What’s to eat?

Well March is over and with it our monthly challenge is over as well.

Though the month of March, the UBBT team members at Silent River have been tracking what we have been eating every day and posting it on a blog site for others to read. Taking part of this challenge has opened my eyes on my eating habits and has encouraged me to make healthier choices on what I eat. I have come to realizes that I am an “Opportunist Garburator” I mainly survive on leftovers and I eat only when I have the time. So during the week I eat fairly regularly since at work there is a scheduled time set a side for lunch and breaks and also the evening meals at home (this is were I get my leftovers for the next day or days to come). But when the weekend arrives (starting Friday afternoon) I find there is not enough time eat, or just not the right time to eat. By the time things slow down during the weekend days it’s just too late in the evening to eat, it is almost bed time, so I just don’t eat. At times it seams that I am surviving on a diet of air, water and Kung Fu. Some of my UBBT team mates have noticed this and have brought it to my attention, and also have given me some excellent advice and suggestions on how I can quickly squeeze in a healthy meal on the go to keep my body fueled up.

Thanks everyone.

Greg Wiebe

Stony Plain, AB, Canada

www.silentriverkungfu.com

8th post

So I am totally confused about all these sites where we are supposed to post things, I thought my stuff was on the UBBT Student site but Khona tells me not ... she will baby step me through the process after I am done writing this blog and hopefully we will get it posted to all the right places.

I updated my physout numbers today and there are a number of areas where I have frowny faces ... swimming laps is taking the biggest hit. By the way I love how this site keeps you easily up to date on where you are at and your numbers to bring you up to a green smiley face status. I believe Sifu Prince put this together ... awesome!

I do most of my tracking in a notebook at home (internet speeds at my place are pretty grim) missed a few days but mostly got it. So I was pleased that I actually managed to track it ... keeping track of this stuff is my challenge, I have to do it every day or I forget. The self discipline to sit down and go thru your day and document what you did that day well its not my best thing ... but it is improving all the time and I guess thats part of the whole UBBT thing.

Talk to you next week.

Terry Beckett

Crunch!

This week is crazy busy. I really need to stay focused right now in order to get everything done. I need to resist the temptation to close the books and relax. I need to focus on prioritizing. I need to use my time wisely, get push ups and sit ups and forms reps in during breaks. I need to remember to take some deep breaths and center myself. I need to remember that getting sleep is important. I need to remind myself that this hectic pace will not continue forever. I need to realize the road to mastery is a harder journey than the path to mediocrity. This is my mantra this week.

Andrea Prince

Diet Tracking - Looking Ahead

For the month of March our group UBBT project was to track and blog everything that we consumed each day.  I definitely have determined a trend in my consumption.  I consume about 2,500 calories a day, which is in the target zone for my gender, size, and activity level, however there is a lot of (good) and a lot of (not so good) calories.  I have done some research and will actively incorporate the following moving forward.

Much research indicates that a person who trains consistently should consume about 60% of their calories from complex carbohydrates in their natural state.  This catgegory includes oatmeal, whole grain cereals, grains, brown rice, potatoes, whole wheat pasta, root vegetables, wholemeal breads, beans, and lentils.  I will consume more within this grouping. (the good and improvement)

I will continue consuming protein from lean meats, poultry, and vegetables. (the good)

I will continue consuming dairy from low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. (the good)

I will control and avoid fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and fast foods. (the not so good)

I will contol simple sugars found in junk foods and pop. (the not so good)

I will keep this simple as it is not complicated.

These very simple changes will have great results!!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Quality vs Quantity

Even though I may have heard something a hundred times before hearing something at right place, right time, right environment, and right headspace creates an epiphany. I had one of those ring-a-ding moments in I Ho Chuan class last Friday. The topic was pushups and why we do them plank style (even if it's only one) in I Ho Chuan. Reason: because that's what's done for the Black Belt test. The bell rang.

In that moment I flashed to my UBBT pushups that I had been doing on my knees. At first it was for injury, however it morphed into "I can do many more this way" so that I can catch up on my numbers. (Yes I am behind) I was focusing solely on catching up on the number rather than doing a good quality pushup and building strength. How can I graduate to doing all of my pushups plank if I hold myself back and not challenge myself?

