Leadership and The Voices In My Head

I always gravitate towards those that lead by example. People who's actions bring truth to their words. I have a really hard time listening to people tell me things when their actions and words contradict each other. If someone tells me to do something, that it would be good for me, I need to see that they are doing it so there's an example of where I could be if I do it too. I think that's how we need to lead the school with I Ho Chaun, especially with the big projects. When people see how much fun we have together it brings a vibe to the school that naturally attracts others. When we're doing things out of obligation but would rather be somewhere else, I think other's feel that as well. If we don't want to be there, why would they? I hope that our next school projects end up being just as much fun as Canada Day. If they are, we're going to have people banging on the doors to help.

I've always known my brain was my worst enemy. Sifu Freitag worked on teaching me to calm my mind during sparring class and it made a huge difference. I felt better and was able to learn without berating myself for sucking and getting all frustrated. I really need to learn how to do that on my own. It's going to take alot of practice and I'm not sure how to do it yet but I'm going to try. She could tell when my brain started working against me and immediately told me to shut it off. I'm sure she's not going to want to follow me around to snap me out of my thinking, so I'm going to have to learn my own tricks somehow. Wish me luck, my brain NEVER wants to turn off.

Well, there's my ramblings for the week, have a good one everyone!

Keeping Up

I find this year alot harder than last year. I haven't been able to attend my regular classes for awhile because of scheduling so I'm taking part in the advanced classes for now so I can stay in kung fu. I'm in Sanshao and we're learning lion dance in I Ho Chaun. There's also those classes where everyone is expected to perform their forms in front of everyone. I haven't been forced to do it, I've been open about how much fear I have about public performances but I still feel the pressure. I can't seem to keep up or do well with anything. I guess I just have to remember its ok to ask more questions, calm myself, remember that I'm not an experienced martial artist and remember I'm not naturally coordinated so it's going to take time. My body also isn't cooperating with me, so that's a whole other can of worms to deal with. I must learn patience with myself.

My Week in a Nutshell

I'm still sticking with posting daily on UBBT chat. Seems to be working for getting me to log. I like giving myself kindness challenges before my day starts, makes it more fun and it's way more fun now that people are joining in.

I'm finding Lao Gar quite difficult to grasp but I'm learning it. I keep trying to remember everything the Sifus are teaching me, but there's alot so I'm expecting to be corrected alot, which I'm ok with. I'll admit to not practicing my ropedart this year. I hit a brick wall with it. I'm ordering a video online and I'm hoping to learn more.

I had an awesome Canada Day. It was awesome how the day went and how everyone worked together so well. I actually did Da Mu Hsing in the park with everyone, doesn't technically count as a public performance but I'm still counting it anyway for myself. I also got to have my family over at my place for a bbq. My dad came to visit from Ontario, I only get to see him once every few years or so. After the bbq my dad and I headed to the legislature grounds to watch the fireworks so it was a really long but really great day.

I wish more people would join Sanshou, I'm not sure how everyone is getting their sparring reps in without it. I had a few people telling me when I started that they were going to be in the class, and then those people never showed up again...Is it me? I swear I'll start showering and wearing deoderant if that'll help... :) There were only 2 people in class tonight. That made me sort of sad, I'm nervous that if people don't start showing up that we may lose that class. I don't want that to happen because this is a big challenge for myself and I've been sticking with it.

I'm also struggling with lion dance, my feet and hands don't work together very well, I'm sure I'll get it eventually though, it'll probably just take me longer and I'll have to ask lots of questions.

Anyway, that's my week in a nutshell. I haven't been mirroring this to the I Ho Chaun blog because for some reason my copy/paste won't work. I am getting a new computer soon though, so hopefully that will change.

A Day In The Life Of Lindsay M. Gibbons

It's been a mixed bag of a week. I'm not very good at maintaining my requirements. I tend to allow genuine reasons become an excuse for me to get nothing done and be lazy, when in actuality, there's always something I could do. I don't remember to log either. I've tried blogging my numbers, carrying a piece of paper, making notes on my phone, nothing worked. I have to be accountable to other people, because if it's just me I procrastinate until a month or 2 go by and I realize I've done nothing. The past week, posting my numbers on the UBBT chat has made me consistently do some requirements every single day this week, and I think that's the first time ever. It's also more fun for me that people joined in and we can challenge each other with little kindness challenges and support each other. I think I've found a way finally that works for me.

My heart stopped when I realized everyone was doing their forms in class. I felt myself becoming as small as possible and making my way to the changeroom. I wish I wasn't that scared. It sucks, but I'm just not ready for that mountain quite yet.

I enjoyed San Shao class. It was fun and I wasn't frustrated. I usually just stand there frozen, not knowing what to do when sparring, but I learned some things and got to practice them. A huge weakness for me is combinations and sparring, so one of my goals this year was to work on that and make my required numbers.

Sometimes I think when your in a rut, the only answer is to force your way through and find a way to just do it.

Oh Bother!

I'm not sure how to write this blog without sounding complainy. I've been in pain quite a bit for almost a year. I do have weeks here and there where it goes away, but it's not seeming to last very long. Sometimes I think I have a solution, but then, nope, no such luck. I'm really frustrated with the medical system, apparently if you don't have cancer, nobody cares about helping you find out what's wrong. Between my side, my knee, my hip, my back, there's just no break in between and kung fu is the last thing I want to do. I don't even want to talk to anyone anymore because I don't want to answer questions such as "why weren't you here" and "why are you on the bench again". I'm tired of hearing my own voice complain about my ailments when I know so many people have it so much worse. Then there's the added pressure of trying to do everything to keep up with everyone else. I know I'm not supposed to worry about things like that, but I do especially when working with a partner and when I constantly feel like I'm embarrassing myself, why would I even want to bother. I seriously wish I could just feel normal for a little while. I finally acknowledged that I have become quite depressed dealing with my situation and it's snowballing into me not wanting to do anything that I used to enjoy. I sleep alot and have got super emotional which isn't like me. It took a few other people to notice it before I could even admit that I now have a bigger problem. I guess I have to push through it and keep hoping I find a doctor who can help. I haven't been doing my requirements. I think I may have to start doing a little and posting them everyday so I don't totally fall off the map. I'm stuck in a vicious circle, I can't seem to get out of.

Keep Going...

My favorite moments in kung fu have been when I've stuck around for 5-10 minutes after class. Sometimes you have the greatest conversations with people that help put things in a different perspective for you. I find it very useful to learn other people's thoughts of me because when you're clouded by your own brain, its hard to see your own strengths and weaknesses sometimes and it gives you a different view of what you may need to change. I seem to find it very easy to see my weaknesses and focus to much on them. I need to find a reasonable balance. Sticking around you also get to witness some pretty cool things. Yesterday Sihing MacDonald put up some milk jugs full of water and chopped them up really good with a sword. A few other people tried too. I wasn't so brave, I've hurt myself with a butter knife and knew better than to touch a sword.

I went in Friday with the full intention of quitting San Shao. After sitting and talking with Sifu Playter for awhile I'm going to give it a little longer and use it more as a tool for learning to curb my frustration and anxiety rather than worrying so much about the sparring part. He's also agreed to be my steady partner for sparring again. I think this will make me feel more comfortable taking a break when I get overly anxious and slowing it down alot because he understands what my issues are. I'm also hoping more students show up to participate so that there's more people working on their stuff so I don't feel that my awkwardness is highlighted.

Lion Dance I'm not enjoying so much. It's not that I don't like it at all, it's that I don't like that I feel like I'm slowing down the person that's partnered up with me. I just don't get it. The head feels so huge and unmanageable, my feet and hands don't do what they are supposed to do and my goodness does my back ever hurt being hunched over so much. How does one get everything coordinated together and why is everyone else picking it up so much faster than me? I like watching way better than participating. I keep watching the drums and trying to learn the rhythms. I'm going to be a drummer one day. I'm not sure I'm built or coordinated enough to be in a lion.

So I guess I'm still in a rut, but I know once I get through it I'll come out a better person...I hope.

Who Put This Giant "L" on my Forehead?

I'm past my blog date. To be honest I had nothing nice to say so I didn't say anything at all. Thought I'd snap out of it by now. I feel like the biggest loser ever right now. I'm still in the advanced class when I'm able to attend classes because of scheduling. I struggle to keep up but that was expected being an orange belt among blue and brown belts, so that's ok. I didn't attend my classes this week and I have no excuse other than I didn't want to go, I didn't want to do kung fu anymore.

I went to my Fridays I Ho Chaun class because I said I would and I try to always keep my word. I was put in the demo and even though it was for a few seconds, the thought of it terrified me. Every fibre of my being told me not to show up on Saturday, but I did, I forced myself too. As the demo grew closer my heart started to pound so loud it's the only thing I could hear. My body got really hot and my legs started to shake. I thought for sure that I would fall on my own arse as soon as I attempted a 'kick' to Sihing Tymchuks head. I didn't fall, I survived, I guess people cheered but I didn't hear much over the drumming of my own heart. I'm not sure my heart can handle that again, but at the same time, I remember being so inspired by the tiny chicks taking down the big guys while watching demos before I started kung fu. Could I possible, eventually inspire someone else? I wish I wasn't so darn afraid. I'm getting jealous of how awesome you all are, but too afraid to be awesome myself.

I'm still showing up to San Sao class. Every bit of it is challenging for me. I have the coordination of a baby giraffe trying to stand up for the first time, ok, actually, they're more coordinated than I am. It's all the little things that are hard too that I'm sure the other students don't even think of anymore, like the blocks hurt. It's not even that hard, but I still end up going home with bruises all over me. I suppose I have to toughen up for a real life situation though, afterall it is a sparring class, I just wish everything wasn't as much of a challenge as it is and I didn't get so frustrated with myself all the time.

So this is how my kung fu is going, I'm still around, barely, but still here. The only reason I keep showing up right now is because I really like the people on my team. I'm still hoping to get through this rough patch. I recognize how much the I Ho Chaun changed me for the better last year, so I know I should stick with it, even though I don't want to at this moment. I just wish there was at least one thing I was good at...