Reality Check

My husband came home from a car wash fund raiser yesterday.
You see, his coworker 's wife just had a baby less than 2 months ago and things went from bad to worse for them.
His co-worker is from Sri Lanka. They have gone through many challenges just to get to where they are today.
But this is truly a sad story.
His wife had some complications during child birth, the babies legs required some surgery but even more tragic was the coma like state she went into and still has not recovered from to this day. She occasionally looks up at the ceiling but it is the only response she has given for 2 months , doctors do not know why and he fears they will give up. They have a little 3 year old girl already and no permanent family in the country to help out.
My husbands co-worker is now faced with the dilemma of sending his children back to Sri Lanka, he must stay here with his wife as there is no way to bring her back home as well.
My husband says he his distraught, exhausted and running out of options. Coming to work has been his only way of taking a break from everything.

As a group of guys working with this man, they have pulled together to try and help out in anyway they can. My husband says there is no grumbling or the usual complaining about anything from the group as a whole.
Its been a reality check for everyone and touched everyone in a way that they look at what is really important in life.

Its a sad story with yet no resolve as I write but I felt compelled to tell it just the same for you never know when your world can come crashing down around you. Be thankful for the important things in life and try not to get brought down by the petty issues.
If you are enjoying time off for the long weekend, keep this family in mind, spend the time with your family and hug yours that much more closely.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Between Chaos and Control

Sometimes, we as humans in this North American society become so task orientated we forget about the quality, care and attention that needs to be a part of life.

I have put so much on my plate its starting to be noticeable that things are slipping. Putting out little fires here and there on a daily basis and just trying to keep up.

I start each day with a "things to do' list, all the while wondering what day or night will I get to just sit down and relax for an hour.

Problem starts when the people around me become part of the list of tasks to deal with. They are no longer people but just another check mark in my head. "Good, done, talked to him or her, next".

It only took a disappointed look from someone to make me stop and realize I was not in control anymore. I am on the verge of chaos if I am not careful. Its one thing to forget to do something, you can go back and fix that but its an entirely different situation when you mess up dealing with another human being, no matter how small the issue may seem to you.

Its the time and sincerity we spend with one another that makes us who we are. Its the difference between superficial and substance.

Tasks can be delegated, goals may take a little longer but the people around us are the here and the now.

Taking control is my new goal, after all that is what martial arts training is really all about, gaining control over ourselves.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

I am in the fine town of Grande Prairie tonight, its not so bad of a stay, especially when I am dealing with a proactive and safety conscious company.
Aviation focuses alot on "root cause analysis" and that is always in the discussions when trying to solve problems. Trouble is, it can get very complicated and overwhelming if people are not reminded to keep it simple. But, enough about work...

It occurred to me, trying to figure out the "root cause" of any problem can be as simple as acting like a four year old. If your not familiar with the average four year old, one of their most endearing traits is the unrelenting successions of the question "Why?"

Now if one applies this to their own problems you can more effectively solve your issues. Get to the real reason why something is not working for you.
For instance...My running flying side heel thrust kick is not very good...Why? -because I don't practice it enough...Why...because I don't have enough time ...Why? ....because I don't come to class early or stay late to practice on my own...Why? ...because I did not think an extra ten minutes would make a difference...Why?....because I just assumed that and did not challenge myself to prove otherwise and make it a priority.

Pretty simplistic and some may even say a silly thought pattern that doesn't apply to everything, especially complicated matters but I would argue that you would be surprised when you find where some honest answers would bring you.

I like it when the "kids" can teach the grown ups!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada