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Lots of cool things went down at this years Chinese New Year & Black Belt Promotion Event and I must admit this is one was hugely relevant to me personally.  Alot of the people promoted are people I have trained with and admired for a long time.  Congrats to all.

Dean, Brandi, Melanie and I had a great time in Kauai ... I got the zipline done and it was terrifying and exciting and fun.  Did not get the snorkeling done due to the fact that I broke some bones in my left foot and it swelled up and turned black & blue and I couldn't get anything on the foot except flipflops ... so I am going to have to figure out how to re-arrange for snorkeling. 

Attended a seminar for "Managing Emotions and Thriving Under Pressure"  on Friday which was totally cool and I learned lots of stuff ... in addition I got a whole bunch of reading materials and workbooks so I can continue to learn and improve.  Note:  have not raised my voice this week ... chewing out of employees was done in an even tone and without as much stresss and anxiety on my part... might be partially because I was still all mellow and relaxed from vacation I guess we will find out as the year goes on.  So as a result the jar on my desk sits empty ($10 if I raise my voice or get angry).

I am still struggling with writing things down and have asked my husband to ask me at the end of the day if I have documented my stuff.   I hope to make this a total habit so I don't need a reminder it will be like brushing my teeth ... just something you do before you go to bed.

Really enjoying the graditude journal ... 5 things to be grateful for everyday.  Makes you realize how blessed you are ... even if the day has been stressful or things are not going entirely as planned.

Talk to you next week.

1st for 2012

I have been implementing my new requirements for 2012 into my daily schedule ... again settling into a routine with some different stuff.  Its been fun switching some things up and I am really looking forward to the new I Ho Chuan format and working on some different forms ... nothing against the form I worked on last year.  Planning for the 1000 rounds of sparring is the most challenging and I will be taking advantage of open training and anyone that is willing to spar on Saturdays.   Same as last year actually documenting all this stuff is the hardest part,  its not that I don't do alot of this stuff its that I fail to record it.   I am a technical writer from way back and you think it would be a piece of cake but not so far!  One of my requirements is to reduce the amount of plastic in my home ... so the first thing I did is an inventory ... there is a massive amount of plastic in my house and its in the kitchen!  Food and plastic seem to go hand in hand.  It comes in plastic, you cook it and then save the leftovers in plastic and then you dispose of it in plastic.  Yikes!  Think about this ... the entire inside of the fridge is plastic, all the food storage containers, grocery bags, cling wrap, ziploc bags, freezer bags, grocery bags that become garbage bags.  I am being overwhelmed by yogurt containers alone!  I had already started with reusing glass jars for left overs and had to call my sister on how to use glass jars to store food in the freezer without breaking them.  I am currently looking for a source for wax coated containers and or freezer wrap ... will let you know what I find. 

On Monday Dean and the girls and I are going to Kauai for a two week vacation before the girls have to head back to China ... its going to be awesome.  A couple of my personal goals will be completed there ... first the zip line which the girls have been trying to get me to do for a long time.  I may be wearing 'depends' but it will get done.  The second thing is snorkeling ... its been on the books for awhile as well.  Last year I learned how to swim and got alot of practice in thanks to my I Ho Chuan requirements and now I am going to put that skill to the test in the pacific ocean.  Wish me luck!