5 Applications

 

The process of figuring out my 5 applications was an enormous challenge for me. Every time I tried to start my brain would just freeze and I was unable to generate any sort of momentum. I was so far out of my comfort zone I was unable to see a path forward and felt like I was up against a brick wall.

Part of the problem stems from my spirit wanting to duck and hide when it comes to intense situations where there is potential for a lack of control or even just the unknown. Sihing Csillag recently talked about the internal harmonies in class. I found his explanation of spirit helpful. While I may not be a fighter I believe I would do what was needed in order to save myself or someone close to me.

It took conversations with blackbelts and watching self defense videos to help my internal mindset and slowly fuel an understanding of the role self defense plays in my training and life. After numerous starts and stops I slowly began to crawl my way forward and up until I finally had 5 applications.

Now that I've been able to find my way over the wall, I am actually enjoying myself. Each time I work on my 5 applications, concepts are reinforced and I learn more about what works, why it works and how to make them better. Being able to apply concepts we are taught and feel the difference is eye opening. 

I'm learning the value of working with a good partner. Communication, feedback, intent and a degree of realism have provided opportunities for both of us to learn and grow.  

I'm discovering where my power zone is. Too much space equals less power and control. With control my technique works much better and my opponent/partner has fewer options and less time to think and counter.

Working with a few different partners has also helped me to see how suddenly a technique no longer gets the same results. A difference in height, size and flexibility requires adjustments to be made. I didn't spend a lot of time with other partners, but there were opportunities to learn and figure out how to make some adjustments. 

I also noticed that having my eyes up changes my body language, confidence and therefore my ability to be more effective.

The value of building and working on my 5 techniques has been immense and an important piece of the overall Kung Fu puzzle. 

Totals

Push ups: 480/41865
Situps: 480/41960
Hand form: 2/797       
Weapon form: 6/717
KM: 37/1705          
AOK: 16/1537            
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/61               
Yoga: 30 min/39.5 hours

Knee Silo

I think we all are in danger of training in a silo to some degree at various times. There are moments when I can easily connect the dots and other times when I'm experiencing tunnel vision and not even aware until slowly the fog lifts. 

The ongoing issues I have with my knees is an area I feel I've existed in a silo for too long. I've made adjustments out of necessity and that is understandable. I've also learned a lot more about listening to my body and how to better take care of it. I'm continually learning how far I can push myself and what my limitations are moment by moment. 

So why do I feel I've been living in a silo when it comes to my knees? I realized I have stagnated. Nothing much has changed, mentally or physically. I'm making the same adjustments. The fog has started to lift due to different instructors that take the time to provide feedback and corrections. And suddenly I feel connections being made. 

Sihing Burke pointed out a noticeable difference in my cat stance in a few of my forms that really had me asking myself some questions. For example, I'm able to execute a decent left lead cat stance at the start of 18 Temple Motions and yet I struggle with cat stances in our sword form and Lao Gar. As I worked through why this was, I realized the technique of calming the ocean helps to facilitate a natural transition into the cat stance. And the transition after as I transfer my weight to my left leg helps to take the pressure off the right knee so I am more relaxed and in the moment. 

Then on Monday, Sihing Lindstrom had pointed out a technique in Lao Gar that I needed to fix. As I corrected my technique from a strike to more of a push I quickly felt my hips engaged in a slightly different way. The change in intent also changed the timing and the release and engagement of my hip. As I think about this I believe I may have also been feeling a more defined contraction and expansion with the correction. 

So while the joints and supporting muscle groups need to be taken care of, I'm beginning to realize intent, flow between techniques and the efficiency of my 6 harmonies play an important role in what my knees can do or not do. They will never be 100%, but with the fog lifted I have another avenue to explore. 

There is an opportunity here to get better at listening to my body and develop my internal and external harmonies to help work with and support the knees. And of course this will transfer over into all areas until the next time I find myself in a silo again. 

Totals

Push ups: 975/41385
Situps: 990/41480
Hand form: 16/795       
Weapon form: 12/711
KM: 39/1668          
AOK: 19/1521             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/60               
Yoga: 30 min/39 hours

Someone I Can Admire

 

When I pay attention, I find additional tools appear according to my current needs. Recently this was a post about motivation that I happened to run across. The article mentioned 10 different elements that help us to stay motivated. Most of them were not surprising and yet it was also interesting how they all fit together so well. Each one by itself is beneficial and yet together they provide a much more solid foundation.

Quite often a particular tool works very well for a period of time, but doesn't usually sustain me long term. There are times when telling myself to "Just do it!" works. And then there are times when it is not enough. There are times when the fear of failure, or the desire to learn and grow motivates me. 

As I read through the article about staying motivated I discovered a deeper understanding of motivation and added a few new tools to my toolbox.  I found #4 really resonated with me. Develop deep personal integrity. Be someone you can admire. I want what I say and do to mean more than just what is perceived by others. I want to be someone I can admire through continued development of deep personal integrity. So as I went through my week and found myself waffling on whether or not to do some form reps or pushups and sit ups, I thought about personal integrity and being someone I could admire. And not surprisingly I found myself getting more done. The choice to do or not do became easier.  

I'm realizing is there is no one solution to staying motivated. There are times when saying "Just do it!" provides a temporary fix but it's not sustainable. Multiple elements are needed and work together to support each other. 

Book - Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
1. Develop the right mental attitude.
2. Aspire to something greater than yourself. Develop a "magnificent obsession."
3. Possess a futuristic outlook; take the long-range view. Release the past.
4. Develop deep personal integrity. Be someone you can admire.
5. Accept total personal responsibility. Remain in complete control at all times. Do not be manipulated by people or events. Operate on a personal timetable.
6. Edify and affirm others. Remember, nothing is greater than love.
7. Be grateful, not critical. Develop a gratitude attitude.
8. Select your friends with care. Minimize people dependency. If you dominate your associates, there is no way for you to expand or grow.
9. Do it now! Decide what habits or changes you wish to alter in your life; make those changes and never let an exception occur.
10. Look for mentors. Mentors who "are larger than life" expand us, mentors in different fields broaden us, and deceased mentors inspire us.

Totals

Push ups: 915/40410
Situps: 900/40490
Hand form: 12/779        
Weapon form: 14/699 
KM: 41/1629           
AOK: 24/1502             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/59                 
Yoga: 30 min/38.5 hours

Am I Doing Enough?

Am I currently doing enough? That is a question I'm asking myself because my numbers for our IHC requirements and additional training have dipped these past 2 weeks. Could I have accomplished more? Most likely, yes. 

Are my expectations at this time realistic? Yes and no. 

Yes, because I know there are under-utilized opportunities for adding in a bit more of this or that. I also know pushing myself helps me to break through internal and external boundaries, reduces mediocrity and helps to increase possibilities and give my life more meaning. 

No, because I often have high expectations and can be hard on myself. There also needs to be an understanding of the natural dips or plateaus that occur as we navigate our path in life. These set backs and transitions can be opportunities for much needed self care, or an awareness of ego inserting itself. Lots of opportunity for growth here and reminders to embrace the journey throughout the ups and downs.

My recent numbers present one story, a snapshot of my week, but not the whole picture. As I reflected on the week I was able to look past what wasn't getting done and see how different events led to opportunities, providing more quality time with family and friends. Helping and interacting with others added more value to my week and created some important memories that I would have missed out on otherwise. While there were still holes that could have been filled I feel my priorities were in the right place.

It's not as simple as asking "Am I doing enough?" There is the need to look deeper and take ego out of the equation so we can learn and grow from our individual experiences. This is where the ordinary can become extraordinary. 

I'm developing a better understanding and awareness of what I'm capable of, my engagement in Kung Fu and life and where the holes and opportunities are. Rather than bury my head in the sand, I find myself looking around more, making discoveries and standing taller.

Correction is essential to power and mastery. You see, we are all ordinary. But a master, rather than condemning himself for his “ordinariness,” will embrace his ordinariness and use it as a foundation for building the extraordinary. Instead of giving up, as many ordinary people do, he will use his ordinariness to correct his errors, which is essential in the process of attaining mastery. You must be able to correct yourself without invalidating or condemning yourself, to accept results and improve upon them.

Correct, don’t protect.

Totals

Push ups: 880/39495
Situps: 875/39590
Hand form: 12/767        
Weapon form: 14/685 
KM: 40/1588           
AOK: 33/1478             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/58                 
Yoga: 30 min/38 hours

Collaborative Efforts

As discoveries are made and pieces begin to fit together I'm realizing more and more the efforts of those around me that help to provide and create the various pieces of the puzzle. 

A great example of this is an issue I was having with my back foot when moving into a high back stance during my hand form. I had mentioned it to Sifu Brinker during a one on one. The discussion that followed was helpful and provided a piece of the puzzle to understand what was needed to correct the issue.

During 2nd degree class, a conversation with Sifu Hayes and Sihing Lindstrom on the high back stance and drawing the bow garnered more information about that technique and targeting. As I practiced and thought more about where my target was and actually focused on acquiring the target first, I suddenly found myself moving into the high back stance properly. The issue of being slightly narrow was magically fixed. My back foot naturally moved exactly where it needed to in order to support the technique.

Oh, the power of intent and acquiring your target!

Training with the same person all the time is limiting. The same is true if you always seek out the same instructor or black belt. As Sifu Binker has mentioned many times, getting instruction or feedback from different instructors is beneficial and helps us to progress in our training. A different approach, wording, or an example can make all the difference when it comes to adding and completing pieces of the puzzle. 

Working on my 5 techniques and board breaking has really helped to propel me forward in an area of my training that was lacking. The discoveries and growth I am experiencing is because of the collaborative efforts of the black belts offering their experience and instruction, and the collaborative relationship I have with my partner Todai Ferris. 

Working with Sihing Ward recently has also helped reinforced the need and benefits to working with a different partner. Not only do I get different information, things feel different and I am forced to adapt to get a technique to work which helps me with my training and eventually my skill as well. 

I'm feeling more at peace with where and who I am. When the pieces of the puzzle fall into place it does feel good, but ego is starting to play less of a role now. I'm understanding more the collaborative efforts that have taken place to get me or anyone to a place where puzzle pieces come together and aha moments can happen. I am grateful for everyone around me providing lessons, instruction and support. 

Listen, be open and receptive, mix up your training, occasionally partner up with someone different, seek out different perspectives and voices. The collaborative efforts for all involved will lead to great things for instructors and students alike. As the saying goes, "it takes a village."

Totals

Push ups: 635/38615
Situps: 670/38715
Hand form: 7/755        
Weapon form: 7/671  
KM: 38/1548            
AOK: 17/1445             
Sparring: 0/705          
Blogs: 1/57                 
Yoga: 30 min/37.5 hours

  

Strands of Spaghetti

As I read through some of my past blogs I am reminded of how many strands of spaghetti have stuck (information, ideas and opportunities collected and absorbed). Yes, some of those strands are sliding downward. Maybe its to make room for more or maybe a purpose was served at the time and they are no longer needed in this moment. 

There are also the strands that haven't been given the attention they deserve. I believe this is partially due to feeling like a human spaghetti magnet. I am an information gatherer, a deep thinker, a sponge and at times a squirrel running around in circles. With so many strands sticking, bouncing off or sliding down it is difficult to manage and fully absorb all of them. 

I've written and blogged about doing or implementing this or that into my life and my kung fu, and then life happens and some of the stuck spaghetti starts to slide down. Some spaghetti sticks hard and fast and is easy to absorb and implement, others not so much. Any of those under-utilized strands are still there in my tool box though. And I believe they will be put to use at the right time or possibly even replicated into something that serves me better. I just need to trust and do the work in the meantime.

What's interesting is I'm feeling more and more calm and at peace, which is creating a wonderful flow and openness to my life. I'm less concerned about that which isn't getting done. Stress and anxiety still creep in at times, but I find myself more aware and better prepared to work through stuff. I know there's always going to be plenty of things to work on and improve on and I've proven to myself that I can  push myself and put in the effort. I'm finding it easier to embrace the journey and am less worried about the destination.

My past blogs are a great reminder of struggles and achievements, my trajectory, my insights and personal growth over the year. They help to ground me and remind me of all the past and present stands of spaghetti in my tool box. 

Totals

Push ups: 890/37980
Situps: 937/38047
Hand form: 21/748         
Weapon form: 11/664   
KM: 33/1510               
AOK: 21/1428               
Sparring: 5/705            
Blogs: 1/56                   
Yoga: 30 min/37 hours

Calming My Inner Squirrel

Yoga and meditation have been a bit of a challenge lately. My ability to focus and be mindful in my practice is being tested. I'm constantly battling random thoughts that just keep popping in and taking me away from the moment. Ugh, my inner squirrel is more active than usual!

I know these distractions can be viewed as a helpful tool to developing awareness and mindfulness. The theory is the more I practice the more improvement I will experience. I know this to be true, but am finding the squirrel running around in my brain very annoying right now. What makes it even more annoying is my ability to stay focused and mindful had been improving. 

After diving a bit deeper into my overly active inner squirrel, I found some obvious and not so obvious reasons for the increased squirrel activity and some answers to understanding and calming it down.

1. I believe my over active squirrel is an indication I haven't been spending enough quiet time with myself. 

2. The clutter and mess in my office at home is creating clutter in my brain. It's not a surprise I have a squirrel running around in my head looking for direction.

3. As the year comes to an end I want to believe I am going to be prepared but still feeling there is so much more to do.  

The squirrel needs to be calmed and reassured that everything will fall into place. To do this I need to take care of some foundational components of my life. Cleaning and organizing my office space will free up internal clutter and create more space to focus and prioritize stuff that really matters. That was my Sunday focus this morning and I managed to get quite a bit cleaned up. It is amazing how much better I feel when I purge, organize and clean.

Kung fu training isn't always the obvious kicking and punching, etc. It can be the less obvious things like decluttering a space in your home or healthy, mindful eating, or quality time with family and friends for example. These all have potential to feed the soul, the mind, the body and spirit and are aspects of Kung Fu and help me with my Kung Fu training.  

Totals

Push ups: 998/37090
Situps: 1190/37110
Hand form: 18/727          
Weapon form: 18/653   
KM: 31/1477               
AOK: 53/1407               
Sparring: 0/700            
Blogs: 1/55                   
Yoga: 1/36.5

Listen!

Most of us are very aware of how we feel when something doesn't go as planned, but do we listen to what we are feeling and what we tell ourselves when things are working? A great training session, accomplishments, effective communication or effortless flow during the day, these are all great opportunities to pay attention, to listen and determine what contributed to a positive outcome. 

Sifu Brinker touched briefly on this in our last IHC meeting which really got me to thinking how true that is for me. It is easy to focus more on the negative which is why practicing gratitude is so important and has help me. What if I was to go a step further? What if I made a conscious effort and really listened with more than my ears? Listen to my body and my mind.

Interesting, because at first I saw this as a way to replicate and accomplish more. And I also recognized the added value of deepening my awareness and mindfulness practice. All of this can be true and yet as I contemplate and did some research, I discovered more. I'm understanding this concept of deeper and more intentional listening as a tool to cutting through the repetition of my life and moving closer to my true authentic self. 

Connecting with my true self will help me to embrace who I am and move past my ego mind. When I am connected with my true self I can be in a state of co-operation, peace and calmness. This way of being is expansive and powerful and also humble at the same time.

How do I develop my listening skills and connect with my true self?

I  will continue to practice mindfulness throughout my day. This was one of my personal goals for the Year of the Rabbit. I didn't have much success with this so I've included it for next year as well. 

My mindfulness practice now includes the following:

Where am I, what am I doing? - Practice observation and connect with the present moment.

Meditate - Practice openness and curiosity around thoughts and emotions.

Mindful breathing -  can include deep breathing or specific breathing patterns.

Yoga - a great way to connect with and listen to my body. Our bodies talk to us and help us to step away from our ego mind.

Quality time with myself - Do something I love, dance or be creative. 

Be in nature - Breath in fresh air, hug a tree, walking meditation

That simple strand of spaghetti stuck and slowly grew into a substantial pasta dinner that has the potential to feed me for a lifetime!

Totals

Push ups: 1282/36092
Situps: 1250/35920
Hand form: 36/709          
Weapon form: 35/635   
KM: 35/1446                
AOK: 65/1354               
Sparring: 4/700            
Blogs: 1/54                   
Yoga: 1/35.5

IHC Challenge Reminder

IHC Challenge Reminder

A quick reminder, our school wide challenge begins tomorrow, November 6 and will run
for 7 days.

Daily core challenges

Core challenges for each class can be found on the applicable tracking sheet. These are available at the Kwoon or can be printed using the PDF links found in the original article located below.

Bonus challenges

Videos will be posted daily. I encourage everyone to watch as there is some great creativity with lots of good information and are an opportunity to get to know many of our team members.

We are tracking participation so please remember to fill out your tracking sheets and hand them in at the front desk when finished.

https://www.silentriverkungfu.ca/blog/2023/10/30/7-days-in-the-life-of-the-i-ho-chuan-school-challenge

I Strive to be More

My week has me feeling like I've not accomplished enough. What exactly is enough? Am I being realistic in my expectations? This is something I'm working at figuring out. My inner voice tells me I could have done more. It's time to change that inner voice into something more positive and productive. 

As I struggle through sorting out my thoughts and writing this blog I am reminded me of something I wrote in my personal journal last week. Here is the unedited journal post from last week. 

Believing in myself is a key component to earning and receiving a blackbelt. As a 2nd degree brown belt I have the basic knowledge and skill. It's now about pushing past the uncomfortable to continue in not only the areas I want to grow, but also areas that I struggle in.

Developing and improving a positive mindset.
Embracing weaknesses as opportunities.
Accept I am human and still push/move forward.

I see the struggles and failures in others as positives. They are reminders we are not perfect, we are all works in progress. I am learning more from my struggles and failures because I want more. Because I strive to be more.

Believing and trusting in myself - I am growing into these qualities more and more as the year evolves. I see the possibilities and growth through my own struggles and others around me. We are all human and doing the best we can in any given moment. The combined efforts of everyone on the team help to encourage me forward and believe anything is possible.

I want more, I strive to be more! This is a powerful truth and is what keeps me moving forward one step at a time. 

Totals

Push ups: 1250/34810
Situps: 1150/34670
Hand form: 11/673           
Weapon form: 12/600   
KM: 50/1411                
AOK: 23/1289               
Sparring: 0/696             
Blogs: 1/53                   
Yoga: 1/34.5

The Fullness of my Week!

 

As I look back over the past 7 days, I take stock of the fullness of my week. Extra hours at work, the stress of our annual board breaking challenge, along with navigating life and all it entails adds up to a busy week. A busy week evolved into a week full of opportunities for growth and insights. I'm sitting here marvelling at how much can transpire and be gained in just 7 seemingly short days. 

By the time I left Monday nights class after breaking 8 boards, I was feeling irritable, had a bruised and swollen wrist and a bruised finger. By the next day I realized the emotion I was feeling was actually anger. A residual negativity that attached itself to my mood over the course of most of the week.

I can recall one specific board/technique (the hammer fist) causing the most difficulty. I need to break this board! So determination and persistence took over despite the pain and wanting to quit. After too many failed strikes and increased pain I became angry at the board. 

The board is obviously not the problem. Logically I know this to be true. My mental state going into the board breaks was off to start with. I wasn't looking forward to it and I had already put myself out of my comfort zone in the level 1 class by holding a shield while students hammered away at me with different techniques. So I was already a bit rattled at the start of my class. Hmm...

As I'm writing this I realize the need for self defense will most likely not take place in an optimum environment or setting. The ability to remain calm and in control is a valuable and necessary skill. Stepping out of my comfort zone can have unintended benefits and helps me to improve and develop those skills. Being rattled was actually good practice in learning to regain my mental focus and staying calm. 

The failures and the difficulties are all great opportunities for me to learn and grow. Distancing, targeting, hips, rotation, ego and mental preparedness all factor in. I can take the emotion of anger when things go sideways and reconstruct it into something positive to learn and move forward. Knowing this helps immensely and lessened those negative feelings, but it was still taking up too much space. After identifying where the anger was sitting in my body and intentionally working on releasing it I was able to remove most of the negative emotion. Clearing the anger provides me with more mental and emotional space to move forward. 

The mental space I'm existing in today doesn't happen solely on my own. Perspective was gained through internal processing, a One on One with Sifu Brinker, a 2nd degree class discussion and a conversation with a valued friend. It is a combination of those conversations, being open to giving and receiving information and feedback that made the difference and brought an enormous fullness to the week. 

*On a side note,  the conversation with my friend also helped to germinate a solid plan for a personal demo. 

Totals

Push ups: 855/33560
Situps: 862/33520
Hand form: 1/662           
Weapon form: 2/588    
KM: 30/1361                 
AOK: 8/1266               
Sparring: 25/696             
Blogs: 1/52                   
Yoga: 1/33.5

A Little of This & That

I've always gravitated more to forms and feel that is where most of my understanding and skill is. I know the skill I've developed in forms has also transferred over into other aspects of my Kung Fu. Because application is very far out of my comfort zone I often find myself drawing a blank. There is often a slight moment of panic. It is very hard to just do and not need to think first. 

Working on my 5 techniques has been a struggle and a blessing in disguise. As I slowly figure things out I'm understanding and feeling more comfortable with the application side of my training. Concepts and lessons already learned are surfacing. Feedback from blackbelts and my partner has been an enormous help. Repetition, making adjustments along the way and feeling what works and what doesn't work are also helping me to gain confidence and improve as a martial artist. 

I'm finding my knowledge of key concepts are expanding lately. It's interesting how utilizing a different application or setting and intent can change perception and understanding. 

Control is expanding in ways that I previously hadn't thought of. This will most likely be a separate blog in the future.

Recently a comment was made regarding the flow in multiple board breaks that had me stopping and thinking "wait a minute, what?" Basically I can continue in the obvious pattern of movement or redirect my energy with the appropriate footwork, expansion and contraction, timing, etc. Hmm, is it really that easy? Nope, but also yes. This opens up more possibilities with the right combination of skill and control. I found myself in that very silo that we are told to stop training in. I think the silo and the ego are very close friends. 

Acquire your target is something we work on in our forms and so, so important when it comes to application and board breaking. Great opportunities for reinforcement.

The concept of power zone and feeling where that is for me is becoming more tangible the more I work on practicing board breaking and my 5 applications.

Push ups: 948 /32705
Situps: 862/ 32880
Hand form: 17/661           
Weapon form: 17/586     
KM: 35/1331                 
AOK: 25/1258                
Sparring: 40/671             
Blogs: 1/51                   
Yoga: 2/32.5

Happy to be a Work in Progress!

It's been an interesting week with some great self discoveries. Wednesday's class started with us running through the woods, jumping over logs, dodging or ducking under branches and avoiding the odd bear here and there (thank you Sidai Csillag). 

Most of the remainder of the class was then spent on pretty much anything involving a horse stance. I can safely say never have I never spent that much consecutive time in a horse stance. Side heel kicks, side stepping, slide stepping, power to the instep, balancing bean bags and some sticky hands all took place. It was a class of pushing myself and then pushing some more. I even managed to do a couple of power of the insteps, which I don't usually attempt because of my knees. And there was at least one that felt decent!

By the end of the class my knees and legs were done! There was also a sense of accomplishment knowing that I was able to draw upon my inner strength and push my limits to do more. I can feel when those mental and physical limits are getting close and I give myself a quick pep talk in that moment. And then, I find it helpful to focus on counting, my breath, my core, etc.  I'm developing awareness of different aspects of my body, building focus and self control.

Thursday's IHC class pushed us to work on some of our requirements in small blocks of time. Much can be accomplished in 10-15 minute chunks. We then banged out some form reps to 2 different music choices. With the form reps I pushed myself to see how many I could do by the end of the song and had fun in the process. I made full use of my time, felt productive and enjoyed myself!

The word dabble was used in our 2nd degree class this week in regards to practicing Kung Fu outside of class. This grabbed my attention because I can be a dabbler. As I thought about this I was able to quickly acknowledge the enormous amount of time and effort I give to incorporating Kung Fu into my life. It goes beyond the physical aspects of my training. My natural progression has me travelling a slightly different path and developing a more holistic approach to weaving Kung Fu and life together. Healthy intentional eating, mindfulness practice, self reflection and yoga have all become part of my regular routine. And they all stem from Kung Fu and have an ongoing positive affect on my Kung Fu. I do struggle at times finding the balance between the physical and holistic paths. Maybe that is because I'm still seeing them as somewhat separate. I know and feel the connection, it just hasn't been fully anchored into my brain.

Those moments of dabbling are happening less often as I stretch and push myself more and more. I am learning how much more I am capable of and it is a great feeling. It's also an opportunity to recognize when ego is trying to take control by pulling me down or puffing me up. Every time I engage and push myself, I'm gaining knowledge about myself, I'm stretching myself and creating forward momentum. 

I am enjoying being a work in progress and have already experienced a huge amount of growth. Pushing my limits shows me I am capable of more than I give myself credit for.

                                           Totals
Push ups: 30372/1385        31757
Situps: 30583/1435            32018
Hand form: 607/37             644
Weapon form: 526/43         569
KM: 1261/35                      1296
AOK: 1203/30                    1233
Sparring: 621/10                 631
Blogs: 48/2                          50
Yoga: 27.5 Hours/3             30.5

Team Connection

Recording our numbers at the end of our blogs helps to keep us accountable to ourselves and to our teammates. As with all of our requirements there is always value to be gained when applied.

After reading a few recent blogs with the numbers added at the end, I noticed a couple of other benefits as well:

1.  I feel that by sharing numbers and progress it immediately builds connection within the team. Even though our journey is unique to each of us it is great to know we are not travelling alone. I want to have others with me when I reach milestones in my journey and be able to share the ups and downs in getting there. A team provides support to each other and can be a very powerful environment when utilized to its full potential.

2.  I feel pride and a welling of emotion when I see in print the effort everyone is putting into the Year of the Rabbit. Effort and progress no matter how big or small is a beautiful thing to see and hear about. Navigating everything that life throws at us can be challenging and adding in mental health and mental illness just adds another layer of complexity. Remember, we all started at zero. Way to go everyone!!

This requirement will also help me to see in real time where I'm at, what my trajectory is, room for improvement and any adjustments to be made. And I am reminded more often of how far I've come. 

The goals/requirements are tools to help drive and push myself, not beat myself up with. I am slowly learning this and making progress in many areas.

Push ups: 30372
Situps: 30583
Hand form: 607
Weapon form: 526
KM: 1261

AOK: 1203

Sparring: 621
Blogs: 48

Yoga: 27.5 Hours

Mastery Under Development

Memorize and recite Mastery by Stewart Emery. This is one of many of our IHC requirements. 

I had made this requirement a priority last year and read through Mastery on an almost daily basis. I don’t have the best memory so I knew this would be a challenge and not something that I could do quickly. Not completing this quickly turned out to be a good thing because the end goal isn’t to just memorize Mastery it more about understanding the messages within and learning to apply them to your own life. 

It took me almost a full year to be able to memorize Mastery. I’m happy that it took me as long as it did because I actually experienced the value intended instead of just checking a box. I know my routine of regular reading and reciting of Mastery provided me with a solid foundation and helped guide me on my journey. Without those efforts, last year would have been a year with different outcomes.

Unfortunately this year I let my routine of reading and reciting Mastery fall to the side. I failed to maintain my practice and I let some mediocrity in. Oh I’d look at it off and on, but I didn’t give it the time or effort it deserved. 

Why is it we stop doing the things we know support us and provide positive results? Are we looking to sabotage ourselves? Is there a fear of success? Is there a some part of us that understands the growth we can experience from self sabotage and failure? Regardless I knew it was time to hit the reset button and for the past month I’ve gone back to reading and reciting Mastery daily, usually from a horse stance to incorporate other aspects of my training at the same time. 

I recently recited Mastery with my eyes closed and had an interesting result. The word power jumped out at me. For a moment I wondered if I had remembered something wrong. No, I had it right. Power was there in the last paragraph linked to mastery, which makes perfect sense. I had read it and said it out loud many times, I just had not fully absorbed it. Hmm interesting… and cool. 

That is the beauty of Mastery. There is so much to be absorbed. It is not and should never be a box to check. Mastery by Stewart Emery is a tool with immense value that is best unraveled and absorbed over a period of time on an ongoing basis. And as a person changes and evolves, the value and lessons gained grow with you. 

Long story short- there are times when I can recite Mastery from start to finish. There are also times when I get stuck or stumble, a bit like life. I have a current understanding of Mastery and I’m continuing to absorb and learn as I spend more and more time with Mastery by Stuart Emery.

Numbers Update

This is just a quick update as to where I am currently. I haven't posted any numbers for the past 2 months, but I am working on everything and pushing myself to do more. I plan to do a more in depth recap on all the requirements next month. Adjustments and incremental progression is being made.


Numbers - Year To Date

PU - 29,505                Sparring - 621

SU - 29,695                KM - 1,224

Hand Form - 605       AOK - 1,189

Weapon - 524            Yoga - 24 hours

7 Days in the Life of the IHC

Attention team mates!

7 days in the life of the IHC challenge is set to run from October 29 - November 4.

This is a school wide challenge intended to provide a snapshot of our team, some of our  requirements and what pursuing mastery looks like. 

The plan is to make use of most of the videos from last year. 1 or 2 additional videos from anyone not on the team last year or those that weren't able to participate would be a great addition. Videos can be done with 1 or more partners.

Explanation of Content for New Video's

Each video should be about 1-3 minutes long. It should include an explanation of the topic, including how it applies to the IHC team, why it is important and how it can serve us and/or others. If there is a physical component involved, please include a demonstration as part of your video.  

Each bonus video should include a challenge pertaining to that topic. Feel free to get creative, but please run your idea by Todai Ward in advance. We will want to ensure that the videos and challenges support and fulfill the spirit of this initiative and we'll want to make sure we avoid any duplicate ideas. Please remember that all challenges will need to be adjusted to suit each class level, and you will need to specify the challenge requirements separately from the video.  

Each person or group will be responsible for posting their video and challenge requirements when the time comes as we move through the 7 days of the challenge. I will need to view the video prior to the challenge starting.

For those of you that participated last year please check and let me know if you still have your video from last year's challenge.

For more information text me at 780 974 7004 or email me at michele.lw11@gmail .com

Grading Day and Beyond

When it comes to my Kung fu training I have to be somewhat cautious due to chronic knee problems and age related issues that crop up from time to time. I can't do all the form reps and kicks that I feel I should or want to be doing. So yoga is helping me bridge the gap I am feeling in my training. It is much gentler on my joints while providing tools to help ground, strengthen, stretch and build stamina. The key is balance. It's not one or the other, everything works together, adding or reducing as needed.

I am finding numerous moments throughout my yoga practice that cause me to smile as I'm reminded of Kung Fu and how the two connect.  I could elaborate much more but here are some key elements:

Each time I focus and practice different breathing techniques - this is important as I have trouble with breath work. I am typically a shallow breather of just forget to breath when anxiety takes over.

With each flow into downward dog I am grateful for the hidden pushup

Core exercises - good variety, easier on joints and muscle groups than a standard sit up

In Mountain pose I feel the most grounded with the earth and have a deeper sense of being present

Active feet helps improve muscle control among others - great for proper foot position in our kicks

Meditation - calmness, mindfulness practice

Stability, stamina, strengthening and stretching

Balance and control

Developing greater chi awareness

I am a beginner yoga practitioner at this stage and yet have already found so many benefits to continue exploring. 

