Stepping Back

This holiday season has provided me with a good blend of family, friends, rest and relaxation.  But how much rest and relaxation is too much? I know after the holiday season is over, life will resume at its normal and sometimes hectic pace. So even though guilt at not doing or accomplishing much right now tries to creep in, I'm going to continue to enjoy the rest and relaxation and tackle everything else come the New Year. Often a much needed respite is needed from our day to day lives and although I have continued to do sit ups and push ups, it feels like my path to mastery has been halted.

On another note I wanted to comment on my experience of the past couple of months and how nice and friendly everyone is. With the state of our economy, the stress of the holiday season and everything that is going on in the world currently, people still take the time to smile, say hello and behave courteously and friendly towards each other, whether they are known to them or they are complete strangers. I think it's great!

Michele Ward

Gifts and Blessings

Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I love the Christmas carols playing on the radio, all the decorations and lights, and setting up the tree. But best of all is spending the holidays with family and friends. Even though the holidays tend to include a certain amount of stress, some years more than others, it also brings us many gifts to enjoy throughout the season and the the new year to come.

 I'm not talking about the gifts that you unwrap. I mean the gifts that are there for all of us to enjoy.

family
friends
love
laughter
peace
hope
goodwill
fun
sparkle
joy &
magic

Hope you all enjoy a very merry Christmas and happy holiday season!

Michele Ward

Humanity

I very recently read Sifu Vantuil's post about the danish police officer taking the time to play with the young Syrian girl. I was also moved by the video and even more so by the comments. One particular comment which was very negative and I think comes from a place of frustration and fear and it got me to thinking more deeply about the issue.

 The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and the US have left us with feelings of sadness, fear and anger and uncertainty. With the current refugee status and the overwhelming need to find homes for an astounding number of people, we face challenges, and not everyone is welcoming them with open arms. It is easy to get caught up in the fear and the need to protect ourselves, as well as friends, family and our communities. One of the major concerns is our security. The possibility that terrorists will slip in among the refugees and our ability to disinguish between them. Other concerns like housing, feeding, clothing and jobs are valid also and need to be addressed. Fear needs to be set aside and our energy and efforts should be focused on solving the current issues as well as longterm plans and procedures need to be developed and put in place for the future. Everyone in need, current residents and new arrivals should have the same opportunities. One should not be overlooked or sacrificed for the sake of the other. We have the ability to figure this out and make it work.

Can we really turn a blind eye to the suffering of people in need? Do we just pretend it doesn't exist and then leave the solution to someone else? Humanity should be a basic instinct that does not require thought. It is one of the most important tools we have to creating and leaving a better world for our children and future generations to come. Without humanity what do we become?

Michele Ward

Patience

 My daughter and her husband celebrated their marriage with a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico last week. A small group of family and friends were able to join us to be a part of their special day, and although rain and cloud was forecasted for the day of the wedding, we had a perfect day of sunshine and blue skies.

I have always considered myself to be a patient person. I tend to be fairly grounded most of the time and I have the ability to be flexible when required.  Imagine my frustration when I found that my level of patience was noticeably lacking on day one of our vacation. Normally Logan and I travel together just the two of us and although there is flexibility built into our vacation we also have a routine that works for us. Going on vacation with a group of people has its challenges, but the greatest challenge for me was travelling with my dad this time. The three of us shared a room which was beneficial cost wise to both of us. My dad is 80 years old and he has generally enjoyed good health and mobility, but the years are starting to catch up to him and he is beginning to experience health issues related to his age.

Walking anywhere in a huge resort with dad was frustrating right away as his idea of going places involved a leisurely stroll even if we were scheduled to meet up with other people. Apparently I walk too fast. I recognised my lack of patience right away. I didn't like what I was feeling and tried to adjust to the circumstances. Dad gets up 2 - 8 times during the night, so my sleep was not at its optimum. Thankfully Logan is a sound sleeper and he got a good sleep each night. I am grateful that these resorts have qualified and accessible doctors as I was able to get dad in to see the doctor when a health issue presented itself midweek. The doctor was able to prescibe and provide the necessary medication that dad needed. I just had to try and keep him on track with taking the doses and remind him that alcohol was not a good idea while taking medication. The role of parent-child is definitely changing between myself and my dad, and that can be challenging for both of us.

I can look back over the years and remember times when I have had a remarkable amount of patience given the circumstances. When I delve deeper into those moments I realise that I was able to stay grounded and centered because I was living more in the moment, allowed myself to be open and released others and myself from expectations. Stress and anxiety are then decreased and patience is increased. The ability to problem solve is also increased, all while maintaining balance and staying grounded.

Anything or anyone can become a trigger that upsets that delicate balance no matter how relaxed, grounded and easy going a person may be. Awareness and taking action is necessary to reduce stress and anxiety as it occurs. Recognise what is happening, why it is happening and how can you get back on track.

Michele Ward      

Obscurity

I had one of those ah ha, moments recently while reading verse 36 of the Tao. This particular verse talks about the "Wisdom of Obscurity". Its about releasing the need to compare yourself and fit in, and releasing the need to be more, in the eyes of others. Oneness and connection are neccessary in our lives in order to help achieve this. As we reduce and eliminate competition and comparison from our lives, we allow our quiet, gentle strength and the true essence of who we are, to expand.

Although I have understood the concept of everything being connected for many years now, I have struggled with applying that knowledge to myself, which has resulted in feeling disconnected at times. My understanding has definitely grown this year due to many factors and that knowledge has helped me to experience that connection more.

So the question is how do we feel that connection and oneness in our lives? In order to feel and know a particular emotion, we must first have felt the opposite emotion. We can only know sadness if we have previously experienced happiness. If we allow the two emotions to be felt without the connection of its opposite, a disconnect is created and it can leave us feeling out of balance. The awareness and understanding that you can not have one without the other creates oneness and connection. When this is realized the natural flow of energy and balance is restored. With balance and energy is at its optimum the need for competition and comparison is eliminated and we are able to see ourselves as equals. Connection needs to be felt within ourselves as well as with everything and everyone around us.

Michele Ward

My Kung Fu

There is no doubt about it, kung fu is definitely hard work and it can also be humbling. It is a different journey that each one of us takes. When you look around at all the students, you will see some that are physically fit and some that are naturally athletic. Some students learn quickly and some are more coordinated than others. The desire to learn and the ability to understand the concepts being taught and to see the bigger picture also come into play. That is part of what makes the journey different for everyone.

This past week has been extremely frustrating for me. A minor injury and a whole lot of aches and pains has plagued me most of the week. Getting down to the floor for push ups and sit ups was a struggle. Maybe that's what it feels like to be 90? As I was doing my kempo reps over and over during the week, I had this recurring thought of "why can't I get this?"  At this point I don't know that 1000 reps are going to be enough, but I also know that stopping definitely won't get me any closer either. This has been one of those weeks where I'm asking myself if kung fu is right for me. I'm probably one of the least coordinated people and I still have a long way to go to being physically fit. My balance sucks and learning and implementing new techniques is a challenge.

I don't know where kung fu is going to take me, but it is a journey that I am determined to continue on. My experiences have been greater than I ever imagined and I have accomplished more than I thought possible.

Michele Ward

Numbers

Sit ups            1090      (41150)
Push ups         1190      (32850)
Walking          19km     (1149)
AOK's             21          (827)
Kempo            26          (324)
Nunchuks        23          (629)

Dynamic Action

 Either the word dynamic is being used more and more often, or I've just become more aware of it's use. Dynamic can be used to describe someones personality, but more importantly it is our ability to recognise changes needed in the present moment and the ability to take action while in motion. It can also reflect future planned changes that we want to make in our day to day lives and how we consciously adjust and make those changes happen. Dynamic action requires conscious effort and awareness. It also requires that we want and expect more from ourselves. Our actions, our speech and how we go about anything we do in our day to day lives are impacted in a positive way when we apply dynamic action to everything we do.

The year of the sheep is rapidly coming to an end and there is still so much that I want to complete. My year has been very dynamic and I have had many successes. I have made huge changes and accomplished much more than I ever thought possible. I want to be able to take everything that I have accomplished and learned and continue that momentum. Some of the failures are personal goals that should have been easy, but they all provide learning, opportunity for growth and dynamic action.

Michele Ward

Learning

For the past 3 weeks I have been kept quite busy working on my first term project for school. The amount of research, work and learning involved in order to complete this project was overwhelming at times and the light at the end of the tunnel was dim at best. I can now breath a huge sigh of relief as I have finally completed this project and it has been turned in for evaluation. This has been a huge learning curve for me and I have gained a new appreciation for what it takes to be a student and the work involved in the learning process. The next obstacle is my first final exam this week.

The tiger challenge was another opportunity for learning and hard work. It's an opportunity that only comes along once a year. This is a day that members of our kung fu family get together in a fun and safe environment and perform for a panel of judges with fellow students, friends, and family there to support us. Anxiety and nerves are a given for me any time that I get up in front of other people and I know that most of us battle with this to some degree. So congratulations to everyone that took part in the tiger challenge and thank you to everyone that helped to make this day possible. We really had an amazing group of students participating this year from the little ones all the way up to the black belts. Kudos to those of you that really pushed past your nerves and participated in events that were out of your comfort zone. The most exciting for me this year (also huge anxiety) was developing and working on a musical weapon form. I found that tying in the music to the weapon form gave me an increased level of enjoyment and engagement. It was all over way too quickly, but I had fun with it and look forward doing another musical form next year.


Numbers

sit ups            1000 (39,170)
push ups        1120 (30,490)
walking           22k    (1115)
sparring             0        (226)
kempo             10        (290)
nunchuks          2         (600)
Aok's               21        (780)

Michele Ward
 

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I consciously try to not take anything for granted. When I stop to consider every person, place, thing or event that is part of my life, it is easy to feel gratitude for all the gifts that I have been blessed with. Being thankful and having the ability to also appreciate the not so great events in our lives can be very challenging at times. I firmly believe that those negative events ripple out and contain positive energy and outcomes. The positive is there; we simply need to see, feel and be open to the possibilities. Changing the way we think and seeing beyond the obvious can be very challenging, but is so much more rewarding than the alternative. Seeing past the pain, distress of the moment allows us to be mindful and aware of the hidden opportunities and gifts within.

My youngest son Logan is a great example of this. My husband and I had thought and planned to be done at 2 children. An unexpected pregnancy and loosing the baby at just over 4 months into the pregnancy was devastating to both of us.  I remember questioning "why has this happened?" and "what is the purpose?" After some time spent processing we became open to the idea and realised that we both wanted another child.  Logan would not be here today if that tragic event had not occurred first.

I am grateful for everything, every person, place and event in my life. I am especially grateful for my children. They are all special and unique in their own way and I am blessed to have been gifted with each one of them.

Michele Ward

For Better or Worse

Here's a little background first. 8 years ago my husband at the time was given a choice to smoke some crack with a buddy of his and he did not choose wisely. 8 years ago he became a crack addict. When he made that initial decision, he chose the drug over his family. This was his life experience and his path to take. And with the ripple effect it also became the path and experience of those around him for better or worse. It did not matter how hard we all tried to help, he didn't think that he needed any help or that he had a problem. Try to explain that to a 6, 14, and 18 year old.

 After about 4 years of no fixed address and very little contact with family or friends he reluctantly accepted help and went into a rehab program. After getting help he moved to Red Deer where his dad lived and started to rebuild his life. I believe that he had suffered from undiagnosed and untreated depression for a long period of time and still does. His mentality and lifestyle is that of about a 23 year old in a lot of respects. Now he has simply traded the crack for alcohol and pot.

There is a great person underneath all that baggage that he carries around and I know that he loves his children dearly, but at the same time he chooses not to be involved in their lives regularly. Even though we may not see or hear from him for up to 6 months at a time, I am always open to him coming and staying with us so that the kids can continue a relationship with him and it can be done in a safe and healthy environment.

I have learned more about drug use and addictions than I ever thought I would know or wanted to know. I have also learned how closely depression and mental illness can be tied in with addictions.

This past weekend was one of celebration and new beginnings. My daughter and her fiance` were married in their new home on Saturday with a small gathering of family to share in their special day. We celebrated the day with an early thanksgiving dinner that also included my ex husband. I am grateful that my oldest son was able to get his dad to come with him from Red Deer to attend the wedding. As trying as it can be to have him around in my space, it also gives me the opportunity to practise patience, awareness and understanding.

It can be difficult to let go of hurt, disappointment, and anger, but when I look at all of the successes and the positives that have come about for myself and for my children, I am reminded to trust in the journey.


Numbers

sit ups                 890 (35,010)    
push ups             930 (25,875)
walking              27k (1024.9)
sparring              0     (156)
kempo                3     (215)
nunchuks           10    (431)
Aok's                 34    (697)

Michele Ward

Climbing the Mountain

The feeling of great accomplishment comes from not just climbing the mountain, but also from over coming obstacles that we encounter along the way. The more difficult the journey, the greater the feeling of accomplishment is. When I first started my climb there were huge boulders that I needed to navigate through in order to even find the path to start my journey. The path was not always clearly marked in the beginning, But I forged ahead anyways. There have been times when the path has turned and twisted and sometimes I have lost my way. When I loose my way I tend to hide in a cave & contemplate why I'm on this mountain and what I'm doing. And while I'm in that dark lonely place I continue with the sit ups and push ups because there is purpose and routine in doing them. Sometimes this is the only thing that keeps some forward motion going. Even when I venture back outside there is still occasionally a cloud hanging over my head as I continue on. Sooner than later a gentle breeze chases that cloud away and sunshine, blue skies, meadows and the sounds of nature come into focus. Awareness is heightened and effort becomes effortless once more.

I've reached many beautiful lookout points, where my mind is clear, thoughts flow freely, and everything comes into focus. As I gaze upon the vistas before me, understanding and a feeling of being connected to all is strong.  And those thoughts and feelings stay with me as I continue up the mountain. As I discover new ways of living and being, I struggle with incorporating them into everyday life. I have gained vast knowledge and understanding on this journey but I am finding that old habits are hard to break.

I'm not really sure where I'm at on the mountain right now, but I do know that I have reached greater heights than I ever thought possible. The slippery slopes are becoming fewer and farther between. I've learned how important it is to believe in yourself. (Still working on that) Perseverance, commitment and physical endurance are also needed.  Practising mindfulness, awareness, and the ability to adapt as new situations and challenges arise are necessary as well.  Knowing when to stop and rest, taking the time to appreciate my surroundings and being able to look back at how far up the mountain my journey has taken me fills me with gratitude for all that has been and all that is still to come.

I recently stepped back into that dark cave. After a couple of days I ventured out, but I can't seem to get rid of this cloud hanging above my head. I wasn't able to journal earlier this week and am finally doing so now. Thankfully a tiny little seed planted itself in my brain. Unfortunately I find myself very much dependent on sunshine, meadows, and songbirds playing gently in my ear for things to be right in my world. The ego can helpful at times or crippling. Hopefully this journal entry is the catalyst needed for that cloud to dissipate.

Michele Ward

Mindfulness

I was fortunate to be able to take part in a Mindfulness workshop on Saturday that was facilitated by a good friend of mine in Calgary this past weekend. When making the decision as to whether or not to participate, I was able to recognise it as an opportunity and see the benefits to be gained from the experience. Unfortunately I was not able to be in 2 places at once and needed to miss class on Friday night as well as dragon practise on Saturday. 

When I think about mindfulness I see it as consisting of two parts, but still connected to each other and part of a whole. I'm sure that most of us recognise and understand the basic concepts of mindfulness, but some of the complexities of mindfulness can be a bit harder to grasp and practise.

(Part 1) My understanding of the basic concept or definition of mindfulness is to always be in the present moment, be self aware, and conscious of our thoughts, actions, words, and surroundings. 

(Part 2) I see the second part as being in a state of non-judgemental observation. We have awareness and compassion for ourselves, others and the environment. We practise non-attachment and letting go rather rather than being detached. This allows us to be compassionate human beings and stay in a state of mindfulness. The more we practise mindfulness, the greater our ability becomes for adjusting to unforeseen circumstances, and stress. When we learn to go with the flow we become more in tune to the natural energy of the universe and to ourselves.

When i am not being mindful it is because I am thing about something in the past or a future event, or my imagination has taken over. Times of stress, anxiety and depression can be especially difficult. Because life doesn't always go smoothly and according to plan we need some tools to help us in our quest towards mindfulness. 

First we need to recognise and catch ourselves not being fully present. Sometimes that is all that is needed to come back to the present moment. Old habits are not easily broken, so remember to be kind to yourself. Some of the tools or techniques that we can utilise on a regular basis require setting aside some time each day for practise. These tools can help keep us grounded and centered. When we are grounded and centred, we tend to be calmer, more relaxed, less affected by stress and anxiety, and have the ability to think clearly. We also need to have different tools available when we are struggling or find ourselves in a situation where immediate action is required as we go through our daily routines. 

A few of the tools available are:

Breathing exercises - can be done sitting or standing

Saying "Ah" - this is a natural way to relax the body

Mantra - personal and customised to yourself

Walking meditation - can be done inside or outside

Grounding or centering - can be done anywhere

These are just a few of the many tools I've learnt that are available to us. Practise and find what works the best for you in any given circumstance and remember to be kind to yourself. Gradually those old habits will slip away and mindfulness will become more and more present in your life.

Michele Ward

What's up?

In the beginning we all started off strong. I was doing well and was pushing myself. Then I hit a minor road block after a couple of months and missed 2 weeks of blogging. Even though that was an automatic fail I was able to stay motivated and pushed on.  Not only did I continue on, but I pushed myself to keep increasing the number of push ups I was able to do each day. Then we hit the half way mark and while I may be happy with what I have accomplished this far, If I look at the big picture I can see where I'm falling behind. Push ups, forms and sparring need to be addressed. A plan of action has been put into place and my goal is to bring those numbers up to where they need to be.

 So what is the problem? I feel my motivation and follow through is lacking. Is it that I've already failed on more than one requirement that has reduced my motivation? I know that commitment has a lot of importance for me and determination is not some thing that I lack, but staying motivated and on track can be difficult. What causes the breakdown in motivation and follow through?

If we have already failed does that reduce our motivation to continue or do we push on and finish strong? Is it believing in ourselves and what we are trying to accomplish that helps to keep us motivated? I am not the most organised or goal orientated person. I normally like to just go with the flow and my determination is what gets things accomplished when the need arises. It can be very easy to make a lot of excuses as to why we were not able to follow through. 

I know that we need to have the ability to be flexible, We need to focus on our own behaviours and what is in our control and practising awareness and being mindful at all times also helps.

Commitment, determination, motivation, mindfulness, and follow through all play a key role in our success. I don't know what the answer is for me, but I will keep working on it and try to sort things out.

Numbers

sit ups         990      (32,120)

push ups     930      (22,905)

walking      22.21   (922.94)

sparring      0          (156)

kempo        11        (211)

nunchuks    0          (412)

Aok's          22        (609)

Michele Ward

The Great Within

Growing up I was very fortunate to have amazing grandparents. They lived close by and my brothers and I saw them quite frequently. My grandfather and I had a very special bond and he had a way of making me feel that I was special. As a child I was extremely shy and lacked confidence which made our relationship so important to me. He passed away shortly after I graduated from high school. He was a very intelligent man and ahead of his time in many of his thought processes and in the things that he accomplished. Mastery was maybe not something that he consciously strived for, but he was definitely well on his way to achieving.

 I realised many years later that I had learned to rely on outside validation to feel better about myself. Even now I still struggle with confidence and self worth on almost a daily basis. In the past when thinking about myself and greatness, I would not put the two together in the same sentence. I could sometimes see the potential for greatness in myself, but it scared me, and yet excited me at the same time.

When we look at nature all around us, we see greatness everywhere. We marvel at the intricacies and beauty of a flower, the amazing power of a summer storm, the resilience of a blade of grass, or the beauty of a sunrise or sunset. If we were to consciously see and feel the connection between ourselves with everything and everyone in the world, then we would be able to apply the same greatness that we see and feel in nature to ourselves. That very same greatness that can be found throughout the world is also found in each and every one of us. Believe and know that you are great!

 We need to believe and know whole heartily in the greatness all around us and in ourselves. That greatness will inspire and permeate into everything and everyone. What each of us believes will be drawn to us and we will create more greatness. Mastery would become the norm instead of mediocrity. 

Do we need to first surround ourselves with like minded individuals on our journey towards mastery? Or does it start with a simple belief in our own greatness that will change how we live our lives; attracting more greatness and more like minded people to us? 

Michele Ward

Numbers for the week

sit ups              910

push ups          935

walking           26.5         

Aok's               38

kempo             17

nunchuks         5

Rituals

This year for me so far has been one of tremendous growth and yet I feel that I have barely scratched the surface. My knowledge regarding most of the topics I have journal about this year has been with me for quite some time, but this years journey has pulled that knowledge to the forefront. I find my awareness and mindfulness rapidly increasing and I can feel connections being made everywhere. There is still so much more to know, be and accomplish.

