Week 11 was a struggle. I really felt lost. Questioned everything I was doing. Thought seriously about quitting. Almost did, but went to see Sifu Brinker, and lost my resolve.
Week 12 was even worse. Ask me any part of any particular day what I want to do about the kung fu, and I could give you a totally different answer, depending on which part of the day it was. I decided to use the upcoming week off work to take some steps towards feeling more in control and making some decisions so that I have a sense of purpose and direction. I've compiled a list of decisions to be made, nagging questions to be resolved, actions to take, and issues to settle.
Claire Finnamore
Silent River Kung Fu, Student Member
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Week 10
It was mentioned that a Body for Life Challenge might be considered for our UBBT8 team. I am currently reading the book. I think most of us are indeed, doing most of the program already. But following the program for 12 weeks might just intensify our focus on goals and results.
As I read the book, I am making notes, as is suggested by the author. Answers to questions like the following ones have really added focus, direction and motivation. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and write down their personal answers to the following questions.
Have I made the decision to change?
What are my reasons for making the decision to change?
When I look at myself, do I honestly like what I see?
How do I feel deep down inside?
How do I really feel about myself?
Am I confident, energetic and strong?
do you often wonder if you're on the right path?
Would you like to creat a brighter future?
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
As I read the book, I am making notes, as is suggested by the author. Answers to questions like the following ones have really added focus, direction and motivation. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and write down their personal answers to the following questions.
Have I made the decision to change?
What are my reasons for making the decision to change?
When I look at myself, do I honestly like what I see?
How do I feel deep down inside?
How do I really feel about myself?
Am I confident, energetic and strong?
do you often wonder if you're on the right path?
Would you like to creat a brighter future?
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Week 9
Due to A Series of Unfortunate Events this week, I did not catch up on situps and pushups and I did not attend classes.
On the bright side, I survived (I think). And I took the opportunity to catch up on my meditation minutes.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
On the bright side, I survived (I think). And I took the opportunity to catch up on my meditation minutes.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Monday, February 28, 2011
Week 8
I had set a goal of being up to date on pushups and situps by the end of February. It was a bumpy ride, but slowly I closed the gap, and by February 25 I could taste victory, with only 500 each of situps and pushups to catch up over the next three days.
For some inexplicable reason, my right shoulder began to hurt a little. On February 26 I was unable to lift my arm. Over the course of the next day I began to experience pain down my right back side. I think it all began with the faint, but unmistakable crunching/grinding sound/feeling I began to notice 4 days ago in my neck (C4,5,6 area). That would be the osteoarthritis, and at the time, I made a mental note to keep up with the omega oils supplements, which had fallen by the wayside over the last few days. When those neck vertebrae are grinding together, the nerves are pinched, and pain and numbness in arms and hands result. And the narrowing of the joint space in my shoulder, combined with a thickening of tendons in the shoulder joint cause severe pain, because the muscles and ligaments do not move as freely through the narrow passages in the joints. One constricted muscle pulls on another; from neck, to shoulder, down the arms and across the back. I am in pain. This has happened before. A visit to the chiropractor, increase the omegas, and a little rest, and I should be able to ease into the push ups and sit ups in another day or two.
Maybe I'm in denial, but I don't believe the pushups actually caused the problem. The crunching/grinding of my neck does not happen during regular pushups; it only occurs when I do the tricep pushups, of which I only do 50 per 200 pushups. I will have a talk with my chiropractor about that. Nevertheless, I have given myself a deadline extension. Realistically, I want to be up to date on pushups and situps by March 12.
I am reading an awesome book about kindness (the fourth of my six required readings for UBBT8). It is called "The Power of Kindness", by Piero Ferrucci. As I have not yet finished the book, I will not summarize it yet. But below is an exerpt.
Contact (interpersonal interactions), is a basic aspect of kindness. Where you find contact, you find the heart. . . .
