Responsibility in Giving Back
I feel I am a very fortunate person, in my family, my kung fu, my work, my friends, and overall in my life.
That doesn't mean I don't face challenges, or have bad days. I have lost people I am very close to, and everything is not always sunshine and roses.
But... I am fortunate for all that I have. In this instant gratification world, I think we all need to step back and take a few minutes to look deep at what we do have, and take some time to appreciate it.
Instead of wanting for what we don't have, take gratification in what we do, and work to keep it.
Not all are as fortunate. Sometimes it is not to be blamed, or could have been helped. But maybe it can change, and that change could come from a small gesture of a stranger.
I believe it is my responsibility to give back where I can. It doesn't always need to be with money, it could be my time, or simply a kind word or gesture.
I am consistently working on a better me. I am me, and I can always be better. Some things may be very minor, some like a mountain to climb, but more importantly, even a small step forward to my better me, is still progress in the right direction.
See you all on the mats!
Pushing on and pushing up....
Sunday, 23 February 2020
Monday, 17 February 2020
Inspiration
This past week has been full of inspiration for me.
As I had said last week, I was feeling pretty down for forgetting a form, as I had not practiced it in a long time.
From the inspiring messages I received, and helping me to realize that even the best of the best forget from time to time, only inspired me more to work harder.
Although I was down about it, it was a valuable lesson to learn. And that is what it is all about, take something not so positive and turn it into a positive.
I am happy to report that I did put in a lot of reps this week, of all of the school forms that I have learned so far, including the broad sword form, that I learned last year in I Ho Chuan. It feels great, and even better that I had not forgotten per se, but had put to the back of my mind, as I had brought others forward.
I realize now, that although I may be working on a new form, or trying to build up more reps in another form, that the roots are not to be forgotten or put away for too long. This will now become part of my weekly reps with at least 2 of each form, as it should have before, I know, but never too late they say. Hard lesson learned.
Another great inspiration for me this week was my husband. He stepped up and in his dad's memory, donated blood for the first time. I know you all know this from his blog, but here is what you don't know. He is terrified of needles! As a child he had to go through many tests, and years of needles after being diagnosed with Asthma, and has hated them ever since.
I am so very proud of him, for pushing through, and pushing aside his fears, to follow in his dads footsteps. He is an inspiration, that I am proud to call my husband.
Happy Family Day Everyone, see you on the mats!
Pushing on and Pushing Up
As I had said last week, I was feeling pretty down for forgetting a form, as I had not practiced it in a long time.
From the inspiring messages I received, and helping me to realize that even the best of the best forget from time to time, only inspired me more to work harder.
Although I was down about it, it was a valuable lesson to learn. And that is what it is all about, take something not so positive and turn it into a positive.
I am happy to report that I did put in a lot of reps this week, of all of the school forms that I have learned so far, including the broad sword form, that I learned last year in I Ho Chuan. It feels great, and even better that I had not forgotten per se, but had put to the back of my mind, as I had brought others forward.
I realize now, that although I may be working on a new form, or trying to build up more reps in another form, that the roots are not to be forgotten or put away for too long. This will now become part of my weekly reps with at least 2 of each form, as it should have before, I know, but never too late they say. Hard lesson learned.
Another great inspiration for me this week was my husband. He stepped up and in his dad's memory, donated blood for the first time. I know you all know this from his blog, but here is what you don't know. He is terrified of needles! As a child he had to go through many tests, and years of needles after being diagnosed with Asthma, and has hated them ever since.
I am so very proud of him, for pushing through, and pushing aside his fears, to follow in his dads footsteps. He is an inspiration, that I am proud to call my husband.
Happy Family Day Everyone, see you on the mats!
Pushing on and Pushing Up
Sunday, 9 February 2020
Hard Realization
Last Saturday at open training it ended up to be a real eye opener for me. I learned a hard lesson, when I didn't even realize there was a lesson to be learned. I will get back to this, and hopefully it will makes sense.
Last year when I joined the I Ho Chuan team for the first time, it was a new experience, exciting, and daunting all at the same time. I am not great in front of a crowd, so it also took me out of my comfort zone. I worked very hard on learning a brand new (to me) weapon form, and wanted to 'perfect' a school hand form. I was proud of my accomplishment in learning the new form, and how great the hand form came along. It really taught me the value of repetition, and how important it is. My reasoning at the time to work so hard, was to not make a fool of myself in front of a crowd. Whether it be my team mates, my classmates, and school, or especially a crowd of strangers. Unexpectedly, it actually taught me so much more. In the end, I realized I wasn't doing it for anybody else, I did it for me, to become a better me. Master Brinker is always saying repetition, repetition, repetition, among many other lessons of course, but it really comes down to one thing - Mastery. And mastery will come with repetition at the base. Now, I do know this is a small part of Mastery, but still a part of it.
In working so hard, and putting most of my time towards these 2 forms last year, I learned a hard lesson at the end of the year, and it was really cemented last Saturday. At the end of last year I realized that I had let most of my other forms that I had learned, slide. This bothered me, and I vowed to practice not just the forms I chose to do this year, but all my forms. I made this one of my personal requirements as well.
Last Saturday, I went to help out another team mate on the form they had chosen this year, and I completely blanked. It was a slap in my own face, and really made me realize the importance of a whole. Now what I mean by this is you can focus on a part, but it is only that, a part. I need to keep the focus on the whole, and I did not do that last year. I know I felt the affects at the end of last year, but this really made me realize the damage I had caused to myself, and my training.And it fells like a backwards step in my journey to Mastery.
Now, I do realize that I know this form, and only need to run through it a few times to remember it, but, I also know that my technique will be far below where it should be, and therefore, will be starting from scratch.
Previous to joining I Ho Chaun, I realize now, that I had left my training up to my instructors, and my classes, for the most part. When I practiced outside of class, it was usually practicing what we had worked on that week. And week to week, we would learn different things, new forms, new techniques, and that is what I focused on. Now don't get me wrong, I knew, and know it is up to me on what I get out of everything, and thought I was soaking it all up, but realize now, I feel like I was coasting, and not really soaking up all that I was given the opportunity to. This has bothered me greatly in the last week, but I also think it is a fantastic thing. For if we can not get a lesson from everything we do, including learning from our own mistakes, than why are we doing this? I have my answer, and look forward to the continued journey it will take me on.
This is up to nobody but me, what a hard realization I have learned.
See you all on the mats - pushing up, and pushing on.
Last year when I joined the I Ho Chuan team for the first time, it was a new experience, exciting, and daunting all at the same time. I am not great in front of a crowd, so it also took me out of my comfort zone. I worked very hard on learning a brand new (to me) weapon form, and wanted to 'perfect' a school hand form. I was proud of my accomplishment in learning the new form, and how great the hand form came along. It really taught me the value of repetition, and how important it is. My reasoning at the time to work so hard, was to not make a fool of myself in front of a crowd. Whether it be my team mates, my classmates, and school, or especially a crowd of strangers. Unexpectedly, it actually taught me so much more. In the end, I realized I wasn't doing it for anybody else, I did it for me, to become a better me. Master Brinker is always saying repetition, repetition, repetition, among many other lessons of course, but it really comes down to one thing - Mastery. And mastery will come with repetition at the base. Now, I do know this is a small part of Mastery, but still a part of it.
In working so hard, and putting most of my time towards these 2 forms last year, I learned a hard lesson at the end of the year, and it was really cemented last Saturday. At the end of last year I realized that I had let most of my other forms that I had learned, slide. This bothered me, and I vowed to practice not just the forms I chose to do this year, but all my forms. I made this one of my personal requirements as well.
Last Saturday, I went to help out another team mate on the form they had chosen this year, and I completely blanked. It was a slap in my own face, and really made me realize the importance of a whole. Now what I mean by this is you can focus on a part, but it is only that, a part. I need to keep the focus on the whole, and I did not do that last year. I know I felt the affects at the end of last year, but this really made me realize the damage I had caused to myself, and my training.And it fells like a backwards step in my journey to Mastery.
Now, I do realize that I know this form, and only need to run through it a few times to remember it, but, I also know that my technique will be far below where it should be, and therefore, will be starting from scratch.
Previous to joining I Ho Chaun, I realize now, that I had left my training up to my instructors, and my classes, for the most part. When I practiced outside of class, it was usually practicing what we had worked on that week. And week to week, we would learn different things, new forms, new techniques, and that is what I focused on. Now don't get me wrong, I knew, and know it is up to me on what I get out of everything, and thought I was soaking it all up, but realize now, I feel like I was coasting, and not really soaking up all that I was given the opportunity to. This has bothered me greatly in the last week, but I also think it is a fantastic thing. For if we can not get a lesson from everything we do, including learning from our own mistakes, than why are we doing this? I have my answer, and look forward to the continued journey it will take me on.
This is up to nobody but me, what a hard realization I have learned.
See you all on the mats - pushing up, and pushing on.
Monday, 3 February 2020
Great Start
Year of the Rat - It has been a Great Start!
I must say I am happy with the way this year is starting strong out of the gate. Being my second year in I Ho Chuan, I took some time to reflect on my first year, and have come up with ways to improve on the not so successful parts of the year. Failure I have learned in life is a great thing, as long as you learn something from it, and can turn it into a positive.
A couple of key points I did learn was slow and steady, and no matter how bleak the outlook, don't give up. Life happens, and no day is ever the same. But, everyday is a new opportunity that awaits. Take advantage of each and every one of them.
I also learned a lot about my physical well being, and some limits on my body. Being mature (we'll call it that) in life, I definitely have some limits I did not have 20 years ago, and did learn the hard way. I found I could not do push ups all at one time! My wrists were in tensors for days, with very painful movement. So, comprise and slow down. Instead of all at once, I now spread my push ups throughout the day. Sit ups are easier, but again all at once makes for a painful back ache. Again comprise, recalculate, and adjust. I have made some adjustments due to injury and age, but I feel good about what I accomplish, and believe I am on par with my goals. I also now take advantage of the slower life days, and pad numbers on those days. No matter how hard we try and plan, days are going to come that there isn't enough hours in the day to get everything done.
We as a family have also incorporated taking advantage of our Leisure Center in Spruce Grove. We now make it a part of our Sunday to walk/run our 2 kms, and spend some time in the gym on the exercise equipment, and weights. They even have a wonderful room that is perfect for doing forms (and you don't have to worry about running into a couch in the living room!) I am quite enjoying these new Sunday starts, and feel very accomplished once done! And of course its a pad the numbers day, which is never a bad thing.
The key for me to remember (as again learned the hard way last year) is to not lose the momentum. As the year carries on, keep it constant and steady! I feel I took away some very important tools from last year to making successful strides in this year. Attend classes, lean on each other, and don't be afraid to admit when struggling. That is the most wonderful part of this team - we have each other's backs, and we are there to support each other in the good, and in the not so good.
As the excitement of the New Years banquet is now waning, and the year is in full swing, I very much look forward to the year ahead. The goals, the wins, the challenges and the solutions to be brought upon us.
See you all on the mats fellow Rats!
I must say I am happy with the way this year is starting strong out of the gate. Being my second year in I Ho Chuan, I took some time to reflect on my first year, and have come up with ways to improve on the not so successful parts of the year. Failure I have learned in life is a great thing, as long as you learn something from it, and can turn it into a positive.
A couple of key points I did learn was slow and steady, and no matter how bleak the outlook, don't give up. Life happens, and no day is ever the same. But, everyday is a new opportunity that awaits. Take advantage of each and every one of them.
I also learned a lot about my physical well being, and some limits on my body. Being mature (we'll call it that) in life, I definitely have some limits I did not have 20 years ago, and did learn the hard way. I found I could not do push ups all at one time! My wrists were in tensors for days, with very painful movement. So, comprise and slow down. Instead of all at once, I now spread my push ups throughout the day. Sit ups are easier, but again all at once makes for a painful back ache. Again comprise, recalculate, and adjust. I have made some adjustments due to injury and age, but I feel good about what I accomplish, and believe I am on par with my goals. I also now take advantage of the slower life days, and pad numbers on those days. No matter how hard we try and plan, days are going to come that there isn't enough hours in the day to get everything done.
We as a family have also incorporated taking advantage of our Leisure Center in Spruce Grove. We now make it a part of our Sunday to walk/run our 2 kms, and spend some time in the gym on the exercise equipment, and weights. They even have a wonderful room that is perfect for doing forms (and you don't have to worry about running into a couch in the living room!) I am quite enjoying these new Sunday starts, and feel very accomplished once done! And of course its a pad the numbers day, which is never a bad thing.
The key for me to remember (as again learned the hard way last year) is to not lose the momentum. As the year carries on, keep it constant and steady! I feel I took away some very important tools from last year to making successful strides in this year. Attend classes, lean on each other, and don't be afraid to admit when struggling. That is the most wonderful part of this team - we have each other's backs, and we are there to support each other in the good, and in the not so good.
As the excitement of the New Years banquet is now waning, and the year is in full swing, I very much look forward to the year ahead. The goals, the wins, the challenges and the solutions to be brought upon us.
See you all on the mats fellow Rats!
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