Just possibly this message is conformation that the Holy Spirit desires that we refocus today.

As we sat in the turning lane, we heard a terrible sound that two cars make when there’s been a crash. I was relieved that our vehicle hadn’t felt the physical impact. But I knew someone had been very shaken up! The traffic light changed and as we proceeded through the intersection I looked over my shoulder and recognized that the guy on the cell phone. He had smashed into the SUV in front of him. His front hood appeared to look like a crumpled aluminum “pop” can. Surely he was dazed, his negligent driving skills had caused great distress.

My heart sank for the innocent party involved in this accident. It’s evident that the perpetrator of the accident paid no attention to the obvious stationary car. He was too caught up in his conversation-his world! He should have let it go! Let the phone go until he arrived at his destination.

There are some things we can’t do simultaneously! Driving and talking are at the top of my list. As this year wraps up it’s important to acknowledge what we aren’t able to do effectively handle. It’s a matter of refocusing, refocusing in order to pay careful attention to the important matters we are currently involved in. Lord knows it makes for a better day! It’s clear we don’t operate in a vacuum. I’m sure you agree that our actions do effect others!

Several thoughts regading REFOCUSING come to mind:

What impressions are we leaving behind?

Those we come into contact with should be glad we were in their presence, are they?

What happens when we resist moving hastily?
Are the outcomes worth it?

Peacefully move forward, is that a foreign concept?

Are you enjoying the ride, the journey you are currently experiencing? What happens when our destination is no longer the primary goal?

Take heart, we’ve all experienced unexpected hardships.

What happens when we get stuck in the past and drag our feet in moving forward?

Do you know “atmosphere changers” that stir up hurt and confusion? Could they have possibly handled things in a better way?

How important is it to pay attention to our surroundngs, our loved ones and the things in life that matter most?

 
Friends as we reflect on those questions, let’s be encouraged in our spirits to refocus our energies and time to first seek divine guidance;continually praying for God’s will over us and what concerns us! Yes, God’s moving in our hearts to accomplish wonderful things, if we just refocus!

Psalm 121 (New International Version)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

It’s Food for Thought! Shared in Great JOY!

Linda Mose Meadows, Author & Columnist
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/

When we think of sports heroes from the Philippines, the first to come to mind is of course Manny Pacquiao. A couple other notable sports figures to also come from the PI were Efren Reyes, a nasty pool player (ESPN used to show this dude get busy on the table). And a famous little toy turned competitive sport, The Pedro Yo-Yo. Named after the ingenious inventor, Pedro Flores.

photo from wikipedia.com

But long before these Filipino icons jumped onto the world stage, there was a deceptive little footballer (soccer player) that made a huge mark on the Spanish Primera Futbol League (La Liga). His name was Paulino Alcantara. Hailing from Iloilo City, Philippines, Alcantara was the first ever Filipino and Asian to play for a European club.

Alcantara played for the world famous Spanish powerhouse, FC Barcelona. He quickly made a name for himself by kicking the ball so hard during a shot on goal, that the ball ripped through the net. Barca fans, especially the kids, wanted nothing more to kick and play like the Filipino. Dubbing him “El Rompe Redes”, the net breaker.

Great Skill

Usually we don’t correlate football with the Philippines or vice versa, but considering the achievements of Alcantara one could begin to make that connection. While at FC Barcelona, Alcantara became the club’s All-Time leading scorer with 357 goals in 357 games. He played for both the Philippines and Spain during his international career. And made his debut in the Spanish Primera at the age of 15.

Alcantara retired from the beautiful game at 31 to become a doctor, go figure…

Bad Ass!

Filipinos may recognize the name, but I’m willing to gauge that less than 50% of the Barca faithful know that he is a legend, let alone know that he’s Filipino.

Manny Pacquiao is definitely stamping his fist on the face of world sports, but without legends like Alcantara who paved the way, many athletes from smaller nations may not have ever been given the opportunity to display their athleticism. Now scouts from all sports from all over the world are seeking talent in hard to reach places.

O.G. - Original Goaleador

I don’t consider myself a rabid fan of FC Barcelona, but I am a fan for sure. Here in the states, the coverage of Spanish and other European football is limited to a few networks so its tough to follow results and everyday happenings. Hopefully coverage will increase, I would hate to miss the emergence of another great footballer from an unsuspecting region of the world. Go Barca!

-MR

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulino_Alc%C3%A1ntara

http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/alcantara.html

http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/president/news/newsid=654697.html

Shoes in the martial arts world have, typically, never really been fashionable. As a kid, I remember being able to get  a pair of “kung fu shoes” at Alpha Beta (old school grocery store) for about a $1.99. But never were they something that everyone here in the U.S. was rockin’. I’d see them around every once in a while, especially in less affluent communities.

Back in the day, you could get these and a loaf a bread for $2.50...

These were cool because these simple cotton shoes with a hard plastic sole were the same shoes Bruce Lee would wear in his films. These were also the shoes all the kung fu fighters in the old school Shaw Brothers flicks were sporting. Sometimes you could find these with hard white cotton soles. Even though all of the film stars wore them, these shoes are horrible to train in. The soles have no grip and even less foot support for demanding quick action foot movement. You were lucky if they didn’t fly off executing a kick.

Today’s version of these old school classics are stylish, yet remain as simple as the originals.

Old School Re-Do.

