All Journal Entries (393)

Lately, I have felt silent. There have been lots of ideas for a journal, but when the time comes to write it out? The ideas fall flat. Last night is worth writing about.

For 5 years I have had the same fitness goal: to keep up with my nephew Luke. All the push ups, crunches, miles, kata, all of it, is to be fit enough to play with my now 5 year old nephew at his level. Yesterday, that goal was accomplished! 

Luke was in town visiting grandma. She needed a…

6/15/2011

KARATE-DO

My Way of Life

Gichin Funakoshi

In reading this great book I was inspired and captured by a few sections.

1^st: Win by losing

I found this section to be of great inspirational value for me- “that even in numbers you can calm a storm”; some times in life were faced with difficult choices and how we handle them and come out ahead makes us who we are.

The moral of this section I…

This month is going by way too quickly. It's been a big month with a few ups and downs. 

My birthday was up... the cold I can't seem to get rid of is a down. My dog eating something he shouldn't have and the ensuing vet bill... definitely a down. The raise I got last month reflecting on my paychecks... up. Falling behind on my mileage while I was sick... major bummer. The comfort of knowing that there a couple bike rides coming up that will make that right up...…

Everything is going smoothly. Same struggles for a while now. Need to read more. Need to start running some longer distances. Need to find that quiet place where meditation is easier. Still... I'm going... and that feels like progress. Simply because I haven't stopped.

Community service project is brewing nicely. I've gotten pretty wrapped up in it all. I'm volunteering at the craft fair for them this weekend, for Getty Owl Foundation, and logging all the volunteer time I can…

Join Zen Martial Arts for a “Green” Community Picnic

July 9 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Coloma Community Center

Sacramento, CA, June 10, 2011 – Zen Martial Arts is hosting its second annual community picnic on Saturday, July 9 from 10:00 am…

It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Dr. George "Doc" Thompson.



For 27 years, as founder and CEO of the Verbal Judo Institute, Doc led the charge to elevate the professionalism and communication skills for crisis professionals, such as law enforcement and all first responders.



His work gained many followers, in both the public and private sectors.



"The entire basis of Verbal Judo is to treat people with dignity and respect, most of all…

Running just feels good. I missed running. All that cycling was great, I really enjoy cycling... but... man... running just FEELS good. 

It was a good week. The website for my community service project is coming along nicely and I can't wait to tell everyone it's out there, but I have to get it really done done first.

And... are you ready for this... I did two pull ups. Yup... it's true. Pull ups are hard, you know! I did two of them the other day. It's the push-ups. Because,…

Week 20: Spent a lot of time this week playing catch up on my push ups, sit ups and kata. So, it was pretty busy week. Had to double up on everything... except the mileage. :) 

Week 21: This week rolled in the new month and it felt good. I was still doubling up on most of my exercises because I wanted a relaxing weekend. I think I relaxed too much. But getting back into the running felt good. I love cycling, but running is really where my heart lies. 

Week 22:…

Proverbs is known as a book of wisdom. I like to think of it as a book of perspective. Sure its the same thing in a way, but reading a book of wisdom is daunting. A book on perspective sounds more digestible.

 There were a few passages that gave more perspective than most.

Proverbs 4:23-27 “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix…

Gi. The uniform worn in martial arts.

Gi. The first code of Bushido.

Gi. The right way.

2011 has been tumultuous with the UBBT commitment, a few bouts with the flu, a new job, conscientious diet changes, deaths in the extended family, a best friend leaving for officer training, stepping in when Mr. Oliver was on the Alabama Project, and more…

Most importantly, the new job. All the other aspects of life were at least balanced before the new work schedule robbed me…

I have gone above and beyond my 10, I have decieded on a list of 14, that stood out in my mind.

1. Gave my product to a patient, to help her son.

2. Decorated lights for boss.

3. Massaged a friend for free.

4. Walked neighbor's dogs.

5. Helped a handicap to car.

6. Words of encouragement, during a tough time, to a new friend.

7. Helped a stranger find a product in the store.

8. Found $100 bill, found the "happy"…

Week 19 was a GOOD one! Vacation!

Really tho, if it wasn't a vacation spent with family, I don't know if I could have handled being away from the dojo so long. I'm going on just about 3 weeks away. And I don't like it. The vacation was great, and I did okay atsticking to my workouts. However, after Friday, I did fall behind on my push ups, sit ups and kata.

It wasn't that the bike ride took too much out of me, it was more that I was really immersed in the…

I have enjoyed reading Karate-Dō, by Gichin Funakoshi.  My favorite passage is the subsection, "An Important Lesson", at the start of the chapter "No Weapons".  In the passage, two skilled fighters (the engraver and Matsumura) face off in a duel.  Matsumura emerges victorious from the match without landing a blow. In describing how he defeated the engraver, Matsumura says, "...I know this: you were determined to win, and I was just as determined to die if I lost.  That is the difference…

Well.... I'm on vacation. I've been away from the dojo for a week. ONE WEEK of no classes, and I have to say... I miss my dojo! If my family wasn't the most awesome thing in the world, vacation would be seriously overrated. 

I have been keeping up with my push ups and sit ups. Clearly I'll be alright on my mileage today. My goal after the ride is to catch up on my journaling. 

Heading out now... Start the MS150 bike ride at 6:45am. Send some positive thoughts my…

There is a passage in the Book of Five Rings that talks about learning from other activities: "A man cannot understand the perfection and imperfection of his chosen art if he cannot see the value in other arts."  This passage came to mind as I was applying some golf sayings to my UBBT journey (even though I did not watch any of the Masters).  One of those is "always follow a bad shot with a good shot."  Essentially--if you mess up, because it will happen, do the next thing well.  …

My last journal concentrated on numbers, meeting goals, and motivation. Today is a report on spirit.

Today was the 6th Annual Niello VW Ranch Run.  There were some VWs I hadn't seen before and some old favorites. Tin cans, pimped out racers, campers and off roaders. Valve cover races down a killer ramp were even more popular this year than last. The Blackboard Bug was out again, decorated by children of all ages in imaginative chalk art. The bake sale was overflowing with…