Year in Review. . .

If I was only allowed one word to describe what I have gained from my I Ho Chuan this year, I would have to say. . . “peace.”  Inner peace. Seems like such a small word, but the change this small word has made in my life is gargantuan. I have written many journals about my success this year, as I have had many great moments. I can still remember exactly how I felt when I first saw that notice on the white board. “Accepting registrations for the year of the dog, I Ho Chuan.”   I instantly knew it was something I had to do. I felt thrilled for the personal development I would gain, as I knew this from experience. I also knew there would be good days, I never knew at the time just how good. I knew there would not-so-good days, I never knew at the time, just how few.

I found that the first six months was a breeze. After that, it took a bit more determination, desire, commitment and perseverance. I may have slowed down once in a while but I never quit. What contributed the most to keep me going?  I would have to say, the daily pushups and sit ups, the journals, practicing forms, and memorizing mastery. These things together gave me the opportunity to stay engaged in what I needed to do. They kept me connected to my goals.

What, and how did I gain the personal progress that I did?  Memorizing mastery was something that I took to heart. I didn’t want to just memorize it, I wanted to understand it and incorporate its teachings into my life.
Doing my forms, and especially using videos of them, taught me how I move naturally, and unnaturally, where I need to improve. This produced growth in my art.  It has made me more aware of my energies, and of what I can do with my energies. It also showed me the truth of how my energy is connected to everything around me.
Doing acts of kindness taught me the power of compassion. It showed me first hand how reaching out to others helps the giver and receiver, and makes the world a much more enjoyable place. It also gave me the opportunity, through talking to others about my acts of kindness, to teach others that there is so much more to martial arts, than what you see looking through the window.  It inspired others to be more conscious of kindness.
My personal requirement to step outside of the box at least once a month, and do something I’ve never done before, or am uncomfortable doing, taught me so much about the potential I have that I never knew I had.  This requirement gave me the opportunity to enjoy things that I did not think I would enjoy. It brought adventure and excitement into my life, as well as good foods that I never thought I would like, but now do. (I personally think this should be a requirement for everyone as it is so beneficial).
I wasn’t able to help with the shovelling, but I did shovel my landlords driveway before I moved away, and I shoveled the Kung fu school when I was there at Christmas, and I shovel for my foster parents here.
I feel I fell short with the more community aspects, like Kwoon clean up. I was gone a lot on weekends and then for 2 months in the summer and then moved away.
Doing my demos with the team taught me that I could be brave enough to do them. It taught me how awesome it felt to be a part of the dog team. It felt completely inclusive, as I was surrounded by people who supported me.
Doing my personal demo was amazing for me!  The hours and hours put into designing it and practicing it was incredible in so many ways. It taught me so much about myself that I can use to keep moving forward.
My personal goal to climb 3 mountains gave me the opportunity to get out and make the time to do something that I really loved doing. The one hike in particular, The Judge, showed me that I was a bit tougher than I thought possible. My hikes reinforced the beauty of the world I live in and the need to take care of it.
My 1609 kms also forced me to make the time for fun.  It gave me reason to take time for me and do what I love doing; biking, hiking, skiing.  This is turn contributed to maintaining a healthy mindset.
Mend a relationship was a huge part of my inner peace as I tended to the relationship with my real mom. A very memorable experience, and one that allowed so much healing for me and for her. My next step is to call my dad. I haven’t seen or talked to him in 33 years. I think it’s time.
Keeping an online presence and journaling gave me people I can draw strength from. It gave me an extended family. It allowed me to meet some of my fellow students I never met before, and get to know the ones I had met but never really knew. It gave me like minded people to talk to.
My personal goal to meditate every day has made such an impressive impact to the quality of my life. This was the biggest contributor to my amazing feeling of inner peace that is now a daily part of my life.  Meditation forces me to slow down and to enjoy moments. Even when I’m not meditating, I notice each moment more. Meditation gives me clarity of what is in my mind, and of all that is around me. It is connected closely with what I have learned about energy. But I recognize my martial arts behind it. With the art, all of what I write about here. . . Wouldn’t be here. That’s a very scarey thought to me. I would fight so stinking hard if anyone tried to take any of this
away from me. Yet, without my Kung fu, and without me pushing hard to have a great year, none of
my success would even exist.  There’s food for thought. . .