A Truly mindful experience

My mini vacation to Victoria was awesome- even though I had to miss class/practice to go. One of my favorite things about Victoria is the food/wine/beer. There is just no comparison when your eating fish caught from the ocean you can see out the window of the restaurant you're in and eating artisan wood fired bread made with ingredients all grown within miles of where you are. We were sitting on the pier in a little village on Salt Spring Island sharing a some wonderful bread-y creation made by a local baker and I felt sad that it was one of the best things I've ever eaten and I'd probably never get to eat it again. I felt the same way about all the amazing cheese and fish etc. that I couldn't bring home with me. So while we were eating I asked Adrien if he thought that you enjoy something more knowing that you'll never have it again? Neither of us came up with a great answer but thinking about it later I've decided that having the knowledge that you will never have something again forces you into the moment in a way we normally aren't or have trouble bringing ourselves to on our own. Knowing I was never going to eat that amazing bread again made me savor it in a way I don't normally savor my food. I thought about the chewy texture and the juicy tartness of the crushed tomatoes, the slight saltiness of the cheese- I never think that much about my food while I'm eating it. Sifu Brinker recently talked about eating mindfully and I think I did for the first time REALLY while I was away- even though I thought I had before, very cool experience.

New life stuff

So this month has seen a lot of changes that I didn't see coming. I quit my job in Stony and I will be working in Westlock which means I won't be able to be a part of the advanced black dragons class any more. It was a tough decision, thinking about leaving that class was the hardest part of deciding yes or no to Westlock. I'm hoping I'll wow them so much they will make a new shift up for me so I can make Monday/Wednesdays.  

Funny, but quitting my job once again made a connection from kung fu to other parts of my life. This sounds like I'm tooting my own horn but I want to make a point: when I left my practicum site (in Westlock) they wanted me to stay, I sat down with the office manager and a couple vets and they embarrassed me with wonderful feedback and comments on my work ethic and offered to match what I would make at my job in Stony. I had to decline as I had made a commitement to work in May there. When I knew that Westlock was the place for me and gave my notice a very similar meeting took place with my current boss. I always feel embarrassed when people go on about my work etc. It feels like I don't deserve any accolades for just doing my job properly but apparently it has become a rare commodity these days. Mediocre and just barely good enough and how soon can I get out of here has become the norm. The mastery we talk about at kung fu again applies to all aspects of our lives. By going the extra mile and making sure things are done right, following through, being in the moment- paying attention to whats happening right now, are all things that make you indispensable in your work place and as a friend, as a mom/dad/sister/brother or anything.

Anyway- bit of a rant but I just think it's cool how kung fu connects to all aspects of our lives. I will be away at the end of the week, Adrien and I are going away for our anniversary, 15 years!

See you all next week.

Premeditated acts of kindness

I know a lot of people have been using the phrase "random acts of kindness" and I was thinking that it may be that phrase in particular that makes people feel like recording an act of kindness somehow cancels it out. Just because we try to and maybe even plan to do an act of kindness it does not make it any less kind, in fact it may make it more so. These may seem like random acts to those that are receiving them but they aren't really. I like to think of them as premeditated acts of kindness. Are any of us really only doing nice things because we have to write them down for others to see? I don't think so. I think we are just more aware of the opportunities to do something nice or helpful and take advantage of it. I don't think that there is any member of the I Ho Chuan team that will just stop doing nice things once their year is up- it's just a way of life and writing it down just makes you realize all the chances to do those things. So here are the last few days premeditated acts of kindness.
-Held the door for a lady struggling with a dog, kennel, bags etc.
- picked up garbage cans that blew over in the alley
-made a point of thanking someone who doesn't get thank you's very often
- picked up litter on walk with the dog
- talked with elderly neighbor (even though I REALLY had to go and it was an extremely personal story that she probably shouldn't have been talking about to me)
- gave our busy server and extra big tip
-spent time with a hospitalized dog that hates being kenneled
- stayed late at work to help another tech catch up.
-let someone in on drive to work
-picked up broken glass on walk with the dog.

Weekly challenge

Somehow I managed to copy my blog from my personal blog spot to the group site but didn't actually post it here... so here is Sundays blog.

So the challenge this week for the I Ho Chuan team is to blog our acts of kindness. So here are mine for the last couple of days.

-stayed late at work to help the other girls catch up

-Pitch in project in Stony Plain

- spent extra time with a recovering patient at work

-let someone in on the drive home

-held the door

-made dinner for my mom in law

-sent flowers to my mom 

-took the kids out for a tea date

-let someone in my lane in traffic

-bought the neighbor beer (he let me use his rototiller for my garden)

-picked up litter on walk with the dog. 

I'm not sure if I'll just try to blog more often this week or do a big list at the end of the week. I have so much on my mind right now and I haven't figured out any of it yet so I can't put it down in writing. I feel like this is a pretty lame posting but that's all I can relate right now.