Renos part 2

So I was a little dissapointed by the turnout for the renos this week.

At first I was optomistic...people were showing up and working hard, but by the end of the week, we were down to just a couple people a shift.

Sifu Freitag, Sifu M. Playter and myself were at the kwoon until 10/11 at night on Sunday finishing up. I'm not complaining, I'm simply trying to point out that this year, we could have used more help.

I'm so thankful to those who did show up this week, it was great to see you guys out.

This week bothered me a little, because we have over 250 people at this school and only a handful (under 20), came to help out.

What does this say about us as a school? What does this say about us as people?

I understand this was a horrible week to have renos...kids back to school, last long weekend, etc., but sometimes that's the way it goes.

I think what really bothered me was that I always see posts on kwoon talk about challenges and bettering yourselves and becoming better people, but when everyone is provided with an opportunity to actually DO something...no one shows up.

Bettering yourself isn't always accomplished by reading a book or adding something new to your routine. Sometimes you get the most out of giving something for nothing...by humbling yourself and getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing for hours because you know it needs to be done. You become a better person when you recognize a need and try to fill the void. It takes a lot to give up your Friday night movie night, or to come after a long days work, but it does build on your character.

The majority of the school missed out on a big opportunity this year. You guys had the chance to change something, to build something, to be a part of something...and you missed it.

One of my favorite memories this year was of Sifu Masterson's little boy standing on a pile of mats exclaiming how tall he was to us all....he is such a funny little kid. I'll also cherish the memories of all of us scrubbing the floors together. Nothing brings people together like the mutual hatred of dirt:)

So I hope next year more people will come and we can all build our character and memories together.

Renos!

Renovations are off to a good start. I just got home after spending the day scrubbing the heck out of the floor. I like to think it looks alot better...but after awhile you can't tell anymore... A big thanks out to everyone who has been helping out! You guys are doing great.

I start classes tomorrow too. I'm excited. I like going to school, at least for the first couple of weeks:)

I'm also super stoked because I just found out I got accepted to grad school for January! I am having a hard time believing it's actually true, but it is! Ssssssoooooo awesome!!!!

This is going to be an awesome year, I just know it!

Not well...

Not feeling well...hopefully better soon.

Argggggg.

Too weak....to.....type....more....:)

Managed to do pushups and situps though!

Thank Goodness for Good People

So I have this ring. I love it to peices.

It's a fossil Ammonite mounted in steel and it's a beautiful honey brown. I got it in Jasper on our last trip and everytime I look at it I remember the fun we had there.

Anyway, yesterday I took it off to wash my hands in the sink. I set it on the edge of the sink, thinking I would put it back on after I dried my hands.

But I forgot.

I didn't remember until I was on my way to class last night. When I finally did remember, I started freaking out. Granted, my hysterics only lasted a couple of minutes until I realized, with my husband's help, that little could be done about it just then. It would have to wait until I went back into work the next morning. Then I could look for it.

I started to wonder why it bothered me so much. The money it had cost was one issue, but that did not seem to be the root cause. The idea of someone finding it and being over-joyed at their good fortune didn't really bother me either. I could live happily if I new someone else was loving it in my place. What really bothered me was the possibility I might see it on someone else's finger. Someone else having it, fine, but they'd better not let me see it...

I imagined the awkward situation it would be if I ran into someone with it. Would I say anything? Would it be my place to say anything? Would it really still be mine?

The concept of ownership can be fuzzy sometimes. Some people go by the adage, "Finders keepers..." while others do not. I'm finding it difficult to decide where I stand. Usually when I find something, I try to return it. But the thought of confronting someone with something I've lost made me question. What if they believe differently?

My dilema was solved as this morning when I found a post-it note on the bathroom mirror telling me where to come pick up my ring. Luckily for me, a nice lady had found it and believed that it should be returned. I have it on my finger as I'm typing and it's comforting to know that it's in my keeping again, at least until the good Lord decides otherwise.

I've always tried to live mylife according to the Christian concept of ownership, the idea that everything belongs to God and we're just temporary stewards. But this is easier thought than acted upon. Society places a lot of emphasis on ownership and it can be hard not to do the same. The idea of temporary stewardship is freeing in a way. I find having a lot of stuff can cloud the mind and thinking of it in a different way takes the load off I guess. I don't really know how to explain it.

This whole experience, although trivial in a way, has brought to my mind the importance I've placed on objects and things. I don't like the idea of objects holding emotional sway over me, but how do you disconnect memories from things? Will I forget if I get rid of the object? Are they a physical manifestation, a catalouge, of my memories? How can I free myself of this reliance on stuff if I'm afraid I'll forget?

Stuff to think about...

Road Rage=Push Ups

Yesterday, on the way home from work, I had the worst episode of road rage ever. For me anyway.

Yesterday I picked someone up from work on Jasper ave. on my way home. The traffic was terrible. I really wanted to make it to class at 6:30, I had said I would be there.

I got to their work at 4:50pm, they were off at 5. I waited and waited, watched their coworkers leave, but still no passenger. They finally came out at 5:15 and I was aggravated. Didn't they know that I had places to be?!? Emotion took over and instead of realizing that they were just doing their job, not trying to ruin my life, I began to sink into a bad mood.

Traffic, as I said, was ridiculous. It was backed up for what seemed like ages and we didn't reach the edge of the city until 5:50. By this time I was livid.

I wasn't shouting, but I have to admit, I was muttering foul words under my breath and following the people in front of me a little too closely. Didn't they realize that I had places to be?!? Once again, I was acting on emotion, not taking into account that everyone, not just me, had places to be, people to see, things to do. Getting angry didn't help. That's for sure.

All it did was seem to compound the stress.

By the time I finally rushed home, grabbed my stuff and made it to class, I was mentally exhausted. It's hard work being angry. Thoughts of a bad day at work, bad traffic, bad luck were definitely clouding my mind.

That's when I dropped down, during the warm up, and began to pound out push ups. Man did it ever feel good! All of my pent up frustration was released and I used it to push myself onward. I managed to do 306 push ups and 306 sit ups. Not bad for an off day!

There's nothing like a good workout to unwind after a long day and I felt so much better! My mind cleared, my spirits lifted and I felt good. I slept pretty good last night too.

I figure if these bad days keep happening, I'm going to to be ripped! That's kinda cool:)