What I would tell a 20 year old jim

After chasing many things in my life I found that simplicity seems to make the most sense to me.  Live in the moment and enjoy what you are doing at that moment no matter what it is.  Try everyday to become a better than you were yesterday.  Don't spend time comparing yourself with others.  You only need to become a better you.

Spend more time in the mountains hiking.  Spend more time sitting around a fire with your family and friends. Work less and travel more.  Watch more tropical sunrises.


I think that is about it.

Oh and listen to what Ali says:

What to write about

Well what to write about.

I could write about the sunshine we had after Christmas and how the fields were an awesome white and the sky was an incredible color of blue.  Snowshoeing in the fields with no wind and only the winter birds chirping.  But I don't want to write about that.

I could write about having my family at home for a few days over the holidays and enjoying this time of year.  Having my boys play hockey and hang outside in the snow all the time beaking off at each other.  That is always cool to see.  But I don't want to write about that.

I could write about my up coming holiday and being able to go diving and fishing in the tropics.  A couple of my favorite things. But I don't want to write about that.

I could write about the relationships that I have in my life and how important they are too me.  Being able to be around the people I like and being able to help and empathize with some of the struggles they are having.  But I don't want to write about that.

I could write about all the things bouncing around in my head.  The thought both positive and negative and how both make me stronger mentally when I deal with them head on.  But I don't want to write about that.

I think I will just write about what a great future I see in front of me,

Solstice

I think I blog about this every year but I can't help myself.  I am a true Albertan.  I grew up in this amazing place and love being outside.  Love being in the mountains, on the lakes and on the prairies.

However and this is a big however, I really don't like the cold and dark much any more.  That is why Dec 21 is a great day in this cold dark winter.  It is the the day where our days begin to get longer again.  The promise of spring, warm weather and new growth.  The winter solstice.

Even in the cold spells of January and February I know the days are getting longer.  It makes it much more bearable.

Anyway enough complaining of the cold.  We maybe not because it is really cold today, but tomorrow?  We will see.

pursuing mastery

I was doing some research the other day and something struck me. Most people who are at the top of their field or their craft never perfect what they are pursuing. They look like they are perfect to those looking at them but to them. they are still pushing to get to perfection.

This is what mastery is about, we are pursing mastery, knowing we will never achieve mastery.  I think those who truly want mastery embrace this knowing they will never get there.  Those that don't embrace this either quite or agree to live in mediocrity.

Knowing this then is the pursuit of mastery a de-motivating pursuit.  Working for something that if you are honest with yourself you will never achieve.  I guess that is one way of assessing what is going on, but for myself that thought of even getting close to mastery is motivating. The achievement is in the pursuit of the goal and not in attaining the goal.

This may be confusing but to me it does make sense.  The important thing is to keep straight in my head that as long as there is some improvement day to day, I am achieving what I set out to do.

cold and empathy

If you ever thought you might need help with empathy and showing empathy for other living things; spend some time around horses when you get the first cold spell of the year.  Now horses  are built to be able to handle the hot summer days and the cold winter months.  But getting out in the morning and tossing them hay and dropping some oats for them, you still see the cold all around you and I know I can feel the wind driving through my body.

I can't help but give them more oats and a firm brisk brush (as I know they like both).  You can see it in their eyes that they appreciate the though.  And we all like treats and to horses those oats is good.

Anyway it was cold this morning

Arrows and Blogging?

Something has been gnawing at the back of my mind.  I couldn't figure it out.  I knew it was something I didn't do.  What was it?

I went through the week and then the weekend thinking it would pop into my mind.  Nothing came to me then this morning I was reading a few blogs and it hit me:  I didn't blog last week.  At that moment this morning, I knew that I had created a habit.  Habits become second nature and sure there are times you forget or consciously decide not to do something.  But it is a habit.

I am trying to form more habits in my life that make me more fulfilled and get rid of habits that are not good for me.  Both can be very difficult as they each present their own challenges.

For me blogging has become, what I like to think of as my guidance system for my arrow.  When you shoot an arrow it travels forward of you but not necessarily at your target.  Blogging is the minor course corrections that directs the arrow at the target.  With enough blogging and writing about my goals, my arrow will hit its target.

this morning

The clear morning, the air smells sweet and there is no breeze.  Out in the field a few deer are lazing in the morning sun. Driving down the country road the odd prairie chicken sticks it head up from the ditch. A coyote looks at my vehicle from a distant hill wondering if it needs to worry about me.

Then as I slow down to look out at another field a red tail hawk swoons down and flys next to my vehicle for a few seconds as if to say "glad you are enjoying your day".  That was north central Alberta this morning. I am sure glad I was there.

Exploration is the physical expression of the Intellectual Passion

Not much to discuss this week as my focus has been completely on work.  It is taking up a lot of my time but wow the things that are happening.

