Look Back

It is the eve of a new year. Looking back, this year seemed to fly by. So much has happened and I certainly feel like I have changed for the better. Of course when you look back your perspective changes. If you go about your life day to day thinking primarily of the present, you don't notice the time fly until you stop to look back. Keeping your mind in the present is critical to making progress in your life, this is very true. However it is healthy to slow down and reflect on the past or strategize for the future once in a while, but only once in a while. This time of year gives me this chance to reflect and balance, preparing for the year to come. See you all next year everyone!

Memories

The holidays are great. They typically give you a small break from the hustle of everyday life. Time is spent with family and friends as well as gifts are exchanged.

When I was a child, like most, it was about the new things I would get from under the tree. Why not, it is exciting to have shiny new toys.

Nowadays I find more satisfaction in seeing the joy someone has with something I gave them, whether or not it is material. In fact, I am shifting more and more towards activities and events. Something that will create memories. Something that inspires and can shared.

The memories last infinitely longer than anything material. Happy holidays everyone, see you in the new year.

Warm Weather

It's hard to believe this year is almost over, the months went by so fast. Given the recent weather, it makes it that much more difficult to believe that the official first day of winter is just a few days away.

Interestingly enough, this abnormal warm weather is causing an excess of icy walking surfaces. It can sneak up on you pretty quick, it would be harder to enjoy the holidays if you slip and hurt yourself.

This is just another reason to stay aware of your surroundings and remain mindful with what you do, including something as simple as walking. It also provides an opportunity to get in some acts of kindness by helping those who might have extra difficulty on the ice.

This weather does have it's benefits of course, no snow removal and the chance to perform lion dances outside in December. It won't last forever though so enjoy it while you can, winter is just beginning...

Debt

One of my goals this year was to rid myself of credit card debt. This debt was accumulated mostly on my motorcycle adventure in Mexico two years ago. The unfortunate reality of the economy hit me a few months later, I lost my job and was unable to pay it off as planned.

Last year was a struggle to stay afloat financially with all the interest I paying. We came up with a payment plan and a budgeting schedule with a timeline of when I want it paid off by.

I started off the year with over $21,000 in debt. I am now at just over $1,000 left, paying off the rest at the end of this month.

This was made possible by following through with my intentions and having the discipline to keep it steady throughout the year. Having an incredibly supportive family was a major factor as well. I greatly appreciate all the assistance I received in this endeavour.

It just goes to show that anything is possible if you are driven enough of achieve it and have someone to help keep things in perspective.

Reasons

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the where and what that we forget the why. It should not just be where am I, what am I doing, but what about why am I doing it? What drives me? I looked back to when I first started Kung Fu. My original goal was trying to find somewhere where I fit in, something to help me confidently show the world that I had a purpose in life. I wanted something I could be passionate about and eventually pass on to others what I have learned.

So I began training, my skill and self confidence increased, but I felt I could do more. Then I heard about the I Ho Chuan program and thought that it would be a great way to accelerate my training as well as becoming more involved in the school. What I didn't realize was just how profound my change in mindset would be after even a single year in the program. I liked what I was experiencing and wanted more, so I signed up for another year.

As the years progressed I found myself feeling less concerned about simply improving my self for my own benefit, but to lead by example for others. I began to understand the concept of being the change you want to see in the world. If I work hard and do my best in everything I can all the time, regardless of reward or recognition, I not only improve myself, but inspire others to improve as well. This applies not only to my Kung Fu or involvement in the school, but every aspect of my life. Everything I do has an impact on those around me.

I may not be involved in the I Ho Chuan for the exact same reasons anymore, but I feel that is because it has satisfied my original intentions and replaced them with even more ambitious ones.

Seeing Progress

Acknowledging the progress of students I help teach is prevalent in my mind right now. I am seeing students that have been too shy to participate at first eventually getting right into the middle of the action and enjoying themselves immensely.

I am seeing students that have a difficult time focusing, using proper technique or even wanting to be there at all. Then slowly over time overcoming these personal challenges and these students become very strong leaders for the rest of the class. I see these students and I am inspired by them.

It was as if a switch was thrown in my head is week, I am seeing the changes occur before my eyes. I am recognizing and greatly appreciating the progress these students have made, it puts a smile to my face just thinking about how coming to Kung Fu classes has had such a positive affect on their attitude towards life and its many trials.

Winter Sport

People say that winter is one of those seasons you either love or hate. I don't quite agree with this, there are aspects I enjoy and others I don't enjoy. It should not be absolute. Winter is unique in that there is snow on the ground. The landscape is different for four months of the year, snow is slippery and there are all new activities you can partake in that are otherwise unavailable the rest of the year.

I love cross country skiing. The fresh air, the exercise, the general affordability of the sport, it is definitely my winter sport. What is unfortunate is I have not done a lot of skiing the past couple years. It went by the wayside and my love for winter slowly diminished as a result. This happened so gradually that I never really noticed.

I am not entirely sure what sparked my memory, but this year I am very adamant about getting back out on the boards. With the early snowfall this year I have been able to have more opportunities to enjoy it through the week. I am going back to my roots, what I grew up with. I feel more connected to my youth, I am genuinely enjoying winter again. How does this relate to Kung Fu? It goes back to the idea of making a slight change in perspective. Taking something you might not like and spinning it around to be something more positive, all while keeping an open mind about what you can and cannot control.

Less Yack, More Smack

This past Thursday was a lesson in mindfulness. I was given the chance to lead a class. I had a plan and the intent to bring it into fruition. It started off well, but my ability to teach still has a long way to go to make it last the entire class.

I realized that I have difficulty adjusting to the pace of a class. I didn't recognize how slow it was going and by the time I did, the time had past to fix it. As much as I give myself a hard time, I actually appreciate and enjoy these moments.

I learned plenty about what to do and how to present myself. Explain less and be confident that what I am teaching is correct, even if it might not be. When I am standing in front of the class, there is no room for second guessing. Wait until after class to analyze the accuracy of my lesson. I need to stop repeating myself and trust that the students understand. Let them figure it out and think about it instead of trying to give every possible detail I can think of.

This is something that comes with experience, not many people are great at teaching right from the get go. I can't wait to apply what I learned, make more mistakes and learn even more.

Snow

It is here and I believe it is here to stay people. This means slippery roads and sidewalks. We now must do what we can to make it as easy as possible for the kind folks we volunteered to help by keeping their walks clear of snow and ice.

Snow removal is an important part of my day job this time of year as well. There are residents that have trouble with balance, an ice covered walk. I feel it a great responsibility not because it is just another task to complete, but it is an easy way for me to make their lives easier. I do this small act and I feel I am making a difference in their lives. It turns a potentially bad day for them into a fulfilling and enjoyable one because they can go out into the world without fear of falling as soon as they walk out the door.

The seniors in our community have payed their dues with regards to clearing the snow. It is our duty as active citizens to show our appreciation for what they have accomplished in past years and let them know that they can rest easy with the knowledge that we are picking up where they left off.

Hands

I have noticed in the past year that I have been getting sick more often. Nothing serious, stuffed nose and whatnot. I have been looking for a reason for this. I started to think that one factor could be the fact that I work with both children and seniors. Both of which are prime groups for becoming ill. This has been an incredible reminder to wash my hands frequently and avoid touching my face whenever possible.

This goes back to the whole concept of consistency. If I only wash my hands between most tasks, there is a greater possibility of transmitting an illness from one area to the next. It has to be done diligently or it will not be effective. Whether it is from the kwoon to one of my buildings or vise versa, there is so much that can be prevented if I just wash my hands. Not even just washing my hands, but doing so thoughtfully. Take the time to feel every crease, every crevice, every scar. It gives me an opportunity to think about what I just accomplished as well as what I'm about to.

With flu season just beginning, this is even more vitally important, not only for my own health, but for those around me.

Stepping Back

When I have an idea or an opinion I find that I need to explain to someone, I am sometimes met with animosity. They either don't understand or agree with what I'm saying and I feel I need to try to explain it in different ways in order to get my point through. It becomes a problem when it is nothing but a back and forth struggle that goes nowhere. At times it seems the more assertive I am with my point of view, the more I receive friction.

I have a hard time giving up the conversation when I don't think they understand what I mean. I tend to continue explaining well until both parties in the conversation start to become agitated.

Regardless of my intentions, which is typically to help the person I'm speaking to, it ends up making things worse.

If it is something I feel is vitally important, I find it extremely difficult to let go. This usually creates a drama that could easily have been avoided.

However, if I don't speak my mind and something I am attempting to prevent happens, the guilt is on me for not doing what I can.

Frankly, my flaw is I don't know when to quit. My question to any who reads this is:
At what point do you step back and let things be?

Conflict

I have been practicing Kung Fu for only a few years, but it has already improved my ability to keep calm in times of conflict. It has been a slow process. Before and even during my first couple years training, my ability to keep a cool head in stressful situations was quite lacking.

I am only now beginning to truly grasp the idea of deeply looking at a situation and deciding what I should do to create the best possible outcome. I think to myself, "Is this going to benefit the other person or myself in any way?", "Is it worth it to get angry?" or "Is this going to diffuse a possible situation or inflate and aggravate it instead?

These are questions you need to ask yourself several times a day. It is more difficult and requires more effort to achieve. The benefits are simple, you are happier and people around you react more positively to your presence. Silent River is not teaching me to fight, but how to think before acting and respect those around me as well as myself. 

Take care everyone.

Eye for Detail

I have been making some very subtle, yet incredible strides in my practice of Tai Chi. I am looking at each piece, each movement and I am breaking them down even further. After breaking them down I analyze it even more, make a slight adjustment to a vector here, foot positioning there and then put it all back together and apply it to other pieces in the form. I am finding this process both relaxing AND rewarding, my eye for detail is improving and I am finally able to recognize it!

Much of the deeper thought into how my body mechanics are being applied comes from my Kempo training, "Is my heel down when it needs to be? Are my hips centered? Where is my power range?" These are all questions asked in the evening classes.

I see the similarities and wonder what I can do to improve my Tai Chi with Kempo. The result is quite extraordinary. The two really do assist with one another. It works in the reverse as well, Tai Chi concepts like, "the weak defeating the strong" and "keeping your center", are great to keep in the front of my mind when practicing applications or sparring. It helps me remember that it is not about muscling through, but having the proper alignment and intensity at the right time.

I am excited about where my martial arts training is taking me and I am humbled by how much I still do not know...

Forgetting

Why do we forget to do something? There are excuses that get thrown around, "I was too busy", "I forgot", "I didn't know what to do"

These are all just part of a much bigger reason, priorities. Is it a true priority for you? Do you see the value in it? If you answer yes to these questions then there is no reason why you should forget. If you make it a priority, it will be in your mind all the time.

My mental game has not been the greatest earlier this past week. My motivation was just not there. This is not to do with my training or requirements, those are still doing great! Even though my shoulder is still on the mend, my training is consistent and I and doing what I can to let it heal properly without falling behind.

Everything else seemed just mediocre and lack luster. I just couldn't remain focused on what I was doing, I kept forgetting what it is I needed to get accomplished. Thankfully, my brain was able to sort it all out by the end of the week. I realized I simply need to go back to the basics, mindfully prioritize and always remember the phrase, "Where am I? What am I doing?"

Writing

Blogging, like most of our mastery requirements, has several benefits. It gives you an outlet to express yourself to the world, it allows team members to better know you and it develops your writing skill.

I was reading through some of my first posts and found a profound difference between now and then in my vocabulary and sentence structure. The more you write, the better you become.

This is true, but if you make a conscious effort to look back and figure out why some approaches worked and others didn't, you will improve much more swiftly.

This theory is applicable to everything in life. If you go back and improve on what you already know, the quality of your knowledge and skill will be much higher.

I will continue to blog, long after my time with the I Ho Chuan comes to an end. It keeps me engaged, it keeps me focused.

Repetition and Habit

Lately I have had the sensation of being pushed by a wave in an ocean. I feel like my day to day activities are just flowing nicely. My ability to complete requirements, I Ho Chuan related or not, is surpassing second nature and is just becoming natural in my way of life. The process is starting to become sustainable for me. I am thinking less consciously about what I need to do and just doing it instead. Busy or not, things are getting done and my confidence is at an all time high. 

I sometimes look inward in an attempt to find the reason why everything seems easier now. Am I making the illusion that it's easier and just not trying as hard? Unlikely, I am not that kind of person. I am one of those people who beats themselves up mentally for not doing everything they can to achieve something, at least I was. Since joining the I Ho Chuan team almost 3 years ago, this has lessened greatly. Instead of having negative thoughts about what I didn't do, my mind is generating more thoughts about what I can do next time to create a better outcome.

So why then has it become easier? At the moment I believe it is due to repetition and habitual thinking. If you repeat something over and over again, striving to make each time the best you ever have, eventually it becomes easier. Furthermore, since you repeated it so many times it just becomes a part of your life, a habit, something that takes no conscious effort to accomplish. 

I am really excited about where I am right now mentally. I am just going to keep riding this wave of momentum and see where it takes me.

Take care everyone.

Always More

I like asking questions. Asking questions opens doors we didn't even know existed. At the end of class we are typically prompted to ask questions and often there are none, maybe one or two. I am just as guilty as anyone else with regards to this. I know I have questions, there are always more questions. However when it comes time to ask, I have nothing.

There is always something else to know. It was mentioned that so much of what we learn is watered down from generation to generation because we don't ask enough questions. Think of all the opportunities we lose simply because we are too afraid to ask.

This week I am dedicated to always thinking of something to ask. Whether I am at home, work and especially at the kwoon. I'm making it my mission to ask more and assume less. It is too early to say if I have made any real progress, but if I stay consistent with this, I'm sure it will be to my benefit.

Be curious, people! There is so much to learn and so little time to learn it! After all, if you don't have any questions, are you truly mindful and engaged in where you are and what your doing?

Brush Stroke

The reno week this year was successful. The ceiling is freshly painted, the pads for the bike racks poured and the trees have been planted. The 2nd annual potato bake was great! Even with tasks needing to be done, we each had a chance to enjoy some time together and stuff our faces. I am happy to have contributed to this reno as opposed to last year. It really does give you a deeper connection to the school. It further distinguishes it from being "just another place to work out". 

Due to my awesome shoulder rolling skills, I was not able to help with the outside projects and was limited to painting inside. Although this work was above my head, it was not as heavy as working with garden tools or moving dirt. I managed to make myself useful and it probably helped with the mobility of my shoulder anyway.

I really did enjoy painting the ceiling. I was tasked with "cutting" the edges of the ceiling and around the lights. This took full focus and attention as I did not want to paint the wall or the lights. There was something almost soothing about having a task so simple yet delicate as this one. It reminded me fully engage myself in everything I do. No matter how simple something seems, you need to pay attention to what you're doing to do it properly. 

Progress

Progress is one of those regular topics we go over throughout the year this year. How has it become such a sore spot for everyone? I understand that we want to feel like we are going somewhere with our lives. However, if you continually look to where you want to be and not appreciate where you are, you are certain to never get there. 

There are many forms of progress. Just because you can't see it at the moment does not mean it doesn't exist. Some days see more progress than others, but I look at myself at the end of the day and ask what changed in the last 24 hours. I'm not picky, sometimes anything will do. If you look hard enough, it's easy to see change, even if it is the same change for several days. There is still progress! Looking too far ahead in your life does not allow you to look closer at the little things happening now. 

I'm not saying it is bad to have goals and look towards the future, but you need to take life in bite sized pieces. "How do you eat an entire field's worth of potatoes? One bite at a time." Don't mind the analogy, I just happen to really like potatoes.  

Take care everyone.

The Dangerous Phase

It has now been a couple of weeks since I decided to try and look cool with a flying shoulder roll, only to do a number to my shoulder.

This was not a smart idea, as this is something I haven't practiced in some time. However, there are no take backs and in reality, it could have been much worse. I did learn much though, the main idea is body awareness. Where am I and what am I doing?

Moving forward, I am now entering what is called "The Dangerous Phase" in my recovery. My shoulder is feeling much better... in terms of movement anyway. However muscle engagement is still a long way away from 100%.

This is spooky because it is easy to forget the injury and attempt something I could normally do. This causes pain and slows down the recovery. Again, the importance of body awareness is crucial if I wish to have this healed properly. It's not that it has happened often, but a couple times trying to lift a bag or push open a door is a couple times too many.

Slow and steady progression; that sounds familiar, doesn't it? This will be a great test of my patience.

Take care everyone.

Sharing the Adventure

There are many things you go through during a motorcycle trip, especially when motocamping. It is not a cushy as travelling in a car. You are exposed to the elements, your sitting positions are limited and people don't see you on the road as easily.

In the first two days of our trip, we have experienced almost everything you can on a long distance trip. Bad weather, changing plans, bike maintenance, finding a place we've never been to with the last light of the day quickly fading. The funny part? It has been an absolute blast!

It is always fun to experience something for the "first time" again with someone who hasn't yet. The chance to share a small adventure like this with my wife has been great.

The importance of the journey greatly outweighs the destination. This is what we keep in our minds front and center when things go a little sideways. You have to, otherwise there is no enjoyment.

Take care everyone.

The Buck

The recent plastic free July challenge has been quite the eye opener, quite the game changer. I never realized just how reliant we are on plastic, especially single use plastic. There is so much out there, not just food, that is packaged in plastic. Most of this plastic is not disposed of properly. I do my part in mitigating this both by taking the initiative and educating when being questioned. I find I spend a fair amount of time at work separating different materials to make them properly recyclable.

I get a few odd looks from both residents and co-workers. I have heard comments like, "Why bother taking so much time to do that? They most likely have people separating it later on." The point is I don't want to wait for someone else to do it, if I have the ability to do it myself and reduce the amount that is wasted, I am happy to take the time to do it, the buck has to stop with me. Correction, the buck has to stop with everyone, a little effort goes a long way. Too many times we think, "Oh, someone else will do that." and it needs to change somewhere. For me, it starts here. Reducing the amount of single use materials I buy and proper disposal of the single use materials I do end up using. The kicker is it's not just plastic, any single use material must be disposed of properly by everyone in order for it to be reused as much as possible.

Walker

I pondered over an interesting question I heard a few times this past week. It had to do with visualizing what kind of black belt I want to be and how I want to get there. Do I want to be in the best shape of my life, or do I want to use a walker to go places by the time I tie that belt on for the first time? Although I think the idea of creating a weapon form with a walker would be pretty neat, I for one would not want to be crippled because I did not progress wisely. I need to take the necessary steps now to ensure I have no walker at my black belt ceremony.

This is point of the question, to address how I am executing techniques now. I need to maintain the mindset I want to have as a black belt, the techniques need to be performed (to the best of my ability) as if I was already a black belt. This is because if they are done improperly for long enough, it can cause serious problems with your joints and muscles. By the time we get into the advanced classes, we need to be increasingly mindful of what our body is telling us and how we can fix an issue before it even starts.

There is something I heard on a youtube video a few years back regarding changing motorcycle tires that I feel is relevant to this topic, "If a task seems too hard, you are probably doing it wrong." I think if you find out your are doing something wrong, you ask questions! Get the problem solved before it is too late! That or figure out a cool way to make a walker look more menacing as a weapon... 

Take care everyone. 

Alignment

We speak a lot about taking what you learn in the kwoon and applying to the world around you. This is can be in how you interact with those around you, how you react to situations in your life or how much ownership take with your life.

Another form, one that is especially beneficial to those of us who do a lot of physical work, is taking the concepts of body alignment and 6 harmonies into what you do.

For example, I spent the weekend helping my dad build a retaining wall (the first section at least) and we used a power auger to did holes for the posts. It was quite the task; with each hole we needed to pull a 5 foot auger out of the ground, full of dirt, without injuring yourself. Even with having four people to lift, it required some careful positioning. I found that using stances from kung fu helped with this. I focussed on maintaining proper alignment and using more skeleton than muscle.

It is amazing how much easier it was to accomplish this when I got into this rhythm. There is no end to the tools at your disposal if you put your mind to it.

Opportunities

A couple of days ago I was presented with a job opportunity. I have a chance to get a job as a Journeyman Electrician for a company in Edmonton. I must say that I have mixed feelings about this. It is something that I want, to work in my chosen field. It would give me the chance to get the required experience necessary to acquire my master ticket. This would take my career to the next level.

I have been putting a great deal of thought towards this lately. I'm not sure if I am ready to make any changes. My electrical career is not the only aspect of my life. It is not always about money either. I am in a good position right now. I have a steady job in Stony Plain, this means no commute into Edmonton. It means I am closer to the Kwoon, the hours I work allow me to spend more time training and give me the ability to instruct as well. This is what I consider my primary goal at this time.

The other major consideration about this is if I accept that job and it doesn't work out for some reason, I might not get this position back and I will be forced to start from square one again. It is not that I am afraid to take a chance, but this is just not the right time. I will get another chance in the future I'm sure, perhaps the circumstances will be favorable for such a change.

Excitement without Disappointment

As I mentioned at the meeting this past Saturday, this I Ho Chuan year has been more mental progress than physical for me. I am beginning to understand how effortless effort works. Even though I haven't been trying as hard in a conscious sense, my ability to face my goals on a day to day basis is becoming easier. This has been my most successful year yet. It's not just the goals, but my progress in my kung fu and not to mention many other aspects of my life.

With regards to my progress in kung fu, once I stopped taking the curriculum at face value and just focused on my training, the experience has been immensely more enjoyable and I have noticed progress where I have not before. After dumping a deadline and focusing on where I am now, I find I am a lot more engaged. I still have an idea of where I want to be by a certain time and I am still quite excited about it, but I am not so attached to this idea that I will be disappointed if it doesn't come into fruition.

That is another aspect of my mental progress this year. I was struggling with being excited about things in life. I started to feel that if I become excited about anything, I put myself at risk of disappointment. The real thing is that it's all about perspective. I'm learning to change my perspective, instead of being disappointed about something that didn't go as planned, I am committing to just be excited for what may come from what did. Spending your days concentrating on how things could have been different is not the way to live, stay excited for what is to come, always.

Take care everyone.

Trying New Things

Today I had a chance to try out wake boarding.  A friend was showing how it's done and made it look easy. It is definitely harder than it looks! I didn't get out of the water once the entire time I tried. It was a humbling experience, but quite enjoyable. I certainly have plans to continue this endeavor once in a while.

I do appreciate having the ability to try out new things, even if it is just a one time occurrence. I believe it gives you a little more awareness and insight to what the world has to offer you. The wisdom you receive is uncanny. There is no better way to know how something really works than simply going out and doing it. I encourage everybody to try everything (within reason) that comes your way. Even if it ends up being a negative experience at the time, you learn from it and use it to better yourself.

This entire weekend has been excellent. The Canada Day celebrations in Spruce Grove and Stony Plain went well without any major hiccups. We then spent most of the rest of the weekend at the lake. A full weekend of enjoying the outdoors. Aside from the evening thunderstorms the weather was fantastic! I hope everyone else had a good one as well.

Take care everyone. 

Plans

This past Thursday I attended my brother's convocation. He has been going to MacEwan University for the last several years and just received a degree in Computing Science. There were several speeches throughout the evening, but a statement from one speech stuck with me and got me thinking. Of course I am paraphrasing, "Write your plans out in pencil, because you never actually know where life is going to take you." 

This made me think about all of the recent talk about intent and how it should be ever-changing. If you set a plan for decades from now, you will end up "erasing" your plan and changing it a billion times as the years go by. I might be someone who looks too far into the future. I sometimes try to make plans without actually knowing all the variables. How could you when you look years ahead?

I think the idea is to make shorter term plans, so you can be more immediately focused on them. You might find that the plan you intend to fulfill will change less often. I think I understand the idea of changing your intent more frequently. Being fully aware of what you are doing right at this very moment is almost more important than any plans you can make.

Extremism

Extremism is defined as: "a tendency or disposition to go to extremes or an instance of going to extremes, especially in political matters"

There is a big problem with extremists and how they are created. The damage they cause is tremendous, for multiple parties. The up front victims of extremism are obvious, innocents being killed, just because they believe in this religion or that.What is not so obvious is extremists create a bad image for others of the same race or religion, creating a stigma against them and making it more difficult for other people to accept them without prejudice. They all get painted with the same brush; treated unfairly and ridiculed for something they had no part in.

The solution is always seen as, "We need to fight these extremists. Take them out so they cannot do any more damage" The flaw with this is we are not dealing with the cause, only reacting to the product. I am not saying they are right to do what they are doing. However, if there is to be something done, it should be done well before people feel they need to resort to such acts.

We need to ask ourselves why anyone would want to go to such extremes. Forget any preconceived views of a particular race, I have heard enough talk about how one race is more prone to violence than the next. It is complete garbage. We are ALL human. We are ALL capable of great accomplishments and horrible atrocities. These people are desperate, but why? Why do people need to die or kill to get their point across if we have this incredible network of global communication? People need to reach out, for help and to help. This needs to happen!

Extremism has no place. People should not wait until the problems they face become so dire that they feel it is necessary. It needs to be solved gradually, address the problems sooner to avoid mass conflict. We as a race have the capability to create anything we want. We can accomplish anything if we simply put aside our pride and greed and help each other, even if we don't like them or agree with them. We need to do this! Not only to survive, but thrive and progress....

Take care everyone.

A different Angle

A couple of weeks ago I was, for one reason or another, not seeing any progress being made in my kung fu these past few months. A big part of it, (something I know is wrong) is the fact that I was concentrating on the curriculum. I noted all that I need to learn, looked at how long I have been at this level and did the math to estimate when I would progress further in rank. I attempted to analyze every possible reason why I was "progressing too slow" for my liking. 

I figured I was stretching myself too thin with everything I am attempting to accomplish with my kung fu. I decided this year to utilize the requirements of the I Ho Chuan to learn two Wu Dang forms, one weapon form and one hand form from Sifu Beckett. This took my attention away from Kempo. I was starting to feel like I might not be up for the challenge, that it was slowing down my progress.

There is a serious problem with this way of thinking. This is not a mathematical equation, there is no absolute. After listening to a different way of looking at it, I realized that it is not the specifics that are important when progressing, but the concepts. If you try to cling on to specifics, you will always be attached to them. You lose the ability to improvise and grow from one experience to another. 

Although some of the movements and stances are slightly different from Kempo, learning this other style of kung fu through its forms has allowed me to begin fixing problems with my technique I didn't even know I had. I just needed to approach it from a different angle.

Even though my attention has shifted slightly and my "curricular progress" has seemed to slow down, my kung fu skill level has improved greatly. I have a much better appreciation for where I am in my training. It's about what I'm learning, not where I am in relation to everyone around me. The curriculum is a tool to aid me in my journey, it is not the journey itself.

Take care everyone.

Lions and Drumming

The Farmer's Day parade was a rousing success. We had a good amount of people out to help construct the float and there was a good turn out to represent the kwoon during the festivities. The float looked good, so good the judges deemed it the best commercial float of the parade! Great job people!

I have been missing being part of the lion dances. It is one of my favorite activities to partake in with the team. The parade gave me ample chance to get some real lion time in. It may not have been a dance, but it was still a great opportunity to practice my skills. I have been looking at expanding my skill set with different parts of the dance, lately I have been practicing the drumming patterns. I seem to be catching on fairly quickly, but there is still much to learn, kind of like learning kung fu. It is interesting learning what it is like on the other side of the production. I hope with time and practice I will get a chance to drum a dance.

Passing on the Torch

The Pandamonium is always a great time. Students and families from around the community come out to enjoy the festivities, get some extra training in and meet representatives from some of the charities our foundation supports. It allows us to encourage awareness of what we do, both as a kung fu school and a foundation. This year marks Silent River's 30th anniversary and because of this, the mayor and a few dignitaries made an appearance to recognize this achievement. To be involved in the community and become an integral part of the town's identity is incredible.

24 Hours continuous hours of Kung Fu is a unique way for students to go to the kwoon at different times of the day. You meet people who have been there for years and you wouldn't know because some class times are at completely different times in the day. I have participated in the Pandamonium for the past 3 years, every year I challenged myself to stay the entire 24 hours. This is not easy, it is a sure test of willpower and determination. You learn a lot about yourself and those who take the challenge with you, not to mention the friendships you build and grow. Each year seemed to get easier in some ways and more difficult in others. The variety of activities and the opportunity to learn so much in so little time is one that keeps me coming back again and again. 

Alas, this year is my last for doing the entire 24 hours. It has been fun, but I feel I need to change my approach to the Pandamonium. Spend less time, but allow it to have more impact and meaning. Besides, the recovery period gets a little longer each time. I want to stop before the Sunday after is a complete write off. I also need to be a little smarter and take care of my body and mind better. This being said I do not regret it, it was a blast every year! However, now it is time for me to pass on the torch. I challenge others to give this challenge a try at least once, especially if you enjoy being at the kwoon as much as I do.

Take care everyone.

Energy Level

This past week I had the opportunity to lead the Tiny Tigers class. There are certain dynamics of teaching an entire class that are quite different than teaching one on one. You need to be able to keep the attention and interest of the entire class, not just one student. One way to ensure this is to recognize your energy level and how you present it. If you are too quiet or lethargic, the kids get bored and start finding ways to entertain themselves. The opposite, which happened in my case, is when you are too energetic and they are so excited they cannot contain themselves. There needs to be a balance between these extremes in order to be successful.

I found it fascinating how an entire room of students can feed off your mood. I knew it happened from one person to another, but an entire class? That is some neat stuff. Controlling not only what I say but how I say it key and is something I will be working on. Having a plan and not becoming frustrated when it isn't panning out quite as you envisioned are two other vital keys to success with this. There is so much to learn, bit by bit it is coming together for me.

I hope everyone had a fantastic, unusually sunny May long weekend. I know I took advantage of it, getting some quality motorcycle riding in.

Take care everyone.

Trade Off

I had an interesting encounter at work this week. We had the annual inspection for the emergency generator in one of our buildings. The inspector who came out was the same person installed it almost 30 years ago! This guy knew the system inside and out. When he was giving us a refresher course and showing us the specific features of the system, he began asking me questions about my familiarity with the electrical components of it. I was taken back by just how much I don't know or remember. My specific electrical knowledge has atrophied an incredible amount since last year. It is a little disheartening considering I am supposed to be a Certified Journeyman. Of course, this is one way of looking at it.

It's easy to get lost in that way of thinking. I have lost knowledge, but I can't expect to remember what I don't practice. The more I spend in this kind of job, the more my knowledge and skill set will change. It is a trade off really. One example, I lose specific technical factoids and replace them with how to diffuse a situation by calming down an upset resident. Just because I have formal training in a certain field, does not mean that it is what I am meant to do for the rest of my life. Sometimes life hands you opportunities to explore other avenues available to you. If the price is not remembering everything, I am happy to pay it. No one can take the education or experience I received away from me completely.

Pulling My Weight

It is safe to say that spring is in full swing. The trees are budding, the grass is becoming more green and the outdoor projects that we all plan during the winter months are finally beginning. This means life around the house is increasingly busy. Most of my time during the week is spent out and about, this being said I am not at home for any extended period time aside from sleeping. There is a lot that gets done around the house that I don't contribute to. This became apparent to me this lately and I am committed to changing this fact. I have been asking more often what I can do to help and just taking the initiative more often, even if I am tired from the day's events. I am getting more creative in how I can maximize my time with tasks that I can do at home while maintaining a steady training regiment. With time and practice, it is coming along.

I feel like I owe it to Mel's parents, they are letting us stay here for next to nothing monetarily so I need to pull my weight around here somehow. In my opinion, when you receive something from someone there has to be something given back in return, otherwise it eventually loses its value. It is nice to be nice, but if the person you are helping out doesn't show any kind of appreciation for it, you are less likely to do it again.

I have been taking steps to ensure that I appreciate those around me, appreciating the understanding and patience that my family, friends and peers show me. This is certainly another opportunity to see how much I can improve my ability to balance all the aspects of my life, I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge.

Take care everyone.

Weather

The weather has been slightly troublesome this spring. At first it shows signs that things are finally warming up and we can look forward to steady warmer weather, great! The next minute it is a massive snowstorm and everything that just dried up is now soaked and snowy again, darn! All I have to say about this is, it happens! Whether you are right angry about it or not, it happens.

When I see the spring weather turn to winter conditions I just laugh. What else are you going to do about it? Just smile and go with the flow. The weather eventually straightens out and everyone is happy with how nice and warm it is. That is until it gets "too warm" and we start complaining about that. This is why I commit to enjoying whatever weather I am faced with. I am alive and healthy, if the worst part of my day is the fact that the weather sucks, I'm doing pretty darn good.

Take care everyone.

Timeline

Timelines are a very valuable method in remaining constant in achieving goals you set in your life. They put the pressure on and keep you accountable. I have two extremes when it comes to timelines. One is where I give myself so much time that I eventually lose focus. The end date is so far away that I don't feel like it needs my immediate attention. The other extreme is when I look intensely at what I need to do and stress about whether I will complete it or not.

I have set a general timeline for when I want to grade for my black belt. Looking at it now I am questioning the logic in that. It is still years away, why am I focusing on it? Why am allowing it to cause me unnecessary stress? Why am I stressing in the first place?? This is something I am passionate about! I embrace the challenges and time it takes to learn this ancient and incredible art! Stressing over when I achieve this crucial next step in my training is illogical. It makes more sense to have a good time progressing through, focus on where I am and the progress will take care of itself. This is a positive experience and should be seen as such. I am working on consistently staying in this mindset can use the timeline I set as a productive tool and recognizing when I start to waver.

To recap, timelines are useful. Worrying about timelines is not. This my thought of the week. Take care everyone.

Learning

I'm beginning to enjoy problem solving and troubleshooting more and more lately. I see a problem and I want to fix it. Maybe I have always been like this and just didn't exactly have the drive to follow through from beginning to end. Perhaps I am more confident now that I am forced to deal with situations where I am required to repair things at my job, whether or not I know how they are supposed to work or have any formal training regarding them whatsoever. Every time I dive into a situation like this, pass or fail, I am learning a little bit more. I am becoming more wise and I am able to apply skills learned from one situation into another one. You learn so much more when you let go of the fear of failure.

The more I am exposed, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more informed I am. The informed I am, the more competent I can become. The more competent I become, the more confident I feel. The more confident I feel, the more I will expose myself to. This is one of those perpetual cycles in life that could potentially be of great benefit to someone who can keep the momentum going.

This is all I have to say on this subject for now. Have a happy Easter! Take care everyone.

Lead By Example

I had a pretty interesting moment during the kids classes on Thursday. I thought a lot about one of my previous blogs and how I struggled to make time for my own training during the week. More importantly, I thought about some of the comments people sent me. I decided to implement some of the suggestions.

Between classes I figured I would get some situps and kicks done while we waited for the students to show up for their upcoming class. The kids were doing their normal routine of standing and waiting to be let in or waiting patiently in their spots in front of the mirrors. They started noticing my activity and began their own warm up activities. Some did situps, others did jumping jacks. 

Not only did I better myself and work towards my goal of mastery, but I inspired the kids to make the most of the time they had at the school. It is an amazing feeling  to be looked up to by the kids. To be a positive example for the younger generation and show what it means to make the most use of your time. I thoroughly enjoy teaching what I know and learn what I don't all at the same time. 

I learned a lesson that day, you never know who may be watching you or who could take something away from it. Much like ripples in water, your actions affect many more than just yourself. This is why it means so much to lead by example, even if you might not see yourself as a leader.

Take care everyone.

Complacency

We all have those day to day tasks, activities we do on a constant basis as part of our normal routine. When one performs them for the first time, driving a route from home to work for instance, people typically take certain care in what they are doing so they do not miss their destination and get to where they want to be on time. After time though, it becomes common place, you drive the same road everyday to and from work and the brain stops noticing certain things. Small details that at one point or another will be critical for you to pay attention to. You lose the focus you once had because it all happened before, it happened the same way hundreds of times with no change and will happen hundreds more with the same result. You don't expect something different to happen and so you become complacent and unprepared to respond to a change. This is when mistakes happen and accidents are a result.

This time of year is a great example of the importance to remaining ever vigilant, especially while driving. The roads are drying up and motorcyclists are now trickling back onto the roads. This is a variable that is unknown to our roads for several months. People need to remember that motorcycles exist and must be on the look out for them. However, this should be the norm ALL YEAR, we need to be paying attention all the time, to everything around us. Spatial awareness is a basic survival instinct, it should be a no brainer. So why do we need to be reminded time and time again?

The bottom line is complacency. Complacency is defined as: "a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc."  We don't realize it even happens because we feel everything is going well. We have "no room to improve". We are good enough. I feel there is never truly anything that should be "good enough". There is always the potential to be better. This is not to scoff at one's accomplishments, they are certainly worth noting, but you should use those accomplishments and also the mistakes in life as a motivational driving force to do more this time, next time and every time after that.

Take care everyone.

Thumbs Up

This one is about my commenting on other member's blogs. I find commenting and recieving comments is a vital part of the blogging process. It assure the author that you are actually reading and comprehending the post rather than simply skimming through. There are times though when you just don't have anything relevent to say, or are a little short on time. This is when you "cheer" the post.

"Cheers" are great, but as mentioned berfore it is the comments that are almost as important as the post itself. When you "cheer" a post, it does not notify you if anyone comments on it. Therefore you potentially miss out on some really important and additions to the post. This is why I began using the "thumbs up" emoticon or even a period. It takes very little more time than cheering and keeps you in the loop on different posts.

It is especially important to do this on posts that deal with events and school operations. It keeps me in the know even if I don't have anything pertinent to say. I still miss some from time to time, but I'm steadily improving myself in this aspect. It is just another way to make the effort a little more effortless when it comes to staying engaged in day to day events. Besides, there's nothing quite like getting a thumbs up from a teammate to keep you motivated.

Take care everyone.

Time

Time is a funny thing. Even though it is a constant, one of the few constants of our lives, it seems to pass by incredibly fast at one point and drearily slow in others. It is all just a matter of your perception at the time and what you are doing. Typically when you are doing something you are enjoying the time seems to fly by, whereas when you are not enjoying yourself it seems to take forever. Your perception of time plays a large role in setting and sticking to a day to day schedule.

I have been having a fun time with my schedule lately. In the past I used to get quite a bit done in terms of numbers and training in the morning before work. It just happened automatically, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I don't do that anymore now. I know setting specific blocks of time to do things is not the best course of action, but I need to do something. The morning is my best bet to get in some good training. Most of the time my evenings are pretty much already set. It's not that I can't get some done in between classes when teaching, but I spend that time for the kids and commit to concentrating helping them. It should not be a time for me.

I plan on being more focused after classes as well. After all the excitement from classes, I am certainly not all that focused and it takes me forever to get to bed. When I get to bed earlier, I will have a better time in the mornings. Seems logical, right?

I am creating clear objectives for what I want to, when I want to do it. After that I need to optimize my efficiency and use the most of the time I have without going too hard and burning out. I've gone that route once already, I don't wish to do that again. I am not making any sudden changes, if I want to make anything sustainable it needs to be gradual.

Take care everyone.    

Purpose

I spent every morning on our holiday working on several aspects of my training. I woke up early, before sunrise and enjoyed the early morning freshness while warming up my muscles. I worked on every concept I could without getting too far in depth or over thinking. I had a great reminder while doing this, the reason I am training. It is not to get a specific belt or status, but a particular skill set. My purpose needs to be clear and pure. A belt is a piece of cloth, what it represents is what is truly important.

As I heard the waves washing against the shore, I felt my mind clear a little more each day. I am ready to come home though, eager to see familiar faces once again.

Take care everyone.

Don't Hide

My time so far out on vacation has been a relaxing one. The weather has been nice and hot and there is plenty to do. It is nice to get away and leave the normal world behind for a while. It is a time to get all your thoughts together, consolidate and return to life as normal. Just because I'm out here though doesn't mean I can hide from my responsibilities.

I need to remain aware of what is happening back home to my best ability in order not to get swamped the second I touch back down in Canada. This is something I still need to work on. Balance being in the moment and enjoying myself while having the mindfulness to keep what needs to be done in check.

Life doesn't stop for one person.

On another note, I took the liberty of taking a week long break from my pushups in an attempt to let my shoulders heal. Tomorrow is the one week mark. Hopefully it all goes well. If I am smart about it, I can resume as normal soon.

Take care everyone.

Shoulders Update

When you train as consistent and frequent as we do on the I Ho Chuan, you need to be careful not to injure yourself. I have taken the fact that I have been generally chronic injury free to this point. I had a short scare with my knees on my first year and now the shoulders are giving me a hard time. Like I said previously, I don't believe it is anything serious, YET. The key term is yet. Since my last blog concerning my shoulders I have had many insightful discussions with team members, instructors and fellow students alike. I've now been taking several precautions to make sure it doesn't get worse. 

I have started varying the types of pushups I do and began different arm and shoulder exercises in order to balance the muscles in the area. I have also been limiting the amount I do in one given time in order to not damage them any further.

I might also simply take a week off the pushups entirely. We are away on holidays here for the next couple weeks starting on Tuesday anyway, no better time to take a break and allow myself to heal.

I appreciate all the advice and wise words, if I don't see you tomorrow then I'll see you after our return.

Take care everyone. 

Donating

One of my personal goals this year for the I Ho Chuan is to eliminate of all my excess credit card debt and be rid of any cards I don't need anymore. This was the plan for last year, but we all know how that story ended up. To facilitate my plan this year, I decided to rent my house out to my brother and his friends to pay the bulk of the expenses. Whatever money I would have been paying to my mortgage and bills now goes to paying off my debt. 

One of the most difficult parts of this was the need to pack up my stuff and store it. I had to find a way to minimize the space required to store all of my belongings. The solution was to simply free myself of anything I haven't used or even looked at in a year or see any practical use for in the future. I was trying to find a way to do so without just throwing everything in the garbage. Selling everything would have taken too long for the timeline we had and quite frankly, some of my stuff probably wouldn't be worth much to sell anyway. 

We did some research and found that there was a donation centre in Spruce Grove attached to the Value Village. This was the perfect solution! Not only did I loosen the load of junk in my house, it didn't go to waste AND someone else will be able to use it instead of buying something new. It felt great to do my part in helping those who are not able to afford brand new things, do my part in helping conserve the environment and not have as many possessions weighing me down. 

I like the concept of donating, some may not agree with me and think that I should have sold my things to go towards my debt. However that's alright with me, I am quite satisfied with my choice.

Take care everyone.

The Price

Everything has a price, in one form or another, you pay. A few weeks ago as the year of the Monkey was closing, my shoulders became progressively sore. Rather, I started noting the soreness, who knows when it actually began. I have been denying how serious it might be, hoping that once things settled down a bit they would have the time they need to recover. That was the case last year after all, sadly not this year.

Now is the time to come clean, I am very likely developing a problem in my shoulders. Pushups are becoming more difficult, not in the sense that I don't have the strength, but the front area of my shoulders are feeling it more and more. It really clicked in this past Saturday at Tai Chi when I could feel the strain while executing the movements.

Why did I let it get this far? I have seen what happens when you damage yourself in your training. Have I been using bad technique this whole time? Probably. In my first year in the I Ho Chuan a good half of my 50,000 pushups were piston pushups. The way I did them put incredible strain on my shoulders, chipping away at them bit by bit and I failed to notice. It could also be caused by the months of shovelling I did last year.

Whatever the reason I need to remedy this before it becomes any worse. I want to continue pushing myself to become the best martial artist I can, it just seems I need to go about it in a different way. I have been humbled by my own body... I do want to have pushed so hard up to this point only to be stopped short by my own arrogance.

Any advice that anyone can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Take care everyone.

Intent

This week we were reminded of the vital importance of having intent in our kung fu. Why are you doing something and what do you plan on doing afterwards. It really puts purpose and meaning into everything you do. Respond instead of react, now this is a concept I have been trying to work around in my brain for years and not just regarding my training.

In the past I found I impulsively made decisions without any follow through and more times than not ended up kicking myself for not giving any true thought into what it is I was hoping to accomplish. I still struggle with this to this day. I think the difference now is that I recognize the problem. It is difficult to fix a problem if you don't know it exists.

I'm slowly becoming more aware of how my actions affect the world around me. Becoming more wise on how to respond to events. Not only am I thinking about how a decision will affect me, but those around me as well. The decisions I made that lacked any sort of intent not only hurt me, but my family and friends as well in varying degrees and forms.

I do feel I am making progress in this though, another slow process in which the end result will be well worth the time invested.

Take care everyone.

Food For Thought

I love food, this cannot be denied. Why not, really? It is our fuel, preparing it is an art form and above all, it is tasty! What you eat is important as it is what your body will use to create new cells and grow. How much you eat is also incredibly important. If you eat too little, you will not have enough energy to sustain yourself, but if you eat too much you can become sleepy, slow and may even gain excess weight.

I am having a problem with the latter. It’s not that I am worried about becoming overweight, my metabolism is still quite fast enough to mitigate any such fears. However, I do find I have been excessively tired lately and can surmise that it may have to do with the amount of food I put in my body. I certainly eat more than my body NEEDS. I tend to eat too fast for my brain to catch up and recognize when I am full, usually ending up truly stuffed in the end. The energy required to digest this extra food takes away from my brain and limbs and I am not as effective in my day to day activities as I know I could and should. I don’t train as hard and I don’t focus as much at work, this is a big problem.

To address this problem, I need to make an agreement with myself to take time when I eat and savor what I am eating. Don’t eat past a certain time of day, don’t snack so much. When you feel the urge to snack, you are most likely thirsty, drink water instead. I feel this will help me greatly and allow me to take full advantage of the time I have in a day.

Take care everyone.

Banquet

Another new year banquet seems to have come and gone in a flash. The excitement of the preparations and practices seemingly instantly closed in one fell swoop as the weekend came to an end and normal life resumed as usual. Perhaps not resumed, we all came out of that hall different people due to the events we witnessed and shared.

Even on the day of as some things unexpectedly went sour, we all kept our cool and made the night a complete success. I had my own hiccups. This was my first time handing awards to any of the kids and as usual I naturally learned it the hard way. It was slightly awkward, but I got through it. I'm still chuckling at how, in my nervousness, I knelt beside a student while taking a picture for his award and he felt the need to kneel as well. Definitely the best public short joke ever I've received.

Congratulations to the new black belts and black belt promotion recipients. Your drive and determination leaves me awestruck. You continue to inspire me to work to the best of my ability so I too one day can achieve such an incredible feat.

The year of the rooster has begun, let's show the world again all we can accomplish in such a short time.

Take care everyone.

Year's End

It is the last day of the year, a time for reflection of what has transpired. I can say it was a definite year of change. The truth is that EVERY year has change for every single person. You are not the same person you were one day later let alone one year later. It is a necessity of life, otherwise it becomes stagnant.

I would have to say the most important positive change for me was my ability to handle verbal confrontation. This is something I have never been comfortable with. I would panic, shut down, studder and ramble. Several events this year have forced me to go out of my verbal comfort zone. Leave it in the dust and speak up with confidence and intelligence.

I'm now just beginning to analyze every conversation almost like a sparring round. I need to remain focussed on what I am trying to convey what I am meaning. I need to not let someone continually push me back. I need to "block and counter" so to speak. Above all, just stay calm.

It took a whole year for this single change alone to even start taking in affect, just another example of incremental progression. I know by this time next year I will look back at this blog and see the immense difference yet again.

Thank you, Monkey team for such a great year. We have accomplished so much in such a short time.

Take care everyone.

Tick Tock

The time is running short. Chinese New Year is just over a week away. The result of our consistent hard work throughout the year will be demonstrated. This team has been phenomenal. We have been able to put small bits and pieces of forms, lion/dragon dances and techniques and transform them all into this sweet looking demo in minute amount of time! When push came to shove we all came together, brought our ideas to the table and set the stage for an exciting demo to show the public just how awesome we are! I am proud to call you my teammates.

The excitement is building up swiftly. 

Take care everyone.

Constant Reminders

My job requires a lot more driving during the day and I listen to the radio more often as a result. Listening to the advertisements makes me cringe a little. They all seem to constantly remind you that mediocrity is acceptable and instant gratification is just one low interest payment away.

"Why bother making new years resolutions about diet, exercise or maximizing your potential when you can just have fun?"

"Healthy life choices are not always the answer, try laser therapy to remove that excess weight."

These are just a couple of examples of what I'm talking about. It seems that many just want a quick fix to their problems, but are unwilling to put any effort into making a change.

Why should maximizing potential be seen as something incredibly difficult or not enjoyable? The harder you try, the more gratified you will be. Maximize your potential in something that interests you and you can actually have fun doing it.

Why do you want to lose weight? Is it because of vanity, or do you truly desire to make yourself healthier?  If it is just for vanity you are likely not addressing the cause, just a symptom. When your health is the motivation, not how you look, you are more likely to make the healthier choice and stick to it with greater chance of effortless effort.

Don't take the easy way out. Push yourself, you never know what you can do until you do so.

This is just my perspective of these particular situations. It is just frustrating that the motivation to better ourselves is dwindling among the majority.

Take care everyone.

Read More, Write More

My blogging has been suffering a bit as of late. I am experiencing a bit of a learning curve both at work and at the school. The rush of the holidays also swept me off my feet. This has not happened to me before quite to the extent it did this year, it is definitely something to get used to.

Are these reasons or excuses? That question will wait for another blog. The real question is what am I going to do about it? What can I do about it?

I found there is a direct correlation between reading blogs and writing them. When you read team member's blogs, you get to know them better. They inspire you with their words, their stories, their lessons. It motivates you to blog as well and tell your own story.

It is just as important to read as it is to write. They go hand in hand, they both increase your vocabulary and your writing skill in general.

With all of this being said, reading blogs is going to be more of a priority for me. Instead of looking on facebook, I look to blogger or mightybell and connect with the team.

Take care everyone.