Believe...

We all have struggles. No matter the external front that we present we also all get frustrated, as was so freely mentioned during the first snake team meeting.

We all have our own individual strengths and weaknesses. We usually always shine in certain areas of our lives, be it academically, with our artsy sides, in sports, cooking, flexibility, prioritization, you name it, we all have a gift. But we also “all” have our shortcomings and personal challenges.

There is no magic pill! There is no magic pill for anything in life. What is worth doing, will be difficult. The saying, “if it was easy, everyone would be doing it”, it’s so true. Wild animals walk on existing trails and through clearings because it’s easy…it’s nature.

When we want to be extraordinary or we want to be a martial artist, it’s about going over and beyond. This is not natural, it is not normal for us to intentionally tire ourselves doing push ups and sit ups, it’s not the norm to journal weekly and share this with the world, it is not the norm to exercise our minds, hand eye coordination, stretch and focus on internal organ placement daily doing forms.

Incorporating Kung Fu into our daily lives is not normal, it is hard..it is supposed to be hard. We signed up for this and continue day after day, year after year because we believe in something about it. What is it for you?

When we speak of our trials and tribulations, this is great; we recognize and verbalize, (we entered the challenge) now we need to do. Stay focused on the fact that we are all privileged enough physically to accept these challenges and complete them, now we need to work the mind.

For me…it is 100% a mental game. Physically I know I’m still able to be in the best physical condition of my life. I also understand that at my age I need to work harder than I ever have and in more direct/specific training and above that, so much smarter… “progress wisely”. I require an internal reset. No one can do this for me.

The mind sets these “arbitrary limits”, that we must reset and work beyond. To do this, we must believe in ourselves and the process. Whether it’s blogging, getting in kilometres, meeting the push-up and sit-up requirements, it’s all the same. Push your brain, don’t let your brain limit you. Get the runners on…starting writing - start early in the week with some topics and allow your mind to prefab the blog during the week.

My personal take away from the I Ho Chuan is to challenge myself, to work hard, to learn more about myself and with the instilled momentum work this into a continuum for my life. Lastly, for me to make this last, I have to make it a lifestyle. Once this occurs it’s much easier, because it forms its my own consistent rhythm.

February 7, 2025

Acts of Kindness recorded - 15,

Push-ups - 1305, 50, 50,

Sit-ups and equivalents - 1524,

Meditation (min.) - 52,

Stretching (min.) - 49,

Sparring/ grappling minutes - 3,

Kilometres (intentional extra mileage) - 40.8, 3.2,

# of forms re-familiarized - 4

Form reps - 13

Form time (min.) - 95,

“Mastery” recite (min.) - 33,

Blogs - 3

Numbers shown are from February 6th plus the start of the 7th.