Wise Words From a Tai Chi Master

Yeah, ouch for me!

So today as I was practicing Tai Chi, I was pleased to finally be to the form where I get to kick.  This part looked fun to me.  I've seen videos where people kick really high, and others where they kick medium high. Both kicks look super cool to me, and naturally I want to look super cool. Unfortunately, I'm about as stretchy as a board.  Therefore, I smiled a little when my Tai Chi Master, via video, said "We practice based on what we can do, not what we want to do."  Sigh.  He demonstrated how out of balance we would be if we tried to kick higher than we could.

This reminded me of a time when I was about 14 or 15 and I was goofing off with my cousin Julie. We were seeing how high we could kick.  I decided to try to kick really high, and I did, right before landing on my backside because I really wasn't capable of kicking that high!  That was embarrassing, a little painful, and pretty funny too!  This morning I wisely kept my kick low and decided I'd better start stretching regularly if I ever want to kick higher than someone's ankles!

One thing about Tai Chi, the lessons learned can often be applied to other parts of life. We practice based on what we can do, and if we keep practicing, the things we want to do will become possible!

*Picture from:  www.taichituition.co.uk (google images)

Attractive Lips!

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. "
― Sam Levenson

Barbecuing in the Dark

To answer my own questions from yesterday I will tell you that I once tried barbecuing hamburgers in the dark.  Even with a porch light, and maybe a flashlight, it was rather impossible to tell how cooked those hamburgers were.  They ended up being extra crispy because I have a strong dislike for non cooked, or partially cooked meat, and I erred on the side of leaving them too long.  So, if my family wanted to eat good, non burnt food in the winter, we'd have to eat earlier, or at least I'd have to prepare the food earlier.

I'm pretty sure I'd go to bed earlier in the winter.  After all, sometimes even with electricity I think seven feels kind of late in the winter!  In the summer we'd probably stay up later and we'd need to eat an extra snack.  The longer I'm up, the hungrier I get and it's hard to go to sleep hungry!

And, as for sleeping without a fan, I once knew how to do that.  Of course, I used to listen to Air Supply or something so I could go to sleep, and that would take electricity, but I think I could do without that too.  My roommates in college were kind, but didn't let me listen to whatever I wanted at night like my tolerant big sister!

Picture from:  http://cdn.amazingribs.com/images/hamburgers/grilling_burgers.jpg

Without Electricity ........

I read a book the other day about sleep.  I was trying to find help for my insomniacs.  The book talked about our sleep rhythms and how they have been changed by the invention of electricity.  So here are a couple of things that I have had fun thinking about.

1.  What time would we eat dinner if there was no electricity?  Would it change according to the seasons of the year?

2.  What time would we go to bed if there was no electricity?  Keep in mind that candle and lantern light aren't the best for reading, and there wouldn't be any television to watch.  Again, would it change during the year?  Would we be sleepy earlier when it is dark more?  Could we stay asleep longer?

3.  Would those of us who use white noise to stay asleep (the fan runs constantly) learn to sleep through nighttime noises?

**I realized the other day that my biggest problem with writing something to talk about at the dinner table is that I was trying to come up with profound thoughts -- and that's just too much pressure!  So I'll just go for something I find interesting :-)

***Picture from Wikepedia

Deacon Jake

Grandma and Grandpa Fuller, Derek, Jake, Sherie, Grandma and Grandpa Christensen

Dan said....

"Mom, I'm going to figure out what 26 plus 26 is.  Don't tell me!  I know a simple algorithm that I can use to figure it out."  He then did the math problem and informed me that the answer is 52.

I guess he is listening in his second grade class.

Jake's Birthday

Yesterday Jake turned 12.  Here are pictures of his fabulous birthday.

 

Jake opening a gift from Connor.  Books!  It's hard to believe that Connor was willing
to give up some of his beloved books.  But I guess he loves Jake more than books.

Jake pumping up his new ball.  His last one popped, as did Kayli's huge one.
Jake is good at doing tricks on these giant balls!

Dan took this picture of Jake getting ready to blow out his three candles.

That was one delicious dessert.  Mmmmm.

 

We love Jake.  He is compassionate, and kind, and smart, and talented

with a great sense of humor.