Boot Camp

   Well happy sunday everyone. What a day indeed. What a weekend! I mean holy wow boot camp was phenomenal. Yeah. There's a sweet new word to put into the vocabulary! Where do you start in describing the day? After reflecting for a few hours about what I just went through, I do believe the chi cultivation was my favorite thing about the day. Always, for as long as I remember, I wanted to summon chi, I wanted to use chi. I never had a taught method from the martial arts. I had "kind of" methods. I have used professionals to delve into my mind and spirit to look at and address the demons inside of myself. That was an amazing experience all in its self. The tingly sensations through out the whole body, joined with the physical releases from smashing those demons, in the face, with a brick, was beyond words to describe. But what I learnt yesterday in Sifu Brinker's seminar was a whole new level of spiritualism, for me. I have looked at some mean demons right in the eyes, but never looked at my organs before. It was very enlightening. What I saw was something truly un-expected and disgusting. I saw the damage twenty years of smoking on my heart. I was....I am not sure of how to describe. Not impressed, I suppose. Nope, I am pissed right off at myself. But, again it is all part of a grander scheme. It had to come to this. I had to see the damages for myself. I have seen cancers and death from smoking. I have heard it thousands of times, seriously. I have said it thousands of times. But the dangers and after effects never sank in. Until yesterday. Yes this boot camp was defining and is redefining for me. I have now decided that I am truly done with smoking. Its the same feeling I have had when I finally quit boozing. I remember this emotion. This feeling of desperation. When desperate, determined and streamlined on a goal, my success rate is exceptionally high. In the one hundred percentile range.
   In fact, I enjoyed the chi cultivation seminar so much, I did the same thing this morning. I slowly walked down to the beach. Appreciating the sounds, but remembering where I was and what I was doing. I stopped a few times and tried to appreciate the people I saw, the sounds I heard. Remembering that we share so much and are connected in so many ways. I finally made it to the beach and the best I could repeated what we did yesterday. I need to track down Sifu Vantuil and go over some of the techniques she shared with us. Like yesterday, the sensation through my hands was wicked. I was blown away at how quickly my chi was summoned. I honestly felt it on my first step, with my first breath of my walk. I don't really remember how long I was gone, but it only felt like 25 minutes. At least an hour I was gone. This is something I am going to make time for. I work four tens, so there is three days a week I have to make this work.
    I learnt so much from so many experts and high level black belts, that yesterday was gift after gift. Boot camp stood out as a huge accomplishment for myself. Another demon kicked in the face. I have never liked to put myself out there, like we did yesterday. I used to compare myself so much that I would think, there was no point. I will just bring down the whole group, so I will not bother and everyone will do better with out me. Yesterday, I went there for me, with an open heart and a willing mind to learn whatever I am being taught. It was like Sifu Ryback had talked to me with her lessons to learning seminar before hand. I did feel like I knew nothing except that I wanted to learn, yesterday. What a day, what a day. I learnt so much about myself, that I can no longer ignore obvious, blaring realities. One being I will not fully grasp the numerous gifts from kung fu, until I quit smoking. That is now a screaming fact. Another being that I need to stay in tuned with my body, to be in tuned with my surroundings. Hopefully that will continue to help with my anger. Twice yesterday I was mad. Just because, I was mad. I knew I needed to get away for a moment and breath. I need to learn to work through those situations and emotions, without having to leave the room. Hey, if I am going to continue on the path of mastery, then I must master my emotions, and use other ways to release my anger and frustration. Means and methods I have been shown here in kung fu and in other programs. It is a slow a tedious process, but well worth journey to the end goal. One that I am still on. Empathy I felt was explained in such a fashion that I do truly understand that topic now.
  So, in the aftermath of Boot Camp, there came more goals and things to work towards. Next year, I would like to be up beside Mr.Sollinger and that other guy for the 2 km run. Wish I knew his name, but, I don't. I was amazed that I kept that kind of a pace for two km. Awesome! Some bars where set yesterday and its up to us to reset those bars, next year. I was inspired to see everyone working as hard as they were. That was so cool. I knew, I had to step it up here. These guys are doing awesome, I want to do awesome. Be the example you wish to see, and there were so many examples set yesterday it was awesome. So, I guess, all in all, yesterday was phenomenal. I wish to thank everyone who helped make yesterday so....brilliant.  Especially, that nice old lady that opened up the school for us. She was super nice. I liked her smile, it was very genuine.


Anyhow, that's all I have right now
Thanks for your time
Mr.Duncan