As I get closer to grading day I am finding it harder to control the thoughts swirling around in my brain. Have I done enough? Am I focusing on the right things? What still needs to be done? At random times throughout the day stuff just pops in unannounced. Fitness test, forms, 5 applications, knowledge, board breaking, personal demo, etc. And then I stop and take a few breaths and bring myself back to the present moment.

Yes I am preparing for grading day. I've come to realize though it's not just about grading day. It is about the rest of my life, and the new paths my Kung Fu will take me on. I need to have a daily routine that is sustainable on an ongoing basis, one that consists of checks and balances, has room for improvement, is flexible and includes a component of fun and inspiration. I haven't got to that complete state of being yet, but I am making progress and well on my way. 

So in reality I'm not solely focused on grading day. There are many moments of mindfulness, being in the present moment, growth and best of all I'm also looking beyond and setting myself up for success no matter what the outcome is. 

Outside my Box, Living Life!

There are too many people whose tendency is to check out of life once work is done. Deciding what show to binge watch next is their primary goal on a regular basis. In all fairness many of these people are hard workers, are committed and caring individuals, just living their lives in a box, on autopilot. I used to be that person, taking occasional steps outside the box to explore, discover and be a better version of myself. Then back into my box of comfort and security. 

Prior to Kung Fu and the IHC I rarely though about mastery. Now thoughts of mastery have been woven into the fabric of my life. I am on a path towards mastery and am slowly and steadily reducing the mediocrity in my life one step at a time. I struggle more often than I'd like, but I also know I've made huge leaps forward. There are still times when I choose the path of least resistance. Procrastination, laziness, poor dietary choices or just being in denial are all ongoing internal battles for me. 

The beauty of this journey is I am trying. I am pushing my limits and expanding my boundaries. The struggles I encounter are just as wonderful as the accomplishments and successes. Sometimes even more so. I am grateful for the successes. I am grateful for the struggles and the ability to reflect and learn. All of this together helps me to live my life more fully, with confidence and joy.

The box I once existed in has expanded. And where lines used to exist there are now dots, squiggles and open spaces. I am redefining the shape of my life and making huge leaps forward.

I am living life.

Cumulative Growth

The hip arriving a bit too early or a bit too late does make a difference. I know this to be true and yet have trouble at times identifying myself when this is happening.

Thursday nights IHC class we worked on the section in DMH at the end of 1 moving into 2. We were working on power and intent. The focus was mostly on the knife hand and long punch, stopping after the open roundhouse. 

As I went through a few reps of that sequence I could feel there was power behind the knife hand and punch. And yet it took Sifu Rybak to point out the timing of my hip was off in relation to the knife hand. Hmm....interesting. I feel good doing that sequence but if the timing of my hip is off then my harmonies are not aligned and there is potential for increased power with less energy output. Ahh, room for improvement. This is great feedback, so I took the next few minutes to be more aware of my hip and improve my timing. 

Shortly after there was some instruction on correct arm/hand motion as we unwind from the open x and transition into the knife hand sequence. I temporarily set aside thoughts of the hip to work on the hands coming out of the open x. Making adjustments to how my hands/arms moved helped to naturally facilitate an improvement in the timing of my hip. Perfect how one led into the other. The alignment of the six harmonies before I initiate the knife hand (I believe) translates to more control and a greater ability for alternative options if needed.

The sequence that was feeling pretty good at the beginning of class now feels even better. And I know that if I hadn't been working on this sequence throughout the year I wouldn't be where I am now. It is time, struggles and the effort spent that have helped to get me to where I am in this moment. In the past I would have patted myself on the back and waited for the next problem to arrive and then attack. Now I view troublesome areas and feedback with more of an open mind and heart. They can still be aggravating at times, but I'm calmer and more relaxed in my approach. 

The amount of detail and opportunities for continued learning in this sequence continues to amaze me. Just when I think I've got it I am shown another dot/detail to connect and improve on. There is always room to grow!

Training Takes Over

In addition to anxiety I sometimes deal with depression. The depression can creep up on me gradually or seemingly very suddenly. Monday seemed to be going smoothy until the end of my work day. There were no issues at work, I had done some yoga in the morning and followed my nutrition plan so I'm not too sure what exactly happened. By the time I arrived home I was feeling overly hungry, emotional and just wanted to crawl into bed.

I figured I'd eat, rest and then go to my class. By the time I arrived at the Kwoon I had decided to participate at the back of the class as my mental state was not improving and I could feel myself getting progressively worse. Instead I was able to sit down and chat with Sifu Rybak and felt much improved afterwards. 

By the time I finished in the office the class had started sparring. One might think this may not have been the best thing for me to take part in given how I was feeling, but it turned out to be a good experience. I was able to concentrate, focus on each partner and stay in control. There was a very brief moment of panic as our rotation put me in front of Todai Raw and Todai Carreau, but I quickly shook it off and gathered courage. Afterwards, I was amazed at how well I handled everything, especially given my mental state.

Little Free Library

I am working on a project to set up a little library inside the Kwoon. The idea is to have a collection of books on loan or provided through donation that will be shared with the school. They will be able to be checked out for a period of time and then returned for others to enjoy. 

Please dust off a book or two and bring to the Kwoon so we can get this project going. Acceptable books include personal growth, inspirational, meditation, martial arts or anything that aligns with our values and teachings at SRKF.

Back to Basics and Moving Forward

My blogs earlier in the year provide a lot of insight into my frame of mind and my plan for moving forward. There was no deadline, just a journey. I was focused on taking care of myself and progressing wisely. 

Everything was going as intended. Focusing on self care helped me with my anxiety and dealing with all the stressors in my life. I was developing a great solid base to operate from. And this allowed me to gradually increase my numbers and increase my training. Everything was working great.  

I had even composed a set of affirmations earlier in the year.

I will stay the course and focus on what is in front of me. I will re-evaluate and start each day anew as I steadily and intentionally move forward. I will not give up! I embrace feedback and help along the way. I am open to possibilities and enjoy the journey! I choose joy as I travel the path intended for me.

Somewhere along the way I started to deviate from the path in front of me. The yoga practice that helps to ground me and my mindfulness training throughout the day started to take a back seat to mental chatter and what I thought was much needed training and growth. 

I tried to keep the thought of destination and deadlines out of the equation. There are however things that need to be completed by a specific date. I think those darn 5 applications derailed me more than I ever could have imagined or planned for. I have struggled greatly with them, to the point that I get emotional just thinking and writing this. It has been a slow process, but I have been able to break through the initial barrier and I am learning as I continue to push myself. 

