Running to stand still....

Motivation must come in many forms. It is attached to so many clichés. Keep your eye on the prize. Step up to the plate. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. Motivation does not always have to be grandiose. Sure you have ultimate goals and reasons for doing what you do, but the war is won with many battles of varying sizes. Mastery in daily living would be my war and I will need to fight many battles to achieve this. I will lose many but the victories I relish. Tonight was one of those small battles. I have had a mediocre week there’s that word that haunts so many of us. I could make so many excuses that could derail me. During San Shou this week I injured my right large toe. That goes along with my left big toe that has healed just recently after eight weeks and my left hand pinkie finger that healed broken. The best way I can figure to look at is I need to mess up my right hand to balance my body out.

So this has been a rough week I have skipped by with minimal requirements. You would think I would guilt myself into training but tonight it came from somewhere else. Tonight it came from my five year old son. I have tried to involve Oliver in my daily practices for many reasons and it amazes me his growth as young person. Tonight as I sat on the main computer in the home Oliver asked don’t you have some pushups to do? I said but I am using the computer. He thought for a moment and said “well you could put on a Pokémon movie on your computer for me. Then you could do your pushups”. How can I argue with that motivation? So I hammered off my pushups and that felt good. Did my sit-ups and finished with my forms. Toe feels good and I won a small battle. Thank You Oliver.

Brady

I was lucky enough to get out for a day of Skiing Tuesday. Skiing is something I took for granted when I was young. I loved it for many different reasons then I did on Tuesday. As I get older I appreciate still having the ability to ski most terrain. Skiing has almost become meditative for me. I can ride the lift in silence breathing and just taking in the landscape and outdoors. The really meditation though comes on the decent. I pick my path knowing it can change in seconds and I descend. I can break down my technique and concentrate on any singular movement I choose. I hope to get my kung fu to that level someday.

I started to ski at the age of nine and raced or coached for the next thirteen years. Now I ski for the pure enjoyment it gives me. On Tuesday I experienced it an entirely new way. I just finished as a UBBT requirement my first of twelve books. The first book was Peace in every step written by Thich Nhat Hanh. On Tuesday I experienced skiing in a different way. I was mindful of my breathing. I found my smile in so many different places it was overwhelming. Skiing has always made me happy but I was never really sure why. Now I know why I find peace in every turn. What a great day! Then I played in the board park with some workmates twenty years my adolescent. I smiled the entire four hour drive home.

Brady Young

Silent River Kung Fu

Stony Plain, Alberta

Canada

I am starting to really get into the daily grind and learning how to get ahead and play catch up. Some areas I am excelling in and others I am finding ways to keep in touch. I am really lucky to have teammates in my weekly classes and participating sifu’s. I am learning a new form which is always a very exciting prospect. It is very different from anything else I have done to date. It is such an amazing time of growth and learning for me. I do at times feel a little sensory overload and need to step back.

Just a few words to help describe the first month of UBBT 7

ROUTINE

ENGAGED

SORE

MINDSET

IN THE MOMENT

WHAT AM I DOING?

These are just a few feel free to add words this month that have really stood out for you.

Brady Young

Silent River Kung Fu

Stony Plain, Alberta

Canada