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

Another Level

"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf."
-Walter Lippman

The quote sums up how I feel lately about my training and philosophies that go hand in hand with it.For quite some time, principles have been presented to myself and the school as a whole. Phrases such as "orbital motion", "6 harmonies", "vocabulary of motion", etc.

All have been thought provoking and sometimes frustrating to apply.

In a quest to push myself to another level I have found myself, unsure and lacking confidence in what I thought I had nailed down.

As was said to us many times before, there is a difference between imitating and innovating.

I have not posted a blog for a while, I was pondering how there would be an enlightening resolve complete with fireworks and trumpets to which I would share but I sense this is going to be a continuing plight for myself and perhaps maybe I am not alone.



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Groceries...it shouldn't be this hard!

Here it comes ...the "organic and locally produced" tidal wave!

In the pursuit of trying to live a healthier lifestyle, one chooses accordingly. That wasn't a really hard change but now you can't seem to trust what you pick up anymore. Reading labels, trying to find the source of your food is becoming like smoke and mirrors, not to mention the 200% mark up that comes with these self proclaimed items.

Today's rant is towards the next marketing wave coming our way.

In the past couple of decades, food producers have cleverly marketed "low fat" and "high protein" , all the while the extra sugar and salt to disguise the flavour has only counter acted the intent.

There is no doubt the producers feel the surges and fears of the general populous.

They also know that convenience is the name of the game for the average family. Its like shooting fish in a barrel, especially when the general public feels there should be some trust within their governing bodies and some integrity to the producers of these products, after all food producers have families too, right...no one would ever imagine baby formula killing babies ..right!

Anyways, sorry, its frustrating and it does make me angry how much time I have to put into distinguishing the difference between whole healthy food and labelling that only proclaims as such.

I do appreciate the fact that awareness through the Internet and other sources of media can help force the governing bodies and producers to become more accountable.

Bottom line, truthful knowledge is the force by which we shape our globe.

Pretty deep, considering all I wanted was a nice head of broccoli!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Out of Town Blues

On the road again, first to Fort Mac then down to Calgary.

I don't mind travelling but sometimes it gets in the way and it can really derail your intended routine and lifestyle.

When I don't get some kind of workout in everyday I start to feel like a slug. When I start to feel like a slug it turns into cranky and spiral dives from there. Top that off with buffet eating(for some reason government aviation people really like to eat at buffets) and I just feel plain miserable and disgusted with myself.

So today, I woke up and gave my head a shake. Its important to adapt, find opportunities to train here and there but more important, keep your head in the right frame of mind.

If you let a change in routine or extra workload stress you out and get you down you are no longer a positive influence to others nor am I a positive influence to myself.

Lets face it, I talk to myself all the time. I have a choice of being optimistic, energetic, creative and spreading it around or I can dig myself into a hole and drag others down with me.
I might not be able to carry out my acts of physical training everyday but there is nothing, absolutely nothing, in the way of carrying out my acts of kindness every day.

Flexible and Versatile



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Consistency and Concentration

How do I get there from here?
I have a goal...it seems so far away, I want it now and I want it to be easy.

If it could be obtained fast and easy, it wouldn't really be much of a goal.
Pace yourself, small steps but be consistent and put quality into every step.

These are thoughts I try and repeat in my head and follow through on. Sometimes I listen to myself.
Sometimes I take quotes from other people who have been there done that....

"The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret" - Sarah Bombell

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory." - Vince Lombardi

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination." - Tommy Lasorda

..and my personal favorite...

"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good." - Jerry West

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada