Sihing Burke asked on Thursday whether the team had kept in touch with their "besties" that were initiated at the start of the year. The answer for me is "yes" and she just so happens to be one of mine.
I think my group has worked for a few different reasons. For one, we created a WhatsAp group to communicate immediately following that class where we check in, share, poke, etc. I am also quite connected to my group outside of our "bestie" group with things like lion dancing, the fan and teaching. So there's really nowhere to hide. Something else that stands out to me is that it hasn't fallen on just one person to maintain the connection. As I look through our thread, we've all stayed active, both responding to and initiating communication. And when it's gone quiet for a bit, someone pipes up. There were even occasions where we attempted to participate in each others requirements to try and generate some momentum for the other person and to try and share in why their goal was important to them.
We have all sputtered and drifted off track....but then suddenly there's been someone pulling us back.
As an example, I was recently tasked with implementing a plan to get back on track with my notes. How did they know I had fallen off? Well...because someone knew to ask. And so I agreed that I needed to do something. I was then asked to set a deadline. Damn, ok....getting specific now. And so I did. And THEN it was agreed that if I didn't meet my deadline, that my besties would be allowed to come up with an appropriate consequence, but that I wouldn't know what it was in advance. And to be quite honest, I didn't want to find out. And so did I meet my deadline? You bet I did. And would I have gotten this going again on my own? Probably not.
So for me, personally, my bestie group has definitely added value to my year.
There have been so many good things happening! So many that I need to jot these all down so I don't forget. Hopefully this will be enough to come back to another time and expand. And apologies if these little tidbits don't make much sense for the reader, but they are just snippets for myself to return to.
Here we go...
1. I love teachers that are able to just sit back and let you come to all the wrong conclusions. To some, this might seem like an uncaring teacher...but I see this as someone who really wants you to work through it and figure it out on your own...knowing that this will then stay with you, rather than jumping in to make every little correction, and ending up with a student that really doesn't understand why they are doing what they're doing. I want to try and do this more in my own teaching.
2. The biggest thing that I took from the kindness project is awareness of how connected (or not) I am to the individual members of the IHC team..and vice versa. It made me wonder how I can get to know some of my team-mates better and how they can better connect with me. And that's through my blogs. We don't otherwise see each other in the same social circles, nor work circles. This was an eye opener for how important my blogging is for both my team mates and my instructors.
3. Working on progressing with my 6 Harmonies has been difficult. I think I've gone from one extreme to another, both, oddly enough, resulting in the same chunky effect. But working on a particular part of DMH (step into open X with snap punch) I suddenly found myself expanding my "vocabulary". I was doing a "1. 2. 3." But then I started doing a "1 aaaand 2". The "aaaaand" was my transition. Why this verbalization helped, I don't know. But it suddenly felt like I was doing the techniques, flowing through to the next, feeling harmony, etc. Finally, a blue belt, and I think I maybe figured out 1 single 3 step section. At least for now. I'm pretty sure it will break again at some point. Hahahahaha.
4. I want to stop saying "I've been doing it all wrong". I haven't been. I've been doing it just fine for my level, ability, understanding, brain capacity, etc, etc. It's just that now, for whatever reason, I can see how to do it different. This is progression.
5. Demo Prep. I'm calling our fan form attempt on Thursday a "delightful disaster". 🤣 Working as a team with a partner has really brought with it many challenges that have been really beneficial. Thursday brought some new ones. Walking onto the "stage" on your own can be difficult enough...trying to find a spot to start where you have enough room to finish...not running into anyone or having them run into you. Add a partner and you suddenly can't enter how you normally would want to. I can't speak for my partner, but I felt like what I thought was good, wasn't, because I hadn't really considered my partner and where they would end up moving. At times I recall feeling like everyone was right on top of us for some reason. Lol. I also didn't consider the fact that all these people moving around, with weapons swinging, would cause all kinds of breezes and winds....that we've learned are not conducive to a successful fan toss. Even while at the Kwoon, as soon as the furnace kicks in, we need to be mindful of where we are because any little current will sweep our fans away when we are tossing them. Hahahaha....well...lesson learned. We can only improve from here.
6. Lion dance in the cold. This was today. The stick did not slip out of my mittened hand, to Sifu Rybak's great disappointment. But I did learn that mittens are actually kind of heavy when thunder drumming and they got in the way of my clicks at times. And don't ask me why, but drumming causes your touque to slowly slide off your head. Just food for thought to all the drummers. But a fun dance as always!
So I was having a hard time maintaining consistency. So I reached out to a team-mate to see if they wanted to have some scheduled morning training times together. And the last few weeks have been awesome.
We've been making alot of headway with our weapons form and I'm really starting to feel like we'll be ready come the banquet. We are connecting dots and finding things in other forms and techniques as well. And having this huge accomplishment under our belts right at the start of the day has made me feel like I've already conquered the day and everything else is icing on the cake.
And having some set days and times pre-planned is definitely holding me accountable.
