balancing act

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

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

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

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

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

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

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