If you can't say anything nice...

And so it begins again

2012-01-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

This week marks the beginning of another new year and the start of our I Ho Chian journey. I actually started back in November once I had decided to apply to be part of the team. The year ahead looks exciting. I hope I can use some of the many resources available to me. To be honest I am a little worried about the weapon I have chosen. I knew it once a few years ago, but like everything else I let it slide by the wayside. I fell like my team mates are already practicing their weapons forms and I haven't even started yet. Here hoping I don't let anyone down.Good luck to allLinda

TOO MUCH TOO SOON ?

2012-01-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

Since early summer 2011 I have been making an effort to come back into the evening white/yellow class. Trying not to make my recent health issues too noticeable has been to say the least, impossible. I know I have to learn to live with a lot of things but I feel that I have to prove to everyone else that I am still capable of running a good class. All the extra help comes in handy when I can't do some of the basic moves myself yet. This is another one of my UBBT goals for the year. I hope by repeating my kicks and moving through my forms enough my body will remember how to do them. The problem I'm having is sticking to one or two at a time. I'm like a kid in a candy store, I want to do them all at once. I know this is not such a good idea. Like in the last black belt class I had Sifu Hayes almost all to myself and it was a great way to be more specific with him as to what I have trouble doing as far as moving through the form goes. On the other hand I hadn't really touched those forms yet, so I found myself jumping back and forth all weekend trying to do three or four forms at once. That's my next step,try to focus on one or two things at a time.The positive thing this week was adding another 30k. to my distance goal making my on going total 130 kilometers.next week will be better,Sifu Shipalesky

WALKING FAST

2012-01-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

I reached my first 100 kilometers this week, towards my I ho Chaun targets. I must admit it wasn't all that hard since it's one of the few true pleasures I do for myself. This year I have some family members alone for the ride. Eli my new grandson has traveled a good quarter of it with me either in a snuggy strapped to my chest or in a stroller in front of me. As of Monday he was nine pounds so with his added weight I figure that's bonus points.
I know for years I have struggled to run instead of walk and with my recent condition it has become a bigger challenge. I hope to get my numbers up in the next month and see just how much my legs remember, who knows I could be leading the pack in a light jog. So my new goal will be to do my five k in less time. Small steps so to speak
Linda

SET IN MY WAYS ?

2012-01-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

You know I always thought I was open minded. Humble, open to new ideas. Lately I have been thinking on this a lot. Is it being open minded when you have a certain set of values and find it hard to change that thought pattern.
My mother often said to me quoting a child's book "DO IT YOURSELF SAID THE LITTLE RED HEN" and she was referring to not expecting someone else to do a job you were fussy about. Consequently I have found that this is one of the motto's of my life. I don't expect someone else to do a job that I feel needs doing right. Or someone else to do a job that I am reluctant to do myself. So my confusion comes into play when I am tying to lead someone else to take up a task that I know can be hard to do or where there is no motivation ,no instant gratification.In the end it is better to do it yourself.
Thinking back I probably spoiled my kids rotten because after asking them to do something a few times it always felt quicker to do it myself. Hmmm or should I have said better? I find it hard to motivate people in general, I would prefer to show them by example.Is this so wrong? I think I will have to work on my speaking skills in order to get my point across better,maybe then I will have a stronger argument !
Sifu Linda Shipalesky

New Beginnings

2012-01-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

It's a new year for me and the UBBT and it holds many possibilities . I have started to add my milage up by walking. I can't wait for the weather to break and I can get on my bike. I did receive for Christmas a gadget that converts a ordinary bike into a stationary bike, but it takes a bit of mechanical know how so I will have to bring my bike and gadget to the bike store to get it set up. I have taken two falls this last week so walking out side is a little risky to my health. Although on one fall I managed to do a pretty good break fall, the second not so good. I can't bring Minnie ( my dog ) with me to the Tri so we both miss out on the outdoor walks.
The positive side of walking indoors I was able to persuade two of my daughters, Tara my oldest and in need of losing around one hundred pounds and Amanda who has a new baby (Eli) to join me and my eighty one year old mother. We each have our own goals and hopefully will be able to keep them in mind with the aid of the others.
My morning routine has been a little sluggish getting started, but I think I have it in place. Anyway this is where I have started and will keep adding until it all falls into place. :)
Sifu Linda Shipalesky

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

2011-12-24T04:39:00.000-08:00

I came away from a meeting last night and was very upset.I guess I am still missing the point of volunteerism, of being part of a team, the expectations of the recipients of the time the volunteers give them. We live in a time where to help others means to give them money. It's easy, right, pick something you think might be a good cause, give your money and your home free. Hey, I can feel good about changing the world now I gave my five bucks to help. My problem is this, I don't know that my five bucks ever sees the true destination of the needy cause, and after getting two, three calls a day from needy causes I have become tired of the calls. I start to wonder if the money ever does any good. You give the five bucks this time and the next thing you know a few months later and guess who's on the other end of the phone again asking for more money? So I think to myself what if I give my time to help a needy cause. I am giving a service that I can feel good about, I can be the one that, so to speak, that the buck stops here. I think I am a part of a team of people who feel the need and have shouldered the responsibility . I can give my time, sweat equity , and I know that the need is being met with no money involved.
I know this way of thinking is not for everyone, I seen and felt it tonight. We still want something out of it. Sure I will sign up, but what will you give me back. Me? , well I want to feel useful, I want to have done something good, within my ability and be given, yes, a pat on the back,"wow look at that Sifu cleaning those sidewalks and in her condition" I crave to be a useful part of society and since I don't earn a dollar amount for what I do day to day I give the only way I can, my back, my sweat, and my compassion . I am not a great leader, I can't stand in front of a group of people and motivate them with words, hell I have trouble just getting my point across in everyday conversation, but I can show people by example,the problem is someone has to be watching.
I have come to the conclusion that I am a solider,give me a task that I can sink my teeth into and I'll do my best for you, but when it comes to organizing I think that would be better left to other people who think in those terms.
I hope this doesn't come across as a pity party, this is as good as it gets for me with words. If you want me to help give me an end result, if you want my money(what little of it I have personally) show me what your doing with it and how I can help,otherwise it feels like another hand out and I am jaded with that line of thought.
I am waiting to be enlightened, am trying to keep open minded, show me that way and I will do my best to lend you my back and hands.
Still in the dark,
Linda Shipalesky

LOOK AT ME!

2011-11-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

This week I found myself inspired by a fellow student. She has been struggling with push ups. She can do ten but the added ten for her belt level has be challenging .So I was doing a bad job of trying to show her what she needed to do and found myself down on the floor beside her struggling myself to do ten. Much to my surprise I DID TEN ! Now I won't pretend they were perfect or easy, but it was a start. By the end of the week I could do twenty, again they weren't easy. I am sure this is the beginning of a new start. For me this is a big deal one year ago I had to work very hard to walk :)
See you all soon , could be I'll be doing push ups !
Linda

off and running

2011-11-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

So I did it I joined the ubbt again or should I say I Ho chuan? It will be a year next month since I had the stroke so I am eager to move forward. I have started doing my numbers for the challenge ahead. I have been making about 10 k. a week, walking,biking etc. I have also restarted to learn tai chi form. I just completed number four and begun number one. So I feel like that's a good start. I know I am in for a real workout as a lot of my muscle mass was lost, but I am sure I can get it back. Remembering everything,... well that will be another issue. One step at a time
Linda

Black belt?

2011-05-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

This week we have been talking about what a black belt is. What quality's make a black belt . As we all know a person who is truly a black belt lives the life of one. It carries throughout their lives. So someone just meeting one will not always know that they have a black belt but will feel something special , a little ,perhaps mystical about them. I had an encounter with just such a black belt this week.
People who know me are aware I have been struggling with my health this last six months. A lot of this is mental health. I have been fighting fear and panic. The thought that my body may betray me again. It can take over your life. Take a once independent person and turn them into a recluse , one afraid to be by themselves or be away from home.
I am a firm believer in putting out there what you need, prayer or whatever you might believe. Things have always come to me in my time of need or something I can do for some one else in need of me.
Such a person showed up in my life this past week.
Sifu Kristian Olsvik came into my life with just what I needed. In case you don"t know him he was in the demo at our new years celebration . He also inspires us to feed one thousand people in (Cat man do ?) each year. He studied the art of ancient Thai massage while he lived there.He is a great example of a black belt who truly lives the life of his convictions .
He got in touch with me after he heard about my medical challenges. I seen him three times over a week and was treated to a ancient thai message. If you have never had one you're in for a surprise. For the person receiving the treatment it is calming but for the practitioner it can be taxing physically. Each treatment lasts a least an hour and a half. After the treatment Sifu Olsvik gave me exercises to work on to help me improve my balance and flexibility. He has a vast base to tape into for help with the mind.
Sifu Olsvik never asked for money for any of his time or expertise. I felt he was sent to me at my time of need. I will be forever grateful to him for his compassion and gentle caring.
I would encourage any of you with injuries old or new to seek him out and let him help you. I know Kung Fu can be full of strains and injuries that we incur upon ourselves. Relief my be just a phone call away.
I am blessed with my people in my life who encourage me and support me in my day to day struggles I do not mean to make them feel that I don't need or appreciate them. They have thought me how to except help when I need it. Not always easy to do for most of us.
So next time you are wondering what a black belt does, don't be judgmental of what you see on the outside but take the time to know what they are about on the inside you might be pleasantly surprised.
Thank you Sifu Olsvik
Linda Shipalesky

LIFE

2011-03-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

It's been over two months since I have posted anything here. A lot has happened and needless to say I am not going to bore you with my health issues.
I read Sifu Masterson's blog this week and am inspired to add to it. She talks about her fitness routine and how it keeps her focused. She has definitely got the right idea. The advice I have been getting repeatedly from all the different medical specialist is "KEEP FIT". Even if your body betrays you in some unforeseen way the better condition you are in the better chance you have of surviving that said event. It takes sixty minutes at least three times a week to keep an adult in decent shape. The more vigorous the exercise the less time you need to do. For example is you are running you would need to do thirty minutes a workout instead of sixty.
The other thing that has also has been key in my recovery has been my mental health. So when Sifu Brinker talks about our attitude, empathy and compassion he couldn't be more right. Keeping a sunny disposition and making yourself see the "CUP HALF FULL" is not easy to do when faced with adversary Do yourself a favor and look after the simple things in your life, keep your friends and family close and live in the present moment
Linda

Full Stop

2010-12-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

what is a Stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Without blood and oxygen it carries, part of the brain starts to die. The part of the body controlled by the damaged area of the brain can't function properly.

On Friday December 17 I woke up feeling a little off. I went about my normal morning routine but finally decided to go to the Stony Plain emergency. After checking in with the nurse at the front desk I was instructed to sit and wait for my turn. As it should be, the most critical people are seen first, that was at 11:00 a.m. At two o'clock I decided enough was enough, I was going home. When I stood up to leave, I realized I felt considerably worse. I seen a doctor shortly after and was taken to the UofA by ambulance. I was told I was probably having a stroke.
The next few days my family and myself tried to come to terms with the shock and up coming life changes we were about to face.
I cried, ranted, raved and felt very sorry for myself and then had a good look around me, I am extremely lucky I have a been given a second chance at life. I am going to take the life lessons put in front of me and come out a better person. I lost the full functionality of my right limbs, for now. With some time and work I should recover most of the movement.
Anyway I hate listening to long story's about someone Else's health, I will assume the same about you. I would like to share my journey back to mobility. I feel like I am about 80% of the way there already.
thank you to my friends and family at the kwoon for you love,support and the extra push ups today. I was feeling sorry for myself and had a happy cry when I read your messages. I hope to see you all at the kwoon sooner rather than later ...
until then, keep your family close
Linda

closing remarks on UBBT #7

2010-11-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well I'm down to the wire. Only one month left of UBBT 7. I have lots of ups and down's this year but still feel that I am better for attempting the UBBT.I have taken the random acts of kindness into my everyday life and feel like it is just a part of me now. Like one of the other members of my team said its time to stop and think about the unkind acts. I like the sound of this challenge and want to try and be more aware of it. I think I will one up it and start a gratitude journal besides. I feel like I forget to think about how blessed my life is.
There has never been a time in my life where being a part of a team (UBBT 7) has been harder to stay on track and yet more rewarding for having to struggle. I know I let my team and its leader down terribly this year and yet have learned more from my failures than I would have if I had managed to stay on track.

