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I am almost always on the go, be it for work, socializing, travelling, or doing recreational activities. In the same way meditation has been especially hard for me during my black belt testing, taking time to do nothing has also been very hard. I have been trying to do this more along with incorporating more physical rest. Our bodies need downtime. I referenced in a previous blog that we all have active energy and resting energy. Most of us only cater to our active energy (exercise, socializing, activities, getting work done) while neglecting our resting energy (meditation, sleep, relaxation). We need to nourish both equally to achieve balance, like a yin and a yang. Most of us have a difficult time sleeping or get bad sleep because our bodies are too “amped up” from being active. In the past, I have always felt that free time should be filled with something productive or some kind of fun or new experience. By setting time out to relax or just be present, it actually helps my active phase as well. I feel I think better at work, have more stamina with exercise, am more productive, even sleep better. It’s amazing what we neglect when we get too wrapped up in day to day activities and obligations.

Spring | Definition, Dates, & Facts | BritannicaWith Spring upon us, it brings about a sense of renewal in me. This sense of renewal paves way for opportunity and the hope of good things to come. Not that winter was unpleasant by any means. Winter had its own set of adventures and memories. The changing of the seasons feels for me like an opportunity to grow from the past to make new experiences. A “reset button” if you will. A chance to start over and try again. This is an exciting prospect as I’m always one to ask myself how I could have done something differently and better. In karate, particularly sparring and kata, each opportunity is a chance to try again and potentially do better. We see this in nature with plants blooming again, birds singing us awake in the morning, and fragrant smells of flowers (also allergies in my case). It’s a renewal which gives us hope for the future.

It is spring time.  The flowers and trees are blooming while the birds are chirping loudly.  It is such a beautiful time of year.  This last weekend I went to an all day track meet  on Saturday for my son and a basketball tournament for my daughter on Sunday.  It was difficult to find time for my pushups, crunches, kata, exercise, and other tasks.   On Saturday I did my pushups and crunches on the grass near the team tent.  I found a quieter place on the campus to do my kata.  I walked as much as I could all day long to see each event.  On Sunday after the tournament I made time to do everything even though I was tired.  This challenge is a way of life.  I do it everyday regardless of how busy or tired I am.

Mia was my 17 year old dog. I had to make the decision to put her down last Friday. Honestly, it was the hardest thing I have ever done. But it was time. She was just old and her body was failing her. It’s been a hard adjustment. I still look for her every time I get home from work, or in the mornings, I get up. Even my other dog Yoshi seems out of sorts and is always looking for her. She was my first dog as an adult. So, she was literally my baby. Letting go of her has been really hard 😭

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This weekend me and a bunch of my fellow students went and competed in a tournament at Bennati’s Martial Arts dojo in Auburn. This tournament was really fun and I’m glad I got to see some old friends and meet some new ones too. I competed in kata and point sparring. I performed Chinto kata and won 1st place. I felt like I had great intensity and power but I still have to practice slowing down my moves. I also won 1st place in point sparring and I was really proud of myself. My sparring was really good and I thought I had great control and speed. All my opponents were amazing fighters and I was glad to spar against them. Hopefully we will get the chance to spar again at other upcoming tournaments.

This week I went skiing with my daughter.  We had some great bonding time.  She is a beginner so we went to a small resort.  We went to Donner Ski Ranch which is a smaller family owned resort with great beginning runs.  It was a beautiful day.  It had snowed a little the night before.  There were parts of the runs that had fresh powder to ski over.  I felt so energized and free skiing.  I  love the thrill of going down a mountain on two skis.  The air is crisp and clean.  The sky is so crystal blue.  The wind and sunlight feel fresh on my face.  Being in the outdoors in the elements is so spectacular.  I can get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and love doing it.  This is one of my favorite hobbies.   I estimated three miles skiing for exercise.  We started at 10:20 and finished at 4 pm with a break for lunch.  I am lucky I can do this and incorporate it into my challenge.  Exercise can be easy if you love what you are doing.

 

 

 

This last weekend, I was walking with my parents when I saw a Western Meadowlark sitting on a telephone wire. I heard a noise that sounded like a shot, and then the Meadowlark fell to the ground. I went to grab him, he had a wound to the left side of his chest. He wasn’t actively bleeding, but did have blood on his chest and in his beak. I was able to get him to one of the vets who helps out with our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Unfortunately, he did not survive. I do not understand why people kill our wildlife. There was no need to hurt this bird. There are less and less of these precious creatures every year. Its very sad and extremely frustrating. 

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I recently just finished reading the book You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh.  There was some good insight on meditation.  I have a hard time meditating.  This book was helpful.  The author talks about three elements. The body, the mind,  and the breath become one.  It is the idea of sanchin.  The only difference is he says breath instead of spirit.  He says when you breathe in you say to yourself, “I know that I am breathing in.”  When you breathe out you say, “I know I am breathing out.”  By doing that process it helps unite the body and mind in meditation.  Be in the present.  Focus on the present, not the past, or the future.  By focusing on the present breathing pattern it helps to empty the mind, relax the body, and meditate.  My mind does drift a lot, but I try to bring it back to my breathing.  Some days are more difficult than other days.  It is a practice that I work on everyday.  This is an excellent book and I recommend it to read.

Yesterday I started the process of getting a job and also researching how to start my driver’s training. For over a year I’ve been majorly procrastinating on finding a job and starting my drivers ed, I honestly think it is all just because I have been scared of growing up. I have so many good memories from my childhood that if I actually grow up then I will lose my memories but then I finally realized that I will never lose my childhood and I can’t stop myself from growing up. I created my resume which was actually kind of fun and I applied to my first actual job for a McDonald’s near my house and hopefully they get back to me and I get an interview with them. I am excited for starting my drivers ed too because now that I’m 16 I feel like driving around either by myself one day, or with my friends, or even with my parents in the car I will have a lot of fun being behind the wheel even though it is a huge responsibility.