What does it take to inspire you?

For me, I am generally a pretty self-motivated type of person, sometimes even to the point of this being a fault. I have been known to get up such a head of steam that it can be like a runaway train. Get on or get out of the way. There is a place for this, but not always.

Even with this type of general attitude, I find it very helpful to have something or someone inspire me. What I mean by inspire is, to put it in simple terms, to be motivated to do better. This can apply to work, my karate, a project I am working on at home and so many other things I do everyday.

To give you an example from work, I was asked to have a look at a process in a machine centre to see how material was being handled, from loading to unloading. I was asked to see if I could come up with a way to improve it. One of the areas of specialty I have at my job is overhead lifting equipment. After being given the time to watch and learn the process and design an improved method of handling the material, I went to work on the design.

I was inspired by the opportunity to improve the working method that my fellow employees had to use that was overly complicated and time consuming. I had an opportunity to make their job easier and less stressful. I had the chance to research lifting equipment, and to work with a contractor that I have a lot of respect for because of their experience and honesty. The other thing I found inspiring was just the fact that it was something a bit different from the normal. I love the inventing side of my work.

On top of having the chance to do something I love doing, I had a chance to work with a co-worker I have a lot of respect for. This is someone who knows how to cut through the political nonsense to get the job moving and who is not afraid to make a decision. On top of that, this co-worker is a cancer survivor.

At our dojo the other day, I watched Sensei Laurie go through one of the basic katas to demonstrate it. I watched her every move very, very closely (as I always do). I was struck (as I aways am) by how fluid and yet powerful her every move is, right down to the way she positions her fingers. This is a person who not long ago was seriously injured in a car accident. She was sitting in the back seat of a car when when it was involved in a crash. When I asked Sensei about the accident, this is what she shared with me:

The accident occurred in Feb '07. We were travelling with a friend when our car was struck head on by a drunk driver. I was in hospital for 3 weeks followed by several months of physio and rehab. My left elbow was badly broken, there were some more minor internal injuries but my back was also severely injured resulting in a lengthy major surgery, and fusion of a couple of vertebrae.

I credit my karate training with my recovery - both in duration and depth. My physical conditioning most likely resulted in me having less serious injury, but my mental/spiritual conditioning allowed me to cope with the aftermath in a very positive way. I was very fortunate to have had quick and expert medical attention and such great support from family and friends who rallied to help our family in so many ways for an extended period of time.

In hospital, Sensei Mike Swywk introduced me to a book called "Beyond the Known". The title alone helps to indicate some of the content, but it was a book that I read several times. I was able to find inspiration not only during my recovery but also as I continued to cope with dojo challenges not long after that. 

It is fascinating to read of a student's observations of my kata. I don't give much thought to my injuries any more. They are what they are. My current and future training have restrictions, as the aging process also begins to figure in to the scheme of things - but everybody has challenges in their life. I like to look beyond what happened - feel grateful that it turned out as well as it did - and move on. If my positive outlook and ability to continue to do what I love, can be an inspiration to someone facing life challenges, then I am happy to share my experience.


She has pins and screws in one of her arms and still has some limitation to the movement of this arm. Even with this, she got back to karate, worked hard at it and despite the injuries she suffered, she is now a Third Dan Black Belt and my Sensei

Inspiration can sometimes come from a source some people might consider shallow, like a good movie. The one that most immediately comes to mind for me is the movie,  "Master and Commander, The Far Side of the World." In this movie, Russell Crowe plays the part of a captain of a tall ship in the British navy. He is a brilliant tactician, yet prone to human frailties and mistakes. Here is a person that takes control and against all odds, outwits his opponent, and at the same time,

Inspiration can come from the simplest things, such as a picture or painting, watching an eagle soar overhead or a kite dancing in the breeze over the ocean. For me it can come from music, watching someone playing an instrument, creating this beautiful sound from an inanimate object. What a gift to be able to do this thing and share it with other people. I guess thinking about it, the ability and willingness to share one's gift combined with the ability to receive and appreciate this gift can be so inspiring and fulfilling at the same time.

Inspiration can also come from your surroundings. I am working on this post while sitting at the Fall River Restaurant. The food, whenever possible, is local and organic. The selection of beer and wine is a fine complement to the style of this restaurant, and owners Paul and Michele and their staff have always been friendly and accommodating. This is a small out-of-the-way location that was at one time an old gas station. Yet they have still made it work, and always make you feel welcome. www.fallriverinc.com  
As I sit here in the pub enjoying pleasant music, a good beer, a very nice quiche and a view of the setting sun, I come to realize that inspiration can only be there if you have an open mind and a willing heart. It is key not to block yourself off to your surroundings. Be open to something new and inspirational.

can be compassionate and understanding to his friend and his crew.

Aging

know I am coming a bit late to karate, but how late is too late?   For pretty much all of my younger days, I was never really that interested in athletics. I felt a bit intimidated by my very athletic older brother and (foolishly) never felt I could compete with him. He never made me feel like I had to compete, and as a matter of fact, he alway encouraged me any time I did take up any sport. But it just wasn't in me.  Now, here I am, 54 years old and pushing myself to the edge of my endurance. I have been working on my own fitness program for 2 years now. This summer, looking for something else physical to add to my growing portfolio of physical activities, I started running. I have worked up to do a 5K run at least twice a week. This is along with two evenings a week at karate and every other Saturday as well. I have also managed three 10K runs. I don't think that's too bad for somebody my age.  It still seems kind of weird to me that at my age, I am getting hooked on the adrenaline rush from exercise. What's up with that!!  I have for years been pretending that I was going to do something about my worsening physical condition. I did the classic things like buy exercise equipment that did little else but gather dust. Whenever I had to see my doctor, I would tell him that I was about to start on an exercise program and of course never did, said I was going to cut back on foods that were not good for me... and so on.

Now, our basement looks like a gym. The Bowflex is still there, we are on our second treadmill, there is a combination bike/rowing machine, dumbbells and a number of other things. My workshop also doubles as a home dojo. And there is not a speck of dust on any of it.

I have noticed that sometimes, because of my age, when I walk into something new, some people give me the feeling that they are threatened by my presence. I believe that people may get the impression that because I am older, they think that I may be there to express some kind of dominance or looking for control. I'm not sure just how to express this.

I have however found that after a bit of time and showing that I am there to learn from everyone who will teach me, this uneasiness disappears. Another lesson I have learned as I continue to grow: show that you are willing to learn.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you don't need to and shouldn't just wait to grow old and expect it to happen, because then it will. Yes, I have found that my joints tend to get sore if I run when it's cold. I don't have the flexibility that I may have had if I were doing this at a younger age. I am very conscious of how my heart is performing when I am exercising.
It's not just the body, you need to keep your mind working and sharp. I am doing this by trying to learn a little bit of Japanese. There are katas to learn. Some of these (most) are complicated and have much detail to remember and practice, and practice and practice. None of this comes easily. It takes a huge commitment. Willingness to try things you may not have ever considered or even thought possible for yourself. In the end, you may find, you can.

I think that one of the biggest rewards of being able to grow older and still be healthy was being able to go for a run with my daughter.  Becky was home a few days ago for a visit. After this particular run, we were talking about things that have been going on in our lives. During this discussion, I mentioned that I hoped I would be around a long time so we could continue to have these kinds of  talks. Becky told me that I was just going to have to live to 110.

It may seem a bit reversed, but she is a real inspiration to me when it comes to being fit. She was the one that told me about the high you can get from working out. I thought she was just kidding me. Apparently not.

I feel so fortunate to have this kind of relationship with my kids. I guess I will just have to do everything I can to meet my daughter's expectations. Watching my kids grow into adulthood and be happy in their lives, and in a small way, to be able to share in their lives, is the most gratifing thing I can think of.

With out a doubt, we all have to adapt as our bodies change for whatever reason. I contacted Dr. Forrest Morgan, the author of Living The Martial Way, and asked him if he was still active in the Martial Arts. This is his response:

Due to degenerative arthritis in my feet and knees, I no longer actively train in the martial arts. I still live a warrior lifestyle according to the principles I espoused in LTMW—I keep myself physically fit and continue to serve the nation through strategy research at RAND and teaching the next generation of national security professionals at the University of Pittsburgh—but I no longer strap on a belt and step on the dojo floor.
Warm regards,

Forrest

Forrest E. Morgan, Ph.D.
Senior Political Scientist
RAND Corporation

Even as we have to change what we do because we have to adapt to changes in how our body works, there is more than one way to continue to "live the martial way."

Now I am looking forward to my retirement when Sara and I will have time to participate and share in some of the many things we have talked about doing when we retire.

We both want to travel to exotic destinations. I hope to be able to devote more time to my photography and videography. There are many other activities we plan to work on, so I guess we are just going to have to keep working on aging in as healthy a manner as we can.

So, stay out there and keep moving. Every day is a gift and we need to do the best we can with that gift.

Remember

I had a dream last night. The nightmare of nightmares. In my dream, I woke up in the dark of night from a rather restless sleep to find it had started. The Third World War. I jumped out of bed and threw open the curtains to see the glow of what used to be Ottawa in the distance. It was nuclear. With that, I jerked myself awake for real.

What if… What would we do?  How would we react as individuals and as a race? HOW could this happen?

The truth is, we have been close before. Maybe closer than most people are aware, or choose to remember. Not  remembering is the trap. If we choose to forget war, forget about the people on all sides who gave up their livelihood or even their lives to go to war, that is when it can happen again.

There are no more Canadian veterans left from the First World War and the numbers of those remaining from the Second World War are dwindling fast. It is these world wars that most people seem to think of first on Remembrance Day. But tragically, war did not start with the first world war, and it did not end with the second. No matter how many times we see how destructive war is, it happens again and again.

Sometimes, it is unavoidable when you have to stop a tyrant or to put an end to unimaginable suffering inflicted on a people. Sometimes, people go to war just for the lust of power.

