Hitting the wall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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