Instruction

Personal progress is funny thing. Sometimes it is very difficult to recognize and you occasionally feel the opposite is happening. It is not until someone else makes a comment or you see video evidence of how you used to look that you truly understand just how far you have come in your journey.

I had a moment like this with my teaching. I thought I hit a plateau in my ability to take a concept I know and articulate it to someone else. The last few opportunities to lead the children's classes have proved this thought wrong indeed. 

There was once a time when even just leading a warm-up in front of my own class mates was unnerving. Now my teaching has become more dynamic, more insightful and more fun. All it took was practice, just like anything else. I am not the best, but I am certainly better than I was last week. 

This is a significantly easier process when you have instructors and mentors who are engaging in their instruction. To have someone to take an example from, even just to give you a base for your own style of instruction is invaluable. 

Today I write to give gratitude to all my mentors, in Kung Fu or otherwise. You have helped my become the person I am today.

Unattachment

The events of this week have reinforced the important mindset of not becoming attached to the plans you make in life. The loss of my job has confirmed to me that it is time for a change in career. This is something I have been contemplating for years, but the need to find work and KEEP it has reached the point where action is required.

I am leaving the construction industry, clearly my skill set is not the right fit for it. I have never felt quite right in it, but the push to find something else was never there. Moving forward, I am currently aspiring to start a career in healthcare, in one form or another, but it will take some time to accomplish. 

Changing careers is no quick decision or process. I need to sacrifice some of my pre-determined plans for this year to get everything in order. My wage  or hours will not be what I am accustomed to and there will be training required to attend.

 I am still going on my motorcycle trip with my dad, this is non-negotiable. It is quite unlikely we will have another chance at a trip of this magnitude and I will greatly regret if we do not go through with it, not to mention it is one of my personal I Ho Chuan goals. There was a plan to go to Scotland for a wedding in October, our tickets have already been purchased. However, this I cannot commit to anymore, by that time I should have my new career and could not afford the time nor money. I will not hold Mel back though, she will still go while I hold the fort here at home. 

Although this is disappointing, I have come to terms with it. I cannot dwell on what was supposed to transpire. Something great will come of this, I just to need to remain calm and remain in each moment. Adapt to what comes my way, react, respond and move forward. Change my intent more often in order to become more flexible and less frustrated. Sounds suspiciously familiar to our kung fu training, always be ready to change intent in an instant, don't anticipate. 

It is times like these when it is imperative to be grateful for what I have at this very moment. Be grateful, but not attached.

Directions

Recently, in Kung Fu and in life, I have had some interesting challenges regarding direction. At first I thought that I can't find a direction, that I am just going with the flow with little drive. After some thought and self-analysis, I realize that it is not a lack of direction, but a plethora of directions.

We all have several directions in life, pulling us here and there. I am currently working on picking a direction and working on it with full attention and mindfulness. I admit that I am somewhat easily distracted by external stimuli. Something catches my eye and I feel I need to take care of it right away, when really it can wait. Having the discipline to stick to my guns is my main goal at this point.

I recognized this week in my training that I need to choose what I want to work on, what I want to master and what I want to simply maintain. With so many aspects and avenues to practice, it is important to focus on one at a time. Otherwise we don't get better at any of it, or very slowly anyway.

Choosing is difficult, there is so much out there I want to do! So much I want to learn. However, like anything worth doing, it will be....

Daily Meditation

This year I have working on ways to motivate myself to meditate daily. It is one of my goals this year and has been since I started in the I Ho Chuan.

I broadened my definition of the term meditation and included activities such as Tai Chi as a moving meditation. This has been a benefit two-fold. First, my numbers in this goal have been more consistent lately. Secondly, the frequency in which I practice my Tai Chi has increased significantly.

It is no longer a matter of doing one or the other, but both at the same time. This is accomplished by being mindful of my breath, mindful of my energy while practicing.

Above all else, the commonality between them is stopping everything around me and having a chance to re-ground and prepare mentally for my day.