This goes for most other martial arts shoes as the big names like Nike, Puma, and Adidas, have all jumped into the martial arts shoe game with their version of foot support for the practitioner. For the most part, kung fu shoes or martial arts shoes never really made a fashion statement or their mark in pop culture until now…

Here’s my review of these new school kicks…

For Tai Chi

This is a simple white canvas shoe with a  slim rubber sole. The laces add overall support and the padding around the ankle is helpful but could cause some irritation if worn with a low cut sock. These aren’t usually worn by martial artists doing tough training. These are for Tai Chi and moving meditation practitioners. I remember seeing old people in Hong Kong wearing these types of shoes up early doing Tai Chi and playing chess in the park. Perfect for the retirement home…

Sticking with the canvas shoe..this is the Feiyue.

Universal Shoe

Feiyue is probably the most identifiable martial arts shoe out right now. This is a rugged canvas shoe with a medium sized rubber sole. The grip is superb on these kicks. Once they are broken in, they feel like a glove on your foot. This brand is based out of Shanghai, China and is easy to find all over, especially in Northern China. The extended lacing system provides incredible foot support for all intense training exercises.

Hi Tops aren't recommended for training.

The flexibility and comfort that Feiyue provides for martial artists, allow for long training sessions without discomfort. As mentioned, the rubber sole provides exceptional grip for all surfaces. The only downside to these kicks is, over a few months practitioners can expect to see the rubber detach from the canvas as the glue on these tends to fade. Feiyue doesn’t have the best Quality Assurance as they are mass produced. Martial artists can find these usually around $15 U.S, but if you’re in China and know how to say “Tai Gui le” (that’s too expensive!) you can get these for dirt cheap. Two pairs for $40 Kuai. (That’s about $5 U.S. a pair).

Gaining popularity outside of the martial arts community.

Feiyue has stepped outside of their martial arts roots and have been producing a casual shoe for civilians. They have been gaining momentum in France and of course the Asian market, but I have yet to see them in abundance here in the states.

Good looking. Definitely not for training. This is a kick it shoe.

Next up is Rubber Duck.

Same as the Feiyue.

This is the Rubber Duck version of the Feiyue. In fact, it is a Feiyue, but with much higher Quality Assurance. Minus the stripes and a well glued on sole. Here in the states they retail for around $45 U.S. For some odd reason they are heavier than the original Feiyue which is extremely light. Martial artists and civilians can get these in Navy, Army Green, Grey, Black, and White. I believe Rubber Duck is based out of Denmark, but don’t quote me on that. I got these from a friend of mine who is a rep for Rubber Duck. I have yet to give them a proper training session.

Sewn on label instead of stripes. Your choice.

A good light weight summer beach shoe?

Steering away from the canvas, let’s take a look at the leather martial arts shoe. First up, Nike.

Sleek, but any good?

This is a leather martial arts shoe with a thin rubber sole. Medium to heavy in weight. This shoe is more for the mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, boxer or kick boxer. High ankle support for quick movement but difficult to perform lower stances. Hi tops generally take away from the flexibilty and range of motion the ankle demands for a lot of traditional martial arts maneuvers. Standard lacing system provides great foot support. Nike may have dropped the ball on this one as far as functionality goes. I wouldn’t recommend these for long training sessions as there is not much air circulating in and out of the shoe. The sole is more for indoor training, so grass and dirt are out of the question. I’d say this shoe is more for the weekend warrior and not the daily practitioner.

More functionality from Nike.

Here’s something with a little more versatility from Nike. A leather shoe with a smooth rubber sole with some grip on the bottom. The laces on the side are short, which is nice for sparring but offers less support for the ball and toe region of the foot. The wrap over flap is useful in sparring and bag training but can pinch at the front of the ankle during low stance work and depending on how tight the shoes are tied, could pinch all the time. Low cut at the ankle for good range of motion. Horrible design though. They may look narrow but once broken in, without that lower lace support, it will feel like you’re wearing a flipper instead of a martial arts shoe. The side lacing system is popular on their soccer shoe, not sure why they imported it into their martial arts shoe.

Adidas…

World Class, but do they work?

Here is a really lightweight leather shoe from Adidas. Nice upside covered lacing system, great for sparring and bag work. Narrow toe design. And a really thin rubber sole. Almost too thin. The sole on this shoe is its downfall. There is simply no grip. During sparring practice it is very easy to lose focus on your opponent because you’re trying not to slip and slide on your planted foot during a kick. Soft cushion around the ankle, low cut for more movement. Simple overall design and good stitching placement at the toe for low stance work. This leather breaks in very nicely and grips the foot. The only problem is the sole…Too thin and too slippery. For indoor use only.

Patent leather, not always a good look.

This is basically the patent leather version of the Adidas shoe above. Although the grip on these is a little better. Still an indoor shoe and for those practitioners who do demonstrations and competitions this would be ideal on a mat. Flash is cash, as they say in the strip clubs. But flash or shine on a martial arts shoe only says one thing about its wearer, looks are more important than usability. The leather is a bit thicker on this model as it is slightly padded. An OK training shoe but not sure it could endure months of hardcore training indoor or outdoor. Pricey as well.

Firepower Shoes.

Um...

The Firepower brand is ususally known for its punching equipment, gear, and bags. I wouldn’t consider them a shoe giant in martial arts by any means. This shoe is basically a cheap knock off of the Adidas. The sole has sharp edges which is not ideal for any martial artists, as most martial artists use all parts of their feet in combat and training. I would make the effort to save a little more money to buy a better quality shoe than settle for these. If you take you’re martial arts for a joke, it’ll come back and haunt you.

Last but not least, Puma.

Puma - Providing International Flavor.

Puma has a nice leather and rubber sole shoe. The overlaying flap is secured by a hook and loop. This makes for an unorthodox style of comfort and support. Padding on the top is good for sparring and bag training. Little comfort around the ankle as the rim is padded slightly. Sleek design, similar to their driving shoe. Different texture grips on the bottom for security on one or two feet. Not necessarily an outdoor shoe, but I don’t have any reason to believe that they wouldn’t hold up. Traction is important, which this shoe has. The tightness of the leather design and extra padding could lessen the room needed for the foot to expand during performance.

Generally, you’re going to want a shoe that is versatile and is comfortable. If you train daily and for longer than average hours, I would go with a canvas shoe. Canvas provides comfort and breath-ability. Canvas is lightweight and durable. Grip is also important, especially on a mat. If you train indoors for a short amount of time, I would go with a leather shoe. The thin rubber soles on the leather kicks works well on gym floors or polished surfaces.

Really study your training regiment and ask yourself what is ideal for what you do. Every shoe offers something unique.

Martial arts shoes have come a long way since the old kung fu movies and are now specialized and highly fashionable. These are just a few I decided to review, there are numerous styles by a number of manufacturers. Do your research as always.

-MR

]]> http://reyronin.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/straight-from-the-slums-of-shaolin/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:55:16 +0000 reyronin http://reyronin.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/straight-from-the-slums-of-shaolin/

Back in the summer of 2007, I made a trek deep into China… met with a 33rd Generation Shaolin Warrior Monk who spoke zero English, and my two years of studying Mandarin was survival level at best. Language barrier aside, he proceeded to teach me two forms within the Shaolin Kung Fu catalog. A fist form and a staff form, usually taught to more advanced students. His name is Lu Hai Long. He is my teacher’s teacher.

Monk's Quarters - Inside the Shaolin Temple

The path to my eventual discipleship began back in January of 2006. I had already been practicing a southern style of kung fu known as Choy Li Fut 4 years prior. Until one day, a Shaolin school opened up in Reno, of all places. This is where I met my teacher, Tian Xin – a 34th Generation Shaolin Secular Disciple.

He accepted me as a student and I began my training. Shaolin Kung fu is not like any martial art I have ever encountered. It’s very demanding on the body. Its unforgiving and short cuts lead to injury. This would explain why its the “mother of all martial arts”.

The turn over rate for the school I was at was about a month. Meaning that an average student would come in, try it out for a month and we’d never see them again. There were only a handful of students that came in regularly. This was nice because the classes weren’t full and the training was more like individual lessons. Lots of one-to-one learning opportunities.

I had advanced through the first level curriculum within a 10 month period. It took me 10 months to reach the second level curriculum in what usually takes 2 years generally.

In Shaolin there is no belt system, but first level usually equates to a beginner’s black belt in Tae Kwon Do or Karate. I mean we were doing everything. Punching wood posts, slapping hands over bean bags, pop-ups, falling on our backs, falling on our sides, falling on our arms, the shit was crazy what I was putting my body through. Things you could only imagine or seen in those old kung fu flicks, we were doing.

By this time at the Shaolin Temple in China, they were no longer teaching kung fu by the masses on the monastery grounds. Only to the small group of monks currently living there.

Another quiet day at the temple.

So I trained at a school just down the road from the temple at the Shaolin Shui Ku Xue Xiao – The School at the Shaolin Dam. This was something similar to a military academy for teens, but practicing kung fu all day long. See in China, most adults view kung fu like adults view soccer here in the United States. Something your kids do until they’re about 12 years old and that’s it. You can’t really make a profession out of it and it’s not as popular as ping-pong or basketball.

For them to see me there, an adult foreigner who can speak very little Chinese practicing kung fu was very weird, but they had all the admiration for me because of the love I had for the art form. I think its universal that if you show love and respect for something, especially not of your particular culture and make it your own, you get nothing but love and respect back.

The Chinese are very friendly people and they love the opportunity to practice their English with you or sell you something.

Quick training session.

I was prepared for the training regiment in China because of the way we trained back in the U.S. Everything from holding and throwing around training locks, core and leg training, hours of practice, to cardio exercises and running. Although, I wasn’t prepared for climbing up a rock dam backwards!!! I will never forget the grueling pain I endured for this. When I say I was tested, I really was at a breaking point. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider giving up that morning.

Shaolin River Dam

So I kept on pushing. I definitely didn’t want the word to get out that I was some lazy American just picking and choosing when I felt like training.

I think we all have that moment where we feel it’s just easier to give up on something so we don’t have to feel pain or hurt anymore. I know that there are a lot of things not worth holding on to, which is no big deal. When it comes to dreams and aspirations, things that are attainable over time, we should NEVER give up on.

Since I can remember, I always wanted to learn kung fu. I grew up watching old kung fu movies on the USA Network back in the day. Grew up, lost and found that desire to learn it again and again. If you know anything about old school kung fu movies, the Shaolin Temple was the Mecca and to train there allowed you to say, “I’m official”.

My crew. Don't let their size fool you. They get down!

