Questions

Kids have a funny way of making you do a double take. My boy is at the age now where he has 1001 questions. He was asking about our "soldiers" on the other side of the world.

We try and explain why they are over there and why some of them have died. One question leads to another and you begin to question your own answers.

Finally he pipes up and asks if there are any bad guys here that hide bombs..I said "no" and it was left at that.

Then I sit and think about the world I am growing old in and the world he is going to grow up in.

I am writing this only days after an attempted terrorist attack on an American airliner. There is no denying our western world has changed. Thankfully the attempt was unsuccessful but the repercussions have effected everyone of us, even if you don't travel. The fact that we do live in a world where random attack is real and the "enemy" is not visually apparent anymore leaves us with the risk of falling into a realm of fear and paranoia.

The question is, are we at peace or are we at war. Has the definition of war changed so drastically that the real weapon is taking away the peace within ourselves.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Santas Anonymous

My boy is the only grandson and an only child. It is inevitable that he gets more than his fair share of stuff for birthdays and Christmas. I try to slow the waves of gifts that come his way but it seems hopeless.
This year I thought it would be good for him to help my husband and I deliver toys for Santas Anonymous.
The last place we dropped off was a 5 story building. No couches in the foyer just a brick wall. No elevator just concrete stairs. No carpets, just cold dirty hallways. These were the things my son noticed. It was a brief drop off, the mother answered the door as her little ones came rushing behind. A baby boy and a toddler. The toddler looked like she was about 3 and delighted by the action. We wished them a Merry Christmas and we were on our way.
Raymond asked me if she was happy because now she would have toys for Christmas.
He might not get the big picture yet, but I hope it helps.
What broke my heart as we came to the bottom of the stairs were the rows of strollers parked at the bottom.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta Canada

Shaazam!

I like this time of year even though it can be hectic. Its the end of the year but 2 weeks left before the new one starts. I get excited about planning for the new year. Setting new goals. The new year hasn't started yet so technically I am not behind in anything! I am geared up, pumped up and ready to go..Shaazam! Open the gate....

Of course, knowing myself, by March things start to fall into a rut. Not so motivated, not so excited.

I am always battling the monotony that can come with trying to accomplish or achieve something. If its worth going for, it usually means there is some hard work involved over a long period of time.

Every 3 months I make a point of reflecting on where I am and remind myself of what I am trying to do. Sometimes a shake up is needed physically so I change what I am doing in my training routine. Guaranteed I will need a shake up mentally, that takes a bit more creativity. I find mental motivation can truly be a challenge. If I give myself some time to reflect on a regular basis I can remind myself to prioritize when life becomes too busy.

But for now, I am going to enjoy and embrace the season, use the slow time between Christmas and New Years to reflect and prepare.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta Canada

Cogitate (koj-i-tat')

To Cogitate: to think deeply or intently, to ponder about.


Some people are born smart, but how about smart thinkers?


Turns out smart thinking or "cogitating" is a practiced skill. Much like practicing a sport, painting or your martial arts. You get better by simply doing. If we keep the mind active like we keep our bodies active we stay sharper longer but we need to work on the method of how we think.


You've heard the phrase "think outside the box". What does that really mean?


You may have even heard the analogy " the brain is like a grassy field".


We make a path in the field, the more frequently it is travelled, the path begins to get deeper and a rut starts to form. The brain will develop these same ruts (frequently travelled paths) if we allow it to. It becomes difficult to view the world from a different perspective.


Another common term is "negative self talk". This again, over years, can be the rut our brain synapses fall into. It becomes the path of least resistance and our knee jerk reaction to a situation can be the same time and time again. Worst case scenario, falling into a regular state of depression. The mind cannot help but travel down this path, it is too deeply ingrained.


However, I digress, we can keep our minds challenged. We can control the way we respond to situations in a positive way or a subjective way. We can make critical and pressured decisions by using all the tools available to us.


To be capable of cogitation we must allow ourselves the time to do so. Time gives us the ability to look at all the factors that can influence our decision and our actions. Sometimes we make the mistake of answering or acting too quickly because our Egos drive us to do so.


Another important tool is Listening.
Seems silly, we all listen, every day, don't we?


Actually, no.

Too often we perceive we are listening to a conversation while in actual fact we are formulating our thoughts as the person is speaking to us. We run the risk of missing their point of view and fully empathizing with their thoughts.
As a matter of fact, I can count 3 times yesterday when I should have listened more intently. Once with my son, later that day to a coworker about a project and then during class with Sifu Brinker. All 3 were victim to my preformulated points I felt compelled to express above all other comments! Sometimes we come away from a conversation and realize we forgot to listen because we were too concerned about what we wanted to say. (I 'll apologize to you Sifu, the others don't read the blogs, actually one doesn't read at all!)


Now I am no great cogitator...heck I only learnt the word two weeks ago on a course I was on.(I think I just like to say the word cogitate) but in all seriousness I do believe it is important to take the time to listen, look at the larger scope of our dilemas and problems and afford ourselves the time and opportunity to make the best decisions, choices and actions for ourselves and those that we will touch and affect with those decisions.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada