Don't know when to say stop

And so today, I finally find myself on the cusp of rest. Rest that I have much needed for a long time now but have been unable to attain due to my desire to never 'lie in our graves' wondering if I had spent my living days well. I was suppose to have taken May off to mentally relax but that never happened. There was a spot at May's conclusion where I had about a week and a half off but found myself mentally occupied with sorting myself financially for the year and incorporating travel plans into that in regards to martial arts training for myself. Then came the week that I traveled home and didn't really sit down much in favour of either training or touching base with estranged faces. Upon my return to Van City, I worked a pretty grueling schedule paired a Calgary trip that has left me quite tuckered.

And so now, one month later, I sit doing absolutely nothing (well still doing stuff, but mostly nothing) and being okay with that as the batteries need a good recharging. Nothing also allows me to hold back financially as I've been working a little/lot ahead of my means and so now I can plan on how I'm going to pay for the things I do.

Sometimes I wish I had just %10 more stamina as that would have made all of this much much easier. At least I can say I lived when I'm alive and its now or never.

Home

This past week, I was fortunate enough to have another return visit to Ontario. Overall I had a fantastic time and managed to touch base with a lot of family and old friends. It was one of those trips that your sad to see end because you're having such a good time but had to end at some point. In regards to this, my Mom had asked me a day or two earlier if I was going to be sad when I left home. To this, I replied that I was but the thing was that I was going from one home to another. It was at this juncture that I realized that I had a couple places that I could really call home. There was Brampton home where I'd been born and raised. Then there was K-town where I made some of my closest friends and matured as a Jitsuka. And now there was Vancouver where I'd paved my own path and carved a niche of my own. They were all places where I could set my head, find familiar faces, get a bite to eat and rest my head to sleep with comfort. Real comfort though. The type that resonates in your body when that part of your brain knows its safe and warm.

It's not too often that, we as individuals find a comfort like this in even one location much less more than one. Just one more thing I suppose that I consider myself fortunate for having.

P.S. I just got a new tattoo. Also, I only have four minutes to save the world.

The itinerary for the trip home

This week T-Bone 1.5 returns home to re-visit his roots. The plans so far go as such. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Trip Home:
Saturday:
Sunday: (Mother's Day) Helping Mom
Monday: Religious Function with Mom; Possible TO training?
Tuesday: Dinner with Nadine and Family
Wednesday: Visit Raesh and Co
Thursday: Dinner with Sally
Friday: Training with Alex Fairweather
Saturday: Hangout with MK and Mosie
Sunday: Back to Van 5pm

Xsist to Inspire

In recent days, I've entered a centre of philisophical thought in regards to what my role is as martial arts instructor and moreover how my stature on the mats relates to them. It's stemmed from a discussion I had about moving onwards and evolving in the structure of our martial arts forum. In starting a club, I'd never realy though so much about my own stature in relation to them so long as they were learning from me as an instructor. But through this discussion and the comtemplation of it afterwards, I realized that I was giving it thorough thought not only because of its nature but also because of who was saying it. Ultimately it was because of said individual's commanded respect that each statement had emphasis and brought about the realization that the quality of what I teach is made more credible if I evolve as a martial artist myself.

The time has come to evolve, transform and transcend.

Truly Awesome

Earth Hour + Settlers = The most romantic game of settlers ever

Get ready

T-Bone is now officially slated to return to ON in May from the 10th to the 17th. Looking forward to seeing all of you ON folk.

'After all these years and miles and memories'

On most b-days, I usually take a moment to reflect on how lucky I've been at every juncture in my life to have lived as full a life as I have. With that being the case, in this 27th B-day post, I'm going to do something a little different and typical. The following lyrics are from 'Just Older' by Bon Jovi and to say that I've felt almost every lyric today would be an understatement. The feeling behind this song resumes the exact place in my life where I find myself and I couldn't be happier about it.

Hey, man, its been a while
Do you remember me?
When I hit the streets I was 17
A little wild, a little green
Ive been up and down and in between
After all these years
Can you believe Im still chasing that dream
But I aint looking over my shoulder

Chorus:
I like the bed Im sleeping in
Its just like me, its broken in
Its not old -- just older
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans
This skin Im in its alright with me
Its not old -- just older

Its good to see your face
You aint no worse for wear
Breathing that california air
When we took on the world
When we were young and brave
We got secrets that well take to the grave
And were standing here shoulder to shoulder

Chorus:
I like the bed Im sleeping in
Its just like me, its broken in
Its not old -- just older
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans
This skin Im in its alright with me
Its not old -- just older

Im not old enough to sing the blues
But I wore the holes in the soles of these shoes
You can roll the dice til they call your bluff
But you cant win until youre not afraid to lose

Solo

Well, I look in the mirror
I dont hate what I see
Theres a few more lines staring back at me
The nights have grown a little colder
Hey man, I gotta run
Now you take care
If you see coach t. tell him I cut my hair
Its been all these years
Can you believe Im still chasing dreams
But I aint looking over my shoulder

Chorus:
I like the bed Im sleeping in
Its just like me, its broken in
Its not old -- just older
Like a favorite pair of torn blue jeans
This skin Im in its alright with me
It s not old -- just older