UBBT 8 is just around the corner and I wish the new team Gods speed and success. One way or another they will be better people weather it is physical or mentally.I have already set some goals for my next year and hopefully I will have the courage and the health to achieve them. Thank you Sifu Brinker and couch Callos for allowing me to be a small part of this great adventure.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, ab Canada

awesome class

2010-11-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

As a instructor of a class I tend to take responsibility for how the atmosphere in the room is on any given day . Over time i have struggled will self doubt , self confidence , and most of all my own abilities to teach the content of the curriculum. Today something happened in my morning class that has changed my view of myself and the people who trust me, that stand in front of me twice a week and let me teach them. I really opened myself up and let them teach me. I let down my guard enough to be truly humble.
I found out lately I am suffering from anemia . It's nothing too serious but over time can rob you of energy or vitality. A month of iron shots has made a huge difference in the way I feel. So this morning standing in front of my class for the first time in years I truly wanted to participate.A few baby steps and I was again a student of Kung Fu, with my fellow comrades in arms around me, supporting me. Within minutes the entire class was in the " ZONE " Creative juices were flowing and everyone had a positive attitude.
I have to laugh at myself. I couldn't see the forest through the trees. They have been right in front of me for an endless amount of time and I have only truly seen them for the first time this morning.
Thank you fellow Kung Fu students. I truly feel connected again.
Linda

Reality cheek

2010-10-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

Things back to normal this week. I am continuing my training in the UBBT as it comes to a close. I met my requirement for walking at lest twice over which tells me I didn't make it tough enough. Push ups went down the tubes by mid June as I have some bone and energy problems I am currently addressing. One of my big challenges is trying to grow as an instructor. Again I feel like I stalled out around June. Lately I feel like I have my Mo Jo back. As long as I kept it in front of me I knew I would find my way. Personally I tend to get tunnel vision and forget to take a step back and see the big picture . I start to feeling discontent and a little greedy. Once in a while I need a reminder about how short life is . I stop to smell the flowers that grow all around me and I can get a reality cheek and then I can move forward. I have a great life. I am happy.
Linda

balancing act

2010-10-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

I am always trying to find balance in my life. Kung fu is always about how to keep learning and how to be a better teacher. Practice vs. performance . In other parts of my life I try to keep my Kung fu in sight while I learn new things. This month I have been taking a cake decorating course. I am really having fun with it although I am by no means an exceptional cook. After I started this course I found myself like always relating it back to my kung fu. The instructor had a similar philosophy as we do, you learn the basic in the class but you have to take it home and practice it to get better at it. I have done many different jobs in my time but the one I have done the most of is staying at home and looking after my family. I have been very fortunate to have a husband with the same mind set as myself. Again balance has also pestered me. So the cake decorating seemed too house wifeish so I decided to learn to drive and use a "skid steer " or bob cat if you like. It comes in very handy around an acreage . I won't be fit to leave the yard for some time yet, but it feels great to learn.

As a side note I lost my dog this weekend, (I'm crying as I write this) I was lucky to have him for twelve and a half years.

Shylo ; January 20 1998 to October 16 2010

When I get to where I'm going on the far side of the sky
the first thing I'm going to do is spread my wings and fly

When I get to where I'm going there'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles I have carried all theses years
and I'll leave my heart wide open I will love and have no fear
When I get to where I'm going don't cry for me down here

so much pain and so much darkness, in this world we stumble through
all these questions I can't answer, so much work to do

But when I get to where I'm going and I see my makers face
I'll stand forever in the light of his amazing grace

When I get to where I'm going there'll be only happy tears ...

Artist: Brad Paisley

R.I.P. Shy

Linda

Family first

2010-10-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

I had a very difficult week. We had to bury a young man, a nephew of ours.He was only thirty years old. Life can blind side you in a moment like this. We all live like we are invincible and in a way this is the only way we can. The other side of the coin would be so afraid of dyeing that we never do anything. Once again balance has to be found to keep life livable . Living in the moment is so very hard to do and yet makes so much sense, savoring every moment of every day because it could indeed be our last. My mission statement for my life has always been "family comes first" I feel like I let this young man down because I didn't keep in touch with him and never knew what he was up to or if he was happy ... it's a hard lesson to learn and I will strive to not let it happen again.
Rest in peace Lanny...
Linda

My eyes are dim

2010-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

If you know me at all you know I am hopeless with computers. About a month ago my husband bought me an ipad My first reaction was "what will I do with this?" Anyway since then I have read over ten books and sometimes more than one at a time. Am I addicted? I don't know... my eyes are dim I can not see ... It sure is handy
Linda

word is getting around

2010-09-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

I heard an encouraging story this week from a friend who is not in Kung Fu. She was having breakfast in the restaurant across the street from the Kwoon. While she was sitting there a pair of elderly church goers came in to have a late breakfast. The two women were known to the waitress and had a lively conversation going about the best way to get the most for their money.
Anyway to make the story shorter they ended up sharing a meal. Someone else in the restaurant also overheard them bantering with the waitress and upon leaving picked up the tab for the two elderly women. My friend was delighted to be a witness to the reaction the two women had to having their bill paid for by a complete stranger. Near the end of their conversation one woman turned to the other and said, " that must of been on of the Kung Fu people from across the street, they believe in random acts of kindness, lets remember to pass it along."
True story, honest.
Linda

Stay in the moment

2010-09-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

Like everyone else I really have to drag my sorry @#$% around these days. The weather out side is chill'n ... wait a minute it's too early for that song.
I went to a concert the other night with my husband and besides falling head over heals in love with him all over again, I found inspiration from the artist on stage. He put everything he had into entertaining the people in front of him. Maybe it's sad but some how everything in my life relates back to my Kung Fu. If I had half of his energy in my training I think I could inspire a lot more students... or even myself.
Any way Love the one your with, I sure do... I'm a lucky gal
Next time
Linda

a new start

2010-09-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well all the reno's are done at the school and I can't wait for the classes to begin. We usually get a big influx of new white belts at this time of year. I always feel like I am seeing things from a new perspective or through another's eyes. It is the secret to saying motivated for me. Lest we forget.
On the other hand the reno's at home are still dragging on. Don't get me wrong it is all coming together great, but it is taking so long... a great way to learn patience I guess.It seems to me life is all about waiting patiently. Maybe one day I'll get good at it, or not.
Anyway see you in class
Linda

Bridging the generation gap

2010-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

What a week. There is always a lot of excitement in my house the fews days before back to school. This year I only had one going back but it still generated a lot of energy.
I was talking to a fellow student in the change room last week and she was telling me what she had to do to get ready for school. Her nervousness came shining through as she spoke. This in turn brought back a lot of similar feeling in me. I thought about this conversation over the next few days and it was obvious that no matter how old you are you are still waiting for the "light bulb" to go off and all at once you know what you were meant to do for the rest of your life. The thing you would be great at and would love so much you would jump out of bed biting at the bit to go to work. I know how unrealistic this is but it took me fifty years to figure it out. I know sometimes things are put in front of you and you have to have the courage to take the opportunity . You have to trust your instincts and hope you are making the right decision .
The one thing I was able to take away from this encounter was no matter what your age people are very similar inside. Your life may get more complicated as you age but you are always that same person inside . Maybe I have just discovered a small way to bridge the generation gap

Linda

finding the right path

2010-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

I've been rethinking my requirements this week. I had a great talk with Sifu Brinker this last week and have really been going over the problems I have had staying engaged in the ubbt. Finding my place in the group is one of my problems the other is getting past falling off the horse so to speak. Our big summer renovations will be coming to a close this weekend with any luck. This frees me up to go back to my regular black belt class. Hopefully I will find the right stuff to give me the push I need to see things clearly again.
Linda

Summer's end

2010-08-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

As I'm driving home from errands these days the fields on either side of the road always attract my attention. The smell and the changing colors of the crops signal the coming of fall. I love to be outside when the weather is good and so the coming of winter is always a sad time. I try to stay in the moment and lock all the sights and smells to memory.

I wandered lonely as a Cloud
That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd
A host of dancing Daffodils;
Along the Lake, beneath the trees,
Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: --
A poet could not but be gay
In such a laughing company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude,
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the Daffodils.

William Wordsworth.

Back at it

2010-08-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have been away from my blogging for a while, but will be back. I was having a brain @*&^. Life has to throw me a few curve balls once in a while just so I know when I have it good. I saw this saying on a tee shirt the other day a thought it funny: "Jesus loves you ... but I'm his favorite " ( no offense intended to anyone's religion )
see you
Linda

Does my heart rule my head?

2010-07-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

At our annual in school tournament one of my Hero's fell off of his pedestal . Not only did he fall, I felt like he fell right on top of me and knocked the wind right out of me. I have struggled for months with this, I realize no one can live up to hero worship because after all we are all just human with many faults and holes in our personalities. I became so obsessed with this that no matter what he said over the next few months I would turn into a negative experience . All the things I had learned from him was reviewed and questioned for his sincerity . When a fellow student wanted to talk to me about their Kung fu I could only see the rain clouds and not the sun shine. I tried hard to bit my tough, but I know I let some of the negative slip out. My "HERO" picture of him was totally destroyed.
Now for the stupid part of this, I never had the courage to talk to him about it and let him defend himself. I mean after all way should he care how I see him. ... negative, negative negative. I'm anti-negative it's the first thing I look to avoid in people, I want people to give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. So what was I doing? I have been slowly taking apart the reasons I am in Kung Fu. Why it makes me feel good.Is it the school or the people in it. Am I doing the extra things to please myself or someone else. Do I do it for a pat on the back or because I am truly helping someone else. On and on these things have been going around in my head.
This whole experience has been a learning curve. I have discovered some things about myself and others that I have chosen not to look at before. It has made me take responsibility for the reasons i am at the school at least four times a week. I think I have found some balance in this experience. I am still struggling with a lot of it though, maybe ask me next week and I will have given myself an easy answer, who knows, after all I am only human. I guess I am writing this so I must be taking small steps in the right direction.

Linda

2010-05-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

This has been a very long week. The flu came to visit my family and forgot to leave. We seen on daughter through it only to have another one turn up sick. It really makes me appreciate the noise of a happy healthy household. The house is very sober and quiet when all is not well. I hate snow this time of year but at least the kids kept me hoping so I didn't feel so sorry for myself because I was house bound.
The tournament went fairly smooth this year. It seems to be over quicker each year. The only thing that would make it better is if I would of had the opportunity to see more of my students compete. I feel like I was encouraging for weeks only to miss the final results.... and how many stripes do you have on your black belt ... that bugged me too.
Linda Silent river kung fu stony plain alberta canada

Lu Ping An

2010-04-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

"Lu Ping An" or a ruff translation " Walk in peace and harmony " There was a theory question on the meaning of this years ago and after much investigation the best description for me was " in order to live in peace,you must be prepared for war." This statement pretty well sums up my response to the question "Why would you practice the martial arts?"
War comes in many forms, war:one nation against another, one state against another, one neighbor against another, one brother against another. For me it is a more personal thing, war against environmental abuse, war against physical abuse, war against mediocracy, war against obesity, war against self doubt, war against anger ,anyway my list goes on and on.
How I view the world around me, how I interpret the information I see , hear or read is based on these inner battles I fight on a day to day bases.
Last week I read a blog that gave me such a strong inner response that I just had to react. I wrote my comments down and sent them off in less time than it took to blink. To my surprise more women didn't respond or take offense to the statements made there. As a matter of fact, some even agreed and gave the writer credit for his insights.
So back to the blog that I have read since at least ten times. It was time to figure out why I reacted to it the way I did. I guess most has to do with age, The reasons I practice the martial arts today compared to how I did twelve years ago. The answer would be very different and miles apart in comparison . For obvious reasons I would not engage in a sparring match with the same intent. I probably wouldn't even just do it for "fun". As I age and my body becomes a little less agile and takes longer to heal, I pick the bruises I am going to inflict on myself. I try to use more technique and less muscle mass in anything I use or teach. My view of what it takes to prove myself in the martial arts would not necessarily match that of a younger person doing the same art.
I live in a time when the women who came before me proved what our sex is capable of and do not feel the need to prove that we don't belong in the art. I have seen the benefit of their hard work and maybe don't keep it in the front of my mind enough. Shame on me. But at the same time I see on a day to day bases what the mental part of the martial arts do, have done in my children and people who attend our school. The huge changes that can transform a person . I am living proof of this.
So Sifu Prince forgive an older aging women for a reaction to maybe something I put in between the lines and talk to me again in thirty years and see how you might feel then about your training.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Walk a mile in my shoes.

2010-04-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I came into the change room and was overwhelmed by a feeling of frustration and sorrow. There was no one in there that I haven't seen a hundred times before. I started to change and caught a small wimpier out of the corner of the room. I turned and really had a good look around. A small fragile girl was curled up in the corner trying desperately to hide her emotions. Like I said I have seen her lots of times around the school , her mother is a fellow black belt. I felt a little reluctant to approach her. She is a little shy and doesn't seem to want a lot of attention. I asked her if she was all right. Was she hurt? I had noticed as I came through the school that the class on the mats were sparring. She slowly looked up and her hair feel away from her face. When I finally looked into her eyes the pain and sorrow I seen there floored me. What could have put so much struggle into such a young heart? The mother in me wanted to pull her into my arms and comfort her but I sensed she would not welcome this gesture. The warrior in me wanted to go and kick the @#!* out of whoever was torturing this child. She struggled to pull herself together and managed to speak past the lump in her throat . She said she was not hurt and really didn't like sparring but knew she had to do it. I gave her an encouraging smile and told her I would explain to the instructor that she couldn't return to class. She hesitated a moment and I could see her dig deep and shake off her fear. She got up nodded her head no and returned to class. I finished changing and went out to watch the end of her class. She bowed out with tears running down her cheeks. Now I know there are things in this world, Lessons to be learned by us and our children that will only make us stronger. As a mother I have had to use methods to get my own children past fears I know that they have to deal with in order to make them into strong adults. But at that moment I would have done anything to lighten the load of that child. To make her smile free and easy of the harsh things in the world that we all must live with and overcome. She humbled me. I think of my own petty fears and realized how self centered I become within myself in the face of my own fears. If this young girl could march on then so can I. Walk a mile in someone shoes and then you know how good you have it.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Number one rule "DON"T PANIC"

2010-04-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back from holidays and how did the snorkeling go you ask. The setting couldn't have been better, 38 degrees c. a light ocean breeze and endless ocean to explore. My older kids were diving (scuba) and my husband myself and our six year old were going to snorkel, a perfect combination I thought. Every one gets to do something new and exciting.We all got into the water and everything was going as planned until Lacey put her face into the water. One look at all those fish, close enough to touch her and she tried to climb out the water through any means available to her. I tried to calm her down but after ten minutes realized she was beyond reason. We got out of the water. I held her in my arms until she came back to her senses and put the snorkeling off for another trip.
I can't help relate this back to my own training. I have over 12 years of training in the martial arts and have never had to use it in any physical way. The first few years of training I use to dream about getting into a fight and not remembering what I had to do, or having no power to engage in the brawl. Lacey's panic sparked a familiar doubt in the back of my mind. The mindless reaction, the way you loss the ability to think, or to reason your way through the situation.I know the number one rule in the Martial arts is "don't panic" God, I hope this is not easier said than done. I also strongly wise I never have to find out.
Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

2010-03-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

Things are really flowing along great for me this time through UBBT.
I talked about taking a snorkeling course a few weekends ago and have found a new twist to it. I am not a strong swimmer. I love the water but have a healthy respect for "deep water". I have often thought that I would like to swim laps to add to my exercise routine. Well ... I combined snorkeling to swimming laps and guess what ... the deep water became less of a problem. I put the magic snorkel in my mouth and the fear disappeared. I did the math and I need to do twenty laps to equal one km. Yesterday I swam fifteen. I know that I can push it another five by the end of the week to reach my one km. goal.
Now if you see me in the pool with all my gear on I will understand if you want to pretend you don't know me. But I can say with some conviction Kung Fu has thought me to step out of my comfort zone, so who cares what other people see or think. Swimming like this makes me really happy.
See you in the pool ...

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

A Breath of Fresh Air

2010-03-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

I had one of those moments when something very basic becomes clear. My family and I spent the weekend in the pool at our local leisure centre. Randy and I along with our six year old daughter were taking a class in an intro to snorkeling. The older kids were doing an intro to scuba at the same time. Anyway the kids all took to it right away, me I really had to concentrate on breathing through my mouth . By the end of the day I had drank a lot of the pool and had sucked in a lot of extra air. But I felt great. I realized on refection I was not really sucking extra air but probably more than I usually do. I think that I breath too shallow most of the time. Now I was high on life after such a great day, but I also felt invigorated. I was thinking clear and had more energy than anyone else in my family after a day of exercise Defiantly something worthy of noting. Breath in, Breath out and stay in the moment. Where have I heard that before?

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

What a night!

2010-02-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

So its time to eat humble pie. Watching the new black belts preform their techniques Saturday night sure brings me back to my own training. I was totally inspired to work harder. You just can't help feeling inspired after watching them put their heart and souls into every move they made.
It seems to me that each year the bar is raised just a little bit higher. The students coming behind these candidates will really have to work to out shine the crew from this year.
Thanks for the great night!

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Motivation

2010-02-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

Since motivation seems to be the thing to think about this week I'm going to add to what keeps me going. Before I decided to do another UBBT I talked it over with my husband Randy. we had done UBBT 6 together and had fallen off our goals around the same time. Randy's office relocated and made it almost impossible for him to train at noon. When we reviewed the things that changed around our slide this is what stood out. Without the motivation of a training partner to answer to we both failed. So this time Randy made sure to get the time to have a little longer lunch, we are back training together at noon. Randy is not officially doing UBBT 7, he is right back where he was when we started out last year. We have been really trying to make the training habits of UBBT a life style change we want to incorporate into our daily lives . So far so good.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu , Stony Plain Alberta Canada

I have been blessed

2010-02-10T09:40:00.000-08:00

This week I found myself weepy and really feeling sorry for myself. I finally stopped and sat down to evaluate my emotions . I hate feeling like this and beat myself up for crying too easily. It's just too private, I think it opens me up to more hurt. Anyway when I found it slipping into other parts of my life I knew it was time to figure it out.
I have this dog you see who is twelve years old. I was there when he was born. He has been a constant companion through some good and bad times in the last years. I know they say dogs can't smile, but I have had the pleasure of his smiling face greet me each morning for a long time. Age has slowed him down but lately he has developed a cough. I was scared to bring him to the vet but convinced myself that it was probably kennel cough or something like that. When the vet handed me a box of kleenex I knew I was going to hear something I didn't want to. Shilo has lung cancer. She told me to take him home and love him up for as long as I can. Loving him is easy, it's watching him slowly fade that is unbelievable painful. He still has great days but I can see and feel his time running out. So living in the moment is really important with him right now. Dogs just naturally live in the moment and he has taught me a lot about this over the years.
I know he is just a dog and I can't imagine dealing with this with another person. I have been very fortunate to never have been put to the test.
Any way I have decided to forgive myself for my emotional outbursts. I will find the strength somewhere to deal with his last days.
I will try to be the person my dog thinks I am.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Walking Fast

2010-02-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Not too bad of a week. I was able to shave about 15 minutes of my daily five km. walk officially today. Since I started tracking my time along with my kms. it has given me a purpose to walk/run faster. so as of today it takes me forty five minutes to walk five km.
On my personal growth performance I realized lately that I am happy to let someone else take over for me. This is not always a good solution when the buck stops with me and I have not taken responsibility properly. I will have to dig deeper to find the courage to say "no" and keep things going in the direction I want them to go. On the positive side I am not scared to take the responsibility for these failures, I just want to learn to avoid them.

While I can't seem to motivate myself to do enough push ups, I figure I make up for it in kms.

Until next time;
Linda Shipalesky, Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain Alberta, Canada

Moving forward

2010-01-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Things happened to me this week that seemed negative to start but ended up being very beneficial . I was given a Nike + for Christmas that was a great motivator for my running. In the beginning, before I really knew how to use it I thought it was great. After two weeks of struggling to calibrate it I wanted to through it in the garbage. Randy just get a new phone and gave his itouch to me and Lacey to share. It happens that I can down load some running programs off the internet from Nike. I have found one that suits my needs better than the one I was struggling with. One small change in my routine has given me new energy.
In turn I have had a good week for intuition and was able to pick up on some people's intentions. I'm not talking about mind reading or anything like that, more like being on the same wave length as someone else. Any way things are going smooth. I have gotten most of my form relearned with the help of a fellow Sifu. I feel like it really counts now as before I felt like I was cheating .

Linda Shipalesky, Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Living hero # 1 Mary Kavanagh

2010-01-17T10:34:00.000-08:00

Mary Kavanagh was born in Dublin Ireland in the dirty thirty's. She has fought adversity most of her life. She recalls stories of living in the depression and through world war two. She had ten siblings and a father who would be away in one war or another for years at a time. Yet Mary never tells any of these stories in a negative light. It is always with a twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her face. She choses to remember the positive memories. She married in her early twenties and as were the mind set of the times the man in the family dominated his wife with an iron hand. John her husband always wanted to be a Cowboy so on many occasion traveled to Canada for months at a time only to return and go again when the dream became to much to bare. The last time he traveled Mary sold everything,packed up there four kids and followed. John was now stuck in Canada and the dream quickly became a nightmare. The next forty years Mary lived with a bitter man. He was never physically abusive but was especially mentally so. Mary through the whole thing never stopped her devotion to him. She loved him with everything she had. When at the age of Seventy two John's health took a turn for the worst and was unable to drive trapping them both on a acreage out side of Stony Plain Alberta,Mary did the only thing she could and learned to drive. She was sixty seven. She moved them to town and John had to be moved into a nursing home and passed away shortly after. Mary did not lay down too. Instead she started life over without him. She was now free of the tyranny of John and could do and say as she pleased. She joined line dancing and lane bowling. She does Pastoral care which is bringing the church and Holy communion to the shut in's in Stony PLain and Spruce Grove. She does Square dancing and does a bit of driving Miss Daisy for people she knows in need. Mary carry's sunshine with her where ever she goes. Never has an unkind word for anyone and always see's a silver lining in every crisis. " There now, sit down and have a cup of tea and things will seem better" She is my living hero. She has learned to stay in the Moment and engage in the here and now.
Mary Kavanagh is my Mother.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta

All or nothing

2010-01-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

I was raised on tea. You know the old joke they feed it to me in a baby bottle. Well in my cause its true. It had a lot of milk and sugar added to it but there you are. Needless to say I have drank tea all my life. From the first thing in the morning to the last thing at night. As a child if you were in a crisis or upset about something the answer from my parents was, " there now sit down and have a nice cup of tea." It was the cure all for everything. Anyway the point of the story is that this last year or so I progressed from just any tea to Chia tea from Starbucks. It replaced all need for any other type any time of the day. Even though on some mornings it would upset my stomach old habits dye hard. Along comes UBBT seven and it gave me a perfect excuse to go off of tea. I haven't had a single cup in two weeks! I won't give you the imprecision that I don't want it. I do. But I figure I can hold out for at least three months. April first, thats the dead line. WOW, it makes me sweat even to think about it.
Wish me luck!

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Gifts, gadgets and stuff

2010-01-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm off to a running or should I say walking start. I got a great gadget from Santa this year that hooks up to my ipod. It keeps track of your milage and calories . You can also go on line and link up with other people using this device and challenge them to walks, runs etc. if it helps to keep me motivated I'm all for it. The form I choose to repeat is a little shakey though. I can only recall about half of it so I have to get some help with the end. I'm not sure if I can count half of it as a rep. though.
Classes are always busy in January so all in all I'm hopping.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain, Alberta

The journey continues

2009-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

The new year begins tomorrow. I am set and ready to go into ubbt 7. I have had time this last few weeks to reflect on 2009 and my goals I set for it. Some were almost too easy and others almost impossible for me to reach. The one thing for sure is it kept me engaged on a day to day basis. The journaling has had to be one of my biggest successes . I never kept a journal before but was always attracted to the idea. I skimmed through some of my entries from the last year and was able to pick out a few struggles I seem to repeat.I don't know if I can overcome them any better this time but I'm sure going to try.
Happy New Year!

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Constructive Criticism

2009-12-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

I have had a few encounters with constructive criticism this last week. I realize I don't handle it too well. The one thing that I find important to take into account is the relationship with the person who is offering the criticism. The closer the relationship the harder it is to see it objectively. The more I have been focused on pleasing the person or the more I have perceived my performance as positive or negative the harder it is to hear the words aimed at me. I automatically go into a defensive mode. My brain shuts down and my temper rises .My emotions stir up and my reasoning shuts down. Depending on the subject, the child in me wants to protest the unfairness of all things related.I hate finding myself in the situation where I start making excuses. Weather I have a valid point or not it always feels like an attack to my senses. "But Dad he hit me first ... "
Where is the balance point? When is it right to defend your point of view and when do you truly learn from the advice.I think maybe I have to take into account the ground rules set out in the relationship before hand too. Employer to employee, Instructor to student but oh so not husband to wife. That one always gets the wrong reaction."You never see my point .... do you think I'm that stupid..."
The other thing that is hart to take is when I am observing someone I love or care for taking the criticism, the mothering instinct kicks in and I want to step in and shield the receiver from the harsh reality of the situation. Once again emotions rule my head.
I still have so much to learn about myself and the world I interact with. I know one thing for sure I do not do my best thinking in the middle of the night ... 2:45 am should be a time for being tucked safe in bed with good thoughts running in my head. Things always look different in the light of day but it felt like I could sleep better if I got this off my chest. My eyes are a bit blurry with sleep and I know my grammar and spelling will be worse than usual. So ...
Anyway, Good night

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta

The weather outside is frightful ...

2009-12-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

With the weather so cold and my car freezing up I have had to adjust my training, I usually go to the gym two to three times a week to put in my kilometers. I don't know if it counts but I tried counting my steps around the house and came up very short. I guess I will have to add some when the weather warms up.
Classes have been running a little smoother this last week. I have put on my thinking cap and tried to come up with new ways to inspire my students. I just needed to remind myself of all the black belt resources I have available to me in our school. Sure enough when I ask for help I always get a lot of advice and great support. A lot less talking and a little more listening.
Randy had his Christmas supper from work this Friday night. I try to practice my socializing skills but it is very hard to overcome my own insecurities . I did manage to make some small talk with people I didn't know so I''ll put that down as a small success.
Talk to you soon

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

In a bad mood are we?

2009-12-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

I woke up feeling cranky and out of sorts this morning. The weather is always a downer this time of year. I snapped at Randy before seeing him off to do the morning Kung Fu class. Had to talk Lacey into going to school. She hates standing at the transfer station in the cold. Threw a few digs at Adam about not attending Lacey's Christmas concert before he left for school. Sat and thought about the downfalls of last nights beginner class with my chia tea... So with feet dragging I walked Lacey down the driveway to wait for the bus. On my way past my car I noticed someone (Randy I'm sure ) had plugged it in for me. It made me stop and rethink my morning negative self talk. I always lash out at the ones that do the most for me , Why? Is it because I'm so sure they'll love me no matter what or because I have a captive audience ? They have no choose but to listen to my bi.... complaining. Just last night I read a blog from another black belt in our school about how she was combating negative reactions to curtain situations she encounters. Good thing I don't do that .... I think I'll go and reread her blog. There's a lesson to be learned there. I just need to be more humble and open up my mind. Come to think about it I know I have said this to myself before. Might be a good requirement to add to my UBBT 7, don't be so fast to judge others before looking at myself.

Linda Shipalesky Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Keep in touch

2009-12-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

These are very exciting times. Our first UBBT 7 meeting was held this past Friday and I was able to see who will be sharing the experience this next year. I think there will be lots of support and great ideas from my fellow students.
The biggest observation I bring with me from UBBT 6 is to keep in touch with my team mates, even if its just reading their weekly blogs. I really got to know them better this way and could empathize with their day to day struggles. A couple of my team mates from 2009 did not read other peoples journals and then complained about how isolated and alone they felt through out the year.I know this can take some time but if you do a little reading at a time.... well it doesn't take that long.
Talk to you next week

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu Stony Plain Alberta Canada

UBBT 6

2009-11-27T11:04:00.001-08:00

What has the UBBT done for me ?
I remember the first time Sifu Brinker mentioned this project in our black belt class. I knew he couldn't be talking to me, after all I was just an average student at best. He must be talking to the young, fit students who were only starting out in life. The ones who had small responsibilities . No family, mortgage , or a bunch of other things that cloud our lives as we get older. Over the next few weeks he planted the seed of possibility in my mind. If I didn't do this now maybe I would never have the courage or opportunity to try this again. I have not looked back since. It has been an incredible journey of personal growth and self discovery. It has given me the ability to start looking into all those deep dark corners in my mind that I do not always want to see.
It is helping quiet the voice of self doubt that has plagued me all my life. I am learning to look at the world with new eyes.I find my shoulders back and my head and eyes up more often than not. My fear of the world recedes a little with each small step I gain. I feel like I am only now waking up . The future now has endless possibilities .

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta Canada

It's not what I thought

2009-11-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did something impulsive, a post came up on our schools chat room (Koown talk) from a senior black belt. Now this black belt has had my back on many of occasions in classes I have been teaching. He was sick and couldn't do his rotation in our sparring class. I finally had an opportunity to repay his many kindness' to me, so I promptly volunteered to step in for him. Little did I realize the scope of this step. I am not passionate about sparring, At the best of times I do as little as I can to get through a class and never revisit the experience. But last night.... well lets just say I was in for a surprise. For one thing I had never even thought about the structure that this class was following. So after a lot of explaining from Sifu Brinker I started to fumble through the class. By the end of the class my respect for the students that make up this class had risen 100 percent. They make the air in the school vibrate with their passion. I came home happy and inspired. I lay in bed for hours and savored the experience . Would I do it again? In a minute. Thank you Sifu Hayes and Sifu Brinker for the opportunity and most of all for your never ending encouragement.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta

Who Knew?

2009-11-24T07:01:00.000-08:00

What a busy week this turned out to be. November is a month filled with birthdays and last week my niece added to the population of our family by having a healthy baby girl. Once November hits the department stores go crazy with Christmas preparations . I love Christmas and all the decorations, music and of course the tree. The only down side is SHOPPING which I have always detested. One hour in the stores can suck the life right out of my good cheer.
Another sad side of November is that it must be fund raising month. Every other call coming into the house is one needy cause or another looking to find money to help out the sick and under privileged . I say the same thing to Randy every year " lets pick out one or two charities that really speak to us and not try to spread ourselves so thin." So far this hasn't worked. The pledge forms still keep coming in the mail that we give token amounts to. I'm not sure we are making a difference to any of them when the money sent is usually around $25.00. My argument with myself and Randy is still to really support only one or two with a larger amount.
My training has been on the down side this week. I find my energy in a slump. It seems to take everything I have just to drag my sore bones out of bed. I know its from the way I have been eating lately. My weight has been going up and that is always depressing. So goes the battle.
Anyway I am going to give myself a shake, as I sit here this morning I can see two brave Chickadee's eating from a cat dish that four cats share ... hummm I didn't know Chickadees eat meat or does cat food have any meat left in it?

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta Canada

Renewed and Refreshed

2009-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

What a weekend. Randy, Lacey and I went away this weekend. One of Randy's work crews were doing a job down on Windimere lake which is just outside of Radium Hot Springs. He was checking out the new rig they were using, Lacey and I were just enjoying the mountains. It was one of those moments I always try to force into my memory, to really stay in the moment.
Panorama ski resort is also only a half hour drive from the job site so we went up there for lunch on Saturday. Well , they were making snow and it felt like a winter wonderland. It was 9 above so we only had light jackets on although the visual picture dictated we should be wearing parkas.We sat in a green house cafe and were surrounded with all the snow crystals floating in the air around us. It was truly magical. One of the grooming crew had a dog who was very smart and entertaining to watch. The only thing missing was a ..... dare I say it, Christmas tree. It,s beginning to look a lot like .... Any way it was very refreshing. I really tried to stay in the moment like Sifu Brinker is always trying to reinforce in us.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta, Canada

Assertive or Obnoxious

2009-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago my middle daughter came home with a stray cat. Now my first reaction was" yes we'll foster it but we already have three cats and one more just seems extreme. Of course after spending time with "Rosie" there was no question who was not going anywhere. I did put my foot down and insisted that she spay the cat. I was totally shocked to find out it is over $250.00 to do this. My temper went up at this price. No wonder there are so many strays out there, so many unwanted kittens that have to be destroyed. Society frowns on pet owners who do not properly look after this aspect of things. But the flip side of this is that $250.00 can buy a lot of groceries. I can't imagine our home without pets , this has made me aware of what a privilege it is to be able to afford this luxury .
The other thing I struggled with this week is knowing when I am being assertive and when I have crossed the line into being obnoxious. My best friend thinks that my" asserting "myself always comes across as rudeness. The argument then was when are you letting someone walk all over you and when is walking away without saying anything the better thing to do. Anyway, we ended up both coming away with bad feelings over the subject so I guess I should have let the whole thing slide.

A great experience this week was watching a white belt student receive his yellow belt. The look on his face made all the volunteer hours put in to teaching more than worth while. Congratulations Mr. Funk!

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta

2009-11-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

I have had a great week for inspiration . The black belt class this week was based on a simple technique that was delivered with intensity. It was one of these classes that you come away with bruises that you didn't feel while you were getting them. I am always amazed to find new direction just by working with a different partner.
The other inspiration came from running our annual fund raiser "The Pandemonium" in our beginner teen/adult classes last night. As a group they gave it their all. You know that they didn't have much more to give when there is vomiting and students feeling like they might pass out because they can't catch their breath. If this is a refection of the funds they raised it should be one of the best results we have seen yet. Any one of the charities we support would be proud to accept such dedication to their causes.
UBBT 's end is in sight. My numbers are not where I hoped they would be a year ago. But on the other hand I never would have thought I could come this far. By opening myself up to such a great opportunity I have grown as a person one hundred percent. I will push towards the end with hopes of closing some of the number gaps.
Anyone up for UBBT 7?

Linda Shipalesky
Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Silent River Kung Fu

Difficult decisions

2009-10-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

This last few weeks has been filled with the flu (H1N1) . Do we get the shot or not. I find the media very confusing and contradictory on the subject. As adults we make our decisions based on our feelings and intellect. But when we have to make a decision for our children it changes the stakes. My thinking gets clouded with emotion and that tends to make it a lot harder to decide what is best. The decision has to be made soon and my husband and I are divided on the subject. He feels that there is not enough positive information on the subject and my fear is that one of us will contact it before we are sure which way to go. The medical profession seem to think it is a good thing while the media and other sources put enough doubt in my mind to make me hesitate.
I guess I will keep watching and see if the answer becomes clear. I hope I don't regret the pause in my decision. Being a parent is never easy.

Linda Shipalesky, Silent River Kung Fu. Stony Plain Alberta

The First rule of self defense...

2009-10-13T11:55:00.001-07:00

At my families Thanksgiving get together this weekend I had a chance to find out how well I react in a emergency situation.