Worse yet, over the course of human history, many many people have gone to war in the name of their God. I believe that if God were to come back and see the killing that has been done in His/Her name, there would be the devil to pay.

We need to remember all of our veterans. Our country may not actually be at war, but we have peacekeepers in the field, we have troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Our Armed Forces are out there, putting their lives on the line every day in the name of peace.

So, what would you do? This was a subject at our last karate class just before Remembrance Day. Sensie Laurie pointed out that because of our training, it could well fall to us to step up and help. We are trained at a higher level than the general public. We are better conditioned and are trained to function under stress. I hope it never comes to that, but if it does, what would you do?

Always remember those that did step in, those that made the ultimate sacrifice, and pray for them.

Grading

I never know quite what to expect when we come to a class where I know we are going to be grading. I feel a bit nervous and a bit concerned that I will not be able to perform as I would like to. I know the class is going to be very physical. But that in no way puts me off. If anything, the idea of an extreme workout actually excites me, being a bit of a workout junkie.

I also know that there will be knowledge questions. This is one thing that does always make me a bit nervous. I don't really understand this part. I have done some fairly extensive research into the origins of the Martial Arts. I find it quite a fascinating topic, yet when it comes down to being asked dates and names when in the middle of a workout, I either go stupid or just go blank.

I think I know part of the reason for this. I tend to pour so much into the physical part of the class that my mind refuses to engage past the need to drive my muscles. But this is what karate is. Body and mind. I think this is telling me that maybe I need to dial back a bit in order to keep my mind engaged as well as my body. I can do that.

I am a person who believes that you learn from your mistakes. If you are not making mistakes in life, I would suggest you get up off of the couch and do something. Mistakes are going to happen in everyday life. We need to recognize this and make use of it. In my kata, I know I make mistakes. I look forward to getting corrections so I can learn, move forward and improve what I am doing.

One of the things I have a problem with is being too stiff or robot-like during my kata. Sensei suggested that this is because I may be trying too hard to apply power all the way through every movement. I am sure she is right. Trying to picture myself going through my kata, I feel the pressure I am putting into everything. I am a fairly big and strong guy for my age. I feel driven to embody this in my kata. I do need to work on this, and I have a plan.

I watched Derek, our newest member to the adult class, earn his stripe last night. (Great job, Derek!) This is a young man who has been with us for just a few weeks and it’s easy to see that he cares very much about what he is doing in every aspect when he is at the dojo. It’s great to see people come in and work hard at it. I have no doubt that Derek has been practicing quite a bit.

We were at the dojo early enough to see some of the grading from the junior class as well. I enjoy watching our members grade. It’s like a rite of passage and it is a privilege to be there to watch members be successful and move forward. I have taken some pictures of the gradings and I will have them posted on my Flickr page very shortly. Check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/54291440@N08/

GREAT JOB, EVERYONE!!

Footnote to Honour

In my blog entry about honour I referred to the book Living the Martial Way. This book has held quite a bit of meaning to me. Since the book was written 1992, I wondered how well it held up to time. I thought, who better to ask than Dr. Forrest Morgan, the author. The following is a excerpt from the message I sent to Dr. Morgan:

As part of my getting to understand this practice [karate], I have been doing a bit of reading about the history of the art form and the deeper meaning of it. One of the books I have been reading is Living the Martial Way. I have been going through it very slowly in order to get as much understanding from it as I can. I also have been working at comparing and applying it to real life. The form of Karate I am studying is Okinawa Goju-Ryu.

I have found the chapter dealing with honour very thought-provoking. I have always believed that living an honorable life is the only way and I have done my best to do this. Strangely enough, the one thing I have never done is really look closely at what honour means.  I have found your book very insightful in this, and in many other ways.

The world is changing around us these days at what seems a remarkable rate. I believe quite a bit of this can be attributed to the newer and faster forms of communication, mainly web-based. I was wondering if, in view of all these changes, do you feel like your views are still current?

Maybe I am a bit of a throwback to older times, but personally I believe that the idea of honour and respect is a thing that is slipping away. Many people I know don't seem to understand the concept and believe it is something that is outdated just by the virtue of the times we live in. I very much disagree with this point of view. If anything, I believe that because of the changing times, the concept of honour is even more relevant. I would have to suggest that if more people understood and applied a proper code of honour, we would live in a much safer and happier world.

Dr. Morgan's response:

I am happy to hear you are undertaking a serious study of karate and that you’ve found Living the Martial Way helpful in that effort. To answer your questions, yes the world seems to be changing at an ever increasing rate. Many people appear to be abandoning the principles of honor; but then, I think every generation, as it ages, believes that the younger generation is less honorable and less disciplined and hardworking than they were at the same age. I am happy to say that my current profession, national security policy analysis (I’ve been retired from the Air Force for about eight years now), brings me into contact with a lot of honorable people, young and old, military and civilian.

In any event, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement, “because of the changing times, the concept of honour is even more relevant. I would have to suggest that if more people understood and applied a proper code of honour, we would live in a much safer and happier world."  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I am very grateful to Dr. Morgan for taking the time to respond to my email.