Starting young

My sons grade 5 class is starting a project this year that will extend into all his years in school. They are learning how to blog, comment cratively and positively on other blogs and how to leave a positive electronic footprint in todays day and age. I am really looking forward to seeing how Jordan does with this and hopefully we can inspire each other as we grow in blogging. I think it is a great idea for kids to learn this skill. So often today we hear about one person or another and how they had to withdraw from a contest or political office due to some stupid thing they posted or did in the past. Todays age is so much more fast paced and the world has truly shrunk in size when it comes to the internet. We receive news almost instantly today, whereas in the past it could take months for news of big events to travel the globe. Most issues were considered local and were barely heard about in other areas. Today we hear all about everything and anything in hours and even minutes. The problem I feel is that alot of news today seems to glorify the bad in man as opposed to the good. We instantly hear about mass murders and attacks or suicide bombers. Sadly it seems bad news sells and is watched. Greed and waste are seen as normal and acceptable by todays youth. Commerciallism and the all mighty dollar are more important then feeding our fellow man or doing the right thing. Hopefully by starting today my son can learn to not accept everything as fact just because its on the net like some people do today. I want him to grow up to show a positive example of what it means to be a human being on the planet earth. I hope he can learn right from wrong and fact from fiction. With proper guidance I know he can. Technology has grown and effected our lifes in ways I couldn't even imagine from when I was in grade 5. It is going to continue to do so. Giving our kids more skills now, can only help them in the future. I can even imagine that some day my sons kids will say," You had to use keyboards when you were young?, Wow thats so old school!".

Opportunity knocks

I saw a quote this week that really got me thinking. It said, "Every single person you meet knows something that you don't". That hit me in a way that got me thinking about opportunities. Every time we meet someone there is an opportunity to learn, grow and influence. In every interaction we have at work, the store and the kwoon, we have an opportunity. Being aware of and making the most of the opportunity is the hard part for most people. It's something that I have finally become more aware of. I am no where near perfect in making the most of my opportunities. But I am becoming more aware of where I am and what I am doing. I believe that is the first step to making the most of the opportunities presented to us every day. The difference between grumbling and complaining about what a hard day we are having or persevering through a tough task with a positive attitude can have a profoundly different impact on the people around us. That impact can then project to even more people as the ones we influenced, encounter even more people. I am not perfect and don't ever expect to be. But I can be mindful of how I am impacting the people I come in contact with daily. Hopefully with practise and patience I can work a positive, helpful, inspiring spirit into everything I do, from my work to my kung fu. Especially my kung fu when I'm helping in the kids classes. A child with a positive outlook, confidence and demenour can be anything they set their mind too. That is truly inspiring to me.

Renovation week complete?

The past few days have seen very few people turning out to help with the renos at the kwoon. I understand that its the final long weekend before school starts, but the renos are important and we can't resume classes if they aren't complete. I saw so much excitement and energy at the beginning of the renos. The tiling went so quickly and smoothly. It was very inspiring and was awesome connecting with so many people on a more personal level. Then for some reason the excitement and energy really fell off. I want to thank Sifu Lindstrom so much for again leading the renos. He truly has great vision and boundless paitence and energy to see the renos through. Thank you for allowing this wannabe carpenter the chance to grow in my skills and commitment. I don't look at renos as a chore or a duty. I look at them as an oppurtunity to invest myself in the kwoon. I'm proud of my second home and want it to look as awesome as it can. Yes that is a bit of ego, but ego that is good in my mind. How we finish something is as important as how we start, possibly even more so. It's like the I Ho Chuan, starting great full of energy and good intentions is great, finishing great is even more important. Half done means not complete. I would prefer to complete a project as best as I can, then to only complete 50% of a project amazingly then stop and do nothing. I am finally understanding the true definition of commitment and responsibility. Now to take that understanding and apply it, thats the next step.