Try this experiment. Start with an ordinary situation such as riding in a taxi, buying paper at a stationery shop, or sitting in the train. Tthen try exchanging a few words with the taxi driver, making eye contact with the salesperson, striking up a conversation with someone on the train. For some of us, that happens spontaneously; others have to do it deliberately. Be fully present in this brief contact, and expect the other to be so as well. Suddenly a change occurs: Something becomes unblocked and energy circulates. It might not be an encounter of two souls. But it surely will be an exhcange of vital energy between two people. . .
Contact is the door through which kindness can flow. . . . Right in the midst of everyday life we are given the chance to touch the lives of others and thus change the world.
Claire Finnamore, Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
For some inexplicable reason, my right shoulder began to hurt a little. On February 26 I was unable to lift my arm. Over the course of the next day I began to experience pain down my right back side. I think it all began with the faint, but unmistakable crunching/grinding sound/feeling I began to notice 4 days ago in my neck (C4,5,6 area). That would be the osteoarthritis, and at the time, I made a mental note to keep up with the omega oils supplements, which had fallen by the wayside over the last few days. When those neck vertebrae are grinding together, the nerves are pinched, and pain and numbness in arms and hands result. And the narrowing of the joint space in my shoulder, combined with a thickening of tendons in the shoulder joint cause severe pain, because the muscles and ligaments do not move as freely through the narrow passages in the joints. One constricted muscle pulls on another; from neck, to shoulder, down the arms and across the back. I am in pain. This has happened before. A visit to the chiropractor, increase the omegas, and a little rest, and I should be able to ease into the push ups and sit ups in another day or two.
Maybe I'm in denial, but I don't believe the pushups actually caused the problem. The crunching/grinding of my neck does not happen during regular pushups; it only occurs when I do the tricep pushups, of which I only do 50 per 200 pushups. I will have a talk with my chiropractor about that. Nevertheless, I have given myself a deadline extension. Realistically, I want to be up to date on pushups and situps by March 12.
I am reading an awesome book about kindness (the fourth of my six required readings for UBBT8). It is called "The Power of Kindness", by Piero Ferrucci. As I have not yet finished the book, I will not summarize it yet. But below is an exerpt.
Contact (interpersonal interactions), is a basic aspect of kindness. Where you find contact, you find the heart. . . .
Try this experiment. Start with an ordinary situation such as riding in a taxi, buying paper at a stationery shop, or sitting in the train. Tthen try exchanging a few words with the taxi driver, making eye contact with the salesperson, striking up a conversation with someone on the train. For some of us, that happens spontaneously; others have to do it deliberately. Be fully present in this brief contact, and expect the other to be so as well. Suddenly a change occurs: Something becomes unblocked and energy circulates. It might not be an encounter of two souls. But it surely will be an exhcange of vital energy between two people. . .
Contact is the door through which kindness can flow. . . . Right in the midst of everyday life we are given the chance to touch the lives of others and thus change the world.
Claire Finnamore, Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Monday, February 21, 2011
Week Seven
Two people commented, last week on my Physout page. One of the people is a white belt, and I get from his various posts, that he is really pumped and excited about his kung fu journey, and sincerely wants to help everyone around him succeed, (he asked me how he could help me improve my numbers). He seems to be fully ensconced in the Silent River family. I wish I felt how he does now, but I don't, though I could, and will again. Sifu Brinker said to me a few months ago, "The tools are right in front of you".
Several weeks ago, I encouraged other students and UBBT members to make use of the Physout site. In the past year, some of us had been using the site, others had not, and still others had started using the site, but had not kept it up to date. The Physout site, therefore, was just a private, optional record-keeping tool. As students, and UBBT members, we used the site in isolation from eachother.
Recently, more members and students have started to commit themselves to using the physout site, to keep it up to date, and comment on eachothers' pages. The physout is now a public entity, and we can use it to our advantage. It's ironic that I might be the first one who is struggling, to benefit the most. Perhaps by encouraging others to use this site, I was anticipating that I would need their help and support. By encouraging others, I would be encouraged myself.
