Putting out the Fire with Gasoline(1982 version)

This week I find myself in Winnipeg. Besides the cold and horizontal winds, its quite nice (sarcasm).
I am here for a week, not a big deal, however, tomorrow is my son's 5th birthday.
That in itself is not a problem, we had a big party on the weekend for him and I will of course call tomorrow.
What is significant is the anxious tick of the time clock.
He turns 5, this is just another reminder, how fast time goes by and reminds me how imperative it is not to squander the years I have left. (I am not trying to be weird and/or awkward it just seems we wait until its almost too late to be the person we really want to be).
You may say this is undue stress and anxiety to think like this, however, its like a small fire burning inside... to catch up,accomplish goals, make a difference, do right by others and set a good example.
Too often it seems, people I know or know of, loose their health, their lust for life or life itself far too early. I figure you have to make hay while the sun shines and you can't slow down.
I'm putting this fire out with gasoline.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Form, Focus and Frustration

One of my forms I have been doing for years seems to have gone really wrong.
We were given a couple of things to tweak on last week and for some reason it has derailed me completely. I analyzed the movements to the extent of forgetting the sequence of other portions of the form.
how could this happen?
Is my focus so narrow minded I cannot adjust other areas of the form without losing the basics of what I have already built upon.
Frustration set in, almost to the point of anger..at myself of course.
So now what?..start over..I think so.
I picked up some encouragement from Sesame Street the next day.
Seriously.
Check it out.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDgQYTPpsx4



JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Coffee

On my latest quest to change my way of eating and drinking, I have been avoiding the coffee issue. I like coffee, especially a good latte. The thoughts of not enjoying a cup , well , I just don't want to deal with it.

There has been countless studies and research on caffeine and its effects. You could probably come up with enough backing either way to support drinking coffee or to quit drinking coffee. All reports and studies, however, do conclude that caffeine is a drug that effects the nervous system but for the good or for the bad?

Coffee, or caffeine, to be more accurate is known to increase anxiety, stress, food cravings, sleep disorders,stomach problems, etc.

On the other hand, some latest studies boast the health benefits, such as ,preventing cancers, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease etc.

I believe a person needs to listen to their own bodies. In moderation seems like a good rule here. I have managed to decrease my intake to one cup in the morning and I don't seem to be having trouble with that amount, although I admit when a frothy Latte is offered up in the afternoon, I don't turn it down!

So good or bad, I can't seem to make up my mind. I keep myself in tuned to my physical and mental reaction to ensure my intake of caffeine is under control. Maybe going a week without might help me decide.

Its funny, I was reading Sifu Shipaleskys blog thinking how easy it would be to go without tea but coffee, ... for three months, I think Sifu is going to shame me into trying!

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta, Canada

Healthy Food Headache

I have read enough books over the years concerning food, nutrition, diets that I think I have come full circle. There were fads on cabbage diets, grapefruit diets, carb loading, protein only, low cal, no fat and even diets based on your personality/body type classification. Definitely a multi-billion dollar industry. After all said and done we are still a society that lacks nutrious sources of food and have become overweight.

I've come to the conclusion as many of us have, that its not a secret diet we seek but a lifestyle of eating properly.

I have noticed a few published books and programs have an underlining common theme for maintaining a nutritious balance of food.

1.) approx. 6 small meals a day

2.) 2-3 liters of water a day

3.) combine a complex carb with a lean protein and a healthy fat at each meal

4.) keep your food as local and as whole(natural) as possible to ensure its nutritional value is optimum. (research the products origin).

Pretty simple rules to live with it would seem.

My problem is all in the planning.

Here it is Tuesday and I am out of boiled eggs, tuna, fruit and cut up veggies!

The real trick to this magical lifestyle change is all in the planning and preparing...rats!

My intentions last weekend included grocery shopping and preparing easy healthy snacks to pack for the week. Did not happen, again.

Another common philosophy is how much impact our food has on our overall health.

80% in fact.

Apparently a finely tuned body (athlete or novice) can attribute 10% of their results to genetics another 10% to their training and a whopping 80% to the food and drink they ingest on a regular basis.

I guess its worth the extra work and preparation, not to mention the long term health benefits.

So back to the drawing board or should I say the kitchen.

JC Masterson, Silent River Kung Fu, Alberta Canada

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