I am realising more and more how important it is to recognise everything that is good in my life and all that I am grateful for. I get caught up in the busyness and routine of life, and for chunks of time I forget to consciously have appreciation for everything and everyone in my life and the universe that we are fortunate to live in.

Let's face it, even if we downsize and reduce, we still have busy lives. When you factor in family, children, pets, work, kung fu, volunteering and unexpected events etc. our lives are full and extremely busy at times. All the more reason to incorporate some ritual into our every day lives in order to help us in our quest to be more aware, mindful and appreciative.

I've realised how important and lacking ritual is in my own life. I am now looking for ways to add ritual into my everyday routine. Something as small as starting the day with a thank you for the day ahead, and ending the day with a thank you for all that we were given. I also want to take some time throughout the day to add ritual into my routine. I just don't know what that's going to be yet.

Rituals, ceremony, traditions and customs; these are all extremely important. This is what keeps us grounded, mindful, aware, and creates order and balance. They help to give our life purpose and teaches us to respect the world around us and all living beings. They are the legacies that has been left to us by past generations, which we will continue to observe and expand on for future generations to come.

Michele Ward


Numbers

sit ups           915         (30,220
push ups       1085       (21,040
walking         28.49k   (874.23)
sparring         0            (156)
kempo           27          (183)
nunchuks       31          (407)
Aok's             36          (549)

Time flies!

Another summer is almost over. Where has the time gone? I'm always amazed at how quickly the  days go by. All the more reason to make the most of life and any opportunities that come our way. I think it is also important to sometimes create opportunity instead of just waiting for something to happen. For me it is important to incorporate rest and relaxation into my day, which normally isn't too hard as I do enjoy my down time. Sometimes too much. I look back over the summer and ask myself did I make the most of my time off work, what did I accomplish, did I get rest and relaxation, and did I enjoy those warm summer days? Am I happy with the results? When I think about the answer to that question, it is not a simple yes or no. I would have liked to accomplish a whole lot more as I have not worked since June 10th, but I need to remind myself that rest and relaxation were a necessity. My numbers for the I Ho Chuan requirements are not where they need to be and I know that I can do better, so I need to fix that. I also wanted to get more projects done around the house. If I take a look at what I did accomplish then I would answer yes. I also know that I can't go back and change anything. 

My summer months were spent dealing with the complaint process that is still ongoing with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. I also made some big decisions in regards to work (as of August 17th I am no longer employed) and I have decided to go back to school as a full time student. On September 1st I will start the on- line travel certificate program which will take the better part of a year to complete. Logan and I have been able to get some camping in and had a wonderful vacation in BC with extended family. I've also been able to get together with friends on numerous occasions and Logan has had lots of fun volunteering with the Town of Stony Plain for most of the summer. 

I finally had my thyroid biopsy on August 4th and received results last week. I'm happy to report that there were no cancer cells present. I can finally clear that worry from my mind. 

As a team we have had the opportunity to be a part of some amazing demos, which I have been able to participate in 3 of the 4 events over the summer months. I have also been fortunate to be able to attend all the monthly meetings (one on face time) and most of the Friday classes. The shaolin fitness class has been very enjoyable and I would have participated in more classes if I had been feeling up to them. Thank you again Sifu Brinker for making these classes available to the I Ho Chuan team members and thank you to Sifu Masterson for your amazing instruction.  I have really enjoyed these classes even if it has been hard on the body.

So even though the summer goes way too quickly, all in all if I focus on what was accomplished and everything I was able to do and experience, again the answer would be a resounding yes! I am happy with the results! Reality is that every day, week, month, and year can become a blur. There is a balance between doing to much and spending too much time doing nothing. (relaxation or lazy time) The key is to have balance and remember to stay positive and focus on the successes. At the same time identify what needs to be changed and fix what you have power to,  and let go of what you don't.

Numbers

sit ups           1080 (29,305)

push ups        855 (19,955)

walking         33.24 (874.23)

sparring         45 (156)

kempo            0 (156)

nunchuks       4 (376)

Aok's             39 (513)

Michele Ward

 

Vacation

Logan and I returned home late Sunday night after spending almost 2 weeks in BC. Vacation time is a wonderful break from my regular routine and a great way to recharge the batteries. Our extended family is quite small but with out a doubt we are truly blessed to have the ones that we do. My cousin Brian and his wife, Louise always open up their house to us for as long as we want to stay and you could not find better hosts anywhere. Their home is right on Little Nuttal Bay and is surrounded by nature. Brian is a great role model for my son Logan and is a big kid at heart.When they.re not engaging in serious or silly conversation they go kayaking together, workout and just have fun and hang out together.  At the same time that Logan and I are visiting, Louise's brother and his 3 kids are also there from Kelowna for part of the time. Even with such a full house there is lots of time for fun, games, excursions and time to relax.

My cousin Brian is a pilot with his own plane that he regularly flies out of the Qualicum Beach Airport. He needed to go to the Victoria Airport to pick up a parcel and offered to take Logan and I with him. I'm getting better at doing things that I am not completely comfortable with and took him up on his offer. The scenery is beautiful on the way to Victoria. You get to see the many of the islands off the coast of Vancouver island. I never realised there were so many and I am glad that I went. I am still nervous in that size of air plane, but not enough to not enjoy the experience. On the way back, Brian handed me the controls and I flew the air plane for a few minutes. Lets just say that keeping the plane flying straight is not as easy as one would think. The key is to relax, have control and all that's needed are small adjustments when making corrections, all while being totally aware and in the moment. I only lasted a few minutes as I was very nervous and found it hard to relax so I gladly handed the controls back over to Brian.

Something that we do when staying with my cousin and his wife is say grace before every meal. Even though Logan and I don't practise any particular religion at home, I find that saying grace is beneficial in many ways. It really does get you to stop and be in the moment, it creates space for family, friends, nature, and the world around us, and reminds us to be appreciative of everything. It's a great way to slow down and ground yourself. Some thing that I love, is that as I type this I am seeing all these connections between everything that we constantly talk about and I think wow, that is so cool! I don't know if I'm explaining this clearly, so I hope you know what I mean and what I'm talking about.

After our visit was done we took the ferry over to the mainland and stayed with some more family. Again great hosts and fun times for all. Our last day was spent at the Capilano suspension bridge. Along with small planes, heights are also not high on my list of things to do. Either the pictures in the brochure look a lot scarier or I'm getting slightly better at the whole height issue because I didn't find it to be to bad and we all completed every area of the park and survived. 

All in all, our vacation was a good balance of everything (family, friends, nature, great food and fun). I definitely see the value in surrounding ourselves with people, places and things that support our spiritual, emotional and physical well being. I just need to figure out how to enhance what I have here at home to continue with those feelings of peace, contentment and connection to everyone and everything.

Number for the Week               Michele ward

Sit ups               770

Push ups            715

walking             30.56

Aok's                 35             

Loving - Kindness

Sifu Brinker and I recently had a conversation and one of the things that we spoke about was meditation. I am wanting to add some regular meditation to my life to help with some depression, anxiety, and stress. While meditation is beneficial on many levels, Sifu Brinker pointed out that it can also bring unpleasant stuff to the surface that needs to be addressed. He then also talked about learning to let go. Being able to let go is just not something that I am able to do easily. I am very good at pushing problems and emotions to the back of my mind, but they have a nasty habit of resurfacing again and again.

I had been thinking of a book that I had originally bought and read while in India many years ago. I have been thinking about taking this book to Sifu M. Beckett, but wanted to read it again first. I think that she may find it helpful and it also perfectly ties in with where I am at and what I need to work on in my own life. It is a wonderful little book titled: "The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving - Kindness" by Pema Chodron.


The following is a paragraph from the first chapter:

"But loving - kindness (maitri) towards ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or full of feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to try to change ourselves. Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest."

The author talks a lot about curiosity, inquisitiveness, playfulness, openness, gentleness, and making friends with yourself. Think back and remember yourself as a very young child. Toddlers are inquisitive, they have a thirst for knowledge and a passion to explore the world around them. Their sense of wonder, playfulness and joyfulness is contagious. The whole range of emotions can be experienced all in one day and yet each new day brings about a fresh start. All you have to do is look at their sweet little faces as they sleep to see the peace and contentment that they feel. We all were those little children how ever long ago, but some where along the way we started to loose that curiosity and inquisitiveness and joyful approach to life.

It has always been my nature even as an adult to be inquisitive, curious, and cautious. I liked that I was curious and wanted to know things. As I got older I started to think and feel that I needed to grow up and act my age. I am realizing now that I can still be an adult and mature without denying my true nature and still incorporate curiosity and inquisitiveness into my life.

Another great paragraph from chapter 2:

"Our brilliance, our juiciness, our spiciness, is all mixed up with our craziness and our confusion, and therefore it doesn't do any good to try to get rid of our so-called negative aspects, because in that  process we also get rid of our basic wonderfulness. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we're doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we're doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about  ourselves."

My focus and intent for meditation has changed some what now. I am looking at meditation in a slightly different light. This in itself will be a difficult journey, and learning to let go and practicing  loving - kindness towards myself  will be a challenge. I'll keep you all updated.

Totals for the week

sit ups            1140
push ups          865
walking           30k
Aok's                36

Michele Ward

Necessities of Life

 2 months ago I filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission against my employer based on the protected ground of family status. My complaint was accepted and forwarded on to the employer for a response. I have received their response and was surprised and shocked by the comment that was included in their closing paragraph. The comment reads: " The Complainant's request for accommodation are for needs that extend beyond providing the necessities of life." This comment is made in regards to my son Logan and how I choose to parent..

 What exactly are the necessities of life? Many years ago the necessities of life were thought to be air, water, food, clothing and shelter. I believe that there is much more to parenting than just providing the basic necessities of life. I'd like to think that we have evolved as a society and I will not continue to work for a company that does not understand and undermines my role as a parent in contributing to my son's ability to continue growing and maturing as a healthy and contributing member of society.

Each one of us probably has a slightly different view of what we consider to be the necessities of life. I myself believe the term to be much more complex and yet simple at the same time. Unless you've inherited a substantial sum of money, we all need to work at a job at some point in time. Hopefully our job is something that we enjoy, but it also is what provides the money for a lot of the necessities like food, clothing and shelter. The simple comes in wanting and having less. Less clothing and accessories, smaller home, buying smarter and having less waste.

Family, friends and community should play a role also in determining the necessities of life. These are our roots and the legacy that we leave behind. It is also important to give of ourselves as long as we have some boundaries and are still taking care of us. If we don't take care of ourselves our health and spirit suffers and then we aren't good to anyone.

Spirituality can come in many different forms and from many different sources and is definitely a necessity in my opinion. It doesn't matter where it comes from. What matters is that it feeds our soul and helps to keep us grounded and connected to every living thing.

Our connection to the environment and nature is what breathes life into us and energises us. As long as we respect and treat it right, it will continue to provide food, clothing and shelter. How simple is that?

Balance is a difficult concept to achieve at times. Less wants, desires and stuff will create less need to work more to make money to pay for everything. This will in turn create more time for self, family, friends and community.

We are the role models for our children and the children of the world.


Michele Ward

We Are A Team

 I made the decision to join the I Ho Chuan for many reasons. One of those reasons was being part of a group and getting to know new people. I can honestly say I didn't give a lot of thought to being a team member and what that meant at the time. I did wonder though how I would fit in. My primary focus was the daily requirements and I was overwhelmed by the thought of 50,000 of anything in one year. Add push ups onto the end of that number and wow!! I  remember thinking what the ____ have I gotten myself into?

The computer set up and journaling has been one of the hardest tasks to do. I am a very private person and usually only share under the right circumstances or with some one I trust. When I would journal the process could take hours and whatever I was currently feeling caused thoughts and emotions from the past to surface. A lot of fears resurfaced and the biggest for me was and is a lack of self worth. I remember thinking, holy smokes I've signed myself up for a year long intensive self improvement workshop! If it had been presented that way, I'm pretty sure I would have said thanks, but no thanks. So I started to feel like I didn't belong on the team and I worried that I wouldn't have anything to contribute.

Many months have now passed and we have all been learning and talking about being a contributing member of the team. Just like at work we are helping each other out, working together with a common goal, jumping in where needed, teaching and learning together and we treat everyone with respect.

There are always going to be other commitments that keep some of us away at various times. Work is the biggest obstacle that some of us struggle with. Being a good team member is more than just physically being here. When team members are away they are missed but it can also create difficulties. These same difficulties create opportunities for growth, learning and adapting. We all learn from the experience no mater where we are. Just remember if you are here or away please journal as it helps us to learn more about each other and helps to create a bond between team members.

We are all on our own journey and the experience will be different for everyone of us. As we travel together on this journey we are not alone. And when we travel and work together as a team we are stronger and can accomplish so much more.

Michele Ward

Random Thoughts

Pursuing a life of mastery is not about future results. It is about what is happening right now, in this very moment.

I find the idea of yin and yang, positives and negatives or paradoxes to be completely fascinating. We would not be able to have a positive without a negative. Light cannot exist without dark, good cannot exist without bad and so on. Everything is intertwined to some degree like we see when we look at the symbol for yin and yang. I get especially excited when I think about the idea of negatives. Even though there are negatives in our lives and in the world, there actually isn't.  They are all positives in some form. We just need to believe, trust and train our minds to see the positives that are there or occur as a result.


Numbers     week    total

sit ups         1090    24185
push ups      880     15717
walking       34.6     720.6
sparing        40        61
kempo         15        151
nunchuks     33        350
Aok             30        348

Michele Ward

Weekly Journals

Maintaining a public journal that is updated a least once a week is one of the requirements of being a member of the I Ho Chuan. There are many of us that are not posting a journal entry once a week. I, myself have missed a couple of weeks and I know from personal experience that it can be difficult to think of some thing to write about. If you don't know what to write then find a inspirational quote or just tell us about your week. It can be anything. Don't forget to add your totals for the week.