One thing I do want to talk about is a couple of brothers who though it would be a good idea to paddleboard from Alaska to California. Ryan and Casey Higgenbotham.  No one has ever attempted this, and they did it without the help of a support boat.  When I hear about people like this I am always in awe.  These journey are life changing, if they hit their goal or don't hit their goal.

To embark on something like this seems so daunting.  But then again is it?  Is it just taking a passion and going for it?  I would like to think the latter. 

They started their journey in Mid March and ended it in late October.  My hat goes off to these two not only for accomplishing their goal but for also raising awareness for Coastal conservation.

Exploration is the physical expression of the Intellectual Passion” ― Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Surf

Just saw this the other day and it made me think.  As we go through the challenges and opportunities that are put in front of every day we have two choices.  Let it hit us and do nothing about it or grab a surf board and enjoy it.

Hello darkness my old friend

For the last 7 months or so, I have trained without the help and guidance I had when I was a part of the I Ho Chuan team.  Kung Fu is an amazing mental conduit to gain cerebral strength.  But I have found that training on my own without a team is a tougher challenge.  There was a song written a year or so before I was born and a line from that song struck me  "Hello darkness my old friend".  I liken it to being in a void.

It is not that I am not training, as I am.  I have had a few injuries that have slowed some of the physical training but the mental training is continuous.  But it feels like the feedback that is necessary to improve is not there.

In nature continuous feedback is how things get better, and at its very basic and animalistic terms, it is how a species survives. But if this feedback is not there there is no forward movement or improvement.

I am glad that I will be back on the I Ho Chuan team for the year of the Rooster.  Already I feel that my creative thoughts are increasing and my physical strength is growing;  I am 5 months away from rejoining the team but what a great feeling.

Just One Thing

I had a chance to watch the Billy Crystal movie City Slickers this past week.  In the movie there is an old cowboy who does not say a lot, but at one point in the movie he tells Billy's character the meaning of life.

The old cowboy puts his finger in the air and says "just one thing".  So there you have the meaning of life.  All one has to do is figure out what that one thing is.  Of course, for everyone, the one thing is different.  What I like about this is the simplicity of the statement yet the complexity of the thought.

One needs to look deep inside themselves and determine what that is.  For the few who are able to find "just one thing"  they should have a full and rewarding life.

Big Project

Well after three years and a million decisions we are in our new building at work.  I started with the owner of the company over 3 years ago beginning to purchase land and to plan out the building for our heavy duty truck dealership.

We moved our people (approx 100) this weekend in to the new facility.  For anyone who has planned and built a building the amount of challenges are many.  It can be a tough time as you are constantly thinking and planning what needs to be done.

The satisfaction that comes from working on a project this big is immense.  Walking around the building today and seeing everyone working and servicing customers in an incredible rush.

Having said the above I don't want to something of this size anytime soon................

Declare your goals

The past week has been a great reminder on being engaged.  A challenge was put out to the kwoon on doing planks.  It is easy to just ignore these things and say that's great but........

I always find these types of challenges as a natural point for engagement.  Nothing keeps you more focused that publicly stating your goals,  Then continuing on following up on that goal.  To me this is the ultimate self motivation.

Declare your goals, report on your goals, and then realize you are reaching your goals.

Morning on the Deck

Woke up this morning and the sun was shining.  Went out to the deck and sat and had a coffee with my wife.  This will be one of the last chances to do this til next year.

The green, the birds singing, the soft breeze and the Magpies eating the dog food.  All great things that happen in the Alberta summer time.

I will hold on to this time of year as long as I can.

Goals update

Update on goals

Push ups not so good

Forms, need more consistent effort

Getting projects done at home on this years goals list, quite good

Walking, Hit a home run here  this has been going extremely well

Books I am now up to 15 books since the beginning of this years goals cycle,  Definitely a win

Business goals  All on target

Not hitting all of my goals but achieving most so I am going in the right direction

Looking into the Stars

The sky is black with a hint of light to the far northeast and northwest.  Cassiopeia is above and waiting for meteors to begin lighting up the sky.  There was no disappointment this night. The Perseid Meteor shower began to light up the sky.

I had the lights turned off on the back yard deck, laying on my back with a pillow and a blanket. The significance of people and our day to day troubles seem minute when looking into the heavens and the stars.

Two hours laying there looking up at natures wondrous light show.  I am not sure there are any lessons from this experience, but a more tranquil night I can't remember.

A quick update on my mind

Time to get connected again.  Just back from a week deep in the mountains and little electronic communications with the outside world. I have a few more days of vacation and am headed out tomorrow to do two yonderings up in Jasper then back to work and looking forward to be back at the kwoon. 

The more I get to hike and be in the mountains the more I want to be there all the time.  

The mind becomes clear in the mountains.  Work issues, personal issues all seem to not matter.  Living in the moment becomes second nature, the way it should be.  

