It’s coming...

With another grading coming up, I have been reminiscing about my test in 2008. And while I have graded for my second and third degree since then, nothing compares to my grading for first degree black. It’s a day that you will never forget.

Remember that it’s your journey, and that you will travel your own path. Maybe you need an extra year before you challenge the drawing, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. By following your path, you won’t have any regrets. But don’t sell yourself short. Anyone can become a black belt, you just have to work hard and consistently. I know you’ve got this!

I’ve brought this up in the I Ho Chuan, but feel it’s worth mentioning again what with school starting and the fact that it’s applicable for any goal.

Black Belt Success Cycle.
Have a goal
Have a plan (and a success coach)
TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION!
Review your progress
Review your goal

Instinct

I started writing this blog with a different topic in mind, but it just didn’t seem to flow right. I see this in many classes I have taught, and I see it when I practice Kung Fu. My inner self either recognizes that I need to change what I am doing and follow where it leads, or that it recognizes the class isn’t meshing with he direction I planned on going.

I see how being adaptable is such an important tool. And it isn’t always easy to adapt. Change hampers many of us as it always seems to carry the unknown. Kung Fu has taught me to roll with things, and I do to the best of my ability. Changing direction, or not fighting back against yourself will ultimately benefit you. Trust your instincts.

Crayola Bomb

“Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with their imagination.”

-Robert Fulghum

I love this quote.  It reminds me that no matter what I am experiencing, no matter which crisis I have in front of me, if I step back and focus on something simpler, more creative, I will be in a better mindset.  Kids live in the moment, and find this easier than us adults.  We need to pull out our Crayola’s more often

Intimidation or Inspiration?

Have you ever been in the same class, course, or workplace where you are forced to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses constantly?  And when I say forced, I mean you can’t help but compare yourself to others and wonder why they are better, or are more deserving of the goal you are both working towards?  

Even though I know better, I do this.  I try to catch myself though, and remind myself of how I have different strengths and therefore bring something else valuable to the table.  In Kung Fu, it can be easy to compare yourself to another student.  One minute you are at the same belt level with the same stripes, and then all of a sudden, they have moved ahead of you.  You wonder why, and you start to question if you are any good at anything.  Maybe you are at the same level, both in a grading year and you question if you are even ready - you’re clearly (to you) not even close to the same level, and maybe you should just resign and try again next time.

The key to overcoming this and something I work on all the time, is to remind yourself that you are unique.  You have your own special gifts and strengths that set you apart.  How boring would it be if we were all good at the same things?  When you decide you aren’t good enough, mediocrity sets in and suddenly things you found easy once are more difficult.  

Ups and downs in our training is natural, but it’s what we do with our attitude that matters.  Once we put our ego aside, and focus on what we CAN do, then our attitude will improve.  Our downs in training are less down, and we start to value what we do bring to those around us.  

You are unique.  You are important.  You are amazing.

Appreciation

Yesterday, my dad celebrated his 70th birthday. It seems strange to me that he has entered his 7th decade already because he just doesn’t seem to fit that number. However, it got me thinking about the future. My dads parents both passed away in their 70’s and so has his oldest brother. If we go by genetics alone, I don’t have a lot of time left with my dad. And I can’t imagine that. We lost my mom 8 years ago, and my dad and I have been pretty close ever since. (My kids have too)

I bring this up as I have been thinking about our legacies - what we leave behind and to whom. Who have we left a positive impact on, how has our kindness improved the lives of those we touch? I have so much more to learn, and yet it’s difficult for me to squeeze very much into my brain at a time. I feel almost an urgency to absorb as many lessons as I can, but yet I know that isn't realistic. Not for me anyway. I just have to focus on learning what I can, so that I can pass it along. Let’s keep Kung Fu going for another 2000 years!

Mindfulness and Moderation

When I eat a meal, I think I am mindful about 40% of the time. Actually, breakfast is when I am most mindful of what I eat.

Lately, my trigger or reminder, is the bowl of fruit on our table. I keep thinking about what it takes to get those apples and bananas here to my home for our consumption. My thought process is something like this. Someone had to plant all those apple trees. Then had to nurture them until they were able to produce. Once the apples were ready to pick, many people would have to be employed to pick them (obviously with some sort of machinery). Then they would have to be sorted, packed and loaded onto a truck or boat depending on where they are coming from. Once they arrive in Canada they need to be further sorted for the many distributors across the country. They arrive at the many stores where more people have to unpack and stock the shelves. And then finally, I come in to buy them.

So these apples have been touched by the earth, the sun, the rain and many, many people before they arrive at my table. How fortunate am I to be able to enjoy these apples? When I eat them, I should be aware of everything it took for me to enjoy their sweetness.

And my other thoughts are about how important agriculture is. How many orchards are there in order to supply our demand? What about everything else we eat? It is so easy to take our food for granted, as it’s so simple to obtain. When I am more mindful of what I eat, I am also more mindful of the quality of my food. What sort of fuel am I putting in my body? Don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for chocolate, and chips and I enjoy the occasional pop. But I’m trying to eat better. Less processed food, and more quality.
More mindfulness.

Is someone sitting on me?

Just when things are looking up, someone sits on you. Or just adds a little bit more to your plate.

We are tested all the time. Our mettle is tested just with life’s curveballs. Tests can be as simple as a change, small or big. It could be added expenses brought on by an unplanned event, or a fallen tree. In Kung Fu, we are tested all of the time. As a student and an instructor. As a student, we are evaluated constantly by our instructors. They need to see where we are, and what we might need to improve. As an instructor, we are tested in our ability to adapt and assist our students. All of it is good, as this is how we grow, how we improve ourselves.

It really, it boils down to how we choose to react. Is this an opportunity? Or is someone just sitting on you?