Break a Leg

Despite my busted foot, it's been a good day already. It's my momma's birthday, I've made chili and my bird and my cat are finally getting along. It's gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day!

Good luck and break a leg to everyone in the demo. I wish I was there.

I Have Such a Long Way to Go, and I'm Thankful For It

Last night Sifu Beckett and I were talking about our Friday class, and I believe I had an epiphany. The two of us ran through Mlong Kuen, and I was trying to pay attention to where in my body I was generating the power and flow, and some things felt great whereas some things felt mechanical and lacked draw from the earth. And I realized the things I felt good with are the moves I had been struggling the most with over the last couple years. There were several places in the form where I had never felt comfortable, and I was constantly looking for feedback on them, asking repetitive questions and fighting with the flow. As always, eventually an answer would ring true with me, or perhaps I'd finally understand the answers I was getting and translating them into movement. On the other hand, the areas of the form where I had always felt comfortable with I was no longer content with.

This reiterated to me the importance of striving for mastery. You will always improve, as long as you are pushing forward. And remember, forward is fluid, circular. So yes, you may feel as though you're moving backward, but it is all essential in reaching for mastery. "Correction is essential to power and mastery". Stewart Emery nailed this. If you are comfortable with something, don't just settle there. In my mind, comfort is just another word for mediocre.

Paw Prints on the Car Door

Last week, en route home one lovely afternoon from Stony Plain I saw a black & white dog laying in the ditch on the side of the highway. It was a sad sight, he was just laying there with his head on his paws. Anyone who knows me knows I can't pass that and forget it, so I pulled a U-turn at the next intersection to go see if the doggie was alright. I noticed the car in front of me made a U-turn too, and who would have guessed that they had the same idea. As they came to a stop across from the puppy, the dog jumped up and ran to the drivers' door, tail wagging.

Two things came out of this- one, the dog was fine. Just taking a snooze in a very bad spot, but dogs will be dogs. Two, I witnessed a stranger take time out of his or her day to ensure a strange animal was okay. I was thrilled- sadly, I usually see people just speed by without a second glance. But, not that day.

It was a good day.

Sorry, I'm Whining

This is going to be quick and painful. I'm sick, feel like I'm going to cough up a lung soon, my shoulder still hurts from Pandamonium & I pulled some muscles in my butt/thigh area last Monday. Needless to say, I've been slacking on my daily stuff. I meant to complete 1000 sit-ups and push-ups last Friday, but me, the couch & the blanket were fused together. We were some strange being I named Khouchet.

I feel better now, but I keep aggravating everything. I did one rep of my monks spade last night with my own spade, and now my shoulder is screaming. I should ice it, but its so cold and rainy already, I just don't wanna.

Yes, I'm complaining. I apologize, most people figure out fast that I'm a whiner when I'm sick. I admit it.