Sore but smiling

This was a busy one and frankly would love to feel a little less sore but still content. Yesterday I tackled my front driveway shoveling and pulled my lower back so was left walking around like the hunchback of notre dame the rest of the day and most of this one. I have done this before, a year ago almost to the day. This time I feel it easing and should be better in a few days. The reason I’m smiling, I had a great weekend with practising and still working on day to day routines. Judi looked at me and thought I was nuts practising a weapons form in the living room last night with no weapon in hand. She said “why are you doing that, leave it for another day when you get better.” Just couldn’t do it, still wanted to practise and keep it in front of me. I feel better tonight already and know that I need to work on strengthening my back. I had noticed the last few months that my posture as I sit was pretty awful and now I have a reason to improve upon it. Looks like I’ll be creating a new exercise routine for my back which frankly was overdue. Sifu Bryant

Needed a boost

As the weeks go by and the routine takes shape things can become a little easier as we make our way through. Today unfortunately was a great example of low energy and motivation can be a detriment. This was likely caused by the past few weeks of little sleep and much worry. I always say that when I am energetic and motivated it is easy to tackle the daily pushups, situps and other requirements but when you have no energy and push through it can be more rewarding. This was definitely true of today, I really had to force myself to do these things but it left me with a smile that I could still keep up the pace and momentum. Tomorrow will be much easier I’m sure. Oh and when practising weapons such as say nunchuks and you turn slip and fire they can and will go right through a double pane window with ease. Luckily Home Depot was still open…… Sifu Bryant

One with vision

I recently finished reading the Steve Jobs autobiography and it definitely changed the way I viewed the man and his legacy. Working in the technology field myself, his impact was profound and far reaching. Much of the technology around us was due to his vision of the future and what it could mean to the world. What struck me most was his ability to get full potential out of the people who worked for him. Sometimes this was a stressful and demanding environment they were put in, but many when all was said and done were in awe of what they had accomplished. Finishing the book, I recognized the true genius he was and the power of one individual to change the world around him. Every day I try to look back and ask myself did I accomplish anything of value for that day. As I grow older I always strive to make myself a better person, but a great individual makes those around him even better. This is what I hope to improve upon as time goes on. Sifu Bryant

Meaning in the method

When I was a kid growing up playing sports and as an early adult, there was always the inevitable prerequisite for fundraising. This always varied from sport to sport but the idea was the same - sell product A for fundraising, ask relatives for money and my alltime favorite was working a bingo all night to raise funds for the community with which I was a part of. Now these were all quite simple and easy for everyone to understand for instance we needed the funds for fuel for transportation, or equipment, etc. Now as I have been involved with our yearly fundraising for many years I still feel like its just not gaining traction like it should. Each New Year's banguet I see first hand the charities that we are helping out with our donations and fundraising but it feel's almost faceless as we start raising funds in November. I know this is for an amazing cause but when I start asking my coworkers for money I try to explain what these funds are being put towards and I can see their eyes start to glaze over, they have no connection and if I'm lucky can only get a few dollars from them as they sip a five dollar latte each day. One thing I started doing last fall was each week I would put five dollars aside in a jar to go towards fundraising for our school. Each week I am reminded of what that money is going towards and what it will mean for these individual charities. Now like I said five dollars a week is not much - a special coffee or snack once a week, yet it has meaning. I will continue to articulate what our fundraising is about to my friends, relatives and such but if I am not fully engaged in this endeavor how can I inspire other's to do so as well. I have spoken with Sifu Brinker about the timing of fundraising and have come to the conclusion there is never a perfect time. The fall is terrible, kids are back in school so this means school supplies and such, winter, well you have Christmas and after Christmas you have holiday debt, the spring - summer sports pick up and vacations start happening etc. For me it is about starting with myself and the intent of this act and work out from there. Now as each week comes and goes I will put another fiver into the jar and embrace the moment and what it's purpose is. Now just have to change the writing on the jar that says "Tom and Judi's Nite Our Jar" don't want Judi to get too excited.... Sifu Bryant