The 5 applications are one of my weaknesses and a weakness is an opportunity for growth and self discovery. I know the applications will add a vast amount of value to my Kung Fu and my life. I feel the world of martial arts opening up around me in a slightly different way. I am feeling a deeper connection.

My trajectory may be all over the place lately, and yet I can still see and understand the lessons I am being provided with as I struggle to overcome obstacles in my way. And many of the obstacles are me. My struggles currently are mostly internal. There is ego, an ingrained pattern of thinking and behavior and mental illness to work around. Struggling is something most of us want to avoid and yet there is so much value as we overcome and learn from our struggles. These current struggles are helping to remind me of the need for balance and are pushing me to break through old patterns of behavior. 

Having these realizations makes me smile. The much younger version of me would have avoided struggle and pushed aside weakness. I've come a long way and I owe it to Kung Fu and the IHC program. That being said growth would have been even much slower without the reflection that comes with journaling and blogging. 

To sum it all up, I'm regrouping and going back to making myself a priority. I'm not going backwards though. I will use what I know works to continue moving forward. I'll keep my affirmations in front of me, and utilize the tools within the IHC requirements to continue on my journey.

Struggling

I am struggling.

I am feeling somewhat disconnected and experiencing a loss of focus lately. 

Earlier in the week I realized that part of the problem is I am feeling alone in my training and trying to do too much on my own. Some of this is due to circumstances beyond my control and some is because I'm not taking full advantage of the resources available. I feel like I'm "training in a silo" in more ways than one.

As the week finished I still felt there was something else I was missing. After some brief meditation, the word grounded came to mind. Hmm, that makes sense. Balance has been affected, flow comes and goes, connection to the ground and purpose has been affected and ego has sneakily run amok. As a result I have been easily distracted.

What's missing?

1. My yoga practice has decreased significantly in the past month. Yoga provides me with numerous benefits and one of those benefits is being and feeling more grounded, emotionally and spiritually. 

2. Taking full advantage of the one on one's with my instructors.

3. Connecting with the other 2nd degree brown belts and fellow students.

The good news is I've identified some key issues and can see a solution and formulate a plan.

Self Discipline

Self discipline - conscious control that is oriented towards successful outcomes by overcoming obstacles or impediments.

I allowed discipline to falter this week with regards to my training. I was still very productive and able to achieve balance in numerous areas of my life. With extra days off, I tackled some overdue deep cleaning and organizing at home. Cleaning and decluttering gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride and improves my mental health, I sleep better and productivity increases. Overall I feel there was a really good balance of kung fu, taking care of me, my home, work, quality time spent with my dad, family and friends.

With so many other things getting done it felt like something had to give, and that was my training. I know guilt does not help me to move forward and if left unchecked and it can lead to more guilt. Knowing this I focused on the successes and achievements throughout the week. I thought I had done a pretty good job working through everything and staying positive. I missed something important though.

After class on Saturday I realized that ego had once again snuck in without me noticing. I was so focused on eliminating any guilt and looking for the positive, I completely forgot about the underlying issue. I had pushed discipline and the consistency I'd built off to the side. Even though numerous things went right, I didn't go deep enough and ask myself what went wrong and why.

So, what went wrong?

1st - Ego had snuck in and did a very good job of building me up. I told myself: "It's just a couple of days with reduced training and there are numerous positives to replace that which didn't get done." I felt pretty darn good with everything that I had accomplished, patting myself on the back.

2nd - I didn't go deep enough. I failed to see or ask why I wasn't able to successfully practice self discipline and continue to build consistency. A restart will only take me so far without a plan of action and some deeper reflection to help mitigate veering off track in the future. 

Reflecting and seeing the positives are a great start. Asking myself the hard or uncomfortable questions will help me to eliminate mediocrity. This can be done by understanding how, why and when I become distracted. What are my triggers and roadblocks? Being more aware and developing strategies to lesson the distractions that pull me away from working on goals will help me to improve self discipline and take consistent action. 

What are my distractions and triggers?

Inconsistent daily routines -  Created havoc with consistency

Unfinished household tasks 

Too much time -  surprisingly leads to procrastination

Insufficient training space at home

Summer months - too hot, too nice out, camping weekends, etc

Focus - There are times when I'm excessively focused or I lose focus

Time management - allocating set times to different components of my training. 

Knees - some days are worse than others. Have a game plan for bad knee days.

Waking up tired - I find it mentally challenging to think about working out. 

The need for restarts has been decreasing this year, so that tells me consistency is increasing. When I do need to restart I've found having a plan helps. Knowing my triggers and distractions or roadblocks will help me to develop a better though out plan of action and help me to exercise self discipline. It is through discipline that I will build solid foundations and improve consistency, thus reducing unplanned restarts and help to accomplish goals.

I am Enough!

I had a moment of clarity earlier in the week. It was a where am I, who am I and what am I doing moment that happened towards the end of class and after class. It was an appreciation for who I am and all that I am doing. And the interesting thing is that the catalyst was a game we played in class. Young and not so young all played together, each with a slightly different approach and ability. We pushed ourselves and thought outside the box at times and had fun. I was wiped afterwards, but in a good way. 

I'm not 20 or 30 anymore. I am 60, and I continue to push myself so that I can learn and grow as a person and a martial artist. 

I am enough!

Great Training Day!

In the past if I was stuck on something I would spend hours until I got it figured out and things felt right. Many wonderful discoveries have been made over the years when I push myself and what I learn usually transfers into other areas of my training. 

Training with such a determined attitude takes effort and perseverance, but there is a hefty dose of ego involved as well. I find it very interesting how ego keeps popping up quite often this year. It is something that I have been working on to identify and disengage from more and more. 

I am finding that I don't try to force a solution or beat it into submission nearly as much as I used to. Instead I've been approaching my training with more of a peaceful and calm attitude this year. Relaxing into the process allows a natural evolution to occur. This has been very apparent for me in the past few weeks.

I had a great training session Monday morning. As I went through my hand form I was focusing on flow in a section near the beginning and near the end. I've been working on flow for a few weeks now and only making teeny tiny little steps forward. The great thing is I am not trying to force it. I put in the effort, and I ask myself questions. I am drawing on all the knowledge passed on to me from teacher to student and my skill and experience. And I do feel that I am getting closer to not only developing flow in my hand form but also being able to apply it to all areas of my training and have a good base from which to grow.

