This past month my wife Kyla has had the urge to move into a bigger place. A nice house out in Spring Lake came up for sale and she soooo wanted to buy it. So we started the ball rolling by putting in an offer. Unfortunately what the present owner wants for the house is just not realistic in my mind for the amount of work that would be needed to be done. I.E. new shingles, the garage floor jacked up and insulation gutted(moldy), plus fixing all the sidewalk blocks that have sunk everywhere. And that was just what we could see right away. I have feeling the inspection would have reveled even more things.
We also realized the amount of work required to finish off our own house to be sale ready. Nothing major, alot of minor paint and trim details and decluttering. It kind of made me appreciate where we are and what we have. Our house isnt huge but it is comfortable and I'm proud of the changes we have made in the five years we have been here.
This whole experience has kind of regrounded me in a way. Yes a larger home would be nice, but it's not a necessity by any means. It's kind of funny how you have to change how you look at things to truly appreciate them.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Week 37 Routine
Lately I have been finding that more stress and pressure have been occuring at work. My crew is getting larger and that requires more time to organize them and keep up with the materials and information they need to complete their work. At first I thought that this may start to overwhelm me more and more. But I'm finding that my routine for kung fu is very much helping to keep me grounded and focused. I am by no means at effortless effort as Sifu Brinker describes it. But I am keeping my focus on my goals and training as is and I actually find I'm looking forward to my sit ups and push-ups each day.
I realize more and more just how much there is to yet learn, but I firmly believe that if I can focus on the basics, that the rest will come. Form and technique are like mantras in my head when I'm working on different combos or forms. I know I have details that will need to be worked on in my forms, mastery is a life time pursuit after all. I just dont want to sacrifice form or technique for power and realism before I'm ready for them. When that is I don't honestly know at the moment. That I leave to the Sifus to point out to me.
This week I have been giving alot of thought to the next UBBT. Have I put in an honest and true effort to this UBBT. Am I ready to make the commitment to next year. I can honestly say that I didn't know exactly what I was in for, for this year. But I do know it has helped me grow in ways I can't even describe in words. Next years requirements are very serious and intense when I compare them to this year. But I believe that if I can grow as much as I have this year, next year can be even more amazing. I know in my heart that there were times when I was sick or tired this year that I didn't do as much in my training as I could have. That is something I have accepted and never want to allow myself to do again. I know that I don't have to go full out all the time, but be more flexible in my training when life's obstacles pop up. It's something I'm still learning, but it has stuck in my head ever since Sifu Brinker talked about it at our UBBT meeting a few months back. I am determined to finish out this year stronger then when I began it. This includes physically and mentally. I am going to apply for next years team and hope I can give back as much as I get from what I know will be a challenging but rewarding experience.
I realize more and more just how much there is to yet learn, but I firmly believe that if I can focus on the basics, that the rest will come. Form and technique are like mantras in my head when I'm working on different combos or forms. I know I have details that will need to be worked on in my forms, mastery is a life time pursuit after all. I just dont want to sacrifice form or technique for power and realism before I'm ready for them. When that is I don't honestly know at the moment. That I leave to the Sifus to point out to me.
This week I have been giving alot of thought to the next UBBT. Have I put in an honest and true effort to this UBBT. Am I ready to make the commitment to next year. I can honestly say that I didn't know exactly what I was in for, for this year. But I do know it has helped me grow in ways I can't even describe in words. Next years requirements are very serious and intense when I compare them to this year. But I believe that if I can grow as much as I have this year, next year can be even more amazing. I know in my heart that there were times when I was sick or tired this year that I didn't do as much in my training as I could have. That is something I have accepted and never want to allow myself to do again. I know that I don't have to go full out all the time, but be more flexible in my training when life's obstacles pop up. It's something I'm still learning, but it has stuck in my head ever since Sifu Brinker talked about it at our UBBT meeting a few months back. I am determined to finish out this year stronger then when I began it. This includes physically and mentally. I am going to apply for next years team and hope I can give back as much as I get from what I know will be a challenging but rewarding experience.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Week 36 10 years goes by so fast
Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of 9/11. As the news unfolded and the pictures were broadcast around the world it all seemed so surreal. It truly saddens my heart to witness what man is capable of at times. Everyone always remembers where and what they were doing when various things of this nature occur. Whether it's big events like 9/11 or the day the space shuttle Columbia blew up, or when people are assasinated by others like John Lennon or even the day Elvis died.
I wish we could remember more positive things in our lifes instead of all the negative. Media these days bombards us with so many negative images and events. Instant news, all day, everywhere, all the time. When Kyla(my wife ) and I disconnected our cable over a year ago, I thought but how am I gonna know whats going on out there. But as time has gone by I truly haven't missed it at all. I can get the news on the computer or in a newspaper if I want. There is so much information available through the net these days that it can be quite overwhelming at times. Of course alot of what is out there has to be taken with a grain of salt as everyone tries to put their slant on the issues they are presenting(only human nature).
I like to try and find at least one good news story a day to read about. It gives me hope for the future when I see the positive things mankind can achieve for all, instead of the petty things we sometimes do only for ourselves. I know that one of the things that drew me so strongly into the Silent River community was seeing the many positive things everyone does for the local area and the world at large. If only more people could embrace that sense of being a part of something much larger then themselves, this world could become an even more amazing place to live then it already is.
I realize that we have to acknowledge that bad things are happening in the world today. But I hope that instead of it creating or causing a negative emotion to fester in our minds and souls, that we can get past the negative and instead try to find the positive in the world that's trying to poke its head up above the deep pile thats on top. I believe that if more problems were tackled with a positive attitude instead of a negative one, that so much could be done to rid the world of poverty, disease, and especially prejudice.