Journal benefits:

Form of communication to other team members
Strengthens the bond between team members
Keeps team members engaged (especially those that work out of town)
Documents your personal journey
Increases your writing and communication skills
We learn from each others successes and failures
It is a very powerful resource

Every week that we do not post a journal entry is a lost opportunity. As individuals and as a team we are missing out. So please everyone start journaling every week!

Numbers     Week      Totals

sit ups         1090        23095
push ups      775         14837
walking       36.54k     686k
Aok             23            318
kempo                        136
nunchuks                    317
sparring                       21


PS. When posting your journal, please post to the I Ho Chuan before clicking on publish otherwise I don't get them in my in box. I don't know if anyone else is having this problem. It would be preferable not to have to search just to see if some of you have posted. I don't want to miss any posts.

Thank you,  Michele Ward

Blessings

Another great week! School is out for the summer. Yay! If you weren't able to make it out to Rotary park on Canada day we all had an awesome time. There were lion dances and a couple of demos performed by members of the I Ho Chaun team. Sifu Brinker brought his giant 10 foot beach ball to play around with. Try crab soccer with a 10 foot ball. Fun and games! Best of all was the participation and energy of everyone involved and the support of all the Kung Fu students/families that came to watch the demos.

Another very special opportunity came our way this week also. Tony McKee is the program facilitator with the Remuda Horsemanship Program and he had offered the I Ho Chaun team a chance to participate in his program. Eight team members including myself joined Tom at his ranch on Saturday morning to learn about horses. After being paired up with a horse we spent some time getting to know the animal and allowing the horse to get comfortable with us. The morning progressed with different exercises working with our horse and learning how to communicate and give them direction. And if the horse didn't follow direction we had to go back and figure out where we went wrong and how to effectively communicate the commands to the horse.

 We had talked about energy and intention when working with the horses before we went into the ring. I really believe that Tom's energy and intention right from the start set the tone for the day. Tom has a lot of experience, knowledge and patience and was a fantastic teacher. We also had a great group of people participating. While reflecting on the day afterwards I realised that the entire time I was there that I was totally in the moment and that the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. We had talked about energy and intention and also staying calm and in control. We also discussed being assertive vs aggressive and what that means. With aggression there is anger and loss of control. I think that there is a fine line between the two and that assertiveness can easily become aggression when we loss our calmness and control. Everything we talked about and learned when working with the horses can be transfered to our Kung Fu and our everyday lives.

Thank you again, Tom for the amazing experience and knowledge that you shared with us. I am feeling truly blessed this week.

Michele Ward

Camping

Another great weekend! Logan and I headed off to Wabamum Provincial park after school on Friday after school to set up our tent. We were close enough to be able to come back into town so that I could take part in the I Ho Chaun class and then head back out to our campsite. By the time we got back family friends had arrived and were set up also. Everyone had a great time and we all enjoyed relaxing in the great out doors. The combination of camping and the extreme heat did however create a challenge when trying to get in my push ups and sit ups. My totals for the week in those two areas are down a bit, so I will be trying to boost them back up this week if possible. Normally I try to post on Sundays, but we didn't get back from camping until Monday and I was exhausted. Better late than not at all.


Numbers

sit ups        910             21,005
push ups    730             13,327
walking     37.81k        618.26k
kempo       15               134
nunchuks   5                 298
AOK          22               274


Michele Ward

Family

It's been a great weekend! My oldest son Dustin and his girlfriend were here for the weekend from Red Deer. It was great to have the 3 kids and myself all together. A friend of Dustin's came over on Saturday and they all went on a long bike ride together. It was especially good for Logan as he doesn't get the opportunity very often to hang out with his older brother. We celebrated Father's Day with my dad coming over for dinner. Family, fun, laughter,and sunshine. What more could you ask for.

Totals for the week:

Sit ups             1085
Push ups         849
Walking         28.15km
Kempo           17
Nunchuks       7
AOK               28

Have a great week,  Michele

Change

"The only constant in life is change." I'm sure most of you have heard this before. We experience small changes every day as part of our regular daily routine but fail to recognise them as change and just go with the flow. When big changes occur that we aren't expecting or wanting we usually perceive them to be negative and unwanted events in our lives. This can be stressful and cause us to feel overwhelmed and even depressed. We can fail to recognise new paths being created and the potential for new beginnings and opportunities. At times we expend more energy trying to keep everything the same while resisting change. The cycle of life requires constant change. The natural flow of life is disrupted if change is not allowed to happen. Endings create new beginnings.

 Just recently I was telling someone about my struggles at work and that I was considering going back to school. I had talked about a couple of career paths, but wasn't sure yet what direction to take. She was excited that I was about to embark on a totally new path in life. She was more excited for me at that moment than I was for myself. At the time I didn't quite share her enthusiasm, but she is absolutely right. It is a new beginning. Exciting and scary at the same time. 

I've been struggling lately with a lot of changes coming at me from all different directions. I'm afraid that I haven't handled them as well as I should have. It just feels like too much all at once. Even though I know change is positive and can bring about some exciting new beginnings, I'm having a hard time making decisions and working out the logistics. I will be off work for the next 3 weeks on a medical leave of absence. The plan is to do some research in order to make some of those decisions, go to the morning Kung Fu classes, check off some items on my to do list, walk with the dog most days and get some rest in between.

Numbers to date

sit ups        19010

push ups     11728

walking      502km

kempo        102

nunchuks    286

AOK           222

Michele Ward

Commitment

Firstly, I Would like to apologise to all of the I Ho Chuan team members for my recent lack of  engagement and also not posting anything for the previous 2 weeks. I made a commitment to the team and to myself when I signed up for the I Ho Chuan. That commitment has been lacking lately. I had momentarily forgotten that this journey is not just all about me.  Thank you,  Sifu Brinker for the reminder to all of us.
I have been so focused on all the stress taking over my life recently, that I had started to check out. I can usually hold things together quite well as the stress of life builds, but if it gets to be to much I'll do what needs to get done and at the same time start to shut down. Asking for help is something that i have slowwwly been getting better at doing. Who to ask and when to ask and worrying if I'm being a bother are some of the thoughts that go through my head. I've conditioned myself to believe that I'm supposed to figure things out for myself. Sometimes I don't even know what help to ask for. Going forward I will commit to asking for help at least once a week from someone at the kwoon.  So please give me a poke once in awhile to remind me and keep me on track.

I looked up some definitions of commitment and found a few that resonated with me and thought I would share them with you.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Commitment - A promise to do or give something: a promise to be loyal to someone or something: the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something.

Cambridge English Dictionary
Commitment - A willingness to give your time and energy to something that you believe in.

Urban Dictionary
Commitment - Commitment is what transforms the promise into reality. It is the words that, speak boldly of your intentions. And the action that speaks louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through, time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of: the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.

Michele Ward

The Ripple Effect

All you have to do is watch what happens when a stone is tossed into the water. A ripple is created and that ripple gets bigger and bigger. A beautiful pattern is formed on the surface of the water. This is what we see with the naked eye and yet there is also an unseen effect above and below the surface. A slight movement of the air, oxygen is added to the water, the energy is enhanced and the ripple effect continues. The stone itself is no longer where it originated and has now changed the environment at the bottom of that body of water. All changes no matter how small or large can be perceived as positive or negative.

