I Am Humble

 I have always found this word very interesting. If I declared myself humble am I really humble? I have thought about this question a lot. The paradox in that statement seems really interesting to me. I have joked with my friends before about it. I would say "I am so humble, I am like the most humble person ever".  I think you actually become less humble if you brag all the time that your humble. To be humble to me is someone who does not flaunt their success, or think of themselves and the ultimate human. I don't think it is bad to have at least some of those qualities, because being proud of who you are and what you have done is a good thing to within reason. I think being humble within reason applies as well.   

In all sincerity I believe myself to be a humble person. My Aunt tells me all the time I should brag more about my accomplishments. I find myself very proud of my kung fu and my accomplishments, but a lot of my family members or friends and work don't even know I am in kung fu. When a by chance event happens where I am asked, I will tell them I am in kung fu, but not even the fact I am a 3rd degree black belt. If the question is never asked I don't find the need to let them know. I find the more important aspect for me is the fact I am still training and growing in kung fu and who ever knows is not important to me. 

Another side of being humble is how humbled I feel when I teach or learn at kung fu. I can learn so much about kung fu through those who are entering the kung fu world. I also get to learn that the people who have been doing kung fu much longer than me have such deep insights about kung fu. I realize I still have a very long way to go. I get humbled when I see someone younger than me at kung fu can do something better than me. It let's me learn my physical limitations, and I get to see really amazing kung fu being done by the young and the older. For me being humble lets me have access to amazing opportunity's to grow. Also allows me to not think I am so much better than others. I get to see the unique perspective form old and new. 

I would like to wrap it up by saying that I know for a fact that the ideas and training from kung fu, it helped me learn to what being humble is today.  I am humble.

Sifu Langner