Today I hold the official title of 35th Generation Shaolin Secular Disciple. My weapon is the staff and my fist form is Da Hong Quan (Big Flooding Fist). My temple name is Shi Heng Lu under the tutelage of Shi Yan Xin and Shi Yong Kan. I still train and I have been granted permission to teach what I have learned.

Shi Yan Xin

Shi Yong Kan

Shaolin Lineage Chart

Map of Shaolin area. Red star denotes the school. Just left up the river is the Shaolin Temple.

Shaolin martial arts is only one aspect of the entire Shaolin culture. A culture that encapsulates philosophy, religion, fashion, martial arts, and overall well-being. It has been popularized by Hollywood and Hong Kong cinema. It should be understood that Shaolin Kung Fu is not for those seeking to attain any kind of material wealth, belts, or prize. The reward for training in Shaolin is self-respect, defense, spirituality, and health. And that’s just scratching the surface. If you are interested in learning traditional martial arts, I suggest doing tons of research to see what it is that you desire. There is something for everyone.

-MR

kalo kata orang, marah saat :
* berdiri
sebaiknya duduk, supaya bisa ngeredain amarah.
yang terjadi sama gw, gw udah duduk tapi di sadel sepeda dan gw udah goes sepeda dari kampus ke kontrakan tanpa pikiran jernih. gw bawaannya cepet-cepet aja, gw lagi ga bisa mikir bener. isi otak gw cuma pikiran negatif doang.

* duduk
kalo dari berdiri trus duduk, belum bisa meredakan amarah, sebaiknya tiduran.
dan setelah gw sampe kontrakan, gw juga langsung tiduran di kamar. tapi gw masih ga bisa tenang juga, malah pikiran gw makin macem-macem. gw udah capek-capek goes sepeda, udah sampe tiduran pun gw masih aja ga bisa mengalihkan pikiran gw.

* tiduran
katanya kalo tiduran masih belum bisa juga, lebih baik wudhu.
gw udah coba wudhu, tapi ternyata gw masih belum bisa berpikiran jernih juga. emang pas wudhu sempet nyegerin apa yg gw pikirin, tapi setelah itu ya kembali lagi ke awal. gw masih belum bisa menghilangkan amarah gw ke dia.

kalo semua itu udah gw lakuin, gw harus lakuin apa lagi? gw ga ngerti dengan semua ini. kenapa marah itu susah dihilangkan?

gw selalu kepikiran kata-kata dia yg kemarin sampe pagi ini, dan ternyata gw ga mendapat apa-apa dari setiap perkataannya itu. gw udah berharap dari semua perkataannya itu, tapi ternyata ga terbukti. gw males denger alesannya. kenapa gw males denger, itu juga karena dia yg ngajarin gw untuk males denger alesan orang.

——————————
akhirnya gw menyadari maksud status temen gw di FB, yg diantara komen-komen dari orang, dia bilang kalo yg lagi capek itu HATInya. ternyata setelah gw bersepeda dari kampus sampe kontrakan, rasa capek di kaki gw bisa ilang dengan waktu yg ga lama. sedangkan seperti yg dibilang temen gw, capek hati, itu masih aja ga bisa ilang. gw harus ngapain lagi buat ngilanginnya?

We’ve all seen it…the image of Buddha sitting legs crossed meditating. We even jokingly emulate this posture in conversation to suggest peace of mind or the notion of Zen. But what are we really witnessing when we see someone in a crossed legged sitting posture? That sitting position is one of the most traditional meditating poses in all of Buddhism and Taoism as passed down by generations of practitioners starting in India way back when.

The day of enlightenment. December 8, 596 BC Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Image shows enlightened Gautama Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree.

The deeper one gets into practicing meditation, more positions are revealed and the practitioner  begins to build a repertoire for meditating. Something to think about while building this list is that, people already have a short list to choose from to meditate. These are things that we do everyday. It could be something as simple as making coffee, mowing the lawn, jogging, listening to music, or riding a bike. There are a number of activities that can put our mind into the initiation process towards meditating. The point of meditating is to think about nothing, clear the mind of all thoughts.

In the world we live in, especially in the Western side of things, its very difficult to eliminate thoughts. So to begin the delete these thoughts, what better way to begin by doing something that requires you to focus on one thing…eventually that one thing becomes so second nature you don’t need to think about doing it.

Through muscle memory we are now just doing. Then the mind is free to erase. 3 thoughts become 2, 2 becomes 1, 1 becomes no thought at all. In time of course.

Here’s a little something from the Buddha himself to help redirect our pre-conceived ideas about meditating…or whatever you can apply it to:

“Do not accept anything on (mere) hearsay — (i.e., thinking that thus have we heard it for a long time). Do not accept anything by mere tradition — (i.e., thinking that it has thus been handed down through many generations). Do not accept anything on account of mere rumors — (i.e., by believing what others say without any investigation). Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything by mere suppositions. Do not accept anything by mere inference. Do not accept anything by merely considering the reasons. Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions. Do not accept anything merely because it seems acceptable — (i.e., thinking that as the speaker seems to be a good person his words should be accepted). Do not accept anything thinking that the ascetic is respected by us (therefore it is right to accept his word).

Big Buddha in Hong Kong

For anyone interested in starting a meditation regiment or just the occasional break from our noisy world, I would definitely suggest learning the basics first. Then apply those basics to your world. For the traditional martial artist, I think its important to understand that traditions are good but not absolute, especially in the world we live in today. Rethink old ways, new ideas.

-MR

¿Por qué luchas en la vida? ¿Cuáles son los objetivos que mueven tus esfuerzos? ¿Lo que haces te satisface? ¿Lo que quieres es lo que realmente te apasiona? Te hago esas preguntas porque a veces en nuestra vida gastamos todas nuestras fuerzas en objetivos que nos proporcionan resultados no deseados. En otros casos asumimos que vamos por el camino correcto y no es así.

Todavía estás a tiempo para re-enfocar tus objetivos y todavía estás a tiempo para re-definir tu camino. No gastes tu tiempo en cosas que no te generan satisfacción. Me explico: te gusta jugar baloncesto pero en realidad no eres el mejor en ese deporte, sin embargo eres excelente músico. ¿No sería mejor que toda esas horas que inviertes en tu pasatiempo las dedicaras a la música donde realmente sí eres bueno?…a eso me refiero. “Lo que nos gusta muchas veces no es donde realmente somos buenos”…..pregunto: ¿podemos convertir nuestras habilidades en nuestra pasión? Transforma tus habilidades en tu pasión, esa es la meta y si ya las posees perfeccionalas. Al final del camino estarás contento contigo mismo.

¿Te gustaría vivir tu vida viviendo tu pasatiempo o viviendo tu pasión? Creeme, tu pasión te brindará resultados exitosos, tu pasatiempo solo te permitirá “pasar el tiempo”. Vive tu pasión .. “tu pasión te dára emoción”.

************

What makes you struggle in life? Which are the objectives that moves your strengths? What you do gives you satisfaction? Are you really passionate about what you want? I ask you all these questions because sometimes in life we spend all ourstrengths in objectives that brings unwanted results. In other cases we think that we are walking the correct path and we aren’t.

You still have time to refocus your objectives and you still have time to redefine your path. Don’t waste time in things that doesn’t brings you satisfaction. Let me explain this: maybe you like to play basketball, but you know that you are not the best in this sport, however you are an amazing musician. Wouldn’t be better to spend all those diversion hours of basketball in what you know you are really good and in what you are passionate about?… that’s what I mean. Sometimes “what we like is not what we are really good at”. Can we convert our abilities in our passion? Transform your abilities in your passion, that’s the goal and if you already posses it, work to make it better.

Would you like to live your life living for your diversion or living for your passion? Believe me, your passion will give you pleasure and satisfaction, your diversion will only bring you limited pleasure. Live your passion.. “your passion will give you emotion”.

How many times had you started a book, fully intending on blasting through that bad boy, but never really finding the rhythm of continuity to finish? I realize that readers this day in age are a dying breed, so if that question didn’t apply to you, simply replace the word “book” with the word “task.” Now there’s one we can all relate to!

Yes, it has been a while since my last post. There are many reasons for my absence. None of which I would care to mention because when broken down, they are nothing more than excuses. Sure, I was put through the ringer (if you know me, you know this), but in life, there must be a time of tribulations to build our character. I am who I am today not only because of my successes, but also because of my hardships. I allowed my focus to shift solely on myself, taking it off of the bigger picture and I got off track. This is part of my story. Reevaluating goals and the fixation of focus on new ones mixed with a renewed ambition and rediscovered passion to do so is a very important part of all of our stories. That’s a lot of “re’s,” but this stuff is already in us, we just half to find it and pull it out. So what are we doing?

This is a short blog, just to let everyone know that I’m on the up and up. Setting your goals is the first step (and also the easiest). Acting them out and making the sacrifices necessary to attain those goals, whether it be a portion of your social life or monetary resources, now that’s not so easy. Let’s make sure that the rewards are worth the risk and bring other’s into our plans. Life isn’t much worth living without the presence of friends and loved ones. We need support and accountability to stay on the ball.

This brings me back to where I’m at and what I’m doing. I’ve been through a rough time these past few months, but it was needed for me to actually move forward with my life. Comfort can be a killer. So I embark on a new journey. One that is promising to be as educational and inspirational as any other chapter of my life. One with great sacrifices and great rewards.

You see, my book is only half read because it is only half written…..

So according to the WordPress notes, it’s been a while since my last post. September…wow has time gone fast. I regularly counsel clients and potential clients on the need to post regularly. I’ve spent the last couple of months working on building clientele and now need to refocus my efforts and reconnect with my base. (Am I running for office?) So, today is the first day of that effort. I had a great time at the azIPRA Mesa lunch this afternoon and reconnected with some outstanding, pr, communications and fundraising professionals. I am also redesigning my Web site, so if you visit, be patient and be kind.

My current thought is that great organization and great motivation and output begins with great health and a great state of mind. So I’m going to kick my workout and nutrition plan into high gear and begin my day with a vigorous visit to the gym to get my creativity going. So what kicks you into high creative gear? I’d love to read your comments and suggestions.

See you soon!

Tree Pose is a standing balancing pose that enhances your focus, self-awareness, and concentration. It simultaneously harnesses your mental ability to concentrate while calming your mind. When we write/work, we are sometimes easily distracted or  our mind  starts to wander, which impedes focus. Just stand up and do Tree Pose, and bring your thoughts back into proper focus and order.

Tree Pose helps your balance, flat feet, and it strengthens your calves and ankles, among other things, which do not get as much work as the other parts of your body.