For every action there is a reaction. The ripple effect has a huge capacity to create change in our lives, our society and the world around us. The possibilities are endless. Pick up one piece of garbage and maybe one person watches you and they do the same. The ripple continues. Talk about mental health for instance and we build awareness and possibly help even just one person. Can you imagine the ripple effect that would create?

 Change can be scary, exciting, overwhelming and take us on new paths as we move along on our journey. We need to be prepared to make adjustments and go with the natural flow that the ripples are taking us in. Knowing this and applying it to our day to day lives can be difficult and requires conscious thought. I am currently dealing with an issue at work and I have been trying to figure out how to apply this to my situation. My job requirements have changed drastically in regards to working evenings and weekends, which conflicts with my obligations as a single parent. I can stand and fight  and expend a lot of energy for no guarantee of a positive result or I can take it as a message to make a change.  I believe that the ripples are guiding me in a new direction. This would mean changing jobs, which in itself is very scary. This is not the first time change and conflict at work has occurred. Previously I have mostly loved my job, but over the past year that has been changing and is no longer the case. So I ask myself how often does the universe need to hit me on the head before I listen?


Numbers for the week

Sit ups           1200
push ups         770
Walking          0  (misfit is not behaving)
Kempo            7x
Nunchuks        0
AOk                20

Bye for now, Michele

Mind - Friend or foe?

Life can throw you a curve ball once in a while and sometimes more often than not. About 7 years ago I had 2 major curve balls thrown at me. They really shook me up but I persevered and stayed strong for my kids. It took me about 3 years to recover and get back on track. At that point in my life I focused on routine, consistency and what I perceived to be balance in my life. I also knew that I wanted to experience more in life. To do that I would need to stretch my limits and make conscious decisions to go beyond the norm as opportunities presented themselves. I have slowly stretched those limits and done and experienced some pretty amazing things.

I have:  Spent 3 weeks travelling through India (much different from a vacation, but loved it)
             Floated down the Ganges River in a row boat (not a fan of water or small boats)
             Walked across a large suspension bridge (heights not my thing)
             Flew in a four seater air plane and even flew it for a few minutes
             Took apart a toilet, rebuilt the inside and reinstalled it in my bathroom
             Joined Kung Fu and the I Ho Chuan ( completely out of my comfort zone on so many levels)

There have been other small victories and I am looking forward to many more. Life is for living not merely existing.

I try to always ask myself will I regret not doing something when the opportunity presents itself. Some things only come around once. You may not get a second chance at another time. I remember a couple of years ago asking myself that same question in regards to getting into a kayak. I got in and pushed myself off from the shore, wobbled around a bit, (wasn't any more than waist deep) and started to panic. I promptly said enough and was helped back to shore. I was OK with that because at least I had tried and my son also saw that I hadn't let my fear keep me from trying. Not everything is for everybody.

To me balance is all about family, friends, health, work, community, activities, continued learning, and feeling good about yourself. Joy and passion in our lives can come from one specific thing or even the whole of everything put together. Individually each of those components can vary and not necessarily be equal. The weight or importance that each is given can not be expected to remain constant. Expect and embrace the changes as they occur.

My biggest road block is my mind. It is my enemy at times, but it can also be my best friend and keep me motivated. I can't even begin to describe my journey so far. Hundreds of thoughts and feelings go through my mind every week. Some are positive and some are negative, but the routine of performing the basic requirements help to keep me grounded. Coming to classes and meetings no matter how difficult keep me engaged and on track no matter how I'm feeling. The path and journey that I have set for myself is moving me steadily towards having true balance and joy in my life.


Numbers for the week

Sit ups          1100
Push ups       808
walking         33k
AOK             24
kempo           0
nunchuks      58

Happy Mothers' Day! Michele

Tough Week

It's been a tough week for me. There is a lot going on in my head and that's not usually a good thing.   I should feel good about keeping up with my daily physical routine, but I know that it is not enough. There is still much more that I need to be doing. Plus the constant pressure of performing in front of others is taking it's toll. I was just starting to get used to going through my form in front of others and the anxiety and fear had lessened somewhat. Yay!  Now we have a demo to work on. Instead of feeling relief after our last formal class, there was just this huge overwhelming feeling of: too much, too fast! I felt panicked, and almost physically sick. I actually had myself convinced that I needed to opt out of the demo.

Fast forward a couple of days and I'm feeling slightly better. I'm not sure what my decision is going to be, as far as the demo is concerned and I probably won't know until Friday night. I have been working on my combination this past week so I will be prepared either way.

The next couple of months will be busy with my son soccer schedule added into our regular routine. I also have doctors appointments scheduled and a biopsy some where in the near future. I am also testing for my orange belt this week or next week. Feels like a huge emotional roller coaster.

Come Monday, I need to get back on track. With a brand new week staring tomorrow I plan to improve my eating habits (not so good the past couple of weeks) and add more into my daily routine that points me in the direction of my goals. A little less lazy time will help me to be more productive and feel better about where I'm at.

Numbers this week            Total to date

sit ups        1100                  12290
push ups    725                      7110
walking     19k                       377k
kempo       11                            90
nunchuks   12                          186
Aok's         10                            96


Bye for now,  Michele

Decisions

We all make multiple decisions and choices every day. But have you ever really thought about the decisions that we make on a daily basis (big and small) and how they determine the direction our life is taking. How often are we consciously aware of the choices or decisions we are making at any given moment in time?

When an important decision needs to be made, I usually put a lot of thought and effort into that decision. Sometimes too much and I over think things. When it comes to every day routine decisions the awareness isn't there and the decision isn't being made with any kind of goal in mind. Too much of the day is wasted and doesn't bring me closer to my goals.

I find that I am really starting to understand and I am able to connect the dots between awareness, being mindful and what it means to be fully present and live in the moment. If we consciously practise all of these things, they will become habit and we will be better equipped to make decisions that move us in the direction of our goals. How exciting is that?

Totals for the  week

sit ups          1080
push ups       720
walking         misfit not syncing, will update as soon as able to
Aok's            11
Kempo          8x
Nunchuks     23x

Bye for now,  Michele

Sound focus

We are all taught the theory of sound focus and are given lots of opportunity to practise during class time. Knowing the reasons and benefits to sound focus does not necessarily make it any easier for a lot of us to do.  I have had more than a year of classes to practise this and I have not used this time to the best of my ability. Sifu Playter asked us on Wednesday night why we were not doing sound focus. My answer was that I am not comfortable doing it. Thank you to Sifu Csillag for reminding me of a recent post I had made about stepping outside your comfort zone and not having any regret. This got me to thinking if I could do push ups at the airport then why can't I do sound focus.  I realised that the reason was a lack of desire or need. What makes sound focus different for me and why am I not motivated to do it?

The answer is; I don't want to because:

I don't like to draw attention to myself. 

Yelling is usually done in anger or fear.

it feels like loosing control and letting go.

In addition to not being comfortable doing sound focus, I also find it can be challenging to remember techniques and combinations as well as adding in a sound focus. If my energy level is low sound focus for me can be also be difficult.