We have a small group of under six year olds in our newest generation. As when all kids get together they tend to run wild. There is usually one adult in the given room where all the commotion is happening as was the case on this Sunday. All the other adult's (including myself) are in the kitchen preparing the coming feast or visiting with family we have not seen is the last six months or so.
A loud bang, a pause in the pandemonium and then a blood curdling scream stopped everyone in their tracks. Like every mother you are attuned to your children's cry or in this cause my grand daughters cry. Before I could get to the room that the kids were in my eighteen year old daughter came out of said room carrying my Granddaughter and yelling that we needed to get her to the hospital.My first glimpse of her was blood and lots of it pouring from her face. Amanda had a cloth covering her, trying to catch as much for the blood as she could. In that first few seconds my brain shut down and fear, then ... panic took over. Randy (my husband) stepped in and had things under control in minutes. I fought down the panic, tried to breath deep and get control of myself. This takes almost impossible will power and of cause lots of positive self talk.
We got her to the Stony Plain hospital were she ended up with fifteen stitches on the middle of her forehead. With any luck there won't be a scar by the time she's old enough to care about those things and the memory will be dim.
As for me I have something new to feel guilty about. The supermom syndrome kicks in. I should have been able to prevent any of this from happening... etc, etc.etc. The eye opener was how hard it is to control myself and to keep the panic at bay. Is it just my nature to react this way or can I train myself to react differently. Just something new to add to my list of things to fix about "me."

Linda Shipalesky, Stony Plain Alberta Canada

First rule of self defence

2009-10-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

Mental Awareness week

2009-10-05T09:57:00.001-07:00

So this is mental awareness week and over the last year I have been trying to figure out my own mental awareness. In some ways trying to remake myself and in other ways trying to rise above my self imposed restrictions on who I am. One of the biggest struggles I have is negative self talk. Realizing if I believe in something strongly enough I will project it and make it a reality weather it is positive or negative.
Awhile back I came across this paragraph in a book I was reading that made me stop and reread it over and over again "It was a strange feeling, but not surprising. I'd never been best at anything . I'm O.K. at dealing with people, but probably lots of people could do better. I am a good student , but never the top of the class. I have always just been average at athletics. I am not overly artistic or musical, no particular talent to brag of. Nobody ever gave away a trophy for reading books. So after Fifty years of mediocrity, I am pretty used to being average. I realized that I'd long ago given up any aspirations of shining at anything. I just do the best with what I have. "
This doesn't make me sad or even feel sorry for myself. I know I have hit upon my exact self talk. I feel now I can except this about myself and set about proving that the only way to change this is through hard work. I plan on picking a project and working my way through it. I actually feel set free and look forward to new challenges and goals.
The truth will set me free ...
Until next time,
Linda Shipalesky, Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain Alberta

Keep Learning

2009-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've had some recall this week watching the black belt candidates practicing for their test. What an intense time that was in my life. The whole thing seems surreal after the fact. Although there are a lot of great memories associated with that time, there was also some major upheavals too. I think the only thing I would change about the whole thing is my age. I wish I was as smart as some of the young people in our school. At their ages I was in a whole different frame of mind. Too busy trying to make a living with no balance to it.
The ubbt has taught me to put more balance in my life. I'm still trying to find out how to handle myself in the big picture, but it keeps my life interesting.I suppose if you think you have all the answers you would stop trying. So on I go ...

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta Canada

Control

2009-09-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

I had a lesson on "Control" this Friday at black belt class. Without it you can end up hurting someone else or yourself. But to learn it you must practice it. This was my down fall at class. Over the years I have lost my nerve to do break-falls associated with throws. So last class I swallowed my fear and was ready to give it a go. I started out by doing a counter to a take down by throwing my partner over my head, I did this twice without complete success. After my third try my partner got up and held up her hands to indicate she had had enough. So much for trust and control, I had lost them both in a matter of minutes. It goes without saying that I spent the rest of the class trying to watch others preform the move. I never did get to work up the nerve to be the one being thrown.
Well its back to the basics for me and I know the next time "grab a partner" is called out that person will be looking for anyone else but me.
Sorry Sifu, I will try harder next time.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta

Starting over

2009-09-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Now that we are into fall everyone in my house hold is settling into their winter routine . It feels great to get back to the gym and working out on some of the equipment and using the track. It"s so easy for me to fall out of my fitness goals when things change at home, like all the kids home for the summer. I do love them home but it's also nice to have some time to myself. With the help of Sifu Brinker I have decided to take the challenge of the UBBT 7. I am in the process of setting out some goals for myself. I hope to overcome some of the things that I had trouble with this time and come out better in the end. A year is a long time . Here"s to a new challenge.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain

Do it again?

2009-09-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

We were asked last black belt class if we would be doing UBBT #7 Live like a champion and I have been thinking about it ever since. I guess my biggest hesitation would be that I wasn't able to complete some of my UBBT # 6 requirements the way I would have liked to. My numbers for push ups and well just about all my reps. are not on track. But then I look at my personal growth and I know I'm further ahead than I ever imagined I could be. My acts of kindness have made me super aware of how I treat the people in my life and those who I meet day to day. Just saying I am a student member of the UBBT has made me stand taller and carry myself with more awareness. On the other hand the weight I lost at the beginning of the year is mostly history, and I'm back to that battle again. But the Martial arts has defined my life. I know where I stand in the big picture. I will never have the body of a 21 year old, but I can keep moving and striving for the best I can be at the age I am at. So I guess I would grade myself with a good mark over all and if I do it again my goals may be more about what's inside than out. I am definitely leaning to the next UBBT challenge .

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain Alberta

Change is good..... right?

2009-08-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

I have had a very emotional week. Something I have been trying to avoid came to a head this week. Although I did my best to keep everyone happy, things were still taken the wrong way. I am no good a politics. I guess I'm too naive .
My youngest daughter started grade one today and it was very hard to leave her at the school. I am so use to someone always hanging off my hands that I feel lost without her. The up side to that is that she was very excited to be back with the friends she made last year in kindergarden.
The last days of August are upon me and the signs of fall are all around. The hummingbirds have become scarce. I'm not sure when they head south, but I wish I was going somewhere warm too.
I am looking forward to the new group of students after the fall renos. Its always inspiring to see the beginnig of a generation so to speak in our school.
Anyway I know nothing ever stays the same, change is good, but I have to try to slow it down sometimes.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta

Making us proud

2009-08-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

Crown Prosecutor George (Jody) Fraser (front), who is a quadriplegic, does a tandem jump with Lyal Waddell of Eden North Parachute School as part of a fundraiser for Ainembabazi Children's Project in Africa on August 22, 2009 near Edmonton, Alberta. The money raised goes to children affected by AIDS in Africa.
Photograph by: Aidan Walters, Eden North.

I have trained with Sifu Lyal Waddell for many years in Silent River Kung Fu and have always found him humble.His Kung Fu is very personal to him and so he does not tell many people he trains with us. He is very good at what he does and would be the last person to bring attention to himself in a situation like this. I know I speak to him from all of our Kung Fu family when I extend our appreciation for his contribution to the Aimenbabaze Children's project.

The countdown

2009-08-17T15:16:00.001-07:00

I have been watching the countdown clock that Sifu Brinker started way back when and I can tell you it always makes my stomach flutter. I get butterflies every time I see it. Now it's reading 14 days. Oh my god, time has gone by so fast. You can be sure any Black belt you ask can tell you exactly what your thinking,feeling right now. This will be the most intense part of the whole experience . It brings back some very strong emotions for me. This was one of the most recallable things I ever did. Try to keep the end in sight. Don't let negative self talk get in your way. Good Luck.

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta

Temper , temper

2009-08-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

I know that I have come a long way in my life with my Kung Fu, but not that far. This weekend I had to stop and give myself one of my many self talks. We were at a restaurant and the service was very slow. The waitress talked to us about how overworked she was and asked us to have patience with her. I felt sorry for her and totally understood where she was coming from.... well that was until we sat there for three quarters of an hour without getting our food. I know, I know ... I said I understood and would be patient, but everyone else around us had already got their food. My temper was getting the better of me and my temperature started to rise. Of course it didn't help that my husband, who has the patience of a saint was giving me the look ... you know the one," Linda your overreacting ... again." Anyway we did get our food eventually and I was only a little rude to the waitress, but felt instantly guilty for my attitude . Just when I thought I could give myself that pat on the back...

"I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation"
George Bernard Shaw

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu

2009-08-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm late with my blog this week. I just couldn't think of anything to talk about.So I was thinking about reading. I go though times when I can't get enough books to consume. I have a quota to get to for my ubbt. requirements, but I wasn't counting the fictions I like to escape with. I have three autobiographies , three quarters finished laying around that I can't seem to concentrate on long enough to get through. It's not that they are not worth while, its just that the reality of life is sometimes enough and I find it hard to add someone else's reality on top of my own. Fiction is a little like escapism or watching a good movie. A mini vacation if you like. Anyway if I count all the books I've read I would be well over the amount I need, but otherwise I still have half to go, talk to you all soon

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu

Clear vision

2009-07-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

The new harvest is starting to come in. I was able to take new potatoes and carrots out of my garden this week. Nothing tastes better! Of course this always brings me back to my "diet" or lack of attention I have been paying to it. My big pacifier is that the kids will be going back to school in September and then I can really take care of things. Right! The one thing that the ubbt has made me aware of is the fact that it's always going to be a struggle to maintain a healthy weight and no matter how I look I will always feel overweight. I also know I am the only one who can change any of this... oh boy do I know this.
The other thing I am working on this last few weeks is putting things in order. Learning when I need to plan ahead and how to use things spontaneously . I find that there is great resources in the people in our school. It takes me a lot of courage to able to approach them and ask them to use their talents in one of our classes. I think with Sifu Brinker's encouragement I am getting better at it. The whole class will benefit from this if I can just keep a clear vision of the outcome.

Linda Shipalesky

Silent River Kung Fu

Holiday blues

2009-07-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Driving in a foreign country always makes me appreciate our well maintained Alberta roads. Most of the places you can stay in south central Costa Rica needs four wheel drive vehicles. The back roads usually have at least one stream you will have to cross. On a good day with no rain this is fun, but if you are in the rainy season one good down pour can send the stream overflowing its banks, Great adventure but I was sure glad I was just the passenger . Most of the time its like living a dream and a few days after I'm home I find it hard to believe it was real .
I must admit my ubbt training went to the dogs while I was away. Though the guilt of not training was ever present. Should have just done it. The reality cheek of attending my Monday morning class was enough to put everything back in perspective. I still have a lot of things to learn about keeping focused.

Linda

positive energy

2009-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I have to make a comment on the Second degree sihing class this year. There is such a feeling of family and support coming from them. I find this very inspiring. They have set up a fine support system between them. All for one and one for all. Just about every class I am in there will be a group of sihings working either in a group or alone. The Physical part of their black belt requirements will be taxing for them but I can't help but feel that they have really got a good understanding of the mental end of things. The battle with mind in these kinds of tests can make or break the success of the individual. To surround yourself with like minded people who also have positive thoughts can only come out in a good result. I think we are going to have a great group of new black belts come the spring.

Linda

Self awareness

2009-06-23T15:34:00.000-07:00

These days I find myself trying to see myself as others see me. Of course this is impossible.I have always loved people watching and I thought I could guess who they might be by their body language. This in turn brings me back to myself and how I might move or react to other people in most situations. Even if I can hold myself still and straight, I can't always control what comes out of my mouth.
Over the last two years it has been my personal goal to overcome my shyness. This has been a hugh struggle. I find it takes a lot of self control to ignore the little voice in my head that constantly erodes at my self confidence. The voice that second guesses every thought as being stupid or wrong, and much to my own doing trying to "read" other peoples reactions in every conversation. The other thing which I try to control is turning red when I feel slightly uncomfortable. I"m not always sure if it's my internal temperature or if its heating my face up too.
This week has been very hard one to handle. I find that I can't always deal with the "new" reactions to my small steps in the battle with shyness. People who give me responsibilities that I'm not sure I can handle or even deserve. That self talk sneaks back into my head and once again I feel shy and want to go back to the safe place.

This journey has become terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time. One thing for sure is that it is never boring. I must admit that the saying "one step forward and two back" definitely applies to me . I think the biggest revolution so far is just to be myself and hope that people like what they see.

Linda

Here comes the sun!

