Seasons

Halloween is really a big deal around here. Maybe it's the mild weather or just an excuse to celebrate the fall. I had over 100 kids at the door. We finally had to shut our lights out after eight because we ran out of candy. There were lots of Ninja warriors. Enough to make me keep the guilt forefront in my mind. I seen by your posts that the snow has began to fall. It sounds like everything is well organized so the seniors will be happy with you all. I KNOW they appreciate the work it takes to keep their sidewalks clean. The Kulak family is not taking part this year, I wonder if all is well with them.Their health was not good last year,I hope nothing serious happened there. I was out in my garden planting vegetables this week and was inspired to do my tie Chi. I think it was the place I am in and the weather this time of year. It made me reflect on past years where I wasn't as blessed to be able to spend time outside where I truly love to be.The whole thing brought me inner peace.Anyway Randy will be home this week so I won't be on my own. He will be working one week home and two away. I will try to make the most of it instead of being angry about the whole situation, it doesn't change his job or his dedication to it. Oh well such is life, Keep warm and drive safe Sifu Shipalesky

No one said it would be easy

I don't know where to begin. I have left this blog linger far too long and it became an albatross around my neck. Kung Fu has been a big part of my life and who I am that leaving it behind had a huge impact on my view of who I am and what I have become, I read your chatter on the my emails and feel so detached from everything. I miss being a part of everything and everyone. Every day I ask myself "how can I reconnect with you all and how can I inspire myself to continue." Silent River is made up with great people. The building is just a reflection of how you all feel. Like a church is just a building without it's congregation, I think the same applies to Silent River. So my big question is "is any body listening and if you are throw me a life line please." I watch a lot of classes on the web cam but something is always missing. The interaction between us and the connection with each other.This is really hard. I have been trying to practice on my own and with no feedback or someone beside me, well it's hard. I was doing a lot of walking, but even that has become limited. Randy is back on the road again and I do not feel safe leaving Lacey in the house alone while I'm out. I am home schooling her this term so where I go she goes except she doesn't like walking. I know I have to get out and do something. We just moved into a golf course community. so I am going to gather my courage and see what they have to offer. Golf.... well I'll never know unless I try. I imagine they will have something to start with, something Lacey and I can do together. There is miles oops, kilometers of paved trails to bike ride on and I know my dog needs the exercise, not me of course, ha ha. or swimming although the water is a bit cool now, but once I get going it warms up. So I guess I do know where to start I just need to push myself once again out of my comfort zone. It will have to be next week though Lacey is down with the flu/cold this week and doesn't have the energy to leave the house. I know excuses excuses. I made a promise to myself as soon as she's well I will try something with the golf course. Wish me luck Sifu Linda Shipalesky P.S. I so do not miss the SNOW !!

The end is really a new adventure

Well I made it, I am in Florida. It has been a very frighting, exciting and an eye opening experience for me all jammed into a couple of months. Randy's job is in Orlando, land of Disney world. We are kind of flying by the seat of our pants, learning as we go. You have all given me the courage to face such a hugh change in my live.I have not been here a week yet but I relate everything back to my experiences with the school including crossing the boarder. Coming across under Randy's visa had its problems. He was questioned and then me about teaching Kung Fu. I had to promise not to teach for money as per my visa I am not allowed to work. It never dawned on me to emphasize that I had volunteered and doing it out of love for the art. It made me laugh to think of the picture I was left with, fifteen burly men, starring me down and waiting for me to admit to the crime of "teaching". But in the end my green eyed, blonde, happy daughter and my friendly black lab companion convinced them of the true nature of my spirit. Just a happy mom who also happens to love Kung Fu. until later Sifu Linda Shipalesky

finding inspiration

Things are starting to look up towards the end of the week. I was very inspired by watching the the other members of my team preform their weapons forms in class Friday night. Each person brought something of themselves to the form they choose to do so no two forms looked alike. Makes me want to work harder so I don't let them down. I am excited to be a part of this years pandamonium. I think we have hit on something special. We have something to show the community and I for one am proud to be a part of it.My numbers are picking up again, as I feel better, both physically and mentally. That could be because Randy is coming home for a week. God I must sound so sad, a grown woman who can't function without someone to support her. I'm working on it. "The secret of heath for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Sick and wanting to kick something

After avoiding the flu and colds everyone else had this winter it finally caught up with me this week. Along with a bad case of" feel sorry for Linda ". When you feel like that things just seem to snowball all around you. Randy was lucky he wasn't here or he would have got the brunt of it.To be honest I am not doing very well adjusting to the single parent life, and there is no one to feel sorry for me.... except of course me .... and I'm doing a bang up job of it. I'm hoping as I start to feel better physically my spirits will lift as well. What about my training you may ask.... Ba humbug. Well tomorrow is a new day... Linda

Last launch

Space shuttle Discovery had one last mission to complete. Randy (my husband) was there to witness it. At daybreak Tuesday April 17 ,the oldest of NASA's retired shuttle fleet left it's home at Kennedy Space Center for the final time, riding on top a modified jumbo jet. It's destination: the Smithsonian Institution's hangar outside of Washington , D.C. The plane and jet made a farewell flight over Cape Canaveral before heading north. Randy drove a hour before daybreak to Coco beach along with hundred's of other people to see it. He said it was one of those times that you definitely want to stay in the moment and try to remember for the rest of your life.

holidays

I have been away for the last few weeks visiting my husband in Florida, while I could read and receive emails I could not send them. I thought later or too late that I should have wrote my blog and posted it when I got home. Oh well you know what they say about twenty, twenty hind site. They have some restrictions on what you can carry into USA so I was not able to bring my sword with me, go figure. I moved through the form without it but somehow it wasn't the same. I was able to do lots of walking, mostly around theme parks so I was able to more than keep up with my milage. Unfortunately I don't care if I ever see another theme park (sorry Mickey)I also spent a lot of time in the pool and much to my daughters embarrassment If did my tai chi form in water, it was a different experience , I think I can see a positive change , but then again maybe I am making up excuses to do it some more, it felt great. Sun, water, and tranquility, not a bad combination. I found a bag with lots of great sayings on it and I thought I would share them over the next few weeks. "Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocrity is as close to the bottom as it is to the top , and will give us a lousy life. "

STAIRS

I am moving forward, Day by day things are improving. They maybe only the slightest change, but over time small things add up to substantial changes. For instance at the movie theatre last night I was able to decent the stairs without feeling like I would miss a step and fall. My right knee was able to hold my weight without buckling, Stairs have been my challenge over the last year. The walls in my house have become my balancing point, I have worn a line in the paint on the walls on either side going into the basement. We live in a split level home so I do a lot of stairs a day. Some people do push ups to challenge them, to get there numbers up, I do stairs. You would be surprised how many stair cases do not have banisters on them. A total nightmare for me. I am not there yet however. I still cannot balance carrying a cup of liquid down the stairs without spilling it.I loss half my cup of tea on the stairs on the way down, our entertainment centre is in the basement. I still have to resort to sitting on my bum and sliding down to save my tea. So my push ups are only at twenty good one a day but ask me about stairs and I can tell you they are great. This also relates to forms. The sword form I'm trying to learn has a few spots in it that needs half turns without stepping out of your stance. I can work up a sweet just thinking about it , but they're coming. So yesterday at our meeting for I Ho Chuan I was trying to talk about numbers and couldn't bring myself to say " I do stairs" I am telling you all now and hope you cam relate somehow to this challenge I have set for myself.

HELP

After last weeks I Ho Chaun class, I was sure I would never be capable of learning the Tai Chi Sword.Although there was a lot of learning going on I could not take anything in. Everyone was so helpful and encrouraging but all I could feel was a panic attack coming on.Things have changed for me over the last year and one of them is the way I learn. A small group or one on one in a quiet enviroment works the best. I know from teaching over the years the one thing that I became aware of is that people learn in different ways, some are visual others vocal and some have to process both ways to get the end result.I felt disconected from what my feet were doing to were my hands and the sword were. While the rest of the sword holders are reaching the end of the form I'm struggling near the beginning. I know I can do it, this last few months I have been relearning a black belt form off of a video that Master Brinker made of himself preforming it which I found very helpful. I'm sure I have watched this video over a hundred times.... Is there anyone out there who has recorded the TAI CHI BROAD SWORD, I would be forever grateful to you. Swallowing my pride and talking myself out of a panic attack I am humbly asking for help, Sifu Linda Shipalesky