These are some of the things that I am aware of and working on to help facilitate better flow. 

Finish my technique

Understand the intent of the application

Release my energy

Joining techniques - where and when

Transitions of the upper body and the lower body

Proper rotation

Engaging my core

Circular energy

When I do a rep I may choose 1 or 2 of the above to work on. I may do all my form reps with the same intent in a given day or I may change up the intent with each rep. It all depends on what I feel is needed at the time and lessons taught in class. I find it hard to work on just 1 thing at a time. Progress is coming slowly and I'm good with that because I know there is forward momentum.

On Monday as I worked on flow in the section near the end of my form I recognized I wasn't feeling the power of my strikes and blocks. Partially because I wasn't releasing between moves and the circular energy that connects each technique to the next technique was mostly taking place with the arms and hands. I know the hips and shoulder, knees, elbows and feet were involved as well, just not to their full potential. There were a couple moments where everything came together and I could feel the connection of power and release. The six harmonies were working together and I could feel the potential. Ahh... I believe more snake is needed. 

I also had what I thought was a breakthrough on a troublesome section of the broadsword. It is the strike as you complete the 360 degree turn. I am having trouble with the trajectory of the sword. I  couldn't seem to get it to feel right. Thankfully I found out I wasn't on the right track only because I asked Sihing Csillag some questions and got some help to continue down the correct path.

Monday was a great day with lots of good observations and instruction. Amazing what one day can bring!

Intentional Restart

Every day we begin anew and each day is an opportunity to restart. Often though we are on auto pilot and just go with the flow, not thinking about the benefits and possibilities each day brings. What if we had a plan as to how we might do even just one thing differently? Beginning anew and intentionally resetting starts with awareness and understanding we have a measure of control when it comes to our attitude. I have found that intentional thought and planned action are required to make the most of a restart. 

After having a week where I was constantly having to make adjustments and training suffered as a result, I made a plan to look at the following week as a chance to restart. I didn't just simply wait for the new week to begin and hope it would be better, I came up with a simple plan of action. The plan was to start with an increase in push up and sit ups reps. My goal was 300 of each per day. I knew this was doable because I've done it before. And what I found was that the rest of my training gained strength and momentum from making that simple change. I may not have reached my goal everyday but I put in the extra effort and had my best weekly numbers in all areas of my training this past week.

My goal again this coming week is 300 push ups and 300 sit ups per day. Maybe what I need are some training buddies to help keep my on track. Who wants to join me?

What to Blog About?

It's not often that I can't think of anything worthwhile to write. And yet here I am with not much to say.

Why is that?

My attention this past week has been focused on getting the last bit of stuff out of dad's acreage, visits to the lawyer, visits to the bank and new developments with my brothers. It has been an extra stressful week that has required much mental and emotional strength that hasn't left much room for anything else. 

Training has dropped off substantially because of everything going on. The intention was there and time in the morning set aside, but unexpected issues mean't adjusting my schedule on a daily basis. I was able to manage a small amount of training on most days, just not my full routine. I tried to take advantage of moments to fit in some push ups and sit ups when I remembered. 

What I do know is the week has come and almost gone with much accomplished. There has been some welcome closure and completion of many tasks. I was able to stick to my nutritional meal plan with a few timeline adjustments throughout the days. Eating healthy is a huge help when it comes to stress. I participated mentally and physically in classes at a level that was doable for me in the moment, and I was able to benefit from valuable lessons and knowledge. There was success in many areas.

I'm off for a long weekend camping trip with a focus on relaxation, friendships, eating healthy, enjoying the outdoors and adding in some kilometres.  

Unexpected Places

The lessons and gifts keep coming, some from expected places and others from unexpected places. 

It was mentioned at last weeks 2nd degree class again that we are the product of SRKF and what that means. The interesting thing is I really took it to heart and it felt that the message was being directed to me which caused some internal struggle. I knew I was most likely reading more into it than I should, but I couldn't stop thinking about what was said and how it impacted me. I needed to sort out in my head why I was reacting so. 

As I thought about it and I took reaction out of the equation I was able to be a bit more objective, helping me to see the lessons and the gifts. Even if the comments were not directed to me I knew that I could still learn from the message. There is always room for me to grow and be more self aware. And if the comments were directed at me then I owe the sender a big thank you for the reminder. 

This had bothered me to the extent that I didn't feel I could attend class in person until I was feeling better physically and emotionally and until I could give 100%. Even after I had sorted everything out my ego still created an excuse to stay away and I wasn't planning on attending in person all week. I talked to Sihing Ward Wednesday afternoon and he convinced me to just go to class. It was very similar to the talks we used to have when he was young and he wasn't keen on going to class. The tables had turned and I am grateful for that.

These were my lessons:

A lesson in recognizing ego in motion -  this provided opportunity to practice self awareness, respect and control. Step aside ego, I've got this!

A lesson in self development - There are many benefits to be gained through self reflection. Putting in the effort and doing the work opened more doors. 

A lesson in positivity - practicing gratitude daily and taking note of positive steps along the way have helped to shift my frame of mind. I am finding that I don't stay stuck as long when I encounter a snag.

Sometimes I need to step back and take the time to reflect on how far I've come as a martial artist and my growth as an individual. A dear friend helped to remind me of this. It is easy to get caught up in all the to do's and areas for improvement while forgetting to appreciate the journey taken thus far. 

I am very appreciative for all the opportunities, the lessons learned and the personal growth I've been so blessed to have experienced. And I hold immense gratitude towards myself for embarking on this journey and doing the work. 

Imagine The Possibilities!

I am often a bit surprised when someone indicates I inspired them or made a positive impact. With that initial feeling of surprise also comes a deeper realization of responsibility and living intentionally. I find myself being inspired to be more and do even more. 

Inspiring others is food for my soul. It fills me with joy and fuels my natural desire to help others. A leader, a teacher and a student all meshed together. So many opportunities for learning and growing.

As I work towards understanding and taming my ego I am developing the ability to operate more from a place of authenticity and humbleness. I am feeling more purposeful and aware of my impact on those around me.

I am working on disengaging the auto pilot that life becomes and engaging with mindfulness and control. With understanding and awareness of purpose comes intentional living. My goal is to eat, train, interact with others and practice self care with purpose while being present and mindful.

Our actions, our voices, our willingness and ability to share our journeys can intentionally or unintentionally inspire others. When I think about the potential, I realize how powerful that is. Inspiring just one person creates a ripple effect for positive change in the world.

Imagine the possibilities!