Happy Birthday

There are a lot of thing I need. Many items I want to buy. Many places I want to go to and many goals I want to achieve. 

Today, for one day, I've put all of it aside. Today there was only one thing I wanted to do. Unfortunately I was no able to do it. I didn't even try as I knew it is "not going to happen". 

Today was my mom's 80th birthday and I really wanted to spend the day with her. 6,000 miles and a couple of thousands dollars prevented me from doing it. Prevented me from even thinking it is possible. 

Happy birthday ima. I love you from a far land and in my heart I'm always with you. 

I am an Eagle

When asked "if you could be a different animal...", I always choose an eagle. The ability to fly up in the sky and see everything always aspires me.

Sometimes, I am an eagle and I'm looking at everything that is happening to me and that is happening to the people around me. I see the opportunities I missed and the ones I've taken. I can see the priorities people are setting and the consequences of their choices. I see how people change their paths and how their lives and the life of the people around them change.

I see how people with the same goal might approach their goal differently. For example, reaching the top of a mountain as goal, I can see who is climbing the mountain just to ski all the way down. I can see who is climbing the mountain and then choose a different mountain once one is conquered. I can see who is climbing the mountain because they see the value in climbing. I can see who is taking the chairlift up the mountain.

Looking back at myself - reflection of what my priorities are? Where do I want to be? How do I want to get there? Who do I want to be with me on this journey? What will heritage be?
I'm trying to disconnect from the daily life, fly high and look deeply into where I am. Be true to myself. Have enough courage to do the right move.

Plateau

It's been 3 weeks now since I started my squat thrust challenge. The first 2 weeks were great and I've lost 7-8 pounds. This last week I've hit a plateau. It's been up one, down one every day.

It is a little scary as week 4 comes in and now my numbers will have to quadruple. Starting Monday it looks like 36-40 squat thrusts for me. Fun.

Pandamonium is coming fast and furious. It is time when we get to have FUN and also reflect on the fortunate circumstances we live in. We have houses, cars, electricity, running water, medical care, free education. Yes, not everything is perfect. But we are truly blessed with what we have! This is why it is sometimes hard to empathize with the charities we sponsor. We don't really know what it is like to be in there place.

OK, I have to go and try my Po costume. Make sure it still fits me...

1, 2, 3 ...

This weekend was busy (can the days be more busy than they already are?) and successful. The kwoon cleanup was great success and I was very happy to see so many people come and give a hand to keep our surrounding clean. I was also able to do some gardening at home and the weather was great for that.

It is two more weeks before the Pandamonium and I hope it will be a successful day. There is a lot of preparation done by some people and it has to potential to be a great day.

My squat thrust adventure continues. Regardless of how much I've lost (OK - I've lost 7 pounds so far), I've been more aware of how much I eat and what I eat. I'm still eating good food but in moderation. Seeing others joining me with this challenge is inspiring as well.

1, 2, 3 ...

Tomorrow will mark the 3rd week of my squat thrust challenge, which means I'm going to triple the squat thrusts I'm doing based on my target weight. If nothing changes tonight, it looks like 30 squat thrusts tomorrow.

Double or nothing

For the last week I've been paying attention to what I eat and when I eat. Can't lie, I still had good food but I was trying to reduce the portions and avoid eating late. All because I am thinking about the squat thrust.

Well, I've made some progress with my weight dropping 4-5 pounds so far. On top of my regular training, I've been doing on average 15 squat thrust a day. I have to admit that it was great seeing others post their numbers too (although I felt bad that they are doing more than mine). I'm going to take sifu Brinker's advice (just in reverse) and manipulate the numbers... I need to continue pushing my self, therefore - for the next week, I will be doing double the squat thrusts for every pound to my target weight.

I can't believe I just committed to it...