Still under the weather. Didn't work out tonight. I thought it might be better to rest and hopefully tomorrow I will feel better.
Health is one of the most important things, maybe the most important thing. If you are sick or badly injured, it affects your whole life. Health is one of those things though that we all seem to take for granted until we get sick. Then you miss it so much.
I hope I'll feel better tomorrow.
Basic numbers: 1.5 miles
Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made Mike's lunch, let someone ahead of me in traffic
Today I consumed: 2 chicken wraps, an apple, a few corn chips, some mashed potatoes with pepper salad and lamb. I drank a glass of wine, a cup of tea and 7 glasses of water.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Sick
Really not feeling well. Just as I was finishing my crunches, got really dizzy and nauseous. I hope I don't have the 24hr flu...trying not to think about puking.
Although I didn't eat much tonight...hopefully it's just a bloodsugar thing. Trying to force down an apple.
Moan:(
Basic numbers: 208 kicks, 194 crunches, 204 pushups, 5 reps tai chi, 5reps broadsword, 4 miles
Acts of kindess: gave the dog extra pets, made Mike's lunch, let a car ahead of me in traffic
Today I consumed: a peice of peanut butter and jam toast, 2 apples, some peas and carrots, a danish, a cheese sandwich. I drank 3 cups of coffee and 7 glasses of water.
Although I didn't eat much tonight...hopefully it's just a bloodsugar thing. Trying to force down an apple.
Moan:(
Basic numbers: 208 kicks, 194 crunches, 204 pushups, 5 reps tai chi, 5reps broadsword, 4 miles
Acts of kindess: gave the dog extra pets, made Mike's lunch, let a car ahead of me in traffic
Today I consumed: a peice of peanut butter and jam toast, 2 apples, some peas and carrots, a danish, a cheese sandwich. I drank 3 cups of coffee and 7 glasses of water.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
What I've learned...thanks Sifu Bryant!
I think one of the things I've learned this year is the value of honest comment. The biggest motivator to fulfil your commitments in the I Ho Chuan is being held publicly accountable. This can only happen if we give honest comment to each other. For example, the other day I was doing pushups during practice when Sifu Bryant approached me. He dropped down and asked me why I was doing such shallow pushups. Now in my mind I have a thousand reasons why...the biggest being my injured shoulder, but at the end of the day, the truth is that my pushups suck. Sifu Bryant asking me about it tells me that my student's probably think the same thing...everyone in the school who sees me do pushups has the same perception. When you walk around the school with an injury that isn't blatant (like a limp or whatever), people don't know your injured and all they see is your poor pushups. That is the perception.
So what Sifu Bryant's honesty left me with was a choice. I can choose to keep doing poor pushups because of my injury (and sometimes to heal you have to choose this option) or I can work on changing my pushups and thus changing the perception of the people around me. If I choose option 1 (whether I have a choice or not), I do it knowing that it affects my reputation.
That's another thing I've learned. Reputation in the martial arts is largely based on physical skill. That is what you are largely judged by by students and others. If you have an injury and can't perform physically, you will lose some credibility. I think that's something that people don't realize. I see some people get injured and they breath a sigh of relief because now they don't have to do some things they don't like doing anymore (like pushups). But you should view an injury as a potential detriment to your reputation. I say potential because coming back from a huge injury can earn you a lot of respect, but you have to come back from it. You can't ride on the tails of your horrific injury 5 years ago and have any credibility. Part of being a martial artist is managing your injuries. Part of that is learning to shift your training focus to compensate. For me, for example, with my shoulder injury I'm having difficulty with upper body stuff, however I can work on kicks no problem. All people need to see is that you are trying to progress on a physical level. You can't only focus on your mental growth or spiritual growth and expect students or peers to see you as a great martial artist. Yes, your mental and spiritual growth are just as important, but without the physical skill, no one will take you seriously.
That's been one of my struggles this year....getting back to a good place physically. It's hard. And I'm not there yet. But pushing each other and holding each other accountable (like Sifu Bryant did for me) can help get us where we need to be.