I have accepted the white belt's offer to help. Perhaps there are more than two of us who would benefit from a public challenge of forms, or something else. I hope he responds soon.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test.
UBBT8
Several weeks ago, I encouraged other students and UBBT members to make use of the Physout site. In the past year, some of us had been using the site, others had not, and still others had started using the site, but had not kept it up to date. The Physout site, therefore, was just a private, optional record-keeping tool. As students, and UBBT members, we used the site in isolation from eachother.
Recently, more members and students have started to commit themselves to using the physout site, to keep it up to date, and comment on eachothers' pages. The physout is now a public entity, and we can use it to our advantage. It's ironic that I might be the first one who is struggling, to benefit the most. Perhaps by encouraging others to use this site, I was anticipating that I would need their help and support. By encouraging others, I would be encouraged myself.
I have accepted the white belt's offer to help. Perhaps there are more than two of us who would benefit from a public challenge of forms, or something else. I hope he responds soon.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test.
UBBT8
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Week Six
I wish I had more time to write, but I don't. This week I helped organize a two day volleyball tournament. At the moment, I am in the midst of it. Tommorrow, I suspect I will be far too tired to think.
This week I made up some ground on my pushups, squat thrusts and situps. Though I am still behind, it is encouraging to see the gap diminishing. I was unable to attend class on Friday, because I was setting up the gyms and concessions, etc for the the volleyball tournament. No time for open training on Saturday either, as I was busy selling 50/50 draws, and concession items, and trying to get a peak at my daughter's games. Too crowded for pushups today, but I managed to sneak out and get 3 half hour walks in - so my self -propelled travel requirement received attention (and my dog loved it). As well, the 3 2-hour round trip commutes to the site, have provided me with time to work on my knitting donation requirements.
I am reading my third of six required readings on 'Kindness'. This one, "The Art of Being Kind', by Stefan Einhorn provides a few interesting comments on what the author calls the 'counterforces' to being kind. He discusses lack of empathy, lack of reflection, not wanting to get involved, not practicing what we preach, our innate aggression, the victim mentality, the 'someone else' principle, and 'whatever we do, it'll turn out wrong'. Though I don't feel the author offered much advice on what we should do about these counterforces, it is a good idea to keep these things in mind when trying to improve our daily actions, as well as the actions of those around us, and trying to understand why some very unkind acts occur around us.
Claire Finnamore
Silent River Kung Fu - Student Member
The Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
This week I made up some ground on my pushups, squat thrusts and situps. Though I am still behind, it is encouraging to see the gap diminishing. I was unable to attend class on Friday, because I was setting up the gyms and concessions, etc for the the volleyball tournament. No time for open training on Saturday either, as I was busy selling 50/50 draws, and concession items, and trying to get a peak at my daughter's games. Too crowded for pushups today, but I managed to sneak out and get 3 half hour walks in - so my self -propelled travel requirement received attention (and my dog loved it). As well, the 3 2-hour round trip commutes to the site, have provided me with time to work on my knitting donation requirements.
I am reading my third of six required readings on 'Kindness'. This one, "The Art of Being Kind', by Stefan Einhorn provides a few interesting comments on what the author calls the 'counterforces' to being kind. He discusses lack of empathy, lack of reflection, not wanting to get involved, not practicing what we preach, our innate aggression, the victim mentality, the 'someone else' principle, and 'whatever we do, it'll turn out wrong'. Though I don't feel the author offered much advice on what we should do about these counterforces, it is a good idea to keep these things in mind when trying to improve our daily actions, as well as the actions of those around us, and trying to understand why some very unkind acts occur around us.