True act of kindness

The simple acts of kindness comes to play every single day of my life.We are suppose to do a certain amount a day to complete our requirements but it has become so much more for me. It has become so very obvious in my life how I wouldn't be able to function or to stay centred without receiving them. Small acts to big acts given by people every single day without any thought of how it may have impacted the receiver. This weekend has brought back winter in our area with a vengence.My elderly mother has a big driveway with nowhere to pile the snow. She is always worried about clearing it almost as soon as it touches the ground. I hired someone to clear it in the fall but have been sadly disappointed with the results. So the task fell to me. Randy is away and my kids are tied up in their own lives.I posted a statement that I would not be able to lend a hand with our adopt a driveway sidewalk this snowfall in favor of my Moms.Then it happened, that single act of kindness. The big one that snapes you out of your bad feelings. The feeling that brings you back to watching "Little house on the prairie". The Regier family showed up in their big white truck, piled out with shovels in hand along with hugs and smiles to help shovel snow! They are a great team. The boys silently work along side of their parents without complaint and everyone flows around each other until the job is done. The spirit in which they preformed this act was so much more than the deed . I felt very humbled and inspired to put more effort into my own acts of kindness. Thank you Regier family it ment everything to me. Linda Shipalesky P.S. please overlook the spelling mistakes I seem to be having problems with my spell check

The single life

This coming week will see a change for me I haven't experienced is at least ten years. Randy (my husband) will be working out of the country, Florida to be precise. The plan is for at least three months,but it's a wait and see thing. The good side if there is one, I'll have more time to focus on my training. The bad thing is focusing. I know from past experience that my emotions take a spiral. I will be fighting depression for the first few weeks and you know how hard it is to stay in the moment when all you can think of is him. My youngest daughter will have to see the inside of the change rooms a lot more often and I will have to make some adjusting to suit her schedule. I never minded being by myself as a matter of fact I like my own company,but he is such a big part of who I am that I never stop missing him I know what your thinking "suck it up " and you'd be right and I will eventually. I wanted to say I love my tai chi sword. I thought it might be heavy but it's well balanced and that makes a big difference. So I know I have no balance and I know you want to tell me how it should be done just remember to have patience I truly am trying.

moving forward slowly

After reading Sifu Masterson's blog anything I have to say seems unimportant. Anyway I had a better week than last. I received my new tai chi sword. Its vary shiny and cool, and I was shown the first few moves in the form. Now I feel like there is some progress forward.I also had a very good tip from another black belt to use the Wii boxing to do some shadow boxing with. I'm not one for these kinds of games but I got a good workout with it. I don't know if I can count this as a round of sparing but I'm going to until someone says I can't. Life got in the way a lot this week, so I only logged 5k.I regretted this but my legs didn't. I still suffer from leg cramps that stretching only relieves some of. I did a real neat evening class on Saturday where you learn more about yourself through painting, seems there are a lot of people looking for themselves in weird places these days.

Reality cheek

I am struggling and I really didn't know with what until I sat down at the monthly meeting.I listened to everyone who was there and thought "now there's some real goals and accomplishments." I even knew what I was going to say right up until it was my turn to open my mouth. It was like this black hole had opened up under me and I was at the bottom. I have made small attempts at getting out but can't quit see daylight. In some ways it was liberating. I know longer have to pretend to be able to do what I cannot. There is no use standing at the back of a class or thinking "I'm out of the way and no one can see me" It is all right there in the way I move or should I say how I can't move.At that moment I hit one of the lowest points in my life since I have had the "stroke" there I said it out loud. The word itself brings up such overwhelming feelings of defeat,fear, anxiousness and shame. How could I have done this to my body.At this point in the meeting I wanted nothing more than to crawl out of there and leave the real Kung Fu students to the guts of the program. I am truly ashamed. But I have never let my kids quit in the middle of something they started. I pushed them to the end and I will do the same. By the standards set out by the Ultimate Black belt test I have already failed miserably but in the sprit of the art which I truly love I will see it to the end with as much passion I can muster at this point of my life.I am what I most fear, the weakest point in the link. I will endeavor not to bring the rest of the team down with me. Any help anyone can offer is appreciated.

And so it begins again

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 all Linda

TOO MUCH TOO SOON ?

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

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 ?

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

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