But we need to recognize that honest comment does not equal negativity. One of the other things I've learned this year is that when people feel guilty about their lack of progress and that lack of progress is pointed out, they get defensive. One of the biggest ways this is expressed is by calling the feedback negative or saying that the atmosphere is negative. That is only a half truth. The whole truth is that yes, the atmosphere is negative, but not because of any comments made, but because of lack of action, because of mediocrity. When Sifu Bryant commented on my pushups, initially I was a little hurt. I felt like I was trying my hardest and couldn't he see that? But at the end of the day he was telling me the truth and I have to give him credit because it can be hard to tell people their shortcomings. How can I get better if I don't see my weaknesses? That was what he was saying. He wasn't trying to be a jerk. He was trying to help me by saying, "You know what, I see your pushups, they suck, but I know you can do better".
That's the key point. When someone gives you honest comment and it isn't what you want to hear, realize that by saying it they are telling you that they know you can do better. They believe in you.
If they thought there was no hope for you they wouldn't say anything at all and let you continue to be mediocre.
The point I want to leave off with is this. Don't accept mediocrity in yourself and don't accept it in your teammates. The I Ho Chuan isn't meant to be a sit-around, talk about your feelings and make some friends group; it's a work, sweat, cry and yell group. The true friendships come by sweating together and encouraging each other through honesty. Don't hold each others hands. Be strong and don't give up. At the end of the day, if we expect more from each other, we can do great things.
Basic numbers; 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword
Acts of kindness: chatted with a sales clerk, let Mike sleep in, gave the dog extra pets
Today I consumed: 2 breakfast sandwiches, 2 hash browns, some veggies, some instant noodles with toast, 4 pieces of candy, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, 7 glasses of water
So what Sifu Bryant's honesty left me with was a choice. I can choose to keep doing poor pushups because of my injury (and sometimes to heal you have to choose this option) or I can work on changing my pushups and thus changing the perception of the people around me. If I choose option 1 (whether I have a choice or not), I do it knowing that it affects my reputation.
That's another thing I've learned. Reputation in the martial arts is largely based on physical skill. That is what you are largely judged by by students and others. If you have an injury and can't perform physically, you will lose some credibility. I think that's something that people don't realize. I see some people get injured and they breath a sigh of relief because now they don't have to do some things they don't like doing anymore (like pushups). But you should view an injury as a potential detriment to your reputation. I say potential because coming back from a huge injury can earn you a lot of respect, but you have to come back from it. You can't ride on the tails of your horrific injury 5 years ago and have any credibility. Part of being a martial artist is managing your injuries. Part of that is learning to shift your training focus to compensate. For me, for example, with my shoulder injury I'm having difficulty with upper body stuff, however I can work on kicks no problem. All people need to see is that you are trying to progress on a physical level. You can't only focus on your mental growth or spiritual growth and expect students or peers to see you as a great martial artist. Yes, your mental and spiritual growth are just as important, but without the physical skill, no one will take you seriously.
That's been one of my struggles this year....getting back to a good place physically. It's hard. And I'm not there yet. But pushing each other and holding each other accountable (like Sifu Bryant did for me) can help get us where we need to be.
But we need to recognize that honest comment does not equal negativity. One of the other things I've learned this year is that when people feel guilty about their lack of progress and that lack of progress is pointed out, they get defensive. One of the biggest ways this is expressed is by calling the feedback negative or saying that the atmosphere is negative. That is only a half truth. The whole truth is that yes, the atmosphere is negative, but not because of any comments made, but because of lack of action, because of mediocrity. When Sifu Bryant commented on my pushups, initially I was a little hurt. I felt like I was trying my hardest and couldn't he see that? But at the end of the day he was telling me the truth and I have to give him credit because it can be hard to tell people their shortcomings. How can I get better if I don't see my weaknesses? That was what he was saying. He wasn't trying to be a jerk. He was trying to help me by saying, "You know what, I see your pushups, they suck, but I know you can do better".
That's the key point. When someone gives you honest comment and it isn't what you want to hear, realize that by saying it they are telling you that they know you can do better. They believe in you.
If they thought there was no hope for you they wouldn't say anything at all and let you continue to be mediocre.
The point I want to leave off with is this. Don't accept mediocrity in yourself and don't accept it in your teammates. The I Ho Chuan isn't meant to be a sit-around, talk about your feelings and make some friends group; it's a work, sweat, cry and yell group. The true friendships come by sweating together and encouraging each other through honesty. Don't hold each others hands. Be strong and don't give up. At the end of the day, if we expect more from each other, we can do great things.