Claire Finnamore
Silent River Kung Fu - Student Member
The Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Week Five
This week has been a good week, and very busy too. It seems that there is a lot that I could journal, but I am short of time. I am heading into another busy week. I have made February the month for bringing up my push-up, sit-up, and squat thrust numbers. Every day is a battle, but things are improving. My goal is to be up to date on these three things by the end of February. I appreciate the comment I recieved on my UBBT tracker. It is motivating that my team members are taking an interest and keeping tabs on me.
I have also made February a cleanse-month. I am trying a different one than the Master Cleanse, which I used last year, with mixed results. The Master Cleanse (aka the Lemonade cleanse), resulted in weight loss, increased energy, and a lifting of spririt. But after not eating solid food for 7 days, I succumbed to the urge to eat everything in sight. This year's cleanse is a 30-day herbal cleanse, and I can eat normally and healthily throughout. It also includes a significant supplement of omega and essential fatty acids. I believe this may have resulted in an unexpected health benefit. I've noticed that some chronic injuries associated with my osteoarthritis have pretty much been completely alleviated. Suddenly, the crunch and grind I listen to as I perform my push-ups has dissappeared for the first time in almost 2 years. I think I might even be able to run. But I don't want to push it. For now I am happy to listen to the silence of my joints, and marvel at the freedom with which I can move my right shoulder without pain.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
I have also made February a cleanse-month. I am trying a different one than the Master Cleanse, which I used last year, with mixed results. The Master Cleanse (aka the Lemonade cleanse), resulted in weight loss, increased energy, and a lifting of spririt. But after not eating solid food for 7 days, I succumbed to the urge to eat everything in sight. This year's cleanse is a 30-day herbal cleanse, and I can eat normally and healthily throughout. It also includes a significant supplement of omega and essential fatty acids. I believe this may have resulted in an unexpected health benefit. I've noticed that some chronic injuries associated with my osteoarthritis have pretty much been completely alleviated. Suddenly, the crunch and grind I listen to as I perform my push-ups has dissappeared for the first time in almost 2 years. I think I might even be able to run. But I don't want to push it. For now I am happy to listen to the silence of my joints, and marvel at the freedom with which I can move my right shoulder without pain.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Week Four
Finally the month of January comes to a close. It is one of the three tough months of the year when it comes to being motivated. I still have February and March to go, but from past records I know that things slowly but surely get to be a little easier.
I am thouroughly dissappointed with my numbers for January. I have ALOT of catching up to do in pushups, situps, squat thrusts and forms. I should have been ahead in numbers for self-propelled travel; I have never done so much outdoor walking in this province at this time of the year. But my numbers on the bike slipped below what I had expected because I inexplicably began having a difficult time getting up at 4:30 am to attend my morning spin classes. I really have to find a solution to this problem quickly as my timetable for the next 5 months does not allow for spin work at any other time of the day. I am happy that my attendance numbers for I Ho Chuan, Black Belt Class, and Open training are on track, but I still find it a mental struggle to convince myself to go, and to stay. February is a shorter month, and that much closer to spring.
Last week, the lead teacher and I began our 'Kindness' curriculum. Our special students struggle with empathy and related skills. Sometimes the teacher and I wonder if we are teaching to the unteachable. But there is one boy, who really doesn't get it who provides me with hope. He TRIES to understand. He WANTS to understand. I think he knows he doesn't get it, and that is why he bombards us with seeminigly preposterous questions, like, 'Mrs. Finnamore, is it a Random Act of Kindness when you save someone from drowning even when you don't like them?' I hope that one day, despite his limitations, we will provide him with an answer that will work for him.
I am reading the most amazing book, by John Francis, Ph.D., called "Planet Walker; 17 years of silence, 22 years of walking". Back in 1971, when John was in his 20's, he joined thousands of people as they responded to an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, by scrubbing the beaches and fighting to save birds and sea creatures dying from petroleum poisoning. The event changed his life and began a deep personal transformation; he chose to stop using motorized vehicles, and he took a vow of silence that would last for 17 years. The book is the story of the next 22 years of his life, as he silently walks 2 continents spreading his message of peace and environmentalism, and, along the way, earning an undergraduate and master's degree in science and environmental studies and a Ph.D. in land resources. Though John currently has taken up a more traditional lifestyle, he is still an activist. He is the founder and director of Planetwalk, a nonprofit environmental education organization and he is developing a environmental studies curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage for K-12 schools and universities.