So yeah, things have been good.
This past week flew by on me. Even though we didn’t have any formal classes, my dad was here visiting and suddenly it was today. We spent the day driving to Saskatoon to bring him home and now I’m finally settling in for the night at my Aunts. This is just a quick checkin, but I am actually feeling really good this week. 😁
Not many of you know this, but I'm going through a pretty big life change at the moment. My current employer is entering retirement, and the business, as it stands, will not continue in its current capacity.
As of Monday I have transitioned to working from home, as the offices are downsized. My final day as an official employee will be November 29.
I am so grateful for the time I've spent at Interlab. The owners have been the probably the best employers I've known and have become close to me like family. Their philosophy has always been "family first". I recall them, at one point, telling Suncor that they'd "just have to wait" when Nathan was sick as a baby. The opportunity to work for them came at the exact moment I needed them. And they allowed me to pursue a fulfilling career, without having to sacrifice being a mom. And I wish them all the best.
Having said that, I've decided not to pursue future employment in this same capacity. I intend to spend more time on teaching, Kung Fu, my home and my family. It's a bit scary, but also very exciting.
I'm looking forward to spending more of my time on the things that really matter. And I'm so grateful that I'm fortunate enough to be able to do so.
She came to be during the Break-a-thon on Monday. From one of the wooden boards broken by Todai Raw.
It may sound funny, but I think I might just take as much pride in holding a board for a successful break as I do when breaking the board myself. Holding a board is a big responsibility and the holder can make or break (haha...get it?) the attempt. It requires proper technique just like the strike would. Proper stance, locked arms, strong grip, perfectly still....a checklist of things that I go through while getting set up and placed. When that board breaks, I feel that excitement. And when it doesn't, I accept some of that responsibility and feel that disappointment.
So when someone asks me to hold their board, it's not only a big responsibility, but also a huge compliment that they trust me enough to do so.
IHC Numbers To Date
*Remember - AI recaps are not perfect or exact representation of the conversation
Next Steps
• Malinda to work on adjustments to her opening bow technique as discussed with Jeff.
• Malinda to continue developing relationships with parents and monitoring student progress, especially for students with special needs.
Summary
Dividing Operations and Real Estate
Jeff and Malinda discussed the complexities of dividing operations and real estate within their company, with a focus on minimizing capital gains taxes. Jeff mentioned that he is in a temporary step-back role due to his daughter's health issues, but plans to return to a more active role. He also expressed his intention to pass the business to Khona, but the real estate ownership is proving to be a challenge. Jeff and Malinda also shared their experiences and frustrations with shopping at Costco, particularly the South Side location.
Balancing Standards and Student Needs
Malinda expressed concerns about her ability to handle the responsibilities of her new role, particularly in relation to students with varying abilities. Jeff reassured her, emphasizing the importance of maintaining standards while adjusting them individually for each student's needs. He also highlighted the need for empathy and compassion in dealing with students who may have limitations. Jeff advised Malinda to keep the parents involved and to communicate with them about her plans for the students. Malinda acknowledged the responsibility and the importance of developing relationships with the parents.
Improving Project Approach and Collaboration
The team discussed the need for a more comprehensive and detailed approach to their project, with a focus on the importance of understanding the customer's perspective. They agreed on the necessity of a more structured and organized approach to their work, with a clear plan and timeline. The team also emphasized the importance of collaboration and communication, with everyone involved in the project needing to be on the same page. The conversation ended with the team agreeing to work on a more detailed plan and timeline for their project.
Organizing Spaces for Relaxation
Malinda and Jeff discussed their respective organizational challenges at home. Malinda shared her efforts to set up a dedicated space for her Lego collection, which had previously been scattered throughout the house. She mentioned the acquisition of large steel shelving units to display her extensive Lego sets, including the Millennium Falcon and Hogwarts Castle. Jeff acknowledged the importance of organization and cleanliness for relaxation. The conversation also touched on the differences in their approaches to organization, with Malinda needing a clean and organized environment to relax, while Dan could relax regardless of the state of the house.
Clarifying Opening Bow Technique
In the meeting, Malinda expressed confusion about her opening bow technique, feeling like she had lost her way with it. Jeff provided feedback on her technique, suggesting adjustments to her hand movements and body positioning. They also discussed a potential misunderstanding about the correct movement for the opening bow, with Jeff clarifying that the movement should be straight back and then out, not up and down. Malinda agreed to work on these adjustments and was encouraged to continue practicing without the up and down movement. They also discussed a successful application of the opening bow technique in a different context, during a sticky hands exercise.
Plant Care Based on Intuition
Malinda discussed her observations about her plants, noting that she could sense their happiness or unhappiness based on their appearance and behavior. She shared two examples where she adjusted her care methods based on her intuition, such as untangling a wild plant and removing it from a bird cage. Malinda expressed her belief that some plants prefer more freedom and space to thrive. She also mentioned her upcoming role in more plant care responsibilities for the kids, which she found nerve-wracking.