Basic numbers; 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword
Acts of kindness: chatted with a sales clerk, let Mike sleep in, gave the dog extra pets
Today I consumed: 2 breakfast sandwiches, 2 hash browns, some veggies, some instant noodles with toast, 4 pieces of candy, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, 7 glasses of water
need to think about it
Had a good meeting today.
Sifu Brinker suggested we write about what we've learned this year...what worked and what didn't. I think I'm going to have to think about it. This year has been amazing even though I haven't fulfilled all of my goals. But I don't know if I have any real advice for the next team because I feel like I haven't figured it out yet. I feel like I'm just starting to get a handle on things, but there's always the worry that a week from now I'll be in a slump and things will get hard. I have a routine but truth be told everyday I have to make myself do stuff. It doesn't get easy. I see the benefits everyday from my training...my health, my strength, my flow,etc...but when it comes to doing my form reps, my pushups, etc., it can be so easy to put it off and hard to do. Sometimes doing my forms is really fun and I feel like I've come so far....but then the next day my forms seem to take forever and I feel like a scarecrow trying to do Kung-Fu.
The one thing I've been able to do consistently every day is blog. They aren't always the best blogs...I don't always put in a good effort or have something meaningful to say....but it is something easy to do so at least every day I'm doing something. Blogging is the thread that's kept me going.
I don't know.....everyone's journey is different.
I'll have to think about it more.
Basic numbers: 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword, 202 crunches, 208 kicks, 204 pushups, 3 miles
Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made a nice dinner, helped someone
Today I consumed: a danish, half a banana, some fries, some tortilla chips, fish with potatoes and beats and a peice of chocolate cake. I drank a cup of coffee, a cup of tea and 8 glasses of water.
Sifu Brinker suggested we write about what we've learned this year...what worked and what didn't. I think I'm going to have to think about it. This year has been amazing even though I haven't fulfilled all of my goals. But I don't know if I have any real advice for the next team because I feel like I haven't figured it out yet. I feel like I'm just starting to get a handle on things, but there's always the worry that a week from now I'll be in a slump and things will get hard. I have a routine but truth be told everyday I have to make myself do stuff. It doesn't get easy. I see the benefits everyday from my training...my health, my strength, my flow,etc...but when it comes to doing my form reps, my pushups, etc., it can be so easy to put it off and hard to do. Sometimes doing my forms is really fun and I feel like I've come so far....but then the next day my forms seem to take forever and I feel like a scarecrow trying to do Kung-Fu.
The one thing I've been able to do consistently every day is blog. They aren't always the best blogs...I don't always put in a good effort or have something meaningful to say....but it is something easy to do so at least every day I'm doing something. Blogging is the thread that's kept me going.
I don't know.....everyone's journey is different.
I'll have to think about it more.
Basic numbers: 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword, 202 crunches, 208 kicks, 204 pushups, 3 miles
Acts of kindness: gave the cat and dog treats, made a nice dinner, helped someone
Today I consumed: a danish, half a banana, some fries, some tortilla chips, fish with potatoes and beats and a peice of chocolate cake. I drank a cup of coffee, a cup of tea and 8 glasses of water.
Friday, November 1, 2013
dragon dance practice tomorrow!
It was inspiring to see Sihing Dunning working out at practice today. He's still hurting, you can tell, but he's trying and that takes will.
I wonder how many people we'll have for dragon practice tomorrow....
Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 208 kicks, 204 pushups, 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword, 3.5 miles
Acts of kindness: made Mike lunch, played with Julia, had lunch with a relative
Today I consumed: some toast with jam, a burger with cheese and fries, a tomato and cucumber sandwich with cheese, a danish and some apple, 2 cups of coffee and a cup of tea. I drank 7 glasses of water.
I wonder how many people we'll have for dragon practice tomorrow....
Basic numbers: 202 crunches, 208 kicks, 204 pushups, 5 reps tai chi, 5 reps broadsword, 3.5 miles
Acts of kindness: made Mike lunch, played with Julia, had lunch with a relative
Today I consumed: some toast with jam, a burger with cheese and fries, a tomato and cucumber sandwich with cheese, a danish and some apple, 2 cups of coffee and a cup of tea. I drank 7 glasses of water.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)