Blog Before I Sleep

I did not plan my day well today for writing a blog. I don't normally have a plan going into my blogs, but normally I have maybe 1 to 2 hours to think about it. My day was a full and busy day and I knew it was gonna happen. I had some time early in the morning, but I chose to rest. Now I have to go to bed now to get up early for tomorrow. I could try and save my blogging for tomorrow, but I would allow mediocrity to slowly come into my life. 

  So this might not be a great blog, but I have to remain consistent. If I let one day slip it will be easier to slip the next one. I am having a hard time thinking right now; do to the sleepiness, but a blog will go up before I fall asleep. 

 This blog will be my reminder to stay more vigilant for next time. Also to never skip a day of blogging. The blogging tool has changed my life more times than one. 

Sifu Langner

Kindness

Kindness is something that really makes me really apart of the world around me. Acknowledging when I give it and when I receive it. Recording the acts of kindness I find is another tool that makes me more engaged with my surroundings. 

When I first recorded acts of kindness many years ago, I just counted simply an act like picking up someone's pen. Sure it is a kind act, but I was simply just trying to play the system.  I did become aware of the little things that could be considered kind. I would write I opened a door for someone, and then immediately think "tick" another one done. I would like to say I did all these kind acts because I was kind, but I did them so I could count them. I completely missed the mark behind kindness.

  Being kind is understanding others around you to a certain extent. Seeing when others are just simply needing a smile because you can tell they are having a rough day. Feeling excited for someone when they are doing good. To become kind is to be empathetic.

 Making supper for my parents. I know it relives the stress for my father and make him happy. My mother is also happy and appreciative. I have learned from them that sometimes when I have made the supper my dad was still stressed. Which gave me the opportunity to simply ask whats up? I do barely any talking, and he just simply needed an ear. I found myself wanting to produce happiness for others. I was not looking for a "tick" nor looking for acknowledgement from them for me being kind. I just wanted people to be happy. I started to think what can I do to make them happy, within reason. 

  I feel as though I am still learning lots of great things about empathy and being kind. Doing kinds acts I have found to be fairly easy, but to be fully engaged into what I am being kind about I found difficult. I am trying to be more aware of how I make people feel, and how it makes me feel. I try to look for more mindful ways to be kind, and not make the act a hoop. Once my acts of kindness become a hoop, I need help. Acts of kindness should never be a hoop, but a ladder to greater understanding of yourself and those around you.

Sifu Langner

Mastery

Mastery is never ending. I have met people who have been deemed masters, but only the really good one's that I noticed were not self proclaimed masters. They earned the title by the people around them, but each master I have ever met has never considered themselves a master. It could be that they are just simply humble, but I believe in something even greater. I believe that they still believe that there is still room to grow.

  A true mastery for me is someone who always pursues the knowledge from wherever the source might be. A master will always take an opportunity to become better. A master remains open minded, knowing life is ever changing. A master will always certainly be very knowledgeable, but the best will normally say there is more to learn.  The tools they have accumulated in their journey still helps them to this day and even help those around them. A master will fail more times than I have ever tried.

  A true master of their craft would never know they became one, because in my mind they are still pursuing such lofty goals. The goal of a master is not normally to become one, it is something through hard work and time that eventually evolves into something amazing. 

  I know I have said before I am in the pursuit of mastery, but in reality I am in the pursuit of growing as a person, an electrician, and a martial artist. I want to excel in all 3 categories. Hitting mastery should not be my goal, but the goal of becoming very knowledgeable and using that knowledge wisely, and remain open minded for the opportunity to learn. 

Sifu Langner 

  

Demo

 It was really awesome to be able to do a form this year for banquet. Last year I did not get a choice in doing my form. I could barely walk 20 meters let alone do a form last year. The year ending has taught me many valuable lesson, and the new year looks even more promising. I do not know what will be happing this year, but I do know I am excited.

Sifu Langner

Happy New Year

 Happy New Year I have gone on quite the journey this past year with you all. I have had to rebuild myself from the ground up. I have got to see the world in a new light. Last year could of easily been the worst year ever for me, but it turned into something amazing. The miracle of simply living with more gratitude. I look forward to what my future holds. I thank you all for going on this journey with me and to let me be apart of yours as well. 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that is why it's called the present." - Kung Fu Panda Oogway.

Sifu Langner 

Hard work

 I have really been embracing the ideal and action of what  hard work is. Hard work is normally repetitive, monotonous, boring thing to do. Hard work can be fun too sometimes, depending on the situation. Hard work for the most part usually leads to some great accomplishments. 

Hard work for me has become more relevant to me. I want to be fluent in Japanese, then I need to put the time and the effort to achieve that goal. I want to get physically fit, then I need to start going to the gym and practicing my forms. I want to have a positive outlook on life, then I need to practice that positivity. All of these goals involve hard work. 

I do find the answer 'Hard Work' to a lot of my problems vexing, because I am now more aware that there is no trick. There are tools to help all of these goals, but no magic wand to be found. I have mix feeling right now, a bit frustrating, and super motivated. I get to put the 10'000 hours to become the best version of me. After putting in the hard work then I would think now I can rest, but nope I cannot. I will have to remain vigilant to keep putting another 10'000 hour. It may sound tiring, but with proper planning and thought it is doable. 

Hard work is remaining consistent with the action to take to achieve that goal, and approaching the task mindfully. 

Sifu Langner

Sleep

 My sleep has been very erratic since my grandpa's passing. I go to bed around 10 or 9:30 every night, but I am not tired always. I sometimes stay up till 2 or 3 in the morning; not by choice.  I will be in bed getting tired as I read. Then I say alright time to sleep, then immediately feel wide awake again. I always wake up no matter the amount of sleep I got around 7:30 or 8. Usually my normal sleep routine would be I go to bed read then sleep. Now I am up and down then up again. At home I find myself falling asleep in the afternoon now. Not always, but sometimes I get so sleepy and I can't stay up to try and fix my schedule. 

I have not tried anything yet to try and help my sleep yet. I feel as though I am not staying up, or having these erratic sleep behaviors because of the loss of my grandpa. I do feel at peace with how he went. A long happy life in the comfort of his bed. Since that day my sleep has been erratic though. I am hoping I get my sleep under control before I possibly get the go ahead to return to work. 

During the day I feel as if I am on a constant time of drowsiness; even when I am in kung fu or at the gym. I swear I am ok now about the passing. It is sad, but I took a lot of great life lessons from it. I have never been so connected with my family. I am currently having a hard time trying to make sense of this blog. This time I am getting a wave of super sleepy, but I know as soon as I get comfy I will wake up again. 

I do believe I will get a hold of this sleep soon enough. Just one day at a time.

Sifu Langner