Monday, 18 February 2019
Cycles - "From Chaos, Comes Order"
We set goals, we make plans and we allow for adjustments along the way. Then life happens! And suddenly we are in a state of chaos. Even with adjustments and the ability to compensate we can be easily thrown off track and derailed. Being proactive and having a solid yet flexible plan is a great start. However, even if you know that something is coming and are able to prepare, the reality while in the moment can be much different.
Chaos is a natural cycle of life. And if you were to think of chaos as being contained within a circle then there would also be creativity, rest and action. Order and even greatness can come from chaos if we follow the intended natural progression below:
1. Chaos - When we are in a state of chaos we need to declutter, clean, simplify and say no to anything that is not necessary. Doing this will help create space and allow you to move out of chaos into the next step.
2. Creative - Space has now been created for ideas. Capture those ideas by writing them down, contemplate, filter and prioritize. Pick 1 or 2 to action later and then transition to the next step.
3. Rest - Take time for yourself, let the ideas percolate and allow synchronicities to happen. Allow gratitude rather than guilt to be present. This is a very important step and is needed to help rejuvenate the mind and body.
4. Action - You are now ready to action your ideas. This is where the magic happens!
If I look at patterns of my own life I can see where I sometimes get derailed and lose some of my motivation. I often go from chaos straight to rest, skipping the creative aspect which then keeps me stuck in rest because I now have nothing new to action and I lack motivation. Many people go from chaos to creative and then straight to action without stopping to rest causing them to burnout and often ending back at chaos.
I'm excited to apply these these principles and recognize where I am at and what needs to happen next. And when chaos reigns and plans get derailed I have a new tool to add to my tool box and help guide me and get me back on track.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Chinese New Year
We had another well attended and successful Chinese New Year banquet on Saturday. Congratulations to Mr Kohut, Mr Mier and Miss Mier on earning their black belts at the banquet on Saturday. And congratulations to all the students that received awards and recognition for their hard work and effort over the past year.
Thank you to everyone that contributed to our Silent Auction this year by donating and/or purchasing items. Approximately $3000 was raised with the proceeds going to the Benevolent Foundation and benefiting the charities that we support at Silent River Kung Fu. Well Done!!!
I wish everyone on the Year of the Pig team success, with a dash of failure mixed in for optimum results!
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Thank you to everyone that contributed to our Silent Auction this year by donating and/or purchasing items. Approximately $3000 was raised with the proceeds going to the Benevolent Foundation and benefiting the charities that we support at Silent River Kung Fu. Well Done!!!
I wish everyone on the Year of the Pig team success, with a dash of failure mixed in for optimum results!
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Sunday, 27 January 2019
Year in Review
Ok, I've had some time to read over my blog posts and reflect on the past year. First of all thank goodness for blogs! There is no way I would have remembered half of what I have experienced over the year on my own. There were some big undertakings and successes as well as quite a bit of walking along side the wagon rather than staying on. There were even times when the wagon was no longer in sight. Thankfully going to classes whenever possible and blogging definitely helped keep the connection with the team.
The year also brought with it some very difficult moments. So much so that at one point I was very conflicted and not in a good place. I had come to a roadblock in my training that created an emotional upheaval. My brain had taken control and was over thinking everything and causing me to doubt myself in a big way. Having fun, embracing the moment and working at staying engaged has helped with keeping my brain and anxiety in check and getting more out of each moment.
Overall my biggest success I think has been working on 1000 reps of 18 Temple Motions. I had chosen this particular form because it was a form I hadn't yet learned and it also contained very different movements from any of the others I knew. I wanted to be able to learn and use some of the techniques from 18 Temple motions in my own form in the future. I am amazed at how much one form can teach you when you take the time to learn it, practise and break it down. And the fact that it tied in so perfectly to some of the trouble I was having in my overall training was an added bonus. The year may be almost over, but I am not finished pushing myself to perform 18 Temple Motions to the best of my ability. 18 Temple Motions has been a very supportive Kung Fu friend this past year.
This was certainly not my best year and I know that I can do better. That being said, I know that where I am at is exactly where I am meant to be, even if it is not exactly where I would like to be.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
The year also brought with it some very difficult moments. So much so that at one point I was very conflicted and not in a good place. I had come to a roadblock in my training that created an emotional upheaval. My brain had taken control and was over thinking everything and causing me to doubt myself in a big way. Having fun, embracing the moment and working at staying engaged has helped with keeping my brain and anxiety in check and getting more out of each moment.
Overall my biggest success I think has been working on 1000 reps of 18 Temple Motions. I had chosen this particular form because it was a form I hadn't yet learned and it also contained very different movements from any of the others I knew. I wanted to be able to learn and use some of the techniques from 18 Temple motions in my own form in the future. I am amazed at how much one form can teach you when you take the time to learn it, practise and break it down. And the fact that it tied in so perfectly to some of the trouble I was having in my overall training was an added bonus. The year may be almost over, but I am not finished pushing myself to perform 18 Temple Motions to the best of my ability. 18 Temple Motions has been a very supportive Kung Fu friend this past year.
This was certainly not my best year and I know that I can do better. That being said, I know that where I am at is exactly where I am meant to be, even if it is not exactly where I would like to be.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Friday, 11 January 2019
I'm Shrinking!
Imagine finding out suddenly that you are 1 inch shorter! During a recent bone density scan I was told I am 5 feet, 4 and a half inches tall instead of my normal 5 and 3/4. I have to say I was taken by surprise and not at all happy. According to the tech. shrinking is a normal part of aging, which I was aware of. I just wanted expecting it to happen so soon. It can come as a bit of a shock when the process of aging creeps up quicker than expected. A combination of health issues and increasing physical limitations have continued to compound over the past year. Age is becoming more than just a number and I do have some fear as to what the future holds.
Now, I could dwell on the aging process that my body is experiencing or I can look on the past year with gratitude. Gratitude for placing these issues in front of me while I have the ability to recognize what is happening and make adjustments to how I live my life and how well I take care of my body. I need to take some control and learn what my current body is capable of, strengthen muscles, improve flexibility and learn when and how to push the limits. Quality of life as I age is important to me and I don't intend to sit around and hope for the best.
Namaste
Michele Ward
Now, I could dwell on the aging process that my body is experiencing or I can look on the past year with gratitude. Gratitude for placing these issues in front of me while I have the ability to recognize what is happening and make adjustments to how I live my life and how well I take care of my body. I need to take some control and learn what my current body is capable of, strengthen muscles, improve flexibility and learn when and how to push the limits. Quality of life as I age is important to me and I don't intend to sit around and hope for the best.
Namaste
Michele Ward
Sunday, 16 December 2018
School vs Art vs Students
The school..., the art... or the students ...? Which of these is most important and how would you prioritize each? We were asked this question at our last I Ho Chuan team meeting.
The past couple of years being a member of the I Ho Chuan team has taught me many valuable lessons. The first year I learned to look beyond my expectations, expand my perceptions and I was able to acknowledge and appreciate the alternative forks in the road that developed over the year. Blogging started as a big stumbling block for me in the first year. By the end of the first year I still struggled occasionally, but I developed an understanding for how important blogging is and why. And sometimes I even learned something while in the process of writing a blog which I think is pretty cool.
My second year brought with it some very important lessons as well. I didn't do as well with all the requirements compared to the first year, but I did learn that failure can create success. Perception can make a huge difference in how we view and react to situations. Take failure for instance; if you see failure as simply failure and attach negativity to it, then it is exactly that .... failure! Nothing is changed and nothing has been gained. However, if you were to take something that you failed at and break it down into the hows, why's, or whats and attach some positive thought, much could be learned and adjustments could then be made. Growth and forward momentum becomes a result. And I believe that is success, which leads to even greater success!
My ability to set goals, plan and execute has improved over the years as well. I have also learned to step back, assess situations and make adjustments along the way when something is not working. Developing a deeper level of understanding has been a result of taking the time to reflect, making use of available resources and connecting with supportive people along the way.
I've experienced big milestones and numerous smaller gems throughout the years. I know that being a member of the team has provided me with many opportunities and growth that I would not have had if the team did not exist. And I am sure that other members of the team over the years have had similar experiences. What we do as a team and as individual members affects those around us and creates a ripple effect out into the school and the community for years to come.
I see the development of Silent River Kung Fu as being similar to the process of learning the art of Kung Fu. The building of a school such as we are fortunate to train in takes enormous effort, hard work, intent, patience, trust and wise progression. Thank you to Sifu Brinker and everyone that has had a hand in making Silent River Kung Fu what it is today.
The I Ho Chuan team is a fundamental component of Silent River Kung Fu. But, without the school and Sifu Brinker we would not have the I Ho Chuan or anything else. So, I think the school has to come first. The school is our solid foundation that draws suitable students to learn the ancient art of Kung Fu. And I think the I Ho Chuan team helps to tie the school, the students and the art all together.
The past couple of years being a member of the I Ho Chuan team has taught me many valuable lessons. The first year I learned to look beyond my expectations, expand my perceptions and I was able to acknowledge and appreciate the alternative forks in the road that developed over the year. Blogging started as a big stumbling block for me in the first year. By the end of the first year I still struggled occasionally, but I developed an understanding for how important blogging is and why. And sometimes I even learned something while in the process of writing a blog which I think is pretty cool.
My second year brought with it some very important lessons as well. I didn't do as well with all the requirements compared to the first year, but I did learn that failure can create success. Perception can make a huge difference in how we view and react to situations. Take failure for instance; if you see failure as simply failure and attach negativity to it, then it is exactly that .... failure! Nothing is changed and nothing has been gained. However, if you were to take something that you failed at and break it down into the hows, why's, or whats and attach some positive thought, much could be learned and adjustments could then be made. Growth and forward momentum becomes a result. And I believe that is success, which leads to even greater success!
My ability to set goals, plan and execute has improved over the years as well. I have also learned to step back, assess situations and make adjustments along the way when something is not working. Developing a deeper level of understanding has been a result of taking the time to reflect, making use of available resources and connecting with supportive people along the way.
I've experienced big milestones and numerous smaller gems throughout the years. I know that being a member of the team has provided me with many opportunities and growth that I would not have had if the team did not exist. And I am sure that other members of the team over the years have had similar experiences. What we do as a team and as individual members affects those around us and creates a ripple effect out into the school and the community for years to come.
I see the development of Silent River Kung Fu as being similar to the process of learning the art of Kung Fu. The building of a school such as we are fortunate to train in takes enormous effort, hard work, intent, patience, trust and wise progression. Thank you to Sifu Brinker and everyone that has had a hand in making Silent River Kung Fu what it is today.
The I Ho Chuan team is a fundamental component of Silent River Kung Fu. But, without the school and Sifu Brinker we would not have the I Ho Chuan or anything else. So, I think the school has to come first. The school is our solid foundation that draws suitable students to learn the ancient art of Kung Fu. And I think the I Ho Chuan team helps to tie the school, the students and the art all together.
We have had many team members this year struggle for many different reasons and some have even been absent more than they have been here. Regardless of where each of us are at with our requirements and our personal goals there is still time to reflect on what worked and what didn't and why. For those on the team that really struggled, ask yourself what worked and what didn't and what did you get out of being a member of the I Ho Chuan? Turn some of your failures into successes!
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Friday, 7 December 2018
Mixed Feelings
I've had a wonderful time in Cambodia and Vietnam and feel blessed to have been able to travel and experience areas of these countries. The temples, the people and the food were all amazing! However, I have returned home with some mixed feelings. This is because I had a hard time seeing the amount of garbage every where we went. Most bigger businesses and homes of wealthy people made an effort to sweep and clean their little section out in front. Quite often you could see them sweep everything into a pile to the side and off their property, only concerned about their own section. There were very few garbage cans around, but I don't think they would have made much of a difference. In Saigon where we were told there was daily garbage pick up and even recycling, the garbage was still noticeable. And as we travelled away from the city center it only got worse. It was not surprising that the largest source of garbage was plastics. Even in poor underdeveloped countries there is an abundance of modern conveniences all wrapped up in plastic. Very little thought is given to disposal and the environment.