2009-06-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

I can't help but notice that the older I get the longer the winter seems. This week has seen the long awaited spring/summer weather I have been waiting impatiently for. I have learned some things about myself in the last six months by living the UBBT. One of the most significant is that I love to live out doors. Being outside in the sun/rain with the mild temperatures is what makes my heart sing. I know I have put in a good days work when I need a scrub brush to get the garden dirt off my feet. My big old dog is in his glory to have company with him all day long. Because of his size he lives outside. I never had the heart to tell him he is not a lap dog. The only thing that I could add to this picture is my kids working or playing around me while I work... schools out in a week so . Good things come to those who wait.
Anyway the real lesson here is like Sifu Brinker has been saying forever is to live in the moment. Depending on the time of day I can say focused in the "NOW" either that or I find myself trying to cram as much of the days into my memory to take out and look at in the long dark winter when my heart longs for the sun.
Maybe it's time to think of living in a warmer/milder climate. If only I could bring all my family with me. Anyone up for Costa Rica.

Linda

Instant gratification

2009-06-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

There is not many things in life that you get satisfaction from right at the moment it happens. Most of the things in my life are on a wait and see time frame. It has been a life with many lessons in patience which defiantly is not my strong point. Wait for the next pay check, wait until your Dad gets home, wait until my husband gets home from out of town, wait until after supper, wait for your next belt, anyway the list goes on and on. So once in a while its nice to see the results of your labor right in front of you. This weekend we laid sod. The yard went from ugly black barren landscape to a lush green lawn in a matter of hours.
Now I would be the first to argue that anything worth having is best received after you have worked for it. Every once and a while though its good for the soul to see the results right in front of your eyes.
I never feel it's the right time to say it, but most classes I teach or help with in Kung Fu give me this same gratification. When I see the results of a single class or instruction within the students grasp or see the understanding dawn on their faces I get this same warm and fuzzy feeling. It probably doesn't feel like it was so instant to the student, but from a different point of view, the bigger picture was very clear.
So the things we feel will never come are some times right in front of us, we just never stepped back far enough to see the big picture.

Linda

Sinking Fast

2009-05-31T10:06:00.001-07:00

Wow,what a weekend. Sifu Brinker did it again. He has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone. I can say with conviction that there was so much information that by mid afternoon I felt my brain shut down. The seminars by Master McNeill held in our school this weekend was packed with new techniques and ideas.
The cane, that at first appearance seems like a tool , turns out to be probably the most diverse and deadly weapon you can have in your hands. Of course this is assuming you know what to do with it and are capable of handling it with some finesse. Aside from having a real left handed day, I came away feeling like it would take me years to even have a basic understanding of how to really use it.
The other thing that came apparent to me is the intertwining of ideas and techniques that flow through the martial arts. If you think you know anything or everything about this great art, think again. All you have to do is take in a course like this weekend and it brings you back to your humility. It made me realize how little I know. I have a lot to learn.
The class itself was a great opportunity to work with new partners. People that I normally wouldn't have shared a class with. Everyone was there to learn and I felt equal to all no matter what the belt level.
Master McNeill had a chinese saying on his belt that roughly translated to " if you work and train with people long enough they become your family. And family always comes first. " Family comes first has always been the biggest part of my morals. I feel privileged to add new people to my "family."

Linda

empathy training

2009-05-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have always wondered about people who are super sensitive to their health issues. I have one person in my life that I considered over sensitive. I have had little or no patience for this person for most of the time I've known her. I never understood how her entire focus in life is the everyday discomforts that we all feel each morning we get out of bed. The constant worry over a headache... or gas must be something more than a belly ache... the cold is the first signs of something bigger or the mole is, well...
At the beginning of May I decided to have a mole checked out by my doctor. It was small and not overly noticeable. But my intuition was nagging at me to get it looked at. Besides I was already there getting laser hair removal from my overly active growing hormones.(or old age, you pick). The procedure took five minutes and was no worse than getting your teeth cleaned. I was in and out in five minutes. Great, I went on about my life as always, having forgotten about the "mole removal " all together.I came home from a Friday night black belt class on a high note after a good work out to find a voice message from the doctors office. There were test results that he needed to talk to me about first day he was back after the long weekend.
My world came to a screeching halt. For the next three days I couldn't think of anything else. Cancer,melanoma . The mirror was hard to pass as I inspected every other mole I had on my face and other parts of my body. I come from a family who have considerable amounts of moles. Panic set in. This turned out to be the longest long weekend of my life. Nothing anyone said helped because I had gone inside myself.My own mortality was weighing heavy on my mind.I never dreamed I would have to deal with something like this.
I seen the doctor on Tuesday and came away with more information on the subject. If you're going to get cancer this was probably the mildest one you could have. I would have to have another biopsy done around where the mole was to make sure he had removed it all. I would live. My life would go on much the same as it has. I will be more diligent about using sun screen and no more sun tan beds.
Now every little ache and pain means so much more... was that normal, is that a lump or was that there before? How do people who are really ill deal with it day to day. Where do they find the courage and will to go on? How do they take the focus off of their ill bodies and find the strength to go about their daily lives. I'm not sure I could do it.
Walk a mile in my shoes means so much more to me now. I couldn't handle it for a weekend so I don't know how someone handles it for the rest of their live.
To all of you who face these battles on a day to day bases my hats off to you. I will not longer be so fast to dismiss the ales of others.

Linda

How many people does it take to raise a child

2009-05-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

I strongly believe it takes an entire community to raise a well rounded child. My middle daughter turned eighteen in March and has suddenly become an adult. She has been raised in and around our Kwoon since she was seven We have exposed her to as many life lessons as we could and did and of course said what we thought she needed to hear. How much did she take in? Where the life lessons understood and received in the manner we all taught them?
I know you will all feel that this is so when I tell you her weekend story.
Amanda and a friend where traveling home from Edson on Monday of the long weekend. They came upon a young woman on the side of the road franticly trying to flag them down. Against what we have always told her (never pick up a hitch hiker!) she stopped. Screaming the young woman asked them to phone 911 because her baby (about 18 months old) was choking to death. Her partner had the child in the right first aid position and was trying to clear the air way. Amanda made the 911 phone call while trying to ask the right questions to the caregiver. "Did you check the air way, is it clear...." The baby was turning blue, time was running out. Other drivers began to stop and one young man knew where the hospital was and felt he could get the baby there faster than waiting for the ambulance. Amanda, still on the phone to 911 told the operator what was happening and they were able to inform the hospital of the baby's arrival. The young mother was not able to drive the standard car she was traveling in so Amanda drove her behind the truck with the baby to the hospital. She talked to the mother the whole way trying to keep her as calm as possible. They got to the hospital and heard the welcome sound of the babies cry. It turned out the baby wasn't chocking at all but had had a very high temperature the night before and as a result stopped breathing.
None of us were there with her,but over the years of training on how to stay calm and to take a leadership role,along with compassion and a lot of other lessons in life, she handled things well . As a mother I realize that there are curtain things that are genetically present in each of us that shape how we handle things. But a great deal also depends on the people who have influenced her along the way . She has had some great mentors. To a lot of you this is a Mom story and one I am proud to tell, but there are others of you who I know feel the same pride because you too have helped raise our fine young woman.
There is a lot more to the martial arts than kicking and punching, a well rounded mind is also a big part of self defense and helps in handling ourselves in the world around us.
Thank you Silent River Kung fu, she is definitely one of yours...

Linda

south paw

2009-05-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

This week has brought me to one of many "AHA" moments in my training.I don't know if it's like this in every martial arts school, but in our school we all train right handed. Thats right, if your left handed you have to switch to the right. I know a good number of Lefties in our school who make this change smoothly without most people ever knowing the difference. Not me, this causes me a great deal of trouble, and confusion. Anyway this wasn't suppose to be a wining party, I do have a point to make. During a class a couple of weeks ago while we were learning Master McNeil's cane form Master Brinker issued a challenge to the class to learn the form with our left hands too. To be honest with you this is something I really avoid because I worry I will have trouble switching it in my head.I had a bad class the next week due to lack of practice on my part so I felt I needed to push harder to try and make up for it. The next evening I took the plunge and switched to my favorite hand and gave it a go."Oh my god it felt so wonderful not to feel overly clumsy. I mean it was a long way from good but oh what a feeling.... this has to be a good excuse for a lot of the things I do not do so well. Lots of times I look around me and think "natural talent" thats why they all catch on so quick. Now I feel like I can give myself a break and take a little extra time to figure things out. It may never be perfect but I have accomplished something by just doing it with the wrong hand.
I would love to know how the rest of the class made out switching hands. If you had no trouble then be kind to my ego and pretend you did.....
Linda

The battle of the bulge

2009-05-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some real soul searching this week and I think I have a handle on my depression. I think what makes it worst is that I am an emotional eater. So one thing perpetuates the other, I'm feeling down , to feel better I crave sugar.... that translates into chocolate for me. I usually end up at the grocery counter at least every other day and low and behold "chocolate" and guess what, my weight starts to creep up "BAM" depressed again. Anyway knowing what's going on has to be the first step in recovering Right? Here's hopng....

Linda "bulge"

Hitting the wall

2009-04-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Man, what a horrible week.I am really thinking it may not be better to take a vacation to a tropical country. Since I returned from Costa Rica I have been living under a cloud. I can't seem to shake the feeling of reality setting in. I have not been able to get back into my UBBT requirements and no matter how hard I look at my life I can't shake the feeling of dissatisfaction . Last week I asked you all for a roundhouse to the head.... this week I'm asking for a swift kick in the pants. Our late arrival of spring doesn't seem to help either, every time I turn around it's snowing again. HELP! I have been able to run somewhat but not as much as I usually do and my push ups... well I've been doing only the bare minimum. I could wine on an on but I think that kick is in order.
I would appreciate anything you can think of to brighten my mood. I know I have a good life, but well, you know....

Linda

needful things

2009-04-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

It has become clear to me just how much the Ubbt has affected my life and how I interact with the world around me. Not all the things I am learning about myself are good. I would never have considered myself overindulgent or self centered but after a recent vacation to Costa Rica this became very evident to me.
You could not ask for a more favorable climate or a more scenic place to spend a vacation. Even when it rains the temperature never drops below 80 degrees. After we left the airport and headed to our vacation rental it became clear to me how poor the native people are. Their homes are constructed of little more than a tin roof and a few walls. Many of them didn't have windows just open screens. It wasn't until a few days later after interacting with the locals that I realized how wrong I was. These people didn't consider themselves poor, but are happy with the simple way in which they choose to live. Their lives are rich in culture and family
A profound guilt began to take form in my mind. In comparison my life is filled with material things,you know the things I need around everyday to make my life easier and well,happy. The need I have to accumulate things... the stuff I really need and can't live without started to make me feel smothered. What was I doing? Is this ugly need really mine? When is enough enough? Does any of it really make me happy? "NO" Time for a reality cheek!
Wow, It feels good to get that off my chest. I am going to do something about it. To start I am going to have a big garage sale and get rid of some of my many "needful things" I am going to make a concentrated effort to buy more mindful of lives basic needs.
I have had my eyes opened in the most unusual of places and cam only put it down to the UBBT and the way I am learning to look at the world through fresh eyes.If you see me eyeing up one of those needful things give me a roundhouse to the head, I know this will not be easy but I want to give it a try. Maybe I can become more aware of what it takes to be really happy....

talk to you all soon
Linda

Opening up

2009-04-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

My head is still spinning with thoughts of Alabama. Whenever I run into one of my companions from the trip I get the warm fuzzies. I hope I never loss this feeling. It's like we share a secret to something that you can't seem to explain. A little corny I know,but I want to hold onto it a little longer.
I find myself open to so many more experiences The possibility's are right in front of me, something that has been there all along but I was missing it. Fo instance I started teaching a class early in the week and came to a spot where I wasn't sure where to go with it. Master Brinker stepped in and followed my lead to a great end. Wow, why didn't I think of that? He has done this hundreds of times but that night I realized that I was on the right track I just need to push myself harder to finish what I started.
I usually get myself worked up to think of something new or interesting to bring to a class I am helping with or teaching, this morning I watched another black belt teach something and realized I could bring this into the night classes as long as I approached it right.
Again this has been there all along, I just didn't see it right. The light has come on and is burning bright. I have so much more to learn. I need to keep myself open to the world around me. Breath in, breath out. Stay in the moment and let life come to me.
A side note about this journaling... I can say things in here that I could never say to people face to face .... I'm not sure that this is a good thing but it feels right. I'm off to Costa Rica with my family tomorrow, I'll talk to you in two weeks

Stay in the moment

Linda

The eyes of the world are upon you

2009-04-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

This message was never more apparent than it was this last week I
spent in Greensboro Alabama. Each of us carry the title of being a
student of Silent River Kung Fu.No matter what your belt level or
color you, and I do mean YOU, represent each and everyone of us.In
your actions or reactions, in what you say and do,how you conduct your
day to day lives, how you carry yourself, you carry 300 other peoples
reputation with you. Master Brinker, Coach Tom Callos, and every black
belt in our school and nation wide are trying to take the martial arts
out of the schools and into the world. In doing this we are exposing
our "dirty laundry" along with our acts of kindness, our community
work and yes even our every day lives. Our journals and blogs are
being read nation wide and no you're not just talking to yourself. You
are making an impression. Choose your words carefully, stay in the
moment as much as possible , breath in and out and be proud of who you
are and who you have chosen to represent.So far so good, we were well
received in Alabama, you can all be proud. Keep up the great work and
smile "The eyes of the world are on you."

