My problem this week is that if I actually sat down to write about everything that is worth writing about, I wouldn't have any time left for the other important things I need to accomplish. I'll have to go to point form, to save time.
1. I am way behind on my training commitment of 2.5 hours per week, and this also means that I am way behind on my committment to the 100 day challenge on Kwoon talk. I will document my numbers on the 100 day Kwoon talk thread because I will need the encouragement from others to catch up, and the others will benefit from witnessing my struggle. I fell behind because of the next 3 points.
2. My career, or lack thereof. It was ironic that one of the 100 day challenge participants mentioned that he was struggling with his challenge committment because he had been focused on his career goals. I had been thinking for the last few months, 'If I applied the same sort of focus that I am putting into the black belt test, into my career, then my life wouldn't be such a mess. In a nutshell, I'm in a transition period. My kids are becoming independent, and its time for me to start thinking about what I need. Until last week, I had been flip-flopping. Was it too early to make a change, or pursue the schooling, or was I making the needs of my daughters an excuse rather than a reason? Then suddenly last week, a friend got me going and on Thursday I was revamping my resume, applying to a job, and preparing for the career fair in Edmonton. As a result, I got behind on my training that day also.
3. The challenges of being a mother. So on thursday I decided that it was indeed time for me to focus on changing my career and attending to my own needs for the future. Then on Friday Janet's math teacher called. I remember when she was and infant and I was rocking her to sleep in my arms. My mother, noting that janet had been asleep for a good 1/2 hour already, said 'Janet is an easy baby for you'. I said, 'its almost as if she comforts me'. Jilly and I had struggled through all this stuff, but Janet was indeed an easy baby. Then, my mother said, 'she'll probably make up for it when she's a teenager'. Prophetic words. Silly of me, on thursday, to believe that I was on the home stretch with Janet. Anyhow, all spare time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was spent dealing with the janet issue. Training moved way down the list of priorities.
4. Giving back. One of the best teachers that Jill has ever had is her badminton coach, Mrs. Folinsbee. She is 63 years old. She and her husband (who is 79 years old and in poor health) singlehandedly run the Red Willow Badminton Club. They do it, not just because of their love of the sport, but because of their belief in what it does for the lives of the people in the community. For Jilly, badminton has taught her many things about life in general, and given her many skills for her future. The club has been a place where Jilly socializes with other like-minded kids, and gets the support, advise, and encouragment from many adults from all walks of life. Mrs. Folinsbee has acted as a surrogate grandmother, knowing what to talk about, and how to encourage her in matters of friendship, life goals, dissappointments, struggles, school, boys, difficult decisions, self respect and much more. This month and next month, Mrs. Folinsbee is hosting two major events at the club. The first was this weekend - a masters tournament. The second is next month - the 20th anniversary of the club's existence. Both events are long, huge endeavors. Mr. Folinsbee is frail, and Mrs. Folinsbee compensates for that. It was time for Jill and I to give back. So we committed to 5 hours each on Friday and Saturday of helping at the tournament. Jill ran the draws, the shuttles, sold the snacks, answered queries and phones and anything else. Later on, when another lady and myself were running dishes for the banquet up and down the stairs, Jilly helped with that too.
5. It's ironic that the UBBT challenge was presented to us this weekend. I read up on the Acts of Kindness requirement. At first I thought, well I do that stuff anyway, I don't need to log it. Then I thought about the challenges of this week. Janet had not been very kind to her math teacher, and my challenge is to teach her why this is a problem and why she needs to redeem herself. Jill had been hesitant to commit her friday and saturday night to helping her coach: my challenge is to teach her to see the importance of recognizing and honoring people who are important in her life. Last night I wrote down my first tailored black belt requirement - I will use the Acts of Kindness challenge to teach my daughters - they will witness, and sometimes participate in this challenge. It turns our that nearly everything on that list of requirements has relevance to my current struggles in life.
Well, I must finish here. I have so much to do yet.
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