon is clean, and feels kind of new. It took the work of a team and someone to lead the way. It is an amazing feeling to put your own sweat into the school, and to train in it after makes it more special. I feel grateful to everyone who helped out and organized. And for those who couldn’t make it, we missed you.

Good luck to everyone in your first week of school! Can’t wait to see you on the mats!

I am aware of where my mind is right now, but I am also aware that I need to blog. Even though I would rather put it off until I know I can say something positive and relevant. My mind has been in the past today. And while reflecting on the person I am missing tremendously, I was reminded of a question that someone in a similar situation asked me a little while ago. She asked if grief ever gets better, and I answered as best as I could at the time. But as I continued to think about it, I realize that my answer should be that it changes. It doesn’t go away, but it does change.

Everything changes. The seasons, trends, relationships, jobs, circumstances, as well as points of view. But our Kung Fu changes as well. Or rather the journey does. My body cannot perform like it could 10 years ago, and I could mourn that. Or I can cherish where I am at now, and make the most of it. There is so much depth to Kung Fu, and so much that I still want to learn. So what do I do? I need to push myself when I can, and reflect more when I cannot push myself.

So on days like today, when I would just love to build a cushion fort and hide, I will push myself and do what is should be doing. Cherishing what I have and trying to stay in the moment.