UBC Day 26 - Balancing Life

Day 26 of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is written for:

Write Tribe 100 Words on Saturday - She had the last laugh
Thursday Theme - Optimistic

image source: google images

No matter how hard she tried to interact, some ignored her. It troubled her. Had she done something wrong or said something she shouldn't have? It saddened her and dragged her down.

Then one day she had an epiphany. "All things in life must balance". Where one ignores, many others come through for you. Where you ignore be sure that you will be ignored.

And if all things must balance, then at some point, you need to both ignore and be ignored. Otherwise life would be too overwhelming.

The Universe watches and balances. And she always has the last laugh.

image source: thursday theme

Life has taught me that all things balance. We cannot escape that as it is the law of the Universe.

When our time on Earth is over, the Balance Sheet of Life must be level. We will face difficulties and blessings, good times and hard times, sadness and joy, toil and relaxation, good health and illness. After all if there was too much rain, the Earth would drown and if there was too much sunshine, she would fry. The sum total of all our positive experiences equals the sum total of all our negative ones. All things must balance. I never take anything for granted any more.

If we learn to balance life by ourselves, the Universe applauds. If we don't, it makes that happen. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. However sometimes what we interpret as taketh is often a giveth or in other words a blessing in disguise. The reverse is also true.

When we finally get that, then we enjoy the positive times and when the negative times appear we face them knowing that life is balancing out. 

When we live with the knowledge that at each moment, life is balancing out, then every moment in life can be viewed optimistically from an end of life view (expecting the best possible outcome from any given situation - Wikipedia).


Have a Blessed day.


Check out these awesome bloggers who are also taking part in the UBC challenge:
  Shilpa  Kajal  Richa  Jairam  Sheethal  Kathy  Swati  Michelle  Nabanita

My previous UBC Jan 2014 posts here


Like my facebook page Suzy's Ilation and if any of your posts needs some tlc, add it to the goodwill thread there and I'll drop by and give it some love.

Tweet

Warm Regards

List It - Karate - What it means to me.

When I started Karate 3 years ago, I took it up purely as a sport and martial art. To advance to the next belt was my only aim.

Then about a year ago it dawned on me that for me it was more than a sport and martial art and earning the next belt was no longer important or the focus for me.

I believe that we progress just enough to get what we require from an event or experience and I think I reached that with Karate a year ago.


Karate for me took on a different meaning. So what does Karate mean to me?

o  Keeps me in Balance
    Practicing kata (detailed patterns of movement) engage both the right and left side of your brain and
    body. It keeps me balanced

o  Takes me to a State of Zen
    When I am stressed or feel out of sorts, performing kata and the basic karate movements helps
    to relieve stress. The kiai (short exhalation during a strike) is particularly helpful at
    relieving stress as when done correctly, it channels the energy within into a destructive force. It
    requires timing and focus and hence a clear mind. Relieving stress takes me back to a state of Zen.

o  Sharpens the mind
    Karate demands focus as movements need to be undertaken with precision and right technique.
    In a class it also means keeping up in synchronized harmony with the rest of the karatekas.
    The mind must be engaged at every second. The same applies during kumite (sparring) as even a
    momentary lapse in concentration can lose the match for you.

o  Keeps me Fit
    Karate is very demanding on the body. My fitness levels absolutely soared after I first started.
    And I also lost a lot of weight.  It's a great fitness regime.

o  It's a Meditation
    Kata is meditative as it is a coordinated pattern of movements. As in the kiai, it requires timing,
    focus and clear thinking. After a while, it becomes quite hypnotic if you are in "the zone".

o  My Spiritual Practice
    Karate requires the synchronized engagement of body, mind and soul. Karate demonstrates the
    concept of "Be here now" perfectly which is the essence of a spiritual practice.
    Dan Millman illustrates this concept perfectly in his book "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior".
          Where are you Dan?  Here
          What time is it?  Now
          What are you?  This moment.
    To be in "the karate zone" you need to be here, now, in this moment.

o Teaches me to use circumstances to my advantage
    During kumite you always study and understand your opponent. Then you quickly learn 3 things -
        -  exploit your opponents weak points to make a strike
        -  use your opponents strengths to your advantage (eg defend instead of attack)
        -  take them by surprise - change the pattern
    You can apply the same to everyday circumstances. For example, at work,
        -  when in difficult situations use the strengths of a coworker to help you or
        -  if something isn't working and you've tried over and over again, change the pattern,
           try something different.
    In all honesty I do not enjoy kumite, I am not even good at it, but that's not important.
    What's important is that it has taught me skills that help me everyday particularly at work.

I love karate. I no longer strive for belts, I don't need to. Karate is now more a way of life for me.

Thank you Sensei Scott for introducing karate to me. You are an inspiration.

Osu.