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.