This week I was at the library picking books for my kids and I found a great book, it's called Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth. For anyone with kids, I highly recommend it. It's about a panda who meets 3 children and tells them 3 different stories. One of them is about a farmer and how a series of "bad" and "good" events turn out to be the opposite of what they seem. I really don't want to say if you get lemons make lemonade, but nothing else comes to mind. For example, a couple of years ago, I finally found out that I have malformed kidneys which was why I was suffering through several kidney stones a year, infections and all kinds of fun stuff. I was so relieved to find out that it was something real and I wasn't imagining things. Since then I have drastically changed my life. I am so much healthier now than I was then. I am lucky that my problem is minor and can be controlled by a healthy lifestyle, and it turned out to be an amazing turning point in my life.
On Monday the 26th, to start the Chinese New Year off, the students at Silent River Kung Fu were given a challenge to do 1000 pushups and situps. I have never participated in these challenges simply because I thought it was too hard for me. I have watched my husband go through a few of these challenges before and thought to myself, wow, I'm glad that's not me! But on Monday I did it too. I woke up really unenthused at the prospect of doing pushups first thing in the morning. As the day went on I was surprised how great it felt, besides the burning muscles and joints of course. At the end of the night the best part of crossing off the last 20 reps on my page wasn't getting to say that I had done 1000 pushups but that I had stuck with it even though it hurt.
I know that the next 12 months are going to be hard. Like I'm sure everyone else has, I have started to find out that there are some parts that are going to be really tough. There are already nights that I don't feel like doing anything... but I know without a doubt that being a part of the UBBT is a turning point in my life that is definitely for the better.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Level 10
It’s been an interesting week. I have never been really consistent in doing pushups and situps outside of class so I have been constantly sore, but I am also seeing an improvement in both areas already.
The acts of kindness continue to be a bit of a struggle. Something I’ve noticed is that it’s not even doing the act itself but getting someone to accept it. I have gotten some weird looks and “no thanks” when I’ve tried to let someone in front of me in a line up or take their shopping cart back along with my own. It makes me think about what I’m like when someone does the same for me. I have this big thing with not wanting to put other people out, so am I doing the same thing? I wonder how many times I’ve inadvertently rebuffed an act of kindness. Same goes for just taking a compliment when someone gives you one. Instead of all the oh, well, not really or it’s not that great or whatever, just saying thanks lets that person know you appreciate the compliment. So in addition to doing my acts of kindness I will make myself more open to accepting them too.
I have recently had the opportunity to help in the kids classes in the evening. It's been fun working with kids, plus my own are in there so it's fun for them too. The other night Master Brinker talked to the kids about being on level 10, giving 100%. He told them that we can't always be on level ten but we should always try to be there, always give your best. I always want to be able to say that I did my best and gave it everything I had, no matter what it is that I'm doing. Imagine what a place the world would be if we were all giving 100%.
The acts of kindness continue to be a bit of a struggle. Something I’ve noticed is that it’s not even doing the act itself but getting someone to accept it. I have gotten some weird looks and “no thanks” when I’ve tried to let someone in front of me in a line up or take their shopping cart back along with my own. It makes me think about what I’m like when someone does the same for me. I have this big thing with not wanting to put other people out, so am I doing the same thing? I wonder how many times I’ve inadvertently rebuffed an act of kindness. Same goes for just taking a compliment when someone gives you one. Instead of all the oh, well, not really or it’s not that great or whatever, just saying thanks lets that person know you appreciate the compliment. So in addition to doing my acts of kindness I will make myself more open to accepting them too.
I have recently had the opportunity to help in the kids classes in the evening. It's been fun working with kids, plus my own are in there so it's fun for them too. The other night Master Brinker talked to the kids about being on level 10, giving 100%. He told them that we can't always be on level ten but we should always try to be there, always give your best. I always want to be able to say that I did my best and gave it everything I had, no matter what it is that I'm doing. Imagine what a place the world would be if we were all giving 100%.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Moving forward with a purpose
It seems like I have a million and one things going through my head all at once this week. I am really excited about being a part of the UBBT as a student member, I just keep thinking wow, I can't believe I'm really doing this. This is exactly what I need right now, in my life and my training.
Already some of the things I thought would be the easy parts are the hard parts, like the random acts of kindness. It really makes you pay attention to the people and situations around you. I knew the push ups would be hard, and they are. My back and shoulders are actually more sore than my arms. I did the warm up for the kids class Monday night and we did a big stretch up and down to sweep the ground, I think I made a weird noise and almost didn't make it back up again. The blogging is also tough, I'm not very good at putting my thoughts into words, hopefully this part will get easier.
Well, I am really looking forward to the challenge of the the next 13 months, I started a little late, so I'll have to do some catch up, and some of my requirements aren't completely thought out yet but so far here they are:
weekly journalling
meditation daily
profile 10 living heroes
organize or be involved in 5 community projects
10 personal victories
50 000 push ups and sit ups
1000 reps of kempo 1000 reps of a mix of my other forms
1000 rounds of sparring
1000 miles (1610 km)
100 hours ju jitsu
5 public testing performances
1000 acts of kindness
right 3 wrongs
mend 3 relationships
empathy training 1 day mute 1 day blind 1 day in a wheelchair
read 12 books
complete a 90 lesson french program to attain intermediate level french
So, here I go.
Already some of the things I thought would be the easy parts are the hard parts, like the random acts of kindness. It really makes you pay attention to the people and situations around you. I knew the push ups would be hard, and they are. My back and shoulders are actually more sore than my arms. I did the warm up for the kids class Monday night and we did a big stretch up and down to sweep the ground, I think I made a weird noise and almost didn't make it back up again. The blogging is also tough, I'm not very good at putting my thoughts into words, hopefully this part will get easier.
Well, I am really looking forward to the challenge of the the next 13 months, I started a little late, so I'll have to do some catch up, and some of my requirements aren't completely thought out yet but so far here they are:
weekly journalling
meditation daily
profile 10 living heroes
organize or be involved in 5 community projects
10 personal victories
50 000 push ups and sit ups
1000 reps of kempo 1000 reps of a mix of my other forms
1000 rounds of sparring
1000 miles (1610 km)
100 hours ju jitsu
5 public testing performances
1000 acts of kindness
right 3 wrongs
mend 3 relationships
empathy training 1 day mute 1 day blind 1 day in a wheelchair
read 12 books
complete a 90 lesson french program to attain intermediate level french
So, here I go.
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