Preventing Injuries

Do not put your foot on your knee. Do not stick your tailbone out. Do not lean forward. Do not be impatient with yourself. Do not tense up. If you have high blood pressure, you do not have to raise your hands above your head.

Forming Your Tree

Make sure that your tailbone is tucked in, your shoulders are down & back, your abdominal muscles are engaged, and your gaze is focused on a non-moving object.

1. Stand up straight in proper posture, which means that all parts of your body are engaged. You are the trunk of the tree, strong and powerful. Shift your weight to your left foot.
2. Tuck your tailbone in, tighten your buttocks, and press your shoulders down and back.
3. Using your hand to assist, if necessary, put the sole of your foot at your ankle, below your knee on your shin, or above your knee on your thigh. Your toes are pointing down. Do not place your foot on your knee.
4. After you get your foot positioned, turn your knee outward, which means that your inner thigh is turned straight ahead and your knee is pointing to the side. Lift your neck and head.
5. Concentrate, inhale and exhale through your nose, and bring your palms together in prayer position at heart level. Balance.
6. When you feel balanced, inhale and raise your palms above your head. You can stop here or you can keep going to the next step.
7. Widen your arms above your head. Now, you are the tree branches and leaves, soaring, steady, and strong. Inhale and Exhale through your nose.
8. When you are ready to exit Tree Pose, bring your hands into prayer position, exhale, and bring your hands down to prayer position at heart level. Place your foot back on the floor, and raise the other leg.

What You Will Feel

You will feel strong, powerful, focused, and undeterred. Your trunk is doing most of the work. You will feel your ankles, calves, and thighs working to keep you steady.

*Disclaimer: As with any exercise regimen, consult your doctor or physician before you start. The Leisure Living Blog, its contributors, or listed resources are not responsible for any injuries.

© 2009 KaTrina Love Abram

im down 20lbs and i feel great. just another 79lbs to go.. 69lbs until i book tickets!! i lost my motivation for a minute, just for a minute tho. i was re-motivated after a phone call a few days ago, i was told things i already knew.. but sometimes hearing it from the person is all it takes.

i also got back the motivation i lost for doing the geek police website. its not so much that i lost motivation tho.. im not sure what happened to be honest. however, i was at a wedding yesterday and of course was asked what im up to followed by ‘are you in school?’ ..i hate saying i dropped out of college, but i did. it wasnt my thing. i tried it too many times and each and every time i quit. i did tell them that im working on a webpage with my best friend, but we havent really gotten it up and running like we would like.. i wanna be able to tell people that i help run a successful internet website. to do that i need to refocus and put as much effort into that as i can. so starting tomorrow.. im going to be up by 10am at the latest and im going to work on the site for as long as i can… that includes blogging as well.

we will take over the world.. slowly, but surely.

Three of Swords: 

Most of us are aware that the times are a little harsh right now, and many of the things going on can be a bit difficult to look at and acknowledge.  Instead of focusing on the negatives this is a good time to focus on being softer and gentler to ourselves to enable us to make it through these difficult times more easily.  This means not being so harsh on ourselves and to instead relax and find things that bring us pleasure and comfort in order to help keep ourselves intact and strong through these difficult times.  This is about finding ways to be productive which are nurturing and positive to your wellbeing.  People have been scattering themselves amongst many projects, others’ demands and  obligations etc., and so now is the time to come back to one’s self to regroup, reground, re-center and refocus to be better able to live a full and meaningful life.

By Steven G. Mehta

For many years now, my good friends Gig Kyriacou and Myer Sankary and I have presented a seminar at various conventions regarding mediation techniques identified through the movies.  One movie that never ceases to entertain the audience and provide meaningful tips for negotiators is the movie “Wedding Crashers.”

Wedding Crashers stars Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson who are mediators that like crashing weddings for fun and to attract women.  The beginning scene is comedic look at mediation. The scene provides interesting food for thought for negotiators as well as mediators.  The following is the beginning scene from the movie “Wedding Crashers.”

There are several lessons from Wedding Crashers.

Maintain A Positive Attitude

The mediators maintained a positive attitude throughout the entire process. Even though everything was crashing down upon them, they refused to fall victim to the negativity.  Each party to the mediation is negative towards the other person, dismissive, hostile, and volatile. Instead of getting into that feeling on either side, the mediators continued to maintain an upbeat attitude and tone to steer the parties through their difficult times.

Often, negotiations can live or die based upon the attitude of the parties. The emotions of one person in a mediation or negotiation can change or affect the emotions of the other people. As such, it is important that as a negotiator or mediator, you must be the rock that is the foundation for the peacemaking process.

Even in the face of comments regarding the lack of progress, the mediators’ response was to identify the areas in which they had made progress even if those areas were small. The mediators were effective in focusing the parties on the positive aspects as opposed to the negative aspects.   As you recall, John’s response was to say,“you want to hear the crazy thing.  I know it doesn’t feel like it, but we’re making progress!”

Refocus the negative to another topic

One technique that was used in the mediation was to change the subject when things got too hot to handle.  For example, one of the mediators changed the subject of the negative message to a positive message by asking the question “You didn’t always hate each other.”  This question in the mediation allows one of  the parties to talk about the wedding day and the food at the wedding such as crab cakes. In addition, it allowed the parties to think about something that they had in common – the wedding.  This change in topic allowed the mediators to work on refocusing the negative emotions into either neutral or positive emotions.