I wish we could remember more positive things in our lifes instead of all the negative. Media these days bombards us with so many negative images and events. Instant news, all day, everywhere, all the time. When Kyla(my wife ) and I disconnected our cable over a year ago, I thought but how am I gonna know whats going on out there. But as time has gone by I truly haven't missed it at all. I can get the news on the computer or in a newspaper if I want. There is so much information available through the net these days that it can be quite overwhelming at times. Of course alot of what is out there has to be taken with a grain of salt as everyone tries to put their slant on the issues they are presenting(only human nature).
I like to try and find at least one good news story a day to read about. It gives me hope for the future when I see the positive things mankind can achieve for all, instead of the petty things we sometimes do only for ourselves. I know that one of the things that drew me so strongly into the Silent River community was seeing the many positive things everyone does for the local area and the world at large. If only more people could embrace that sense of being a part of something much larger then themselves, this world could become an even more amazing place to live then it already is.
I realize that we have to acknowledge that bad things are happening in the world today. But I hope that instead of it creating or causing a negative emotion to fester in our minds and souls, that we can get past the negative and instead try to find the positive in the world that's trying to poke its head up above the deep pile thats on top. I believe that if more problems were tackled with a positive attitude instead of a negative one, that so much could be done to rid the world of poverty, disease, and especially prejudice.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Week 35 Renos, Renos, Renos
This past week saw what I'm told is the biggest reno undertaken at the kwoon so far. It was definately alot of work but oh so worth it. I have to tip my hat to Sihing Lingstrom for his outstanding leadership and drive to complete all the work that was undertaken. I know I enjoyed helping out. It gave me a enormous sense of pride in our Kwoon and also gave me a chance to meet and socialize with more members of the school in a non kung fu setting. I must admit there were times I was confused as to how to address different individuals as the work was being done. But it was a truly positive and enjoyable experience for me.
I love building things, no doubt a big factor why I became an electrician. Seeing things take shape and become functional buildings for various purposes truly intriques me.
The Kwoon looks awesome. Koodos to all that helped get so much work done, so smoothly.
I love building things, no doubt a big factor why I became an electrician. Seeing things take shape and become functional buildings for various purposes truly intriques me.
The Kwoon looks awesome. Koodos to all that helped get so much work done, so smoothly.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Week 34 Loss of a family member
On friday of this week we had to put to sleep our 14 year old dog. It was by far one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time. We had taken her in to the vet 2 weeks before and were informed that she likely didn't have very long to go til her health started to drop off severely. She had lost 28 pounds this past year and wasn't eating much anymore. She was still very alert, bu the signs of her aging were definately starting to show.
We had picked her out of her litter when she was just 3 days old at my sister in laws farm. As my wife put it, she was like our first born child and the thought of losing her was heartbreaking. We agonized for a week about how long to wait and what would be best for her, not what would be best for ourselves as we knew that deep down in our hearts we didn't want to lose her. For a week we went from one end of the spectrum to the other in our emotions and finally made the call to set up the appointment for last friday.
For a week we spoiled her rotten. Took her to all her favorite places and to all our various family homes so everyone could have a chance to say goodbye. Somehow I think she kind of knew something was up, she seemed to really slow down as the week went on. My whole family were there with her in the end. It was very difficult and there were alot of tears, but she went so peacefully that it it was almost surreal and hard to realize she was truly gone.
It was the next day that was probably the toughest for everyone. I remember Sifu Brinker talking about the loss of routine, even including people being around that you get used to. Not having maggie by the bed in the morning to be let out, or under the table as I had breakfest really hit me hard. Such simple daily things were missing from my routine and it was then that I knew how much she had interacted in my life.
I want to become more aware of all the little interactions in my life, so I don't take for granted the people around me. I hope I'm on my first few steps to being more aware of everything i do and everything that influences me in my daily life.
We have made a photo alblum all the amazing years we had with Maggie and remembering the joy she brought to our lives helps ease the sense of loss we feel. Pets are definately members of the family, its just sad that their lifes are so much shorter then most of ours.
We had picked her out of her litter when she was just 3 days old at my sister in laws farm. As my wife put it, she was like our first born child and the thought of losing her was heartbreaking. We agonized for a week about how long to wait and what would be best for her, not what would be best for ourselves as we knew that deep down in our hearts we didn't want to lose her. For a week we went from one end of the spectrum to the other in our emotions and finally made the call to set up the appointment for last friday.
For a week we spoiled her rotten. Took her to all her favorite places and to all our various family homes so everyone could have a chance to say goodbye. Somehow I think she kind of knew something was up, she seemed to really slow down as the week went on. My whole family were there with her in the end. It was very difficult and there were alot of tears, but she went so peacefully that it it was almost surreal and hard to realize she was truly gone.
It was the next day that was probably the toughest for everyone. I remember Sifu Brinker talking about the loss of routine, even including people being around that you get used to. Not having maggie by the bed in the morning to be let out, or under the table as I had breakfest really hit me hard. Such simple daily things were missing from my routine and it was then that I knew how much she had interacted in my life.
I want to become more aware of all the little interactions in my life, so I don't take for granted the people around me. I hope I'm on my first few steps to being more aware of everything i do and everything that influences me in my daily life.
We have made a photo alblum all the amazing years we had with Maggie and remembering the joy she brought to our lives helps ease the sense of loss we feel. Pets are definately members of the family, its just sad that their lifes are so much shorter then most of ours.
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