On Two Wheels

I have been taking advantage of my time at camp to address one personal goal that I have struggled with this year and last year. Distance on the bicycle. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but with the hectic day to day activities it is difficult to find the time to do it. I took my bike up here with me in hopes of riding after work and relaxing.

It is dark early in the evening this time of year, it is not particularly safe to ride on the road when it is like this. Then I thought about riding between camp and the plant. It was a perfect idea with several benefits. It reduces wear and tear on the vehicle, I don’t have to go out early in the morning to warm it up and it stays cleaner. The bike also pollutes less, zero pollution in fact. I get some exercise and my goal is slowly going up. Not to mention the awesomeness of using a bike to commute to work!

At this rate I will not attain my goal, but this has given me some insight. It takes only a few minutes to get the distance I need to reach the end goal. In the grand scheme of things that is not a lot to ask for. If I manage my time correctly once I get back into a routine at home, I should be able to allocate the time to get on the bike more often. Nothing extravagant like 30 km in a day is necessary. Even just a little bit everyday makes all the difference.

Just something to think about for next year and the remainder of this one.

Take care everyone.

Vegetarian Challenge

It has been 10 days since I started the vegetarian challenge, one third of the way there. Not that I'm counting, I'm finding this to be incredibly easy in fact. There of course is the occasional craving for meat, but it usually subsides quite quickly. It doesn’t hurt that the only food I have to eat is the stuff I bring up to camp, I couldn’t break the challenge even if I wanted to.

Meal preparation has become quicker and easier, not as many salads as one might think. Mostly stir fry dishes with several kinds of vegetables and grains such as rice. Beans and mushrooms have been the main substitute for meat and that’s no problem because I ate both a lot of the time anyway. If all else fails I just throw a bunch of fruits and veggies into a blender and I have an instant meal in the form of a smoothie. No matter the format, an abundant amount of leafy greens and full coloured fruit and vegetables is the key.

To be honest, I haven’t noticed too many positive effects in terms of mindfulness yet. Many of the choices regarding my food stem from the paleo style diet that I stick to. I have been more mindful in my meal planning to ensure proper balanced meals, this is a start I guess. These are early days though, I’m sure it will become more apparent eventually.

I’m glad everyone enjoyed the form seminar. That is certainly one of my favorite days of the year, to learn so much in so little time and then present it in front of a panel of black belts is both nerve wracking and thrilling all at once. Certainly a benefit to anyone's progression and confidence.

Take care everyone!

Close Quarters

The snow is falling heavily here at the gravel pit, work hours are steadily decreasing and there is a lot more down time at camp. What does someone do with so much time on their hands? My training has definitely benefited from this extra time. However, my training area is a tad small, there is about 6x12 feet of floor space. This isn’t much to work with when you are swinging a stick around your neck and shoulders, doing your best not to drop it or put a hole in the wall or windows.

At the same time this is the very thing I need in my quest to master this form. There are certain movements that still are not coming out right, the stick does not end up where I intended and I lose flow. With the quarters being so close, I need to be extra mindful of my body movement in relation to the weapon in order to avoid colliding with anything. There have been several “Ah ha!” moments when improvising to my surroundings. These are improvisations that likely should have been implemented in the first place, but the necessity just wasn’t there until now. My connection to and control of the weapon has increased greatly in the past couple of weeks. I’m beginning to feel it more as an extension of my own body rather than a separate entity.

Good luck to all of you participating in the Forms Seminar! Take care everyone.

Jax

The benevolent foundation funds 5 different small charities. One of these, my favorite from the get-go, is the SCARS society. They rescue and rehabilitate animals that might not have the ability to survive. They treat their wounds and provide them with new homes. This is the case with our new cat. This is Jax.

Jax was hit by a car, he miraculously survived and his tenaciousness gave him the drive to limp his way back home. Luckily, his previous owners were able to bring him to the vet clinic promptly. However, they soon found out that they wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of the surgery required for his leg. He was essentially on the chopping block when a last minute call to SCARS saved him. They decided to take him in and pay for his surgery.

After a successful procedure, Jax then stayed with a foster family to await a permanent home. After applying on the website and meeting the foster family, we were able to bring him home a couple of weeks ago. You can barely even tell anything happened to him, aside from some sensitivity on his right side as well as some minor limping from time to time, he is in perfect health. Jax seems to have adjusted to life in our home and is getting along quite well with our other cat.  

It is an interesting experience being on the other side of the charity process. Here is a tangible, first-hand example of what we are supporting. If it wasn’t for SCARS, Jax would not be here today. If we did not bring awareness to SCARS and assist in their funding, they would not be able to give animals the second chance they deserve. Let’s keep up the good work with our foundation and continue to spread awareness of these charities we support throughout the entire year.

Take care everyone.

Cooking

I have always loved food. Let’s face it, there are times where I can be quite gluttonous. It’s really only been in this past year where I have learned to slow down, enjoy and be mindful of the food I am eating. I still have my moments, just now I devoured an apple while writing this so I can get it done in my lunch break. I am getting better though I swear!

I think part of why it is working for me this year is I have been cooking more, a lot more! It is easier to be mindful of your eating if you are mindfully preparing it. I find it more enjoyable to cook with others as well, you feel more connected to the meal you are enjoying if you had a hand in the preparation and the sense of accomplishing something together is like nothing else. I have also learned a great deal about it and I am more confident in my ability. It is a life skill that everyone should know how to do.

I appreciate my food more now. Even if I am just a guest at someone’s house and didn’t get a chance to contribute, it is easier to recognize the work that has been put into it.

Take care everyone!