Like You Mean It

Training out of town is interesting. It reinforces the need to practice mindfully. You can train everyday without fail, but if you are not doing it correctly and return to the kwoon for feedback, you will be less likely to progress. You may then become frustrated that you put in all that work just to seem to be in the same spot you were in when you left. This is where training properly anywhere you are is vital. Train like the Sifu is right there watching you. Be sure every push up you do is all the way up and down, every horse stance is the better than the last one and your forms are crisp, with flow and intent.

If you do not include these crucial details, you will simply get your body and mind accustomed to the wrong practice and it will take a long time to fix it, further hindering your progress. This is something I have realized and have concentrated on for the past few weeks while running back and forth out of town. If you want to progress and grow as a martial artist, YOU have to make it happen. It is true you will have people there for you to help you along the way in one fashion or another, but you need be the one doing what is necessary at the end.

Quality over quantity, practice like you mean it! This is your best bet.

Take care everyone!

Integrity

The spoken word is incredibly powerful. The words you say and how you say them define who you are and can even shape you're future. Your word must be true and unwavering.

Sometimes life makes it difficult to keep your word impeccable. This is something I'm figuring out quite quickly. I'm making an effort to speak less but be more meaningful. I like to be someone who has integrity. Who says something and follows through. I also like to let people know what is going on, but I can understand that is starts to get confusing when I say one thing and something else happens instead. I don't want to become like the kid that cries wolf, I mean who does?

I'm working at it and it is coming along. Speak less, listen more, this is my objective. I will still keep everyone in the loop, I will just be a little more wise in what I say and when I say it. Let's see if this works. It's all about going with the flow!

Take care everyone.

Responsibility

The countryside out in Fox Creek is amazing! Thick forests cover rolling hills with rivers crossing through them. The leaves are even changing which adds to the beauty. Nothing beats training in a place like this. The air is so fresh and relaxing!

This is something we need to preserve. Steps need to be taken to ensure that we don't build up our society too large, too fast.  I'm not saying that I am against progress, I am amazed by incredible technology that has come about in the last decade alone! I simply believe there is a cleaner and less impacting way to produce this technology.

For instance, energy. Many parts of Alberta has the most sun hours in the entire country and yet our energy is still largely driven by fossil fuels such as oil and gas, even though solar power and other forms of producing electricity are available and quite feasible.

We could even start small. Remote sites such as the one I am working at could easily implement solar power. There are those that would argue the fact that it would be very expensive to do so, I beg to differ. When you take in account the thousands of litres of fuel burned everyday, plus maintenance costs and parts. That and how about no emissions! It's a no brainer to switch.

I understand that it all can't be done right away. It is a baby step process. However, if we all do our part we can keep the world green for our children and our children's children.

This is our responsibility, let's not take it lightly.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Monkey Mind

I have had several reminders in the past couple days that I have been thinking too much and not remaining mindful in my day to day activities. Slamming my thumb into a window at work, slicing my finger open while preparing supper and getting too excited for a job opportunity and acting upon it, only to find out it was never going to happen. I have lately had a feeling that I'm just along for the ride. My mind is too preoccupied with everything at once.

Imagine a monkey in your head chirping and chittering nonsense, this is called monkey mind. My monkey mind is going crazy and I have been dealing with it the wrong way.  I recently watched a short video about meditation and controlling your monkey mind. It's not about stopping it. The more you fight the monkey mind, the more it chatters away at you. Instead, welcome it and give it something to do. Give it something to chatter about that helps you not hinder you, for example, breathing. The link to the video is below.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154053656801130&id=18468761129&ref=bookmarks

This is something I need to work towards. I'm not careless, I know that. I am striving to think before I act, not get too ahead of myself. Time to learn from these experiences and move along.

I understand this has been a common theme in my blogs for almost the entire year, so I thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Take care everyone!

Stretch

Throughout my training so far, flexibility and body awareness has been something I have really needed to work on. Perpetual training has helped of course, but a slightly different approach can do wonders.

Mel was interested in getting back into yoga for some time. I have never done it before, but I am never shy of trying something new. We did some research online and found a great establishment in Spruce Grove. For the past 5 months or so, we have attended yoga classes once a week. It's a warm flow with a bit of a slower pace. I have certainly felt the benefits. My hamstrings are particularly tight and many of the poses stretch them out. Even they are now beginning to limber up. I have been noticing greater awareness in my posture and stances as well due to the length of time we take each pose. Now I must take this awareness and apply it more to my kung fu training. This will take some time for sure, but will definitely be worth it.

Aside from the rewards already mentioned, it is an enjoyable way to stretch everything out and reinvigorate the mind and body.

Take care everyone.