Tiger Challenge - Lost Opportunity?

 

The Tiger Challenge is fast approaching, have you signed up?  

Our family has been in Kung Fu for 11 years and have participated in the Tiger Challenge for most, if not all, of them.   

I still remember the combination of feelings taking my children to their first Tiger Challenge.  Watching the black belts perform and being amazed with their performances, especially the pool noodle fights and the obstacle courses 😉. When I competed, I was always nervous, excited and anxious. Did I do well?  Sometimes, but sometimes I messed up so bad that all I can do is laugh at myself.  Although, at the end of each tournament not matter how we did, my children and I gained confidence in performing publicly and in our Kung Fu.   

This year Mike and I will not be able to partake as I will be in Calgary in the thick of treatments.  Not only am I missing out in competing, I will miss volunteering the most.  The energy of the children is contagious and that is the one contagion I would like to receive 🤣.  Watching my fellow training partners grow and develop keeps me inspired throughout the year.  We never know when opportunities are lost, so grab them as they become available.  If I knew last year that I wasn't going to be able to do the Tiger Challenge this year, I would have signed up for every one of the categories.

Participating in the Tiger Challenge will change your Kung Fu in ways you never imagined.  It pushes you past your comfort zones in a friendly environment.  When you sign up, it gives you a goal and gives you the tools to get there.  Don't lose out on this opportunity!

Does Gratitude Equal Happiness?

I always considered myself a happy person.  Today during meditation, I realized that by trying to be always happy, I am suppressing emotions that are not in alignment to happiness.  Without allowing these other emotions (anger, sadness, hurt, sorrow) to be acknowledged I am actually decreasing my happiness.  By protecting yourself from the negative emotions and experiences, I have decreased my ability to feel higher levels of excitement or happiness.  

So today my focus was on gratitude.  Being grateful for the what I have around me.  For the experiences that I have had, good and bad.  Gratitude does not mean suppressing negative emotions but it helps remove the power the negative emotion has on my wellbeing.  

We should always push our limits.  In training, we are constantly pushing our bodies but we should also ensure that we are pushing our limits emotionally and growing as a person no matter our age.  Isn't that what our AOKs, mending relationships, and personal requirements are all about in IHC?  

Gratitude does not alway equal happiness but gratitude will allow for happiness to grow while growing me as a person.  What are you grateful for today?