"Listen actively to learn. Be prepared to hear something new without judgment, and listen to what you have heard before from the place where you are now. Learning may come from a new understanding of what you already seem to know." John Francis
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
I am thouroughly dissappointed with my numbers for January. I have ALOT of catching up to do in pushups, situps, squat thrusts and forms. I should have been ahead in numbers for self-propelled travel; I have never done so much outdoor walking in this province at this time of the year. But my numbers on the bike slipped below what I had expected because I inexplicably began having a difficult time getting up at 4:30 am to attend my morning spin classes. I really have to find a solution to this problem quickly as my timetable for the next 5 months does not allow for spin work at any other time of the day. I am happy that my attendance numbers for I Ho Chuan, Black Belt Class, and Open training are on track, but I still find it a mental struggle to convince myself to go, and to stay. February is a shorter month, and that much closer to spring.
Last week, the lead teacher and I began our 'Kindness' curriculum. Our special students struggle with empathy and related skills. Sometimes the teacher and I wonder if we are teaching to the unteachable. But there is one boy, who really doesn't get it who provides me with hope. He TRIES to understand. He WANTS to understand. I think he knows he doesn't get it, and that is why he bombards us with seeminigly preposterous questions, like, 'Mrs. Finnamore, is it a Random Act of Kindness when you save someone from drowning even when you don't like them?' I hope that one day, despite his limitations, we will provide him with an answer that will work for him.
I am reading the most amazing book, by John Francis, Ph.D., called "Planet Walker; 17 years of silence, 22 years of walking". Back in 1971, when John was in his 20's, he joined thousands of people as they responded to an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, by scrubbing the beaches and fighting to save birds and sea creatures dying from petroleum poisoning. The event changed his life and began a deep personal transformation; he chose to stop using motorized vehicles, and he took a vow of silence that would last for 17 years. The book is the story of the next 22 years of his life, as he silently walks 2 continents spreading his message of peace and environmentalism, and, along the way, earning an undergraduate and master's degree in science and environmental studies and a Ph.D. in land resources. Though John currently has taken up a more traditional lifestyle, he is still an activist. He is the founder and director of Planetwalk, a nonprofit environmental education organization and he is developing a environmental studies curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage for K-12 schools and universities.
"Listen actively to learn. Be prepared to hear something new without judgment, and listen to what you have heard before from the place where you are now. Learning may come from a new understanding of what you already seem to know." John Francis
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Week Three
Its been a tough week and not much to write about. I've been struggling with trying to simplify my schedule. I seem to be going all the time. As a result, I don't feel I am putting 100% into any one thing. What I want to do is really simple enough. I want to spend more time at home and training my dog. I want to do well in the UBBT8. And I want to ride my bike alot. Those are the big rocks in my bucket. But I find that there are a whole pile of little pebbles masquerading as big boulders, filling all the spaces in between and flowing out over top. Some aren't even my own pepbles, but as a mother, I have them in my bucket anyways. Its tough eliminating things on the to do list when you're a mom, but I've decided to start asking myself, "Where am I?" and "Why am I doing this?". Its a start.
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Claire Finnamore
Student Member, Silent River Kung Fu
Ultimate Black Belt Test
UBBT8
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Week Two
One of my UBBT8 goals is to take my dog to intermediate obedience training, and then agility training classes. One might wonder what this goal might have to do with my kung fu journey.
At first, I thought that challenging myself to focus on my dog would give me the opportunity to learn more about 'living in the moment'. Agility classes require that my dog be fit. I would have to take my dog for long walks, exercise her with games of catch, spend at least 20 minutes per day practising the obedience training. It would force me to slow down my own life, adjust my day to day priorities, be home more, enjoy the outdoors more, and watch and learn how a dog 'lives in the moment'.
