Half the year has past

This past week has gone by so fast. I can't believe it's July already. Half the year has past in what feels like the blink of an eye. I tested for my red stripe on wednesday last week but didn't achieve it. I felt off and I know I wouldn't have given it to me either. Sifu Prince had some things for me to work on and the feedback was awesome. I can do technigues over and over again at home. But no feedback makes me rely what I'm feeling from my body and sometimes it likes to trick me. The subtle things that Sifu mentioned will make a huge difference in my flow and 6 harmonies. I look forward to improving and trying again in 2 weeks. The Canada Day parade and demos went very well. Mr. Timchuk sure is fun to keep up with when he is in the front of the lion. After 2 blocks of side to side and low dips I was pooped. He was having an great time with all the munchkins along the parade route and I could hear them all oohhing and aweing as we approached so all the effort was well worth it. My demo of Kempo 1 and 2 went ok. I had some balance issues on the grass with the small slope and little holes. Didn't fall on my butt or have to do a big recovery through the form so that was good. Still lots to work on but I'm progressing bit by bit. I love being able to do demos for the school. It's a way of giving a little bit back to the kwoon. I am getting so much from kung fu, being able to give something back only seems right. Canada day was nice. July 1st is also my sister in laws birthday, so the whole family got together and had a big brunch and sat and chatted after. The sun came out and we all roasted in the sun. Its truly amazing the see how much my nephews and nieces are growing up. They are moving out on their own and finding their way in the world. I'm proud of the choices they are making and how responsible they are being to themselves and the world at large. They aren't perfect(nobody is), but they aren't self centered and think the world owes them either(thank goodness). With the lack of accountability and effort required of kids in high school nowadays I worry for the future a bit. The sense of entitlement that some of todays youth is developing is scary to me. I was raised to believe that you had to earn what you received and that life wasn't handed to you on a silver platter. Some times things weren't fair, and you had to learn to accept the good with the bad. You made the best of what you faced and accepted criticism where it was due and praise only if warranted. The policy of some schools to not give zeros and only grade work completed, is accepting way to much mediocrity for me. The real world may turn out to be a huge shock for alot of kids that graduate high school nowadays. If they only do half a job or only what they feel like doing. How long do you think they will remain employed. Sometimes we have to suck it up and do the things we don't like to do, as well as those things we do. Taking pride in a job well done, seems to becoming more rare as time moves on.