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.