I also clued into something else in that ring-a-ding moment as well. Because I had increased my pushup numbers to catch up, my shoulder blades were becoming very tight and I could really feel the knots making any pushup cranky. This isn't fun and I really don't like wearing my shoulders as earrings. The good news is that I realized the instigator: increasing the numbers. Time to back down to my daily requirements.

So for my daily pushups, I do as many as I can plank style and complete the rest on my knees. Considering that yesterday I did 220 pushups and about 60 were plank, that's nothing to sneeze at. Also Dennis reminded me that when I started KungFu, I could not do a plank pushup and that the reason I am where I am today is that I kept trying. "Where and I, what am I doing, and why am I doing this?"

Sherri Donohue
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Food....wonderful fuel

Over the last month our UBBT team here at Silent River has been blogging our food diaries--and it been an interesting read, both my own and my teammates. I've learned something about myself but also my team. For example, I've noticed quite a few members seem to be able to exist, as quoted in kungfu panda, ' on the dew off a gingo leaf and the energy of the universe.' And just like Po, I definitely need more than dew! Forget to eat? Not a chance!! Quite the opposite, I love to eat! I know having kids and being responsible for occasionally feeding them keeps food at the forefront of my thoughts--I'm usually planning dinner before I've finished my breakfast. And its not a bad thing.I have been trying to think more of my food being 'fuel', taking note of what I seem to need at different times, but I really like making my fuel as premium and delicious as possible too. So, alas, I shall always be a clydsdale, or a panda...and dew will never be on the menu....but I will be a well fueled one:)
Krysta Lowery, Silent River Kungfu student UBBT team

Challenges Beyond the Challenges....

There are certain times when it is more prevalent as to what is in charge, the mind over the body or the body over the mind!

I have really found this past three months to be a real emotional challenge, it has taken a lot more effort to complete tasks than I'm sure it ever has. The last two sleep deprived months have not helped my energy level any. I spent February 16th-20th in an environment which did not agree with my respiratory system and have since then been battling lung irritation and sinus infection; my nights are restless with coughing and my days are long, draggy and I can hardly wait to hit the pillow, which is where the cycle continues itself. I can't seem to sleep enough hours, to catch up and everyday seems to be getting tougher.

I realize the importance of sleep, which makes my issue that much more of a challenge to overcome. Sleep deprivation can have many side affects on the human body; inability to function at work, mood swings, lack of focus, weight gain (adrenal gland activity) - cholesterol level increases and eventually cardiac issues; stress of all sorts - body chemistry imbalances, organ stress and excessive activity.

My knee and hip inflammation/ pain has also been a side affect to the sleep deprivation and in turn has added to my lack of sleep with the throbbing pain and continued flipping and flopping which is associated with this.

At this point I'm going around and around within this vicious non-mending cycle. I went to the doctor today and was told that my respiratory condition has to run its course (it has been more like a marathon...)My hope is that this respiratory infection subsides and my sleeps get better. I purchased arch supports for my shoes today with hopes that I can alleviate some ankle, knee, hip and back pain and stress. And by the end of the week the ambient temperature could be in the double digits....the sun will be refreshing to the soul. The potential outcome looks very inviting!

Darcy Regier, Silent River Kung Fu, UBBT, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.

Sister Sledge- They Know What I'm Talking About

This was something that came up once in a UBBT meeting, and I was reminded again this last Friday.
Its true that the kwoon affects us, that when you're there you can feel a connection to the room and to the people in it. When someone is missing, it feels different. When someone is there that normally is not, it adds to the mood and to the overall effect the kwoon has. It's great.
I'm not exactly shy, but I do not normally approach strangers for no reason. In class however, when we have new blackbelts or long lost blackbelts return, I don't feel like I'm approaching a stranger, I'm approaching a peer and family member. Conversation is usually easy, usually Kung Fu related, and always stimulating in some way. I'm not shy.
I like this. I like how we can all connect easily, how we do connect even if I've never talked to the individual before. At work, I meet new people everyday in a professional manner. I'm not shy then either, but its disconnected and just part of the job description to me. Even if I don't talk to a specific individual in class, I don't feel that I need to to feel a connection. Just being in the same room, training towards the same goals is enough.