I just need to imprint it my mind and learn how to maintain this.  

 

More doing less not doing

The challenge of the day:  How do i get work, projects, training  and maintaining my personal relationships all done to the level I feel they should be.  This has not always been easy but I have found I have gotten better at this over time.

The last month or so I have found it becoming more difficult.  Why is this?  In reflection I have decided that it is simply my level of engagement or not living in the moment.  I am spending too much time planning and not enough time doing.

Note to self: More doing less not doing.

  

Yondering

I have been thankful that this summer I have had time and health to be able to partake in my favorite past time, yondering, even though I have been challenged with a broken foot and a deep bruise on my femur.  Most call it hiking, but I have called it yondering for many years, as it is a less harsh word and more cerebral.

I have been up to the mountains numerous times this year, and have had many great hours yondering alone or with my dogs.

I put out a challenge to my family about a month ago that I wanted to take on a challenging yonder. My younger son said what he usually does when I put out this type of challenge,  "I am not going on one of your crazy long hikes."  Of course I am para phrasing, the language was more suited for a hockey dressing room.  My older son was working so he couldn't make it.  My wife stepped up and said she would like to go.

I then said the goal was to hike up to Berg Lake on the north side of Mt Robson and back in a day.  At this point I was sure she would politely tell me have fun and back out.  But she said lets do it.

Well on Saturday we started out early in the morning and had a great day of yondering the Berg Lake trail and were able to sit at the lake for a good hour with the sun shining and the horse flies biting.  It was a great day, albeit a long day.  We got back to the trail head about 8 pm after about 35 K on the trail.  

  

June Fly's By

It sure doesn't take long to lose track of time.  I have been in a whirlwind between work, being in the mountains and projects around my house.  I haven't been to the Kwoon in over a month due to many reasons.

First off, I was getting over my broken foot, then a spill I took hiking caused me to badly bruise my thigh.  (let me tell you big muscle, big hurt, no kicking when I could barely lift my leg to walk)  But all is getting better and looking forward to be able to get back training and the Kwoon.

See you all soon.

Share your knowledge

Are there any commonalities with people who have had great influence in your life?

I have learned from people who were easy going, tough, and even abrasive;  but what is it about these people?  Is there one common thing that they possess, that I am not sure, but I can say that all of them have shared their knowledge with me.  And, to be sure, it was shared quite freely.

The people I have come to respect have all made time to share what they know and for no benefit to themselves, other than to see that I am better because of knowing them.

I think that is quite a legacy.

Share what you know to the the benefit of others, you never know how it may help.


I listen to what this guy says, he seems to have a lot of things figured out.

What historical person would you like to meet?

Lao Tzu would be one of the people in history I would like to have a conversation with.  Many of the things that he wrote are still around today and have great significance and meaning that is as relevant today as it was in his time.  It is believed he lived over 2,500 years ago.

It is humbling to know that thoughts that are very clear and very universal to me were also important so long ago.  We are surrounded by issues and problems in the modern world.  The problems may seem new but the solutions may have been with humanity for a long time.

This saying by Lao Tzu is something that all of can take and learn from.  As leaders we need to be invisible, the out come is what is important, not us.

I am a slow learner

I am feeling better about my weapon form and my hand form.  My biggest hurdles are I have are to stay calm, breath and to lengthen out my stances.

july 2, 2014

I blogged this almost two years ago.  I find it interesting that I am still working on the same things 

Proud Albertan

I was born in Alberta and have always felt it is a special place.  From a very early age , I saw my family and many in our community come together and help when help was needed.  I remember many times in my youth seeing my parents take in people from around the world when they had no place to stay.  I saw my community come together and help when people were in need of shelter or food.

These past two days have reaffirmed my belief in the people of this great province.  I have talked to many who have opened up their homes, sent relief articles, went to help and donated cash to help out a very horrible situation.

Good on you Alberta.

Eye Roll

Well this weekend was not what I wanted it to be.  For the most part it was good, got a little rain got a lot of training and work done on Saturday.

Then it happened, something as simple as walking in a door.  I smashed my foot and did not think much more of it over the weekend,  it was sore but it would get better.  Well after a trip to the doctor on Monday afternoon I found out I fractured two bones in my foot.  (Here is where I put the eye roll).

Looks like I will have to modify my training for the next 6 weeks.  I did not even get to say it was a wicked kick or something similar.  Oh well I guess I get to read more for the next little while.

 

It was a good weekend

I spent the weekend working with my boys.  We had alot of work to complete from cleaning corrals to cutting down trees to working on the lawn.

Both my boys can now take an active role in the work, in fact,  they  both took over from bucking wood to hauling the wood with the front end loader.

It is great to be able to sit back a bit and see how far they have come in being able to do things and take charge of the work that needs to be done.  It is with great pride that I see the work ethic they have, which  I learned from my father and I hope they learned from me.