We also visited some very interesting outdoor markets selling an abundance of fresh produce and fish, seafood, etc. There was no lack of food items available for sale. Fruits, vegetables, rice and even insects were available. Yup, they eat crickets, worms, scorpions, tarantulas and what ever else you can think of. What broke my heart though was the fish being kept barely alive so that it was fresh and more money could be charged. Fish in 2 inches of water, 1 gill in the water and 1 gill out flopping around for hours. There were also ducks and chickens with their feet tied together laying out in the hot sun still alive but unable to move, just waiting for someone to purchase and butcher for the next meal. Large frogs that had been skinned and bundled together whole. Very little thought seems to be given to these creatures other than being a source of food.
It was very evident that we all have a responsibility when it comes to taking care of our environment and all creatures that are part of our world. We can each take care of our own little postage stamp in this world or we can make a difference and reduce consumption, recycle, reuse and make conscious choices regarding the food that we buy and eat.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
We also visited some very interesting outdoor markets selling an abundance of fresh produce and fish, seafood, etc. There was no lack of food items available for sale. Fruits, vegetables, rice and even insects were available. Yup, they eat crickets, worms, scorpions, tarantulas and what ever else you can think of. What broke my heart though was the fish being kept barely alive so that it was fresh and more money could be charged. Fish in 2 inches of water, 1 gill in the water and 1 gill out flopping around for hours. There were also ducks and chickens with their feet tied together laying out in the hot sun still alive but unable to move, just waiting for someone to purchase and butcher for the next meal. Large frogs that had been skinned and bundled together whole. Very little thought seems to be given to these creatures other than being a source of food.
It was very evident that we all have a responsibility when it comes to taking care of our environment and all creatures that are part of our world. We can each take care of our own little postage stamp in this world or we can make a difference and reduce consumption, recycle, reuse and make conscious choices regarding the food that we buy and eat.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Pushing the Limits
I've arrived safely and have spent the past 3 days experiencing Siem Reap and the temples of the Ankor area. Traveling on my own and navigating the airports was not as challenging as I thought they might be. Thankfully I didn't let fear prevent me from travelling and experiencing Cambodia and Vietnam.
One of the excursions we were able to choose from was an ariel view of Angkor Wat from a tethered hot air balloon which I thought sounded pretty amazing. I am quite afraid of heights and a hot air balloon is not something I would usually sign up for, but I also didn't want to miss out on the view from the ballon. So, today I climbed aboard the hot air ballon and I am happy to say that it was not as scary as I thought it would be and I was actually able to enjoy the view.
It can be very easy to pull back from things that make us uncomfortable. I know that I do this much too often and yet there are also times when I push myself to do something that is outside my bubble. And quite often the event is not as bad as what I thought it would be. The more I push myself the greater my life experiences and opportunities become.
I had an interesting thought while composing this blog because in our kungfu training we also have bubbles and fears which affect our training and ability to progress. By pushing our limits and expanding our bubbles we actually gain more control, calmness and our personal circle of power expands and works more efficiently.
Traveling solo is not ideal, but it does allow me opportunities to expand my bubble and gain confidence in myself and my abilities.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
One of the excursions we were able to choose from was an ariel view of Angkor Wat from a tethered hot air balloon which I thought sounded pretty amazing. I am quite afraid of heights and a hot air balloon is not something I would usually sign up for, but I also didn't want to miss out on the view from the ballon. So, today I climbed aboard the hot air ballon and I am happy to say that it was not as scary as I thought it would be and I was actually able to enjoy the view.
It can be very easy to pull back from things that make us uncomfortable. I know that I do this much too often and yet there are also times when I push myself to do something that is outside my bubble. And quite often the event is not as bad as what I thought it would be. The more I push myself the greater my life experiences and opportunities become.
I had an interesting thought while composing this blog because in our kungfu training we also have bubbles and fears which affect our training and ability to progress. By pushing our limits and expanding our bubbles we actually gain more control, calmness and our personal circle of power expands and works more efficiently.
Traveling solo is not ideal, but it does allow me opportunities to expand my bubble and gain confidence in myself and my abilities.
Namaste,
Michele Ward
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