Sifu Linda Shipalesky
--~--~--

renewed commitment

2009-03-31T05:39:00.000-07:00

We're home from Alabama and I can't put into words all the feelings running around in my head.I think it will take some time to absorb it. There isn't one thing I would change except maybe pushing myself to talk to more people. There was so much talent and information to draw from that I could have learned so much more. It feels incredible to be part of such a great body of people, The atmosphere was one of family and a desire to get things done. No job was too big or too small it was just done with no complaint. On a scale of one to ten everyone was there to give it a ten. Always giving it their best.
The Canadian team (our unofficial nickname) was phenomenal . Our demo team, Sifu Edge, Sifu Simpson and Sifu Robertson did us proud. They conducted themselves with grace and passion. Silent River has produced some very well rounded individuals.Mr. Tymchuk was our comic relief and I envy his ability to reach out to people with his curious personality and of course Master Brinker was our beloved leader who always conducts himself with nothing but dignity. IF pride is a sin then I am guilty of it tenfold. I know I have found life long friends in these people, they are truly my family.
Well enough of the mushy stuff I would like to extend a big Hi "youall youall" to everyone else in Alabama and thank you for such a memorial experience . I hope to see you next year same time, same place...

Talk to you all sooner than later,

Linda

Mind games

2009-03-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

I've had a week full of nerves. Going to Alabama without my family has sent me into a spin. This is way out of my comfort zone and I think if I don't go soon my husband is going to kill me. Originally the plan was for us both to go, but he got tangled up at work. I know once I get there I will be fine but oh what my mind can conger up in the middle of the night is amazing.
Some times I can have too much time to think about things.
Anyway I hope to meet some of you down there and those of you I don't I'll let you know what happened.

Linda

Living hero # 3 Lisa Freitag

2009-03-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

We all have people in our lives that seem ordinary, that is until you take a closer look. We have our outer shells in place to shield ourselves from the harsh reality's of live. One of my favorite pastimes is to try and see behind this protective shell and find the person underneath.In this case I was very pleasantly surprised. I first saw Lisa at our Kwoon teaching my son a lesson in the tiny tigers class. She came across as a harsh task master with a very definite set of rules to follow. It took a few weeks of watching the class before the other side of her became visible. Behind the tough exterior lurked a very soft and caring soul. She really cared about these kids and had nothing but their bet interest at heart.
Over the next decade I came to know her and yes love her. She is not verbal about her childhood and has only ever hinted at her struggles to overcome her past. She is a strong voice in the issue to stop bullying in schools and playgrounds. Her young life was plagued with these issues long before they were recognized by any authorities.As a teenager she struggled with her self image and worth. There was a time she considered herself not worth saving. For us who know her we are glad she struggled on.
She will be the first to tell you that Silent River and Master Jeff Brinker gave her back her drive. She is a living example of what the martial arts can do for your mental well being as well as your physical self.Her strong personality is what makes Silent River such a family oriented School. She has touched hundreds of lives over the years and never expects or asks anything in return. You can depend on her to always have your back.
This draft is a very abbreviated version of her life.If you ever have the privilege , her telling of it could make you cry and yes laugh. She is a very private person and so I have asked her in advance for the right to tell her story.
Thank you Sifu Freitag

Linda

Living Hero #2 Susan Fyfe

2009-03-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

The following story touched me because of the goals I have set for myself at this age. I love horses but have always had a healthy fear of them too.
Susan did what I strive for. To be able to take charge of a situation and organize a group of people into action. She was able to do this with the passion she had for horses. People recognize this and are inspired to help.
I am a relatively new teacher in Kung Fu and strive to inspire the students to a new passion for the art. Along with the higher black belts in our school Master Brinker demonstrates this passion every time he steps onto the mats. I know I have to find my own way to touch people but with these people as mentors I feel I have an excellent start.

Linda

Reader’s Digest names Alta. woman who saved 100 starving horses 2008 'Rescue Hero'
THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON — When Susan Fyfe took 100 emaciated Arabian horses into her care last spring, all she wanted was to see them nursed back to health.
“I wasn’t doing it for my breeding program, I did it to heal the horses,” said Fyfe, who spearheaded efforts to save the starving herd in central Alberta.
Those efforts have landed Fyfe on the cover of this month’s Reader’s Digest magazine, who named her “Rescue Hero of 2008.”
She was nominated by a friend in Okotoks, Alta., and chosen among thousands of other nominees.
“I feel honoured,” said Fyfe, who owns Keno Hills Stable and Tack Shop in Sherwood Park, east of Edmonton.
She said the rescue mission was a group effort involving nearly 500 volunteers who devoted their time, resources and expertise.
Fyfe took in the animals a week after they had been seized by the SPCA on Feb. 26, 2008 from a farm near Andrew, about 100 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The horses were supposed to be auctioned the week they were discovered, but the sale was put off when they were deemed too sick and emaciated.
Some of them were so exhausted they couldn’t even lift their heads off the ground, Fyfe said.
The SPCA found 27 horses dead on the ranch, and four more died later.
By July, all the horses had been adopted and are all doing well, Fyfe said.
The two horse owners were charged under the Animal Protection Act and fined. One of the owners, who faced a similar conviction in 2005, is prohibited from owning horses.

Back to reality

2009-03-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

I did a little number crunching this week and was both disappointed and happy with the results. I am not near where I should be but a lot further than I have ever been before.My running seems to be my driving force. I'm sure to anyone Else's standard it would be feeble but as a personal goal I feel like it's coming along. Push ups and reps. of a single form is way behind but I will keep pushing on. Missing a day here and there starts to add up. One foot in front of the other....

Push ups: 8500
kilometers walked, biked or run:450
Acts of kindness: 320
books read: three
living hero's documented: one

Linda

The best present

2009-03-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

My husband and I joined Master Brinker as student members of his UBBT test back in October/2008. The journey together so far has done wonders to bring us closer together. Over the years of our marriage lots of things conspired to get between us. Kids, jobs, different interests and just trying to make a home where everyone was comfortable.We changed and grew sometimes in different directions. Now not all of this was for the worst, change can keep us interesting and a little mysterious as long as we don't get too far afield.
We started out in the ubbt with the "Body for life" program. The common goal kept us on track and added a bond that we had let slip over the years. We finished the initial three month challenge and decided to keep this program as a life change. Most of the time we are on track....most of the time. We both fluctuate around five pounds up or down, but are able to keep the basic principle of the program.
We have three of our four children living at home still. The teenagers seemed to take an interest in the exercise part of the program slowly over the last few months. To both our delight our eighteen year old has decided to return to her Kung Fu training after five years of a break. I would like to think we had a positive influence on her decision.So as I see it the UBBT has indirectly affected her life. She is talking about UBBT 7 for next year already.
The Silent River family are such a great group that they welcomed her back with open arms. Its such a great place for her to expand her mind and test the waters of her adult life. Amanda turns eighteen on the 8th of March. I think her Dad and I are the ones who got the present.

HAPPY DAYS!

Linda

Walking the walk

2009-02-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

I have already blogged this week but I have a story to tell everyone. Our School has really embraced the acts of kindness philosophy . This really hit me just how much while I was at the tri (our local gym). With the cold weather I almost always see someone from Silent River on the track,bikes or in the fitness room. When you are there almost every day you also get to know a lot of faces even if you don't know names.My attention was taken by a face attached to an older woman. she walks the track at least every other time I'm there. She walks with a limp and wears these rubber shoes, you know the ones with the holes in them. They are great for gardening or rain but have no support and are hard to walk in for a long ways. A fellow student from Silent River commented to me about this woman and how for months she had been carrying a spare set of runners with her in her bag in hopes of giving the elderly woman a good set of shoes to walk in. Today I had the pleasure of seeing this student approach the woman and make the offer of the shoes. The woman refused the shoes on the grounds her feet were misshaped and didn't fit into anything other than the rubber shoes. The fellow student then walked at least another km. with her and listened to her thoughts of the day. This turned out to be the act of kindness.
A short time later I was walking with yet another fellow student to the change rooms when we came upon another woman who uses a walker to get around. She was struggling to open a door. Almost at the same time we both said "let me get that door for you" she was quicker than me and climbed over a bench and at least a dozen pairs of shoes and winter boots to open the door.
I had to laugh at myself for the feeling of competition that over came me to be the one to open that door.
I can't think of a better feeling there is to be part of such a great bunch of people to train with and to have in my life on a day to day bases.
Thank you Silent River Kung Fu for living the life and walking the walk.

Linda

Living Hero #1 Matt Long

2009-02-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

Taken from a feature story out of "runner World" March 2009."A Second Life" by Charles Butler. Matt Long seemed unstoppable- until he got crushed by a 14 ton bus. Doctors were sure the veteran fireman and marathoner would die, but he proved them wrong. then he discovered that learning how to live again would be harder than surviving. Maybe that's why Long decided to try the unthinkable: to run a marathon. Matt Long survived a horrific set of injuries, and went on to do the impossible. He ran a Marathon.
This story really touched something in me. I struggle weekly to run at the track in hopes of being able to run 2k. without stopping or walking. I was feeling that after five months and only progressing to one km without walking was not really advancing that well. I realized that everything has to be put in perspective. My personal goals are a lot smaller and easier to obtain that a lot of peoples.If I have the will to do something then I have to dig deep within myself and find the power and ambition to do it.

Matt Long also founded the " I WILL" foundation. This is a non profit organization that was established to help people with the will to work hard and overcome adversity and challenges caused by life altering illness or traumatic injury.
If you would like to read this story you can go to the following address:

http://www.iwillfoundation.com/

Linda

One step at a time

2009-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

I have been doing the UBBT unofficially since October and I can't believe how much I have been learning about myself in this time. I am discovering another side of myself that I actually like. Once I started to let people in, to let them see who I have been hiding from the world I realized I'm not so bad after all. If other people can except me even though they know some of my short comings then I can except and try to change these things in myself.
One baby step at a time, but I'm getting there,

Linda

Trust

2009-02-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

Trust... such any easy thing to give. A small word with such enormous implications. trust ;
–noun
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received; credit: to sell merchandise on trust.
4. a person on whom or thing on which one relies: God is my trust.
5. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
6. the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.
7. charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone's trust.
8. something committed or entrusted to one's care for use or safekeeping, as an office, duty, or the like; responsibility; charge.

Of course I took this out of a dictionary and even after eight really good explanations it still doesn't even come close to what it really means. One thing is certain once you have lost or misused someone's trust it is almost impossible to get it back.
On the other end of this equation once you have been burned by someone you become distrustful of a lot more things in your life. More cynical . After receiving my second degree black belt this weekend I have overloaded on what an enormous responsibility that goes with a black belt of any level. To stand in front of a class and try to install confidence and yes Trust in the students looking back at me. Over the last years of working towards my second degree with the guidance of Master Brinker I have come to believe that the mental training of a class is almost more important than the physical things. Not only does the class need to trust me but in turn I must learn to trust them. I must open myself up to them in a way that leaves me vulnerable . So trust is a big part of my training. I hope I am up the task. I will give it my best shoot.
Linda

What's in it for me?

2009-02-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

I struggled this week with a very simple community based project. I was upset with myself for not being able to inspire others to see the value in these types of projects. I was of the mind that it would be easier to do the project myself rather than to keep coxing others to do their parts.It has made me reluctant to put my name on other projects which I guess would be defeating the whole idea.
In the end I tried to see the value this has for me. What I could learn from this experience and what I could bring to the next project. I think I lost sight of who I am supposed to be helping and that it is not about me. The "what's in it for me " way of thinking is hard to combat...
Here's hoping I cam learn to open my eyes
Linda
Silent River Kung Fu
Stony Plain, Alberta
Canada

A new Year

2009-01-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

This weekend I had the privilege of attending a Chinese new years banquet put on by one of the bigger martial arts associations in our community.I always find it inspiring to watch another school preform similar forms and techniques as ours. I come away thinking if I fix this or that and work harder I might look something like that....well maybe not.Thats one of the great things about the martial arts you are only competing with yourself. If you are better this week than you were last week then you have moved forward no matter how the person standing next to you looks.
Speaking of Chinese New Years the one thousand push ups and sit ups we did to commemorate this holiday was tough but well worth the pain.
talk to you soon

Linda
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain Alberta

A living hero

2009-01-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

" A LIVING HERO" What does this mean? Just reading these words always sends tingles down my spine. The words seem larger than life don't they. It's easy to conjure up a mental image of Superman, Batman etc but in everyday life these mystical people do not exist. I have always wanted a hero, depending on my age and of course the situation I was in it seemed like a magical answer. When I reflect back over these times I realize that there was always someone there to support me or just hold my hand.I was just too self centered to recognize them. These are the people I should have been singing there praises. The ones who give and expect nothing back except perhaps my happiness. There names would have no interest to anyone but myself, and if asked would be surprised to have been thought of as a "hero".
So in the next 12 months I am going to attempt to do them justice. I will post a small essay here about them, but I think first I will tell them what I want to do and see that they are all right with it.
I wanted to mention too how much trouble I am having recording my acts of kindness. I have struggled to get my head around it and lately, can't make myself write them down. I can't help but feel by writing them down I am taking the act away. The kindness we show to our fellow human beings should come naturally, without question and without validation.I feel like I'm putting a notch in my belt or something.I feel like I would get more out of recording acts of kindness done to me each day. This would help me keep my humility and remind me not to be judgmental of others. There is always so much more to people than what we seen and these acts will remind me of this.
Anyway I will struggle on and let you know how I make out.
talk to you soon

Linda Shipalesky
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Back on track

2009-01-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

This has been a pretty uneventful week. Classes are back in full swing after the Christmas break and everyone is either trying to get their mojo back or are really into their fitness as part of a new years resolution.
For me it has been trying to get my mojo back. I missed about two weeks of training over Christmas due to a flu I couldn't seem to shake.I am back on track for my running, push-ups and class attendance but need to catch up on my forms practice. There has been so much snow lately that I'm tempted to add shoveling to my daily workout routine. I don't know about everyone else but my adopt a driveway sidewalks are cleaner than the ones at home ever are. I know one thing for sure out of this setback, I can give myself a ton more excuses why I'm not eating better when I fall of my whole routine
Today is a new day and so I will start over...

Linda

Digging deep

2009-01-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

When I first started out on this UBBT journey with Master Brinker and the other black belts I knew there would be things that would be expected of me that would not be easy. I picked things off of the list that I felt "spoke" to me. But there was one requirement that did bother me that I did not pick. It has been playing on my mind since October when I first started the challenge.
"Mend two relationships in your life that have gone bad. This doesn't have to be your fault but you have to be big enough to fix it."
This is not the exact wording, but you get the picture. Without acknowledging or making this choice openly I guess I did pick it subconsciously.
So the other person in this broken relationship is beyond fixing anything. She is in her declining years and whether she knows it or not, does not have her full facilities.
I avoid her constantly, will not answer the phone if her number shows up,and to make matters worse never had a good thing to say to her or about her. So the battle rages within me, back and forth, was it me or is she to blame. Finally two weeks ago I answered the phone when I knew it was her. I managed to swallow my anger and talk civilized to her. I realized I will never be able to talk to her about what went wrong, but in the end forgiveness is what will set me free of this corrosive relationship. I have to forgive her for getting old on me and I have to forgive myself for resenting it.
This will be an ongoing process. It gets easier each time I talk to her. I have been trying to start a new friendship. Ieave the old one behind with the person she can no longer be. Heaven help me because it is still very hard not to reverse back to how I felt before.
With this all going on another relationship came to mind and so I will throw this one around in my head for a while and decide how I can fix it. I know this one is only my fault. So hopefully I can find the inner strength to be a bigger person.

2008-12-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas is going to be a challenge this year. I know I will have to really keep my diet in mind the whole season. My family traditions tend to be focused around food. With a full belly exercise is usually the furthest thing from my mind as well.
I am hoping with the official start of the student part of the UBBT in January I can keep myself motivated.
The new year has a lot of promise, my new year's resolutions have been set for months,so now it's time to get down to the hard stuff.
Have a great Holiday season,I hope whatever way you celebrate brings nothing but Good feelings, good company and of course lots of good food.
Happy Holidays
Linda

Exercise or not to exercise that is the question

2008-12-15T14:21:00.000-08:00

Well by the end of last week the flu finally caught up with me.I put up a good fight but in the end I let my defenses down long enough for it to take hold.I figure I might as well get it now rather than at Christmas. Now it's over with.... at least thats what I'm going to believe.My big question then was "should I be exercising while I'm sick?"I looked it up and the article below seemed to have the most common sense;
Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Edward Laskowski, M.D., and colleagues say;

Yes, you can continue with mild or moderate activity if you have a cold with no fever. Exercise may even help you feel better — by temporarily relieving nasal congestion.

So how do you determine if you're too sick to exercise? Here's a good rule of thumb: If your symptoms are "above the neck" — such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat — you can proceed with your workout.

However, if your symptoms are "below the neck" — such as chest congestion or tightness, hacking cough, or upset stomach — you should postpone your workout. Also, you shouldn't exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches. Rarely, exercising with a fever has been associated with inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

As always, use common sense. If you're not feeling well but still want to exercise, reduce the intensity of your workout and listen to your body. If your symptoms worsen with exercise, stop and rest. Missing a few days of exercise isn't the end of the world.
I will be playing catch up for a few days but I'll live through that too.
See you on the track
Linda

Too much time

2008-12-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

I had a lot of sick folks at my house this week. Just about everyone had the flu at different times. I never did come down with it...at least not yet. It was a bit of a struggle to keep focused on my UBBT requirements. My personal time seemed to be taken up nursing everyone else back to health.
Unfortunately it also gave me too much time to think and some of my old insecurities came to the foreground in my mind. I tend to read double meanings into things people say to me... like was that a joke or was he trying to tell me something.... maybe I'm not the right person for that job....things don't come easy for me... maybe it shows, anyway you get the idea,I drove myself nuts all week. The cloud lifted somewhat as the kids started to get better and BACK TO SCHOOL! It,s a good thing Randy has such great patience
Here's to a better week to come,
Linda

Giving is good for the soul

2008-12-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

In our time of technology one of the main stays in our homes is the telephone. It keeps us in touch with loved ones, with the touch of a finger we have medical aid, and a way to resource the world around us without leaving our homes.Of course with the good also comes the bad. Telemarketers bombard us daily with calls. The same can be said about people with good causes looking to raise money. The problem is that I become jaded with not only the telemarketers but also with so many needy fundraisers. I have hardened my heart over the years just so I can survive the sometimes cruel ways I must tell the phone" no I don't want to buy your product, no I Know I have not won a free trip to... and no I have no donation funds left for you cause." I was raised a good Catholic girl and guilt was driven into the very fiber of my soul. So saying "no" does not come easy... or maybe too easy these days.
My husband Randy and I attended a fundraiser last week and I must admit out of loyalty to Silent River Kung FU. The cause once again was a blur with no real meaning to it. Just another place to put a meager donation and keep the flow of income going into our schools fundraisers. Our attitudes soon changed as the speaker "Memory" described her life and those of women in general in her home country. Anyone who was there came away with a new understanding of how well off we are in Canada. We have three daughters of our own and could not imagine in our wildest dreams how hard it would be for them to have to survive such a life. The night turned out to be a real eye opener.
The topic around our table these days is about giving to these women. Each one of my teenagers has pledged to give a portion of their next pay cheques and we as a family are going to sponsor one of these girls for the next year and maybe the next four. We have so much to give thanks for and maybe one way to appreciate this is to give to someone who doesn't. I am hoping by putting a face to a young girl in need will drive this home to my whole family. This Christmas will have more meaning with project in mind. After all isn't this the message that Christmas is bring to us each year, the one I have been missing for a long time,it isn't about receiving,it's about giving.....
Once again;
Linda

The fountain of youth

2008-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

Exercise has become my fountain of youth. It has been a lot of years since I've felt so good. It helps slow aging in human skeletal
muscle. It seems to help the heart to deteriorate slower. It has become a moving meditation for me. It gives me time all to myself, a time to regroup and give back to so many deserving people.Inspiration comes from looking in the mirror and finally liking how I look. It has increased my self confidence. I worry less about what people think of me and more about who they think I am. I have been able to come off one medication and reduce another all by exercise.
We had a black belt class this past Friday that I was able to stand up and demonstrate a new form I was learning all because I felt better about myself.It was one of those classes I was so glad I hadn't missed. All the black belts did the same form but each had put their own personality;s into it. It was very inspiring, I can't wait to learn the rest of the form.I feel ten years younger and it doesn't seem to matter that I don,t necessarily look it. So what are you waiting for....
Talk to you next week

Linda

count down

2008-11-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

Well I'm on the count down for the end of the first step in my Body for life challenge. Two weeks to go. I am going to continue with the Body for life for the next year to go alone with my UBBT. I think though that at the end of two weeks I will change up some of my weight training routine .I have been working mostly on the machines in the gym maybe I'll try some free weights now.
I have been trying to read "Way of the Peaceful warrior" but can't seem to find the time. A few minutes here and there just doesn't work for me.I need to sit down and concentrate on the book. I have come up with a solution though, I have found the audio book and am going to down load it onto my ipod. That way I can hear the book while I'm running.Is that cheating? Oh well it will work out better.
Speaking of running, I hit the 5 km. mark on Saturday. There's no limit to where I might end up now. My partner also hit the 5km mark,but I know he could go to 10 km if he wanted to. He's so kind to my ego. Lets me have my small victory's. I must say that my training gets easier with my weight lose and better cardio conditioning.
See you at the finish line
Linda

RUN FOREST RUN

2008-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

This week I reached an all time personal record of running four kms. Now this sounds great and for me it is, but it's not pretty.
If you are on the track at the same time I am, you will hear me coming up behind you well before you see me. I"m afraid I still sound like an old steam engine. I am hoping this too will pass. Speed you ask? Well most people can probably walk faster than I run, however this does not bother me. IT STILL FEELS GREAT. I have always wanted to run but never had the drive to do it. Now I have learned to push past the pain in my legs and ignore my screaming lungs. I just one foot in front of the other and count off the kms. I have asked myself at least a dozen times "why can I do this now and never before?" I really don't know yet.Maybe its my workout partner, or maybe it the Ubbt. challenge, or maybe its the body for life program. It could of been a full moon on the day I finally committed to doing this, I"ll let you know when I figure this out. Anyway my new goal is to make the five km. mark by Christmas. For the first time in my life I can say this and know I will do this.
I FEEL GREAT! Talk to you soon
Linda