This technique is a very powerful technique especially in emotional cases. Often, parties will continue to cycle on the negative emotion until some external force helps them to break the vicious cycle. Recently, I mediated a case where a person was consistently focused on the death of her sibling. After she had cycled on this emotion for a long time, I change the topic completely by talking about lunch and different food items. This minor change in topic allowed her an opportunity to refocus away from the death of her sister for a brief moment. This temporary hold in the emotions also allowed her mind to adjust to the new information that had been previously given to her about the merits of her case.

After lunch arrived, I asked her to continue with her discussion and she indicated that she had said all she needed to have said. We then focused on working on resolution of the problem before us as opposed to the underlying death of her sister.

Create a Common Enemy

Research has shown that people who are enemies or opponents in something will join together if there can unite against a common enemy.  There are many quotes about a common enemy.  My favorite quote from my favorite story, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,  is the following: “There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”  The same is true in conflicts such as negotiations or mediations.

Here, the mediators found a common enemy:  The institution of marriage.  If you don’t have a specific entity to make as a common enemy find something else.  In litigation, the fact that the jury can be fickle and biased may be the enemy.  This technique can be very helpful in giving the parties something to work towards.

These are only a few of the points discovered from this scene.  There are other negotiating points in this scene.  Which points do you see?

It’s been too long since I’ve gotten on here!

Sorry for the delay, a lot has been going on, and I’ve been strained for time.

Why, you ask? Well I’ve been juggling three part time jobs for the past month, and it’s kinda tiring. But I’m BACK, and hopefully will be diving back into the blogosphere for the near future.

While I’ve been attempting to navigate all of these jobs (along with the rest of my life), I’ve seen an important theme arise in my life: focus. Well, maybe I mean a lack of focus. It’s so easy for me to fill up free time with busyness, and that seems to be exactly what I’ve done recently.

The things I’m involved in, including the jobs, are not harmful on their own. In fact, they’re pretty awesome. But when I try to cram them all into a limited time-frame, things begin to unravel at the seams. I begin to lose my focus.

It becomes a repetitive routine, a transit from here to there, a blur of activity. Passion and rest dwindle, while short tempers and insecurity come rising to the surface. It becomes hard to wake up with any sense of enthusiasm or drive. It gets easier to get caught up in little, meaningless things instead of the things of God.

At some point I have to throw on a mental e-brake and try to regroup. You ultra-multi-taskers probably think I’m crazy, but I’m betting the rest of you have dealt with something similar.

I had a great conversation over dinner with my dad recently pertaining to all this. It helped give some perspective to where I was at. As I laid out all of my frustrations in front of him, he offered some wise ideas.

1. Reevaluate my goals, and decide if what I’m doing is helping me get closer to them.

2. Take steps to make time to spend with other people.

3. Keep making plans, but leave the future up to God.

4. Give joyfully and generously when opportunities arise.

What would my life look like if all of those things were consistently put into practice?

The challenge for me is asking, “Where is my focus?” on a constant basis. When life gets blurry and seems overwhelming, it’s probably time to bring things back into clarity. It’s so refreshing to remember I can fall back into the arms of Christ, who hold all things together (Romans 11:36). I can cast all anxiety upon Him, because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7).

—-

What about you? How do you refocus yourself on what’s important, or how have you seen this play out in your own life?

In today’s dismal job market, where layoffs are a frequent occurrence and employees are doing more with less, everyone seems to be in survival mode. Today’s workforce has been wounded and suffers from severe battle fatigue. How is a manager supposed to keep his/her staff motivated and engaged in today’s harsh environment?

There should be open communications and a lot of it. When employees do not know what is going on the gossip mill begins to churn. Rumors of layoffs, takeovers, and other forms of destruction will spread and spread quickly. Communicate relentlessly and be honest and upfront with everyone from your direct reports to your junior staff. Dispel the rumors that are wrong and provide whatever information you can about those that have some truth. If your firm is cutting back, let them know and let them know the circumstances. Your employees will appreciate your honesty. Provide ways to handle the situation and project what the future holds for them and the company.

Refocus your employees. Try to focus their energy towards getting the job done. As a manager try to make it easy to get things accomplished given that their thoughts will be elsewhere. Be certain that they know what is expected of them and they understand how to meet those expectations.

Keeping employees engaged in today’s job market will require a lot of work from you as a manager. Do not become a passive leader. Get out from behind your desk and engage your employees. Talk to them. Let them know you are there for them and that you care. Refocus their efforts. Treat your employees fairly and with respect and you will hopefully make it through as a stronger better team.

i’m in this weird funk lately. i just don’t feel like i have much focus, i’m not as determined. i’m just kind of hanging in there until i have time to confront everything and decide what to do next. i want to do that kind of thing honestly so i’ll follow through with whatever i decide to do to make things better. i need to do some writing and some fasting. just take a break from the normal day to day drag. recharge. refocus. redirect.

today’s song is Cop Car by Forever the Sickest Kids

this band is really getting on my good side lately. i love their style, their sound, i could listen to them over and over without getting bored. they just make great music. this song is labeled as a demo, but in my opinion it’s fine as is. in a bare basic explanation, it’s about getting pulled over for a DUI. underneath that it’s about trying to get through a tough break up and watching someone you love move on with life without you. hard stuff. change is never fun. but yeah this song was the first to play on my ipod this morning and i put it on repeat cause i forgot i had it in my library (with 1266 songs, can you blame me?). but yeah i memorized all the words and it’s been stuck in my head all day. which is kind of awkward when customers and coworkers over hear me singing “now i’m sitting in the back seat of a cop car, here’s your one last phone call, i should’ve called my mom, but instead i called you” lol good times. enjoy!