Khona Rybak, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta

Change

I am reading the Lil Leopards the book “The Lorax” by Dr. Suess. I feel it’s an important tool that I have to start teaching them environmental self defense. It’s a lyrical book, with lots of colours, and I hope that these young children of tomorrow will learn from it.

This ties in with my Lorax Project, which will coincide with Earth Day on April 22nd. Although it should be Earth day everyday. This project first appeared with our school in 2008, and the students at Silent River Kung Fu all submitted a letter or picture to Mother Earth. You can find it on my blog and the link is posted below. This year, this project will be a video blog, and I hope the message will be just as clear.

Our earth is very unsettled right now, and it’s time to make some serious changes.

What is a black belt?

What is a black belt?
What black belt qualities do I possess? Strengths
What black belt qualities do I lack? Weaknesses
A black belt is someone who is true to themselves, they set a high standard for themselves and they do not compromise it. They work hard and expect nothing less than mastery from themselves and those that they surround themselves with. They accept their weaknesses and work towards improving on them and they build on their strengths. They set an example for others to follow by their constant drive towards mastery in all that they take on.
I set very high standards for myself and I will not compromise them. I work very hard and I am constantly striving for mastery in all that I endeavor. I believe that I set an example for others by not giving up on any of my goals.
I have a difficult time accepting my weaknesses and working towards improving them. I prefer to work on things that I know that will improve and ignore the others (the ones that I think will never get better no matter what I do). What I do to counter this is I work on things that I don’t like as much first during a workout and I force myself to work on the things that I am not sure will ever improve.
Being a martial artist is a journey with no real end, earning a black belt is just part of that journey.
Robyn Kichko
March 2011

I seem to be missing a lot of time training lately. I have been away on a couple of trips lately and I now have another one next week. I will be gone for 4 days so will not be available for a demo we will be doing or the lion dance. I then get back for a couple of weeks before I am gone again. I will be missing out on the forms seminar which I wish I could take part. I know I am missing some great opportunities to help with my training and I have regrets about them but I don't know what to do. It's frustrating for me as I am committed to going for my black belt but I could use all the extra help I can get. I've also noticed that it is really hard to keep up with my UBBT goals. I can do some things but others are a lot more difficult. I plan on watching class via a webcam but it will not be the same. adaptability will be key for my success over the next 6 weeks and I must keep focused.

Kevin Lindstrom
Silent River Kung Fu
Student UBBT Member
Onoway Alberta Canada

I think the Old Spice Man is trying to kill me!

Sounds like I'm being overly dramatic but sadly i am not. Everyday we lather, scrub, wash and spray potentially deadly chemicals onto our bodies. I say potentially since there are about 50,000 chemicals in use that have not been tested.

But don't take my word for it check out what GOOD magazine has written about it as well as natural replacements.

http://www.good.is/series/no-more-dirty-looks/

Tracking

Tracking, tracking, tracking it feels like all I am ever doing now is tracking. Tracking what I eat, tracking how many sit ups and push ups I do, along with the number of reps I do of a certain form. I am even tracking how much water I have been drinking each day.

I know tracking all of this stuff has great benefits on my training, and I have been seeing the results already. Tracking helps you stick with it, because when you can see your numbers increase it is a sense of accomplishment. Especially on those days when you are just sick of push ups and would not mind just skipping that day, but you don’t because you know you will be angry with yourself since you won’t be adding to your total you will actually be taking away from it.

I believe so much in the benefits of tracking that we are doing that I introduced a fellow employee that had just started taking a martial art to the idea of tracking the number of times he does something. He now tracks every push up he does in a day and adds that to his total. He has said that it is a very excellent motivator and he is enjoying it, he never thought he would enjoy push ups.

