Week 42 times sure have changed

A little while back we got a letter from my daughters school informing us that they were changing the way the kids were being graded. They were switching from a grade system to a new system that confused the heck out of me. Basically the teachers are trying to engage the students thought processes more and determine if they are understanding and thinking about the information presented to them. For example they may read a news headline or watch a short newsclip on something like women trying to attain the right to vote in Saudi Arabia. Then they discuss various themes and ideas that were presented to them. The kids are then assessed on whether they understood the material and how it got them thinking. They write down in there own words answers to various questions that gauge how much the student understood the material and can give examples and conparisons to say, how different it is between life for women in Canada as opposed to Saudi Arabia. There are no perfectly right or wrong answers. It is more a question of how it got the student thinking and how they relate it to what they already know.
  
I like that they are getting the students thinking more. Not just doing the straight memorization of facts and figures or places on a map. There is so much information out there that kids can so easily access. They need to be able to look at this information critically and not just accept things at face value. Alot of so called factual information is presented from the angle that the writer wants the reader to reach. Kids today have to be able to be much more discerning of what is screaming loudly at them for their attention nowadays.

I am still old fashioned in that I can understand what 90% means as opposed to "meets the standard". But the information age is upon us and technology and the world wide web have shrunk the world to the point where everything is so close to home now. I just hope I can keep up with the changes and contribute in a positive way to my kids growth, both mentally and spiritually. By trying to be a positive role model and someone they can talk to about anything, I think I'm doing ok. The world is a much more complicated place then when I was a kid. I can't even imagine what the future holds for my childrens children and their children after that.

Weeks 40 and 41 Crazy time of year

Still busier then all can be with various work projects and family life. I have missed anymber of classes lately and that is bugging me alot. I don't like missing classes but have had to sacrifice a few for family and work reasons. I am definately looking forward to November when things settle down abit again and I can get back to my normal routine. I realized the other day in the kids class that I am not reviewing all my technigues as much as I should be. That is something I can and will add into my home training.

This past week I have been thinking about all the Sihings testing for black belt. My best wishes have been with them all as the test day approached. We have such a strong group this year and they are all a constant source of inspiration and amazement to me. I am sure that someday I'll be nervous as all can be as test day approaches. I just hope i can be as good an example to the Kwoon as they have been to me this year.

On an dang it note, my computer is starting to act up in little ways lately. It may be a sign that its time for a new computer. This one is 5 years old now and it does get alot of use. Hopefully I can get a bit more time out of it before the point of no return. Technology is advancing so fast nowadays that I'm not even sure what is good and what isn't in the world of computers. Time to do some research I guess.

Week 39 dang it

This last week I messed up my whole routine. My schedule had to adjust somewhat for the activities my kids and my wife have undertaken.  Shelby is back in dance this year and going 2 nites a week this year. Jordan is still in Kung Fu, plus running club in school and my wife is on the commitee for The Parkland County Santa's Anonymous party  again this year. I was expecting it, I just got so used to my routine that it was hard to rearrange it. I was surprised  that it was such a fight to get myself moving at different times than I'm used to. I know I can adjust, I just have to look at my goals again and retailor them as needed and realize I wont be able to put in as much time as I was before. I still have to be a father and a husband, and just because I am so into my Kung Fu doesn't mean I can just forget that I have other responsibilities.  My Kung Fu is very important to me, the journey I am on, I know I had no idea when I first started that it would have so much meaning for me and on such a deep level.  As the saying goes, a journey of a thoasand miles begins with one step. I'm about 1000 steps in with 100000 more to go, but I am so looking forward to and enjoying the journey.

Week 38 New house or not new house.

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.

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.

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.

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.