get out the car and walk a straight line
you’ve been swerving left and right
please sir won’t you stare into the light?
follow my finger back and forth
say the alphabet in reverse
call someone to come pick up your car

and this is how i cope with losing you

you’re pulling me down and i don’t know how
to get back up
i’ve been stuck in this rut for i don’t know how long now and its
hard to sleep cause i think to much all the time
can’t keep you off my mind
so i’ll be in jail tonight

i’m sitting in the back seat of a cop car
here’s your one last phone call
i should’ve called my mom
but instead i called you

remember the dance at our high school gym?
we stayed out til 3 am
and we swore we’d never change when we graduated
we had high hopes for USC
they accepted you and didn’t me
now i’m working out of home
at a place you used to go
everything here reminds me of you
my car still smells like your perfume
you used to wear it out on dates
and it’d drive me insane

this is how i cope with losing you

you’re pulling me down and i don’t know how
to get back up
i’ve been stuck in this rut for i don’t know how now and its
hard to sleep cause i think too much all the time
can’t get you off my mind
so i’ll be in jail tonight

i’m sitting in the back seat of a cop car
here’s your one last phone call
i should’ve called my mom
but instead i called you

i sit curbside and watch the world go by
blue and red lights burn my eyes
i sit curbside and watch the world go by
blue and red lights burn my eyes

i’m sitting in the back seat of a cop car
here’s your one last phone call
i should’ve called my mom
but instead i called you

the last 6 hours have been a blur
they let me out and there you were
i thought i wasted my last call
but you bailed me out after all

Figured, perhaps I could tweak my primarily photo blog to feature some of my other interests as well?  Why not.

I love Graphic Design. I got into it in university (Simon Fraser University’s publishing program) and loved it. Now I’m blessed to be able to use some of the design skills I’ve learned at my job. Here is one project I worked on earlier this year:

REFOCUS 2010 CONFERENCE – POSTCARD

More to come…

posted by SHELLEY BRUCAR

Did you have some New Year’s resolutions for 2009 way back in January?  Are you working steadily toward those goals or are they long-forgotten?  Whatever your answer, I think July is just as good a time to think about visions and goals.  In fact, it’s a good habit to review and modify your goals on a regular basis.  It’s also good to write down your goals and to talk about your goals.  “Studies” have shown that committing something to paper and talking about it to other people makes you more likely to follow through on it. 

“Floating Leaves Revisited”  fiber art by Shelley Brucar

Right now, just start thinking about some of your goals, short-term and long-term, using the following framework:

GOALS that will take you FAR should be:

FLUID:  Allow your goals to be flexible.  As you change, they will also change.  If you get too attached to a specific goal or outcome, you may miss many opportunities, either because you won’t recognize them as opportunities, or you will dismiss anything that does not fit neatly into your plan.

ACTION-ORIENTED:  Attach an action plan to each goal.  Map out specific steps necessary to make the goal a reality.  If you wouldn’t plan a road trip without a map, why would you plan your life without one?

RELEVANT:  First identify your core values.  Then be sure your goals are relevant to those values.  You will be much more motivated to work toward goals that reflect what is most important to you.

In the next few posts, I’ll talk about identifying your values and related goals and mapping out strategies to reach your goals.

Every few months I need to stop and refocus myself and make sure I’m on the right track. I’ve been irrational, odd, paranoid, and jumping to conclusions more often this last week then is usual, and seeing how my birthday was a couple of weeks ago, it seems like it is definitely a time for a refocus. To make this easier to document and read I’m breaking it down into three categories: work, school, and personal life.

School

• I only have a year and a class till the completion of my masters.
• Despite what I sometimes thing I DID make the right choice
• and I’m going to succeed in my Masters program.
• I will be taking three classes in the fall and three in the spring then one in either the summer or the winter.
• I will study hard and get the grades I deserve.
• I am a smart and strong female with a great future ahead of her.

Work

• I will continue looking for other positions but be happy I have the wonderful and fun job that I currently have.
• I will network and make contacts with people in the entertainment industry that can help me make my career a success.
• I am always to look for the positives and push the negatives away (because what good do the negatives do).
• I (hopefully) can become a substitute teacher in the fall while continuing to do the following.

Personal Life

• I am currently blessed with great friends and an amazing boyfriend – I will not let myself forget this.
• I will try my hardest to kill the paranoia monster once and for all. It isn’t healthy to be as paranoid as I can sometimes be.
• I will look at all the wonderful things in my life and instead of questioning what I’ve done wrong, wonder what I can do to continue to make things in my life right.
• Obsessing = drives me crazy. I must stop!
• I don’t NEED anyone else to make my life perfect, but that doesn’t mean I can’t want to include people in my life.
• I will talk about positive things.
• My emotionalism must be kept undercontrol for everyone’s sanity.

I know some people may think this is just me blowing steam but if I put them in writing that makes these mantes more real for me… and makes me want to make them part of my life even that much more.

I thank all my friends for listening to me and ask for your help in order to get through the next year of craziness.

And I shall leave you with this, it can put a smile on your face:

The beach just makes me happy.