A Day Late

   It's Monday, not Sunday. Reason I bring this up? I usually write my blog on Sunday mornings, no exceptions, but yesterday was Christmas day, and like usual on that special day, it was go go go all day long. As much fun as I had yesterday with all my family, not blogging yesterday left me feeling incomplete, my mind couldn't rest, my week wasn't over, my Sunday reset and reflection on the week was left open. So my reset in now, Monday morning, it may be a day late but I feel a great relief inside that I sorely need. 

   My focus has been all over the map lately, and not getting my Sunday reset exasperated it. My daily plan/routine has been chaotic, no focus, no agenda, just training randomly. I didn't realize how bad this had gotten until last night. It was like a voice inside me was waving it's arms and shouting "Hey, dumb dumb, you forgot about me". And it was right. I had a routine that was really working for me, I was up early, Tai Chi 1-4, one other form slow with purpose (usually Lao Gar), stretching, push ups and sit ups. Only took half and hours or so, started my day off right. 

   Then I slipped, first one foot off the path, then the other. Now I am heading who knows where, cause I sure don't. I have no morning routine, only excuses. And I have been denying it, saying "just today, give my body a break", then it is two days, then five. Luckily(?) I was journaling everything, and that was devastating, cause there it is, in all it's ugliness. December is basically a write off. Sporadically written logs here and there, vain attempts to regain momentum. I am buried in excuses. I am drowning in mediocrity. 

   But this reset feels like a pointy toed kick in the butt. I have been told to ease up on the thinking about it and focus more on the doing it. Knowledge versus skill. So away I go, first step back on my path, then the next.....

Traditions

    I had a really interesting and thought provoking conversation last night. Deb and I were at her branch Christmas party just chatting away when one of her co-workers sat with us, Jack. He is from China. No big deal, everyone is from somewhere, right? But I took a chance and asked him about China, not knowing if he would think I was "stereotyping" or being an annoying jerk or whatever, but I honestly wanted to get first hand knowledge of what life was like there. At first he was a little standoffish, but after he realized I was honestly interested in what life was like there, he opened up. We talked about food, the media, the village his grandparents live in, Chinese New Year celebrations, the Martial Arts, and so on. It was great. I could have listened to his stories all night long. It was like a little light in my world started to shine on the truth about something, not what the media tells me the truth is, but first hand honest truth. 

   What really struck me as amazing was when Jack was talking about the meals in his Grandparents village, it was basically a communal gathering. Everyone sitting around, sharing the days catch, the days food stuffs, the days stories, interacting with each other, family to family, all as one, no hierarchy, no rich or poor, all equals. Jack said everyone is so friendly, so open, caring about each other.

    This is so foreign to me being from the west. We all sit in our homes, segregated from others, maybe if we are lucky enough, sharing a meal with our family. Can you imagine sitting with everyone in lets say your block or subdivision (I dislike this word subDIVISION), gathering around a large eating area, seeing all your neighbors, talking, interacting, being communal, and eating your meal, EVERY DAY!? Wow, I can only imagine. Even events like our Chinese New Year banquet, we all sit at our tables, mostly keeping to ourselves. And yet within our grasp right across from us might be our next best friend, or someone with an amazing story to tell. And yet we squander those chances, substituting social media for actual human interaction. 

   Well enough of that for now. Tonight we are off to our third Christmas gathering, this time with my side of the family and there should be about 12ish people there and I will talk to each one of them tonight, they are one of my little communities. So are you.

   I know I didn't talk about my Kung Fu much in this blog, and yet I feel I did.

Lookin In

    Self awareness, trajectory, time management, applying knowledge learned, mindfulness, identifying the problem, have a purpose, does this serve me. All things mentioned in Saturday's morning class. I am sitting here thinking about what to do, which one do I think about first? Which one should I prioritize? All are equally important to deserve independent devotion to. And yet, with a little thought, I can see it as one all encompassing thought sequence. 

  Mindfulness and self awareness with a purpose, used with proper time management, can help identify problems in my training and my ability to apply the knowledge I have learned,  showing my trajectory, being positive or not, and whether I am serving myself with my intentions or not. 

   (this is just one way to look at this, others may see it differently)

   The more I read my take on this, the word that stands out the most to me is purpose. Others may see this or interpret this differently, but this is where I am at. 

   What is my purpose? Why am I doing what I do? Am I doing this on purpose with a purpose? Does my purpose serve me? That is going to take some thought. 

One to Remember

     What an epic day, Grading Day December 3rd 2022. It will live on in my memories forever for so many reasons. First the all important shout outs...

Todai Nigel Bauer, you were awesome, thank you for being my 5 techniques partner, I couldn't have asked for a truer and better partner. I can't say enough about what you assistance means to me, you are what Kung Fu is to me.

Other candidate's partners, you rocked, we couldn't have done this without you, Todai Lee and Todai Ferris, hats off to you.

Follow candidates, awe inspiring, all of you. No quitting, all out, smiles all around, you are a great group, your energy throughout the day kept me going, your successes were magnificent to see.

 To everyone who wished us success, we fed off that positive energy. Thank you.

And of course, the Grading Board. I can't imagine the stress and effort the 7 of you put into making this the day the day it is. Every detail, every aspect, carefully crafted to help us succeed. Your time and dedication to this is unmatched. A finer group of humans does not exist, I bow to you , thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

 

    I am going to relive this day over and over, so much knowledge was given to us, it will take years to process and apply. Yes I am physically and mentally spent, but the shine on my soul because of this day is undeniable. I am actually having a hard time putting the day into words, so much happened that it may take a while (and a few blogs) to process it all. Much more to follow, just not now, I am keeping this day close to my heart so I can savor it for now, mmmmm Kung Fu.

                                                                 Let the day begin!!

 

                                                                 But first, a smile.

 

         

                                                                Epic Day, done!!