Do it and enjoy it

 This weekend is the NBA Allstars weekend. These basket players are elite performers and athletes. And the are are doing what they love. 

I often heard this mantra - do what you love and you will be happy. But what I love is not paying the bills. Heck - I’m not even that good at it and I’m not even sure I would love it if it was my full time job. 

So I think sometimes it is ok to settle with something you are ok with. Not something that will make you miserable. Then make sure you are allowing for enough time and resources to do what you really want. 

Polarized

We are so polarized. About everything. 

The government should stop mandating masks. The government is removing the restrictions too fast.

You should restrict screen time for kids. You should let kids make their own  decisions.

Oh Boy. The extremes has never done good to society. There should be a balance between things, between decisions. Balance.

When I am doing a technique and asked if I am pushing or pulling the answer is that physically I do both. My intent might be to pull or to push a specific part of my body but 99% of the time, it is a combination of a pull and a push at the same time.

Take for example the horizontal elbow strike. Is it a push or a pull? Your elbow is going out and striking the target - your hand is pulling and your shoulder is pushing. One side of the hips is pulling while the other is pushing. What are you focused on? For  me is making sure I have most effectiveness in my strikes so in the elbow strike example, I will make sure that my shoulder is not the only part of the body engaged (pushing) and that I incorporate my hand, the other shoulder, the hips, the feet... sound like the 6 harmonies...

Start at the End. Make Adjustments.

I like setting plans. I like knowing exactly what I am going to do. As a black belt (and as I progressed with my leadership at work), I learnt to make adjustments along the way.

I still start at the END. What do I want to achieve. What is the purpose of the project. Then I set a plan to get to that end  result. The best way to get there is not necessarily the most straight way. It might also not be what might seem the easiest route. I make adjustments to handle changes that are happening. Still seeing the end result in mind.

This is true with every technique in Kung Fu and it is also true in multi year, multi million project.

Frustration

 One of the great rewards of teaching and mentoring is seeking the growth of your students. But it can be very frustrating when they don’t listen or even when the listen but then do it the wrong way. 

With teaching one need to understand that not all you are saying is clear to the students as it is to you. Sometimes it takes years to get things across and sometimes all it takes is someone else explaining it in a different way. 

While it can be very frustrating to see the “resistance” in one’s growth, it is part of the teaching experience. 

Missed Opportunities

We often talk about missed opportunities. How we, because of fear, work, time, money, miss these opportunities that can transform  our lives.

After I visited Dharamshala, India - I knew that I missed an opportunity to of a life time - to meet the Dalai Lama. In order to do this, I had to register and then wait  few more  weeks. But I was in a rush to  move on. And later  regretted that.

I got to know Thich Nhat Hanh only after I moved to Canada. Somewhere around 2005. I was  listening  to his books and audio podcasts once in a while. I always thought it will be great to meet  someone like him in person and had  thoughts of  going to a retreat in Plum Village. Unfortunately, this opportunity is now also gone.  Thich Nhat Hanh has died yesterday at the age of 95. He is leaving a void I really hope someone will be able to fill.

"In the  here, in the now - I have arrived, I am home."

Ultimate Goal

 My ultimate goal is not to die young and to be able to be active when I’m older. 

Currently I have few goals that are supposed to support the ultimate goal. 

As mentioned in my last blog I have not been doing great with these goals this year. 

Goal 1 was to improve my cardio. Although there is some improvement, I still finding myself breathing heavily more often than I would like. I’m adjusting my plan to incorporate interval training but I’ve been having hard time to get consistent as of yet. 

Goal 2 was to improve my flexibility. This area had lots of improvement in the last 2 years but I still feel way too stiff. Recently I stated a routine the was good for me in the past and I’m also planning a new hamstring routine that I hope to share in the next few weeks. 

The 3 goal was to get to a healthy weight. I met with a dietitian, I tried intermittent fasting which I liked but I had few obstacles doing it properly. I’m definitely not where I wanted to be. I’m going to try intermittent fasting again and remove the obstacles I had before. And with that drink more and more water. 

Re-engage. 

Eluding Goal

Why this year is going to be different from any of the (about) 10 last years?

They all start the same - there is a goal. Very obvious goal. And there is a plan. Similar plan every year. Sometimes there is even good progress for awhile but a lack of finishing commitment has prevented me from achieving the goal. 

I tend to adjust the plan based on what is happening with life but sometimes it leads to the plan not supporting the goal. 😞