So let’s keep on track (sick pun I know)

Greg Wiebe

Stony Plain, AB, Canada

www.silentriverkungfu.com

It is Good to Laugh at Yourself

I have to laugh at myself.  I was favoring my left foot this morning in kung fu as I am pretty sure I have damaged my third metatarsal in my left foot about 10 days ago.  It it is not getting better and maybe a little worse each day.  It is probably time to get an x-ray but I have been putting it off, and that is just how I roll.  We were practising timed kicks this morning and I rolled my third toe on my right foot and heard a little click, which I have heard before, and know for sure that I broke my toe, on the other foot.  This is pretty funny stuff, hobbling on both feet.  The good news is it will not interfere with push ups, sit ups, random acts of kindness, and gave me a topic to blog about today.  Have a great training week!!

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

Time is passing

Wow, where did the time go? I put off posting my blog on Friday as I was in meetings all day so I decided to do it Monday. Monday came and went and now it is Wednesday and I should be blogging again already. The lesson is do not procrastinate as you will only fall further and further behind.

Kevin Lindstrom
Silent River Kung Fu
Onoway, Alberta, Canada
UBBT 8

Wishing for spring

It's kind of the same old same old this week. Open training and fitness class on Saturdays has become something I really look forward too. The fitness class has been a great stress reliever...it's good to get really sweaty and disgusting sometimes. Open training has been an opportunity to work through the curriculum with the other Sihings. I feel lucky to be part of such a good group going for black belt this year, everyone is really supportive and most of us are part of the UBBT group as well which adds to the camaraderie.

This week in practice I realized that I'd been doing a move wrong in 2 different forms- one in the opening bow-ouch! and the same for a few techniques, just small things I've slowly changed over time that have officially gone awry at this point. This just proves to me that practice is always important- even when I think I know something in and out there is always room for improvement. That being said, I'm going to get some reps and practice in. My goal this week is to concentrate hard enough that all the snow melts!

Andrea Prince

Week 11 Did someone say it was spring?

Wow this past week was crazy for me. 10 hour work days plus drive time. Then classes, plus my sons classes, and still try to get some training in. Plus parent teacher interviews and a few other distractions as well. It has been hectic thats for sure. I think I must have blinked and missed spring and summer cause its snowing again. Mother nature is having a good laugh on us I guess, oh well.

I found it really difficult to get into any kind of rhythm this week. Live happens I know, but it can slow down a bit, soon I hope. My little toe has been bugging me again, it doesn't like being flexed with weight on it so that is hampering my pushups. I've had to do them from my knees for now. Which my right shoulder doesnt mind. I was born 3 months premature due to my mom getting toximia(think thats the correct term). Anyway to make a long story short, I don't have the major peck muscle on the right side. My back muscles have always done the majority of the work for me on my right side and pushups can get my shoulder pretty sore. I have had it all my life so I just deal with it as it happens. I just grateful that my shoulder works, I guess there was a chance that it might not.

Still loving Kung Fu, I so look forward to saturdays fitness class. It helps me get through my 5 hours of meetings on friday. The positive energy, the exercises and techniques we do are definately helping me. I need alot of work on my flexibility but I knew that when I started. 20 years in the trades and no stretching  isn't a good thing. It will come I just need to be patient. Something I'm also working on bit by bit. I know I am becoming a better person and a better me each day. I have a long journey ahead of me and I am looking forward to it.

Mr. Neil Hamilton
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Ab, Ca

3 Months, 6241 Pushups Later...

I decided this year to take my weight, measurements, and pictures every 3 months to see my actual progress during my UBBT challenge. I didn't do this step last year because I was too caught up on my "stuff" and was kicking myself in the end because I was such a bonehead. There were differences in my physique, but I had no concrete data. Hence the change this year.

It's the 3 month, 6241 pushup, 7323 situp mark and I shall post the differences from January's readings:
Weight: -2 pounds
Chest: +1/4 inch
Ribcage: +1/4 inch
Waist: -3/4 inch
Hips: -1/2 inch
R arm: same
L arm: -1/4 inch
R Leg (quad): -2 1/2 inches Upper thigh: -1/2 inch
L leg (quad): -3 inches Upper thigh: -1 1/4 inches
Waist/hip ratio: 0.78, which is down 0.01. Desirable for us females is below 0.8.

I'm happy with my results especially when I see WHERE the big changes are. If I focus solely on weight or waist measurements, I'm missing the big picture and that is why I take the measurements I take. Now to actually see the numbers, it brings it right home.

