Tai Chi

I started Tai Chi four years ago so that I could improve my flow and therefore improve my Kung Fu. I did not count on completely falling in love with it. I love everything about it. I like the moves and how I feel when I do them properly. More specifically when I have been trying to figure out a move and finally do and then do it properly, it feels amazing. I like activating my chi and how that feels flowing through my body. It has a calming affect on me while also giving me a feeling of power waiting to be unleashed. It sounds like a contradiction but it isn't. It just feels right. I try to practice Tai Chi everyday (it is one of my goals this year), I don't always make it but having Tai Chi in the forefront of my training has helped me achieve more focus in all that I do. When I do my form, I feel calm and in control after and I also feel revved up and ready to go. So I do my form at the beginning of a work out to gain focus and to get ready to do kung fu and sometimes I do it at the end of the workout to settle myself and get ready to take on the next item on my agenda. I am not sure that I fully understand the dual role that it plays for me but right now it is working well so I am not going to try too hard to figure it our for fear that it will alter the benefits.
I wish that everyone could take Tai Chi and have such a positive experience with it.
Until next week, work hard and have fun.

Tired but happy!

What a long week! I am exhausted!!!! I changed my work schedule a bit so that I could attend some extra kung fu stuff and it really changed how my week turned out. I also ran a couple of workshops for new employees and was involved in a fairly major critical incident. Whew.... am I glad that it has come to an end. I have three whole days to catch up on my sleep and enjoy my training. Speaking of training, things are going well. I am working hard at improving my eye for detail and stay in touch with how it feels when I move. I think that I am moving in the right direction but only time and more practice will tell the tale.
The high light of my week was rescuing a 4 week old kitten. The cutest thing ever! As soon as I get a decent picture, I will share it.
Have a great week, work hard and have fun.

I have to honor my commitment to journalling and I am not sure what to write about. A lot has happened for me this weekend and I am not ready to talk about it. It is mostly stuff going on in my head and it will need some sorting before I let it out.
This is one of my favorite times of year, I enjoy walking in the woods and listening to the quiet as the trees all get ready for winter. There seems to be a quiet business going on and it feels good. I also like the smell, there is a clean freshness in the air and it feels like new beginnings. I never used to admit that I liked fall because it lead to winter and we are all supposed to hate winter, but I like both, it is a time to regroup, recharge and get ready for major growth in the spring.
Until next week, work hard and have fun.

Dragon Dancing

I am so excited to be on the dragon team. It is not just about looking super cool and being a part of amazing fetes, although those are great selling features. The team work is already fa-nominal, it will be out of this world when we unveil our dance to the rest of the family. I can already feel the strength of the dragon, it has patiently waited for us to be ready for it and now it can let it's strength shine. I am not sure that strength is the right word, maybe power would better suit it. I love being part of making it move and I am excited to watch it's personality emerge.
When we first got the dragon, I remember thinking,' I wonder if I will ever have an opportunity to be in the dragon dance?' And now I am, it is too exciting to describe. I am honored to be on the team and working with a great group of people, how about matching outfits team?????
Until next week, work hard and have fun.

Wacky Emotions

I feel a little cheap for not writing what is happening in my world last week. I was having a difficult time putting it into words, I am not sure that I am any more prepared this week but I am willing to give it a try.
I am riding an emotional roller coaster. I am not usually changing on a minute by minute basis but definitely by the hour (it does occasionally feel like it is changing by the minute). Here are those nasty emotions in no particular order:
Nervous -
Anxious -
Excited -
Confidence -
Satisfied -
Calm -
I was going to write a little bit about why each emotion is wreaking havoc in me but the answer is the same for each one, the test. I have worked very hard on my kung fu in the last couple of years and it is going to be put to the test very soon. I am looking forward to it and dreading it, all at the same time. The result of all these wacky emotions is that I seem distracted, even to me. I have to really concentrate in order to focus on one thing, and this is going okay so far. Occasionally, I get accused of not listening but that is pretty normal.
Until next week, work hard and have fun.