The trainer at the obedience classes told me that dogs don't live in the moment. They live in the second. I argued with him that a moment is not to confused with a minute. When he looked at me askance, I referred to philosophies such as zen buddhism. The obedience trainer would have none of it. He had no time for philosophy, and 'living in the moment' mumbo jumbo; he'd rather spend time with his dogs.
Today, Lizzie (my dog) and I went for a one hour walk. Actually, for me, it wasn't walking, and it wasn't snowshoeing, so I would have to call it snow-booting. As we walked and snow-booted, I got to thinking. Lizzie is helping me profoundly with this 'living in the moment' thing. Not for the first time this year, I had adjusted my plans for the day on account of her. I'm not much of a winter outdoors person - so getting motivated, or adjusting my day, to go outside and just walk, and think, and clear the cobwebs out, relax, enjoy the freshness, and live in the moment is a challenge at this time of year. Lizzie has indeed provided the reason, the perspective and motivation I need. And in doing so, she has provided me with the opportunity to explore another of my UBBT8 requirements; Kindness.
I am currently reading the book, 'On Kindness', by Adam Phillips and Barbara Taylor which explores the origins and history of kindness in our instincts, our religions, and our philosophies. The authors argue that kindness is instinctual, but in society we have come to be suspicious of it and view it as dangerous. In the authors' words below:
The pleasure of kindness is that it connects us with others; but the terror of kindness is that it makes us too immediately aware of our own and other people's vulnerabilties.
Dogs, like humans, are social animals. As I spend time with Lizzie, I watch her give and recieve kindness instinctively. Is it because she has not lost touch with that inter-connectedness that we all crave, or is it the other way round? As I bring loads of wood in for the wood-burning stove, and Lizzie dances around me, I begin to wonder whether there are a few things you can't have without the other - the ability to live in the moment, the pleasure of kindness, and the acceptance of both our interconnectedness, and our vulnerabilities.
"So it is not that real kindness requires people to be selfless, it is rather that real kindness changes people in the doing of it, often in unpredictable ways"
From "On Kindness"
At first, I thought that challenging myself to focus on my dog would give me the opportunity to learn more about 'living in the moment'. Agility classes require that my dog be fit. I would have to take my dog for long walks, exercise her with games of catch, spend at least 20 minutes per day practising the obedience training. It would force me to slow down my own life, adjust my day to day priorities, be home more, enjoy the outdoors more, and watch and learn how a dog 'lives in the moment'.
The trainer at the obedience classes told me that dogs don't live in the moment. They live in the second. I argued with him that a moment is not to confused with a minute. When he looked at me askance, I referred to philosophies such as zen buddhism. The obedience trainer would have none of it. He had no time for philosophy, and 'living in the moment' mumbo jumbo; he'd rather spend time with his dogs.
Today, Lizzie (my dog) and I went for a one hour walk. Actually, for me, it wasn't walking, and it wasn't snowshoeing, so I would have to call it snow-booting. As we walked and snow-booted, I got to thinking. Lizzie is helping me profoundly with this 'living in the moment' thing. Not for the first time this year, I had adjusted my plans for the day on account of her. I'm not much of a winter outdoors person - so getting motivated, or adjusting my day, to go outside and just walk, and think, and clear the cobwebs out, relax, enjoy the freshness, and live in the moment is a challenge at this time of year. Lizzie has indeed provided the reason, the perspective and motivation I need. And in doing so, she has provided me with the opportunity to explore another of my UBBT8 requirements; Kindness.
I am currently reading the book, 'On Kindness', by Adam Phillips and Barbara Taylor which explores the origins and history of kindness in our instincts, our religions, and our philosophies. The authors argue that kindness is instinctual, but in society we have come to be suspicious of it and view it as dangerous. In the authors' words below:
The pleasure of kindness is that it connects us with others; but the terror of kindness is that it makes us too immediately aware of our own and other people's vulnerabilties.