Here's the cool thing: am I doing training in Kung Fu for weight/fat loss? NO, I train like I do because I love Kung Fu and I want to get better/stronger/faster/more agile at it. The weight/fat loss is a consequence of my training not my focus.

Tis a great day and I have a demonstration to train for which means doing the form for the gazillionth time, sore muscles, my tongue hanging out because I'm out of breath, and keeping myself out of boredom, but it's all worth it when I know it's a job well done and I can actually now see the results.

Sherri Donohue
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

I Have It !!!

Commitment, drive, passion, want, fulfillment, need, dedication, resolution, motivation, enthusiasm, spirit, energy, single-mindedness, desire, mania, fascination, obsession, compulsion, addiction, fervor, resolve, diligence, conscientiousness, perseverance, persistence, effort, determination, purpose, stubbornness.

I have also heard it called a illness, sickness, disease, infection, affliction, bug, virus.

It does not matter what it is called or by which way it its referred to we all have it, we all share it. Its what keeps us all going on the path towards MASTERY.

Greg Wiebe

Stony Plain, AB, Canada 

www.silentriverkungfu.com

The fear factor

I have been working really hard for the last couple of weeks. There is something about going into the last stretch of six months (before grading) that scares the pants off of me. What has changed for me is that instead of freezing with fear, I have put my fear into high gear and I am working harder than ever. I have added weights to my usual work out which is giving me pleasantly sore muscles, I am pushing myself a little bit more when doing cardio and I feel stronger and I am able to focus on the minute details of my form without isolating myself and concentrating for hours. I am feeling the benefits of all the hard work that I have been doing over the past couple of years and using it to push my kung fu to the next level. I know that I have lots of stuff to do in the next six months but I am confident that I have the tools to complete my list. And every once in a while, I get the butterflies in my stomach that remind me that I also need to deal with my emotional reaction to stressful situations. I got some good advice on the weekend about placing myself in stressful situations, so I can get used to the feelings and learn how to manage them. It looks like I will be seeking opportunities to stress myself out, demonstration anyone?
I have been having an absolutely fabulous time in the last couple of weeks and I feel kinda guilty. There is so much unrest and tragedy throughout our world and I feel helpless to affect much change, all I can change is myself.
Until next week, work hard and have fun.
Robyn Kichko
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, AB, Canada

First Day of Spring...!

It is a little hard to believe that it is the first day of Spring today, with the consistent two foot depth of snow throughout my yard and the four to six foot tall accumulations of packed ice/snow piles. To top it all off another 3cm snowfall again today. However, always a positive to what can appear as negative; this moisture is such a blessing and will truly be appreciatted once Spring truly does arrive.

My wife and I went out today and picked up some seeds for our garden. This has been a long awaited event for us. Its been about 5 years since we've had our own garden. Last year I turned over a portion of our lawn and fenced it off from the deer, moose and rabbits. Purchasing the seeds has not brought us any closer to Spring, but the process is underway and Spring will before us before we know it.

Patience is a virtue to enjoying many facets of life, therefore I must be willing to accept what I can't change and search within to see the positive.

When I look around us, to other parts of the world, it is not very hard to accept another snowfall, I'm truly fortunate!

Darcy Regier, Silent River Kung Fu, UBBT, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.

3 Laps and an 80 pound push

One of my goals for this year was to run the PARE test. It’s the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation, that all RCMP applicants and most member’s need to complete. My test is on Wednesday April 13th, and so this past Wednesday I went down to the gym to give it a try. My purpose was to see what it was like, and perhaps adjust my workouts accordingly.

I ran 3 of the 6 laps, and holy smokes batman! It is harder than it looks. It’s like an obstacle course for grownups, and has a easy look to it. But it’s not that simple. I know I can do it though, but that’s the easy part. The hard part is that you immediately go to the push/ pull machine. There are 6 180 degree rotations you must do while pushing/ pulling the appropriate weight. I was given the applicants weight of 80 pounds. I mentioned in a previous post that 80 pounds is 2/3 of my body weight.

Again, holy smokes batman! Pulling wasn’t too difficult, as a good horse stance is all I really needed. Walking that way was a little more challenging, but not as challenging as the push. I could get the weight up, but walking/ cross stepping while doing it is almost impossible for me. I don’t have the upper body strength that I thought I did. Hm.

Anyway, while I was really sore in my shoulders the next day, I am really looking forward to April 13th. Wish me luck!

power of the tongue

Its really hard to get the gumption to write this week; physically and mentally I feel beaten. Physically I am sick; lovely. Nothing like that to sink your numbers! Mentally and emotionally,I feel sick too. My work place has been slowly becoming toxic and it blew up big in the last couple of weeks. Its not very comfortable at all anymore. Worse yet, I discovered that things I had said had been interpreted differently than my intentions. The bible speaks of the power of life and death being in the tongue, and its very accurate. I hurt a friend unintentionally by being careless. I did not mean to hurt, but that doesnt absolve me. We have talked it over, hopefully we can still be friends. Now I doubt everything I say and do; I don't want to hurt anyone by something so stupid, that is supposedly under my control. Lesson learned? Hopefully. Sometimes it seems it takes God/the universe/whatever you believe in a 2x4 upside the head to get a lesson through. I think I've had a few whacks before, seems I need more.

Happiness Is Sunshine

It's so warm out comparatively speaking. The snow is melting and the sun is shining and I can drive through puddles (one of my favorite past times in the spring). With the rising temperature, I have noticed a rise in my energy levels. Now it's time for less time inside in front of the computer and more time outside. 

Side note: push ups are getting better for numbers but I need to be working on my forms more, especially with tiger challenge coming up. I also got ahead on my kilometers due to getting a exercise bike for the apartment. Balancing all my goals is been pretty tricky and I to get back into the good routine I had at the beginning to be able to achieve them all. And I need to fix my diet it has been very inconsistent and no where near as good as when I was doing the 100 mile challenge last year.

Craig Janzen
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Silent River Kung Fu

Individual Price Paid for Canadian Government Services

We as Canadian citizens are the "customer" of government services which are broken down into federal, provincial, and municipal levels.  The "Canada Revenue Agency" is the department responsible for collecting revenue, which we define as taxes paid through corporatate profits and individual income, as well as consumption taxes.  I had the opportunity to participate in an audit this week for "one" of the taxes that the "Canada Revenue Agency" is responsible for.  The specific tax is our federal "Goods and Services Tax", which is a multi-level tax assessed and claimed back at every level of business through conception of a product or service, to the final consumer.  Most provinces have their own provincial taxes as well, which are now being combined into a "Harmonized Goods and Services Tax".  Fortunately living in the province of Alberta, we do not have a "Provincial Sales Tax" simply because we have substantial oil revenue.  I have just touched the complexity of the tax system but my point is that we as citizens are bombarded with taxes!!  I am an accountant by profession and I felt totally uncomfortable during the three year audit of our business, and started to wonder how other citizens trying to run their businesses feel when the "Canada Revenue Agency" employess interrupt their businesses to visit their customers.

Again we are the customer!!

How can we measure our Government's Scorecard.  This is very difficult to do, but I can make a reasonable estimate of how much tax as citizens we pay.

Household personal income measured
100%

Income tax
federal and provincial income tax
unemployment insurance tax
taxable benefits received tax
dividend tax
investment tax
personal business profit tax
27%

Ownership tax
municipal property and business tax
4%

Excise/hidden tax
fuel, tobacco, environmental, hotel, airport, to name a few
6%

Consumption tax
federal goods and services tax
harmonized sales tax
11% (Canadian average)

This is a high level estimate, and may not be all inclusive, and for every $100 we earn as citizens we pay $48 for our government services.

How do we begin to measure the bang for our dollar?

Allan Gamble
Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta

bits

It's been an all or nothing week in regards to training. Saturday was an awesome training day with the other Sihings going over curriculum and sorting out techniques, learned a few more moves of lau gar and learned about a muscle I didn't know I had. The rest of the week has been mediocre, the one night I got to more than 10 minutes in was great, but it doesn't feel like enough. There are 5 weeks of school left and I can feel the pressure. The hours of homework are whats keeping me from kung fu. I know this is a terrible cliche, but I feel like a jack of all trades, master of none.

