Sifu Stoddart: Yahtzee!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Yahtzee!

I had my life pretty much in order 2 months ago. I had balance. I knew what my goals were and how I was going to attain them. It was great! Now. . . I feel like my life was put in a yahtzee cup, given a good shake, and then thrown up in the air to see where it all lands. My priorities have changed a lot and my time is no longer my own. My priorities surround 2 people in my life, and helping them to get a fresh new start and progress in their lives.

I haven't done any kung fu for a while now, but am hoping to get back at my training as soon as possible. I just need to regain the balance and focus in my life and try to find a schedule that is going to work in order to allow me to get back on track. I know that I can't get the same balance I had before but somehow I can find a new sense of balance that will fulfill the needs of everyone involved. When my life is smoothed over a bit, and with those involved, I can go back to the way it used to be. For now, a shift in priorities is a must, a need for patience is great, and a drive for a positive attitude is always in the works.

2 comments:

Ian Repay said...: Sifu, It was so nice to see you in class today. I can relate to the loss of blanace as I am just trying to regain mine as well. It seems to be a constant work in progress. However sourounding yourself with like minded posative people will help and there is an abundance of them at the kwoon.

Ian; September 13, 2010 at 8:14 PM
linda shipalesky said...: Don't forget to look after yourself too. You have worked very hard to get to the point you are at in your life,don't give it away by letting too many other things take over.If Momma ain't happy no body's happy.
Linda; September 16, 2010 at 8:30 AM

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My 20 Wishes. . .I want to do:
1. Vacation in a cabin in the mountains.
2. Fall in love.
3. Travel somewhere exotic.
4. Buy a motorcycle.
5. Write my life story.
6. Take my kids and grandkids to Disneyland.
7. See my dad again and have him meet my kids, and grandkids,
8. Hike the West Coast Trail. (done)
9. Buy my own home.
10. Climb a Via Ferrata. (done)
11. Have corrective eye surgery.
12. Find a reason to trust. (Done)
13. Perform with chi.
14. Go caving.(done)
15. Learn to play piano again.
16. Go Skinny Dipping. (done)
17. Take swimming lessons.
18. Take a wood working class.
19. Take Ballroom dance lessons.
20. Straighten my front teeth.

My 20 Wishes. . .I want to be:
1. Conscious
2. Loyal
3. Faithful
4. Good parent
5. Respectful
6. Talented martial artist
7. Healthy
8. Physically fit
9. Reliable
10. Trustworthy
11. A good grandparent
12. Awakened
13. Honest
14. Independent
15. Strong of character
16. Confident
17. A leader
18. Uplifting to others
19. Full of a positive countenance
20. Free from suffering

I love adventures, and experiencing new things for the first time. Never has this been more true than in the experiences I get from kung fu. Earning a black belt seemed to be all about me. I sacrificed, worked real hard, disciplined myself, and grew to new heights I never thought possible. I watched my life change before my very eyes. Not just small changes, but big ones that even I noticed.

Being a black belt seems to be more about others. I help others to meet their potential through their own sacrifice, and determination. As I do this, I find great fulfillment watching others change the shape of their lives, and find their own sense of peace. Black belts are just ordinary people, but doing extraordinary things, at an extraordinary level. Through this realization, we start to evolve from black belts to true martial artists, with a passion for the art that we strive to pass on to others. We continue on our path of progression, but it is through our sacrifice towards others that changes occur.

I have a huge testimony of what we do at Silent River Kung Fu. I rejoice every time I teach a class, especially the beginners, and my heart swells when I see the future of kung fu in the excited eyes of the students. By helping these students find a new way to look at life, we help them become better individuals, through their own realization of self worth. This in turn builds stronger communities, and a much more positive world to live in. When we fully understand that, we start to look outside of the kung fu box, and begin to see that vision of what we are really doing as we teach kung fu. Instead of just seeing the techniques and the forms, the mistakes people do and the improvements people need to make, we start to finally see...the people.

Students come to Silent River Kung Fu because they have this idea that learning martial arts is fun. They keep coming back because it is fun. What most students don't even realise, is that they also keep coming back because here they feel respected, cared about, and they receive a sense of belonging. What is the first thing we do when we taste something really good? We try to get someone else to taste it by saying, "wow! You've got to try this." It is important to give all students, whether they are new or not, that experience that will make them say, "you've got to try this." Every student that walks through the front door should feel like they are a part of our kung fu family. We can do that by seeing...the people. Watching with an eye for detail, to see their needs, their emotions, their strengths, and their apprehensions. Only by doing that can we really begin to teach, and help shape the lives of others. From my own experience, I believe this to be the only way to progress to that next level as a martial artist. I believe it, I have experienced it, I trust it.