Focus

I have to admit that it was very hard for me when the I ho chuan year of the dragon ended.  I kind of felt like. . . ."hhhmmm, now what?"  I missed the gatherings with my team mates, and I actually, believe it or not, I missed the push.  I thrive on being active, and progressing.  I temporarily lost focus of where I should go, and felt quite lost, to be honest.  It is nice to have a bit more "spare" time, but I end up using it to do kung fu anyways, whether at home researching kids teaching ideas or new weapons, or training at home and at the school. 

I have decided to really dig my heels in with the kids classes, and the new way of testing the kids has been so helpful in doing just that.  It has become so much easier to monitor the kids and I find the kids are looking to me more for help with their own progression.  They know for sure now which  instructor focuses on them more and tests them.  I can see relationships building more than they did before.  This helps me to be more satisfied with helping to make a difference in the world.  It's as is the kids look up to me to help them progress.  They trust me. They are counting on me. I take that seriously.

Tonight after teaching, we (the instructors) got together and just sat and talked about different kids and how they were doing.  We also talked about more enriching ways to teach, and how we could better our classes.  Everyone has a positive attitude about teaching good classes, and providing the kids with what they need.  We share successes, and are all so happy when a student make progress, whether it's with technique or attitude. 

As I pondered about all this on the way home, and had a smile on my face, I realized, yah, kung fu provides me with so much that I need in my life; people to associate with that have the same mind set and ideas, a sense of belonging, discipline, confidence, expectations and a reason to progress, positive atmosphere with positive people, rewarding teaching opportunities, and teaching in general, which I love to do, leadership skills, and focus.  Focus keeps my mind active and out of trouble.  Keeps me positive.

  I have found a new weapons form to work on, and putting efforts into this gives me a new focus as well.  It's new, and it's refreshing, and I have hopes of it complementing my current forms.  I know I have to keep up with everything else on my curriculum plate, and I plan to.  Being a 3rd degree gives me higher expectations of myself.  I feel the drive to be better at my forms and techniques, and at being a leader.    Again. . . .stay focused.    Keeps me moving in the right direction.