Sifu Langner took the time after class to talk with me about sound focus. He went over the reasoning behind sound focus and how the instructors get excited when students use it. He talked about technique and his own struggle with sound focus. Most of all what resonated for me was how he talked about it being a part of the curriculum. Sound focus will not be any easier to do, but at least the desire and motivation is now there. 

Numbers for the week:

sit ups        1150

push ups     730

walking      38.7km

kempo        8x

nunchuks    9x

AOK's        6x

Bye for now,  Michele

sharing

I've come to realise that much of my life has been spent in a state of avoidance. Avoiding conflict and confrontation, staying within my comfort zone, and avoiding anything that causes anxiety or fear have always played a huge part of my life. Acceptance and having a sense of belonging has always been important to me. I am also a very private person and sharing does not come easy. I wanted to change all that.

Being a part of the I Ho Chuan team is so much more than its requirements. I feel like we have only just begun and barely scratched the surface and yet I have already accomplished so much. My anxiety and fear of being part of the team is starting to be replaced by a little bit of excitement. Excitement for myself and everyone else on the team as we continue on this journey. Thank you to everyone for sharing at the meeting on Saturday. It really does mean a lot.


Numbers for the week

Sit ups       1080
Push ups    720
Walking    35.8
AOK's       10
Nunchuks 62

Bye for now, Michele

Awareness and AOK's

 My son and I were in Mexico last week for some well deserved rest, relaxation and quality time together. While I was able to keep up with my push ups and sit ups, I really found the AOK's were just not getting done and wondered why that was and how I could change it. My surroundings and routine had changed drastically from being at home. While at home I had developed a routine and AOK's were mostly the same day after day.

As I  became more aware of the people around me, opportunities presented themselves and the acts of kindness became easier and more natural. That awareness also helped me to see the kindness displayed in others around me.

  My son joined a kids' soccer game on the beach one afternoon. Kids of all ages and skill level played together. As I watched I was impressed by the respect they showed each other and the great sportsmanship they all displayed. During the middle of the week my son injured himself. Luckily a doctor from Edmonton was there on vacation with her family and came over to assist us while waiting for the resort doctor. After examining him, she reached out and took my hand and assured me that he was going to be fine. It might not seem like much, but that small gesture meant so much. The resort doctor took over and after a couple of stitches to the back of his head and a day of rest he was almost as good as new.

Acts of kindness can be hard to measure or keep track of sometimes. They are not always tangible moments in time. This past week I became more aware of the people around me and realised that AOK's can be as simple as showing respect, dignity and kindness towards others. When we are aware of tangible and intangible acts of kindness displayed all around us, I believe that our own AOK's will come more often, be easier, and feel more natural.

                    Mar. 22-28     Mar. 29-April 4

sit ups          1080                1080
push ups       650                  690
walking        41.6k               53.9k
kempo          7x                    0
nunchuks      9x                   0
AOK's          11                    6



Just about forgot to mention, I did more push ups at the airport again when we left Mexico and this time Logan took a video of them. I also managed to convince him to also do some and I got a video of him.

Bye for now, Michele Ward

Regret

Regret is a negative conscious and emotional reaction to personal past acts and behaviors and missed opportunities.

There are times when we are presented with an opportunity to take part in something. If we take too long to decide that opportunity can pass us by.

I have consciously choosen to always try and seize the moment to the best of my ability. To not let my lack of confidence or fear get in the way.

Last Saturday my son and I were at the airport waiting to board our flight to Mexico. As we waited, I thought about how Master Brinker talked about doing pushups in public places like the airport for example. I wanted to do some push ups. The little voice inside my head debated back and forth and I knew if I didn't, I would be wishing I had. As preboarding started and the seating area began to clear, I realized it was now or never. So I dropped to the floor and did 15 push ups. My son was amazed and so was I.

No regrets! What a great feeling!!

I will post numbers for this past week with next weeks journal entry.

Adiós Michele Ward

Take the challenge

A very good friend of mine organised a peace walk in Calgary recently and she was very pleased with the turn out for the event and the show of support. All the comments were positive and even one of the news stations did a story on the event. Every thing was more than she could hope for, but she was sad when she found out that some of the participants were walking to promote an anti war message and that was not the purpose of the walk. This left her with a negative feeling until her sister pointed out that everyone had there own reasons to do the peace walk, what matters is they walked, and believed in peace.

 We are all subject to being dragged down by negative feelings and in some cases becoming incapacitated by those feelings. The challenge is to figure out how to think about those events and circumstances in a positive way. Acknowledge how we are feeling, and work at adjusting our mindset.

Think about the opportunity for growth that negativity gives us when we are able to overcome it and turn it into something positive, and how that can empower us.

I challenge everyone to document all perceived negative circumstances and events in your lives this week Acknowledge how you are feeling and redirect your negative thought process into a positive one. This is reality for most of us. Please post your results throughout the week so that we may all benefit and cheer each other on. I believe this will provide us with a positive focus, help us to become more productive,  and build success in our lives.


Totals for the week

sit ups         1090
push ups      645
walking      20.8km
sparring      5min
kempo        18reps
nunchuks    17reps
AOK's        13

Have  an awesome week!
Michele Ward

Fear and Strength

Getting up in front of other people and doing anything is nerve racking. We almost all have some degree of anxiety and nervousness. I personally, would go out of my way most of the time to avoid such situations in the past. Friday night's class was the sheep teams' first opportunity to stand up and preform our weapon forms for the rest of the team.

 I experience anxiety and fear on a regular basis, but this was a totally new high for me. The only thing that kept me going and able to get through it was focusing on my breathing. As I focused on breathing deeply, my anxiety, my panic, and my emotions all wanted to get the best of me. I was determined. That was not going to happen to me. So I focused on my breathing. In and out,  in and out. As I was doing that something else happened. I realized I was only focused on myself and was only partially aware of what was going on around me. I remember thinking that my team mates deserved my full attention as they entered the circle and I needed to really watch each one of them as they went through their form. Being more in the moment also helped to redirect some of my anxiety in a positive way and I am happy to say I did not pass out. In a few short weeks we have accomplished a lot. Awesome job sheep team.

"Every time your fear is invited up, every time you recognize it and smile at it, your fear will loose some of its strength." by Thich Nhat Hanh


Sit ups       1080
Pushups     675
Walking     40.8km
Kempo       25reps
Nunchuks   54reps
Aok's          12

98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed

Being a new member of the I Ho Chuan team and not knowing what to expect during our first class; formal or informal held no meaning for me. Now that I have attended both formats I can see there are obvious differences between the two. Despite these differences they both felt the same to me. The classes had great energy and I felt they were a safe, positive place to practise, learn and interact with other team members.

March 2nd was Dr. Seuss's birthday and it reminded me of his book Oh, the Places You'll Go! I remember reading it for the first time many years ago and thought at the time what a wonderful inspiring message for our children. Hope this helps to inspire and motivate all of us on our journey this year.


Oh, the Places You'll Go!
By Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Number for last week
1080 sit ups
605   pushups
29.3km walking
11 form reps
11 AOK