Another week

Another week has passed, where did the time go? Lets see, worked at the Restaurant, did Mayoral duties, replace a dock, fixed a deck, practiced a little Kung fu, spent time with family and friends. Again, it's midnight and I'm trying to get a few things done (like this)before bed. With all the extra water the last couple of days, my work load has increaesed. I'm having to deal with residents regarding the water and why it got so high. I even did an interview for CBC, which aired on yesterday's news. That was kinda of interesting. As well, I have to deal with two insurance claims. Not like I didn't have enough things on my plate. Time for bed, 6am rolls around really fast when your tired. www.wchoy74.blogspot.ca

Together We Must Go!

After teaching the childrens classes tonight I left to do some church volunteer work.  Part of my responsibilities are to visit a couple of ladies (2 separate families) once a month.  With those visits, I give a bit of a small message.  Tonight my assignment was to talk about lifting each other up, so to speak.  "...and let the strong tenderly nurse the weak into strength, and let those who can see, guide the blind until they can see the way for themselves".  Interesting enough, is that about 90 minutes prior to this, I had a meeting with Sifu Brinker and we talked about the same thing.  The only difference was, that instead of talking about everyone pulling together to cross the finish line in this life, Sifu Brinker and I talked about pulling together to cross the finish line of the I Ho Chuan.  I use the term "finish line" but it isn't really a finish.  It's more like a beginning to a change in ourselves, that we have all chosen, and made a commitment to make.

I know that I have been very guilty of plunging ahead with my requirements, without even thinking about my team members.  I realize now that getting to the end of my requirements, isn't going to seem so rewarding if some of the team is left behind.  I am sorry for my ignorance and selfishness.  I plan to change that.  I hope I don't get annoying as I try my best to pull everyone together and try to find ways for all of us to be successful, together.  Take one toothpick and it can snap in half with the flick of a finger.  Take a handful of toothpicks and it can't be broken, even with the strength of a fist.

16 of 52 Juggling Act

So as usual I am late with this posting, my diet posting is behind as well. Honestly I feel like a juggler on a high wire. I get steady and I am tossing situps, pushups, tai chi broadsword, the tei hua form, journalling, eating right, etc and they are just flowing nicely then, work gets busy (jiggles the wire) my mom gets sick, (jiggles the wire), or for example dragon/lion dancing practice gets added to the items to be juggled list ... oops! Dropped that one! I do not seem to have enough hands, time or skill to juggle all these things while balancing on a high wire.

So today I am very frustrated with myself and with all the commitments and responsibilties that I am dropping, and failing to accomplish/complete. I hate disappointing myself and other people.

Right Before My Very Eyes

Last Thursday after Dragon Dance practice, a few of us gathered in the parking lot to have a chat like we usually do, but this time it was very different for me. Aside from the frivolity and good humor there was very much a message that was directed specially for me and even though I wasn't sure I wanted to tune in, I was tuning in a bit and reminded even louder on Friday "thanks" to Sihing Lowery. After our conversation the message was "bothering" me more and more.

I love to play in the kitchen, love making good (and good for you) treats and playing with recipes. Believe me, Dennis is well-fed and his lunches are not boring. The suggestion was that I  consider selling my gluten-free/dairy-free goodies as there are people out there who 1) don't know how 2) don't want to know how or want to 3) don't have the time 4) don't have the ingredients (they can be costly in small quantities) but given the chance would gladly purchase quality from someone who does. This got me thinking about the possibility of making my kitchen results skills available, but to do this it would be on my terms as I see far too many business owners who spend way too many hours of the day being a slave to their business. No thanks, I have 5 facets to my life and all must be included and very active for me to be in harmony with myself.

For starters, I would start small such as among friends. The "menu" would be spontaneous and fun for both me and the customer. One week could be brownies, the next cupcakes, the next "ice cream", the next chocolates, next pizza crusts, who knows, but the variety must be there to maintain my sanity and also make it a "what's on tap this week" for the customer. The batches would be small to preserve the quality of homemade as well as preventing overload of any one type of goodie.

Would the idea of selling gluten-free/diary-free goodies work? I don't know. Maybe there would be no interest, but maybe there would. The worst that would happen is that I would have to get another freezer to house the goodies until chowdown time. For now it's something to play around with and a serious thought to consider.
Sherri Donohue

Another chapter.

So these past few weeks I have been tackling my other form, being the spear. It has been going slow, but again that is to be expected. One thing that has been the same as my other weapons is the feeling of the connection with me and the weapon itself. Sometimes I will force the weapons movement and be working against it instead of with it. It just takes some time and patience. Another good week of good progress and of course I have the blisters to prove it. Still feeling like each day is another step forward in my progress which tends to make me want to tackle the next day and see what lies ahead. Sifu Bryant

Teach Them and They Will Grow

I had the opportunity to spend some very quality time with my 3 year old grandson this weekend. We had a lot of fun. We started the day at the kung fu school, where he took part in the 9:00 class. His mom, step dad, auntie and uncle were there to watch as well. After lunch, I took him out to Lake Chickakoo for a ride in my kayak, then we went to the outdoor sprinkler park. Lots of laughter, exploring, and lots of learning.

 I took the opportunity to try and teach my grandson appreciation for the outdoors. I told him that he should always try to respect and protect the outdoors and the animals that live there. I taught him about the blue dragon flies and how they eat moskitos. "Should I punch them nana?" (Like in kung fu) Oh no, I had to tell him, as well as the fact that we don't hit anything or anyone unless they are trying to hurt us or our family. I taught my grandson that the reason the birds were flying low and chirping so loudly as they swooped close to our heads was because they were trying to protect their family and their home.

 We saw lots of baby ducks and my grandson learned how important it was for them to stay close to their protective mother. He learned about the beaver dam and I told him of the beaver that chased me a few days before, slapping his tale on the water to tell me to go away from his home. After our kayak ride, we went for a walk in the trees. He loved it! I have taken him camping before and on a road trip to BC. He often speaks of the BIG mountains with such excitement, it thrills me. He remembers the thunder storm from camping, even though he was barely 2, and asks me all the time, "go camping nana?"

 I am blessed greatly to live close enough to be a part of my grandchildren's lives. I am hoping that my grandson can be a regular student at Silent River kung fu, but we just haven't figured out the transportation side of things, and I have a bit of a concern that he is still a bit too young. His mom, who made it to 2nd degree brown years ago, also wants to come back. This pleases me greatly. Again it is a matter of transportation as they live in Edmonton. I think it would be so cool to have 3 generations of martial artist in the family

Make it Happen

I don't have much time to write, I'm packing again. This time its to Whitehorse and its work. I will be gone for a week and to be honest I am wishing I was back already.
As much as I try to plan ahead and anticipate the challenges of training away from home, motivation is always the biggest hurdle.
Whether its holidays or work its the influence and temptation of the other people you have to manage.
By this I mean, its easier just to go along with the others as opposed to finding the time to get some training in.
Sometimes the work doesn't end till late in the night and exhaustion sets in, coworkers want you to come out to the bar after work, holidays with family...they like to load you up with too much food and sometimes you find yourself three days away from the last time you did any training.
(see how I like to blame other people for my own laziness!)

Anyways, the plan is to get up early, do what I can in the hotel or surrounding trails and make it happen.