The Waiting Game

I completed both my written and practical exams for my EMR license this weekend. I must say it was not quite what I was expecting. Going into the written, I was confident that I had a firm grasp on what I needed to know to succeed. Coming out, I did not have the same confidence. I was thrown back by the whole thing. Conversely, I was nervous about the practical exam, especially after my experience with the written one. The weird thing is I came out of the practical feeling more confident.

This made me think about how we evaluate ourselves, take kung fu for example. If you are content with your level of aptitude, confident that you are good enough, you are probably not doing your best to improve.

Don't get me wrong, you are probably still very adept in what you are doing, but are you training to your full potential? When you become confident, it gets easy to slip into complacency. This is just a reminder to re-evaluate where you are and how you can better yourself more often.

I will not know the outcome of my tests for a few weeks, but whatever it is, I know I did my best. That at least puts me at ease while I play the waiting game.

I'll be happy when....

I have noticed just how much we look forward to new things to make us happy. We have this goal and look forward to it. There is nothing wrong with that, unless you choose to remain unhappy until you reach it.

For example, just saying the words, "I'll be happy when..." creates an agreement in your mind that are not happy in the moment. I have been guilty of this same thing.

"I'll be happy when I learn to ride a bicycle. I'll be happy when I get out of school. I'll be happy when I change my career." These are just a few examples of how we concentrate on the future, hoping things will get better when we should be happy right now.

Enjoy where you are right now. Enjoy every breath, every step. Feel gratitude for who you are. Again, having goals for the future is great, nothing wrong with it. In fact, change is healthy and encouraged. Just don't count yourself short in the present.

What you do today, lays the foundation for continued happiness in the future. Show gratitude, I will show mine now.

I am grateful for who I am today. I am grateful for the house I live in. I am grateful for the people I surround myself with. I am grateful for my job. I am grateful for the martial arts.

I am happy, right now.

Keep on Task

Adjusting back to everyday normal life is always a fun experience after a vacation. Part of you wants to keep the slow, easy pace while the other is pushing to get things done.

As much as I would like to slowly ease back into things, I cannot. The next two weeks are very important and I cannot waste any time. My exams are coming up, review of all my material is priority for me right now.

Training must not be neglected either so I need to stay mindful and engaged in that as well.

I am doing my best to not make a huge deal of any of it. As soon as I start worrying about failure, the less likely I am to succeed. Keep on task and great things will happen.

A Global Perspective

We are coming to the last days of our trip. This country is amazing, I can't wait to return here.

We attended a wedding for one of Mel's classmates from China and met some great people. To no surprise, some of them being martial artists.

Sitting around the fire the night after the ceremony, someone mentioned the concept of why we are here. Why are we doing what we are doing? If we see the value in it? It was also mentioned the importance of intent and maintaining that intent in whatever you do.

I find this so amazing! This is all coming from a scottish jiu jitsu practitioner half way around the world and yet these concepts are the same one that are reinforced in our school constantly!

This gives me some hope for future of the martial arts. There are still some around the world that learn for the right reasons. We are not alone in our mission to preserve the true fundamentals of the arts.