There are valuable lessons to be learned from being spread thin though. I enjoy my free time immensely, having time to clean the house feels like a treat. I have become a much more organized person, I have learned to prioritize, which has always been a problem for me. I still need to learn how to stay in the moment and keep my focus narrowed to what I'm working on instead of thinking about what I'm not working on. I guess it's a work in progress. So for now training is a 10 minutes at a time style, but I can't wait for Saturday!

Andrea Prince

Sunshine & Lollipops

Good news- Nicks mom was misdiagnosed, and although she still has some health issues to overcome, she should be around for a longtime yet. We went out for supper last night with her and her husband, to celebrate Matts (Nicks brother) birthday, and it was good to see her, even if there is only 97lbs of her.

They still do not know what she has. There are no signs of cancer in her blood, so they have ruled that out. They need to do another biopsy (the fourth now) and then maybe we'll know what is going on. I still have faith in medical technology, but I have to admit its been rattled as of late.

Who am I ...where am I...and what am I doing?

This past couple weeks has been a bit of a struggle for me. I felt like I was standing in the middle of a baseball sized hail storm and in no direction was there refuge. I mentally put up a block that I could not hurdle over. It took the full two weeks before my mind was willing to see past the blinders and view my situation from the other side of the street.

This epiphany, at least that is what I will refer to this as, was about who my kung fu is for. I can out right say that when I started studying kung fu it was for me, at least that was the way I viewed it. Many people say that kung fu is an individual activity...in my journey, that has not been the case. So, through this eye opening revelation, it dawned on me that my journey is not about me, as ridiculous as that may sound! This past couple weeks, my ego got the best of me and made the worst for me. I truly see my journey as being for the people who surround me, however, I do realize that I need to secure my own stability and self being before those around me and the environment I create will benefit. I have always been a person with a giving heart and I'm not sure how I didn't put the two together until now. This could put a bit of spin on how I visualize many things and an insight which will hopefully keep me engaged.

Darcy Regier, Silent River Kung Fu, UBBT, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada.

Not about me

Everything about my journey pales in comparison to the devastation experienced in Japan this past week. My thoughts and prayers are with them this week.
Robyn Kichko
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, AB,Canada

Move Over Oscar!

Over the weekend there were a few events that took place at our house: Dennis having a sinus cold, time change (that I wish would go away), me eating too much starch, and my reading about Liz's experience of all her stuff coming up in the Ashram in India in her book "Eat, Pray, Love". Yesterday I woke up in a MOOD, more than owly enough to punt Oscar the Grouch out of his trashcan so that I could move in. In times like this Dennis would tell me to go back to sleep and find the alternate universe where I am stuck at, take me out and leave Snagerella behind. Even though I had morning Kung Fu class I felt it better that I take me and my grouchiness back to bed for more sleep. I slept until noon: very unusual for me. Translation: I needed the sleep.

Even though I had intentions of torching, training, baking bread, roasting coffee, and making soy milk in the afternoon, I ended plunking myself in my comfy chair and finally getting out of my bathrobe at 5:30 pm (or was it later?). Again very unusual for me. I'm usually high energy and need to recognize when I need to park it and relax to recharge. Yesterday I did just that and I needed it. I still baked bread, roasted coffee, and made 2 batches of soy milk with Dennis's help. Still by 8:30 pm I was bushed and slept like a rock. I was tired, huh?

The result? I woke up today being "me" again having "the best day ever." Could I have done that without resting and relaxing yesterday? Probably not. What about my Kung Fu training that got missed yesterday? I'll catch up and my training today will be higher quality than what it would have been yesterday should I have trained. I must say that I will have a much better attitude about it.

This morning I was listening to a video by James Malinchak (ABC Secret Millionaire) on 3 Lies to Achieving Million (I insert black belt, dream, whatever) and the one tidbit that stuck was that if the fish are sick, don't treat the fish, treat the pond. Good point, who in my pond is toxic? It could be family, friends, or even closer, me. This made me think about yesterday. Could I have been cleaning my pond from my own polluting? I think so.

Oh, and Oscar, you can have your trashcan back.
Sherri Donohue
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta