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
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Living Hero #1 Matt Long
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
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
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
One step at a time
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
One baby step at a time, but I'm getting there,
Linda
Monday, February 9, 2009
Trust
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
–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
Monday, February 2, 2009
What's in it for me?
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
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
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)