Sunday, September 29, 2019

Day 234 - I like to analize part 2

Numbers

   So here we are on day 234 of 365 in the Year of the Pig. That's 64%ish done, 36% left. My question to myself is, "Self, are you going to succeed this year with your mandatory AND personal requirements, and if not, why?". So here are my up to date current numbers on the year for all to see.

   
Mandatory requirements


1 - No Quitting   Still here!

2 - 50000 push ups  38,140/50000 = 76% ( on track )

3 - 50000 sit ups   38,351/50000 = 77% ( on track )

4 - 2 forms X 1000 reps each
          - hand form 302/1000 = 30% ( way behind but still achievable )
         - weapon form 400/1000 = 40%  ( way behind but still achievable )

5 - 1000 rounds of sparring   325/1000 = 33%  ( way behind but still achievable )

6 - 1609km journey   Completed Aug12   ( still journeying but now just for fun )

7 - 1000 Acts of Kindness   Completed Sept 24   (  Still kinding but that's me )

8 - mend a relationship   Have mended several and am better for it

9 - journal once a week   obviously! 

10 - at least 3 public appearances  
        - 1 farmers day parade
        - 2 canada day demo
        - 3 agro society demo at Spruce Grove grain tower

11 - learn to lion dance   I am and always will be a tail, and I love it!

12 - Tiger Challange   Wasn't one but watch out next year !

13 - Miss no meetings   The only ones I missed were excusable, life happens

14 - excel in curriculum   I read and review regularly, excelling is not for me to judge

15 - help with school projects   reno week, potatoe bake, check!

16 - learn mastery   voice recorded myself reading it and "we" review it regularly 

17 - Adopt a driveway   soon
     - kwoon maintenance  check
     - raise $20000 as a team   break-a-thon  soon
     - all projects and initiatives   trying to stay as involved as others will let me



Personal Requirements

I have 7 personal requierments, 6 are doing somewhere between okay and awesome. The 1 that I haven't undertaken yet is a conundrum, learning to properly swim ( lessons, not just goofing around, I can swim ). I see it's value, understand it's not huge but still I have no desire anymore to do it. Do I consider this to be a failure, no, I consider it to be a choice. I know that undertaking this will be physically demanding in ways that I don't think my old body will adapt to. I do not want to take the chance of damaging/over working my wrists, shoulders and hips any more than they already are. I am not as pliable as I once was and need to be realistic as to the limitations of my body. Maybe by easing into this requirement over an extended period of time and not rushing so I can fill a check mark in a column is the way for me to do this.

   Those are my numbers so far, please share yours.




I Ho Chuan  "Righteous and Harmonious Fist"

Sunday, September 22, 2019

In Awe

   It continues to amaze me the knowledge and skill of the fine people at our school. Every where I turn, anyone I ask, there just seems to be a higher level of awareness, a deeper understanding of life and a stronger connection with what is important in life in the individuals that make up our school.

   Yesterday at the "purity and strength" seminar, Sifu Cosgrove talked about our posture and how it relates to basically everything we do. She got us to do a form while consciously correcting our lower back by "tucking" in our sacrum. I felt like a white belt. I was all over the map, foot placement went out the window, strikes where weak, I wobbled like a wet noodle. WOW. I had no idea I was that disconnected from my posture. Total eye opener. Thank you Sifu, another step on the path.

  This just goes to show my point. The expertise of the instructors in our school goes so far beyond just Kung Fu. I bet if I where to sit down and talk to every instructor in our school, I would see a group of individuals that is changing their corner of the world by sheer force of will and attention to details. Awesome.

   Gets me to asking myself, "self, what are you doing to be a positive force in this beautiful world?". Am I bettering my corner of this world, am I doing all I can to make a positive difference, is my footprint on history soft and unnoticeable or deep and lasting?  We will see.


   No number this week (but they are on track and rolling along), just thoughts.



Sunday, September 15, 2019

Time Well Spent

   So this blog started with me thinking about yesterdays "potato bake", and had led me somewhere else.

   As we where sitting and socializing, Master Brinker started something that really moved me. He got us all in a big circle and got us to introduce ourselves to each other. Now, I already knew almost everybody there, but WOW, sometimes you forget or take for granted things in your life. This HAMMERED it home for me.

   To hear the length of time that most of the students have been there says something about our school. Where else in your life have you been with a group of like minded people, doing the same (ish) sort of thing, traveling on the same (ish) road, reaching for the same (ish) goal? Some of our fellow students and instructors are talking about decades of their life that they have dedicated to this amazing school and art, decades! Some of the younger students have been going there for most of their life, HOLY SMACK! What a great way/place/opportunity for us to realize that the world is actually a great place, with hope and empathy on every corner. What a great place to help us become better just by showing up for class, EVERY class. What a great way to empower all of us with the skills and confidence we need to succeed.

    The luxury being afforded to us by Master Brinker can not be measured, it can not have a dollar amount placed on it. It is actually priceless. It is immeasurable. The values, the compassion, the comradery, the friendships, the journey to mastery, I could go on and on ( I usually do ), absolutely priceless.

   This is an amazing group of people and I am better for knowing every one of you. Thank you for letting me and my family be a part of something great. Thank you Master Brinker and ALL of the instructors at Silent River Kung Fu, your commitment to the art of Kung Fu is truly amazing and unequaled.
 

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Schedule

   Schedule, simple word, simple idea, simple to create, HARD to follow.

   Now that summer is in its death throws ( sorry for that ), it is time for me to pick up where I left off in May when the weather dictated the day. When you are young, summer is outdoor activities, camping, time to relax. When you are and adult ( old ), summer is projects, cleaning and preparing for that other season we all love ( why live here if you don't? ). I have made the best of the VERY short summer weather by getting as many outdoor projects done as I possible could. Normally I would just choose random things to do and be content with the results, not this year. Being on the IHC team, I needed to make a plan with the intention of completing it and showing the results. Sounded simple in December when I made my list. Now it's September and I look at my list and I can honestly say I as very pleased with what I accomplished. Our backyard has never looked better. I am truly ready for winter, all that's left is to pick the apples and get the shovels out.

   This takes me back to my "schedule". I knew the summer would change my routine/schedule as Mother Nature doesn't seem to care if I need a dry day here or there, so as the old saying goes, "make hay when the sun shines", so a sunny dry day meant get outside and get busy, numbers later. Well now that Fall is right around the corner and my outside work is done, time to pick up where I left off in May. Easier said than done.

   I look at the number of days gone in the year and see the number of days left. 213 gone, 152 left.  Where did the time go? Is there time to finish my numbers? Of course there is! The only impediment to that goal is me, not time. If I truly want to achieve a successful year and complete my goals, only I can make that happen. So back to my routine and success, time be damned.  





"Make hay when the sun shines"

"To act while an opportunity exists; to take action while a situation is favorable."

"There is no time like the present" 

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” The Empire Strikes Back




Numbers   Day 213 of the Year of the Pig   ( 152 left!!   )

Sit ups   35,306  On Schedule

Push ups   34,998   On Schedule

Sparring   295   Yikes

1609KM   1837.69   Completed 👍😊

AOK   931   On Schedule

Hand Form   255   Yikes

Weapon Form   349   Yikes


Sunday, September 1, 2019

Move it

   As summer comes to a wet and soggy close, I feel the Canadian panic of winter approaching. 6+ months of cold and snow. 6+ months of short days and long nights. 6+ months of forced furnace air instead of a gentle breeze from the window.  I had such grand plans this summer, so many projects in the yard I wanted to get done, so many rounds of golf to play, so many family BBQs and backyard fires. Well so far I have got 1 2/3 backyard projects completed out of 3 ( 2 out of 3 sheds cleaned and 1 fence built ), 0 rounds of golf, 0 backyard BBQs and fires. I know we still have a monthish of summer like weather left, but Mother nature keeps raining ( LITERALLY ) on our parade. I have the next week off work so I am going to spend the entire time trying to get the work done before I need to exchange the lawn mower for the snow blower. At least that means the Skiing season is just around the corner!!

   Reno week. I love reno week. It is sooooo nice to get to know your classmates outside of a structured class. To be able to chat with new classmates, learn who they are, this is something I wish we did way more of. Great bunch of people. Thank you to all of you who took the time to show up and make the training hall shine.

   My numbers have slowed dramatically lately for no good reason. No one to blame but me. As I write this, all I want to do is get moving. So.......moving it!