Dogs, like humans, are social animals. As I spend time with Lizzie, I watch her give and recieve kindness instinctively. Is it because she has not lost touch with that inter-connectedness that we all crave, or is it the other way round? As I bring loads of wood in for the wood-burning stove, and Lizzie dances around me, I begin to wonder whether there are a few things you can't have without the other - the ability to live in the moment, the pleasure of kindness, and the acceptance of both our interconnectedness, and our vulnerabilities.
"So it is not that real kindness requires people to be selfless, it is rather that real kindness changes people in the doing of it, often in unpredictable ways"
From "On Kindness"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Week One
Week One did not go as well as I would have liked. We are in the midst of snowstorms here, and so I was not able to get to the training hall on Friday or Saturday. My attendance at classes on both these days has been an issue that I hope to correct. I have made it one of my requirements in UBBT8 to attend 80% of this year's black belt and I Ho Chuan classes on Friday nights, and Open training sessions on Saturdays. I will have to wait until next week to get started.
Another of my UBBT8 requirements is to read 6 books on Acts of Kindness. This week I finished reading "Cool To Be Kind: Random Acts And How To Commit Them", by Val Litwin, Brad Stokes, Erik Hanson, and Chris Bratseth. I highly reccommend this book. Its about 4 young Canadians (the authors), who packed a motorhome in Victoria and embarked on a three-month non-profit marathon in 2002 which was called The Extreem Kindness Tour. Their mission was to commit as many random acts of kindness in as many Canadian communities as possible. Their dream was to begin connecting the world through kindness. When I finished the book, I was amazed and inspired. Amazed at the geniune depth of commitment, awareness, and leadership these 20ish young men displayed. Amazed at their excellent writing. And inspired by the many different things they did in each of the communities they visited and the impact their acts had on the receivers as well as the givers.
I have recently changed careers and am now in a position to make a difference in the community through my job. The team I work need my help in developing a 'volunteerism' component which will be delivered as a program to junior high students in an alternative classroom setting. My suggestion that 'Acts of Kindness' be the theme has been enthusiastically recieved. I am brimming with ideas after reading reading 'Cool To Be Kind'. What a great way to start the year.
If you want to have fun for an hour watch television. If you want to have fun for a day go to an amusement part. If you want to have fun for a lifetime - help others. From 'Cool To Be Kind;
Claire Finnamore, Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu
Another of my UBBT8 requirements is to read 6 books on Acts of Kindness. This week I finished reading "Cool To Be Kind: Random Acts And How To Commit Them", by Val Litwin, Brad Stokes, Erik Hanson, and Chris Bratseth. I highly reccommend this book. Its about 4 young Canadians (the authors), who packed a motorhome in Victoria and embarked on a three-month non-profit marathon in 2002 which was called The Extreem Kindness Tour. Their mission was to commit as many random acts of kindness in as many Canadian communities as possible. Their dream was to begin connecting the world through kindness. When I finished the book, I was amazed and inspired. Amazed at the geniune depth of commitment, awareness, and leadership these 20ish young men displayed. Amazed at their excellent writing. And inspired by the many different things they did in each of the communities they visited and the impact their acts had on the receivers as well as the givers.
I have recently changed careers and am now in a position to make a difference in the community through my job. The team I work need my help in developing a 'volunteerism' component which will be delivered as a program to junior high students in an alternative classroom setting. My suggestion that 'Acts of Kindness' be the theme has been enthusiastically recieved. I am brimming with ideas after reading reading 'Cool To Be Kind'. What a great way to start the year.
If you want to have fun for an hour watch television. If you want to have fun for a day go to an amusement part. If you want to have fun for a lifetime - help others. From 'Cool To Be Kind;
Claire Finnamore, Student Member
Silent River Kung Fu
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