Stop the Hate

Nothing new about this. There is lots of hatred in the world. For centuries people went to wars because of different beliefs, different views, different color, size, shape, ...

Why can't people just accept other people as they are?

On Saturday while participating in the Tiger Challenge, I got a message from my sister asking me if I am OK. There was a shooting incident in Pittsburgh which is where I spend about a week every month. A shooting incident that happened just because someone is hating someone else. Not the individuals that were killed and injured. The shooter did not know them personally. He purely shot them because they were different from what he is.

And I am in the kwoon with people that have different religious beliefs from mine, people from different backgrounds, with different shapes, colors, views - but we are working together and we are not hating or hurting each other. Why can't the whole world be like that??? 

What is important to me?

Every once in a while I go somewhere and see something that makes we wish I had something I do not have...

I am pretty happy with what I have and where I am but once in a while I am looking a the Johnson's. :-(

But wondering what I should have done is worthless. If something is really important to me, I should make a plan to get it and keep working on it. If I am not doing it, then it is not that important.

This is also true in Kung Fu. I am not going to be the same as any other person in Kung Fu. I will work and improve on what is important to me.

Family and sharing what we love

I always enjoyed the fact that Kung Fu allows me to spend time with my family. It started with me spending lots of time with Kobe and then with Sharida and the girls as well. It is still fun to be able to practice together. I always feared from the day one of them will decide to quit but it seems they are too scared at this point to do so... 😏

Now this year I am also enjoying spending time with my kids in other activities they are enrolled in. Kobe started playing basketball lots. It is fun to play with him although he is already better then me. We also enjoy watching NBA games together. Noa also started playing and I enjoy watching her practices and games. The other two, Shira and Aviva, decided to join gymnastics. OK here is my limit - I cannot really practice with them but I do enjoy watching them practice.

I am spending lots more time this year watching them in activities other than Kung Fu. But I think that the time we share at the kwoon allowed us to develop the connection we have today.

Forever in My Heart

I am thankful for the past 13.5 year I had Charlie. My companion and friend.
Some people say that you don't know what you have until you lose it. Well, with Charlie this was not true. I always knew what a great dog he was. Always waiting for me at the door, always there to cheer me up. You are in my heart forever.

what you loved

Sometimes what you loved to do is not what you love to do anymore. I used to love gardening. It was rewarding activity. Relaxing. And challenging.

Few days ago I was thinking about the fact that in the last few years I am doing close to zero gardening. I was wondering why.

Yesterday I did a little bit of gardening and today my back was feeling it. All my back is aching as it did not for long time. Now I know why I do not do gardening any more...

The Challenge

Plank is one of the better core exercises. It is strengthening your abs without harming your back. It is also working on your back muscles, gluts, thighs, ...

I was thinking of a challenge that will push me beyond my comfort level with a plank. Let say 1000 minutes in couple months. I've done it in the past but it was impossible to continue with it after the challenge was done.

This year I'm thinking more of sustainability. Something that I can continue after the challenge is complete. However, I still want to make it challenging and to get others to participate with me.

So the target date is Chinese New Year 2019 (Feb 5th). The plan is to do 300 minutes planks by target date. But if more than 3 people will join my challenge, I will add 100 more. Which means 400 minutes. If more than 5 people will join my challenge, I will do 500 minutes. If more than 10 people will join my challenge, I will do 600 minutes of plank.

The Next New Thing

We are constantly after the next new thing. It is almost impossible these days to be content with what you have. For sure, my current phone is doing what it needs to but can I imagine having my phone from 10 years ago? Shouldn't I buy a new piece of clothing to replace the one that is worn down?

Am I going to be able to be satisfied with what I've got? Do I have all I need?

It feels the same when learning Kung Fu. Learnt one form and now progress to the next. Practiced one application and not the new one looks like a shiny item I need.

I don't think that you can stop consumption either with the material world or with training. You always want and should get more. The question is how you do it and what balance you are making with getting better use with what you already have. Get all you can get out of it before you jump to the next new thing.