It was a good weekend

Chaos

What do you do when you are busy?  This past week I lost two days with a cold, every time I turned around at work I had another unscheduled opportunity(problem).  Had my trucks front end crater.  Was having issues with some other business interests.

When this happens it sure can be tough to keep doing push ups. Not that it is hard to do them but to keep your mind focused on remembering to do them.  

Did I not do the amount of push up I should have?  Yes.  My mind was focused else where but when I did find a calm among the distractions:  I dropped and reped out 40 or 50 push ups. 

The feeling of moving towards my goals, among the chaos, is very calming.

Continual Improvement

I have been focused on the curriculum for the last week.  WOW there is alot to still know.  On top of that looking backwards there is alot I have learned.  It can be intimidating or it can be inspirational. In both cases I still have much to master both with new things and the things I have already learned.

I have been doing my job for going on 25 years.  Yes I have worked for various companies but the majority of what I do I don't have to use much brain power any more if I want to do my job just at a minimum level.  There is always new things to do but it is less than the same old.  Now with my training in Kung Fu I look at what I do on a daily basis and think how can I improve what I am doing? How can I improve what the company is doing? What can I do to improve the lives of my employees?

Kung Fu gives us a new way of looking at the world.  We get into a system of continual improvement in our training.  If we use this right we can then use this system of continual improvement and incorporate it into our lives.

A dogs life

How much pleasure can a day with the dogs bring?

Well for me alot.  I spend a few good hours with my dogs this weekend out in the fields just walking and watching what the dogs do naturally.  Running and chasing smells, running after rabbits, and getting as dirty as possible.  Dogs really know the pleasure in living in the moment.  Of course they are not humans but it is hard for me to deny the traits that they have that can resemble humans.

A fierce loyalty to pack.  A desire to explore.  The simple pleasure in a nap in the sun.  The desire to be with each other.

It may sound corny but I always learn a lot from watching my dogs.  Dogs makes me a  better person when I watch and learn.

Walking

And what am I working on now.  Now that we are in the throws of spring, even though the snow was coming down today, I turn to walking and running.  Walking is something that is a huge part of my being.  Having been raised in the mountains, I have been walking my whole life.

It has been said that you cannot have a bad time if you are on a walk in the mountains.  Well I don't know if this is true for everyone but it sure works for me.  That are times when walking can keep a worry away for hours.

All it takes is to put on your shoes and to start moving your feet.  How simple, How elegant.

work

Hanging out and doing work at the house on sunday.  Good day lots of work done and a fun time with the dogs.

Everyone helped out and the work went fast.  It is good to have the family all work together to get things done

Rambling thoughts

What is tolerance?  Is it not saying something when you see something wrong and knowing that speaking up and stating the obvious will not help.

Or is it saying something knowing that people will react in a way that will not help the situation.

I am seeing more and more where I want to speak my mind but think of the futility of doing so.  If the words hit a cultural void, what is the point? Or is not saying anything perpetuating what is going on? We all have the right to live our lives as we see fit.  We do not however have the right to dictate our thoughts on to others to get them to do what we want.  If we do this we revert to points in history that did not work out well.

If there is no respect between people of differences of opinions (and yes they are opinions) then the basis of society is eroded and can chaos be not far behind.   I fear for my country and think that it will not last in its current state for long.

Confusion

What is the next step? Is it to continue down the same path, will it produce the best results?  Or is it time to make a shift and see if a different path will produce better results?

I am sure many people have these thoughts and are confused by them.  I know myself I am constantly confused and wonder if this is the right path or should I make a change.

My confusion will continue I don't know how long or even if it will end.

Energy

Well two weeks away from the Kwoon.  I will be able to get back and get energy from the Kwoon again.  It is interesting just what the surroundings and the people do for my training. I train at home but many times the same intensity is not there.

Who would guess that the energy inside the walls of a retail space in Stoney  Plain, Alberta could be so intense.

The world keeps surprising me

Plan for the Bokken

I am now back to doing 200 push ups a day.  My shoulder seems to be holding out well.  I have stopped doing squat thrusts for a while until I feel comfortable that my shoulder is working well.

I have begun to work with my Bokken. I don't have a form yet but am working on feeling comfortable with the weapon.  I expect to have a presentable form by the end of April.  This is the first time that I am creating a form on my own so I am hoping there will be creativity in the form without making it a caricature of myself and the weapon.

Time will tell and I will see how it goes.  Once I have something I will ask for feed back on improvements I can make it presentable.

On the Other Hand

How is this week?  Well I am torn.

I will be missing a few weeks of training at the Kwoon and will not be able to make it to the Chinese New Years Banquet.  This is not good and I feel in my soul that I am missing out on something extraordinary.  But on the other hand I am at work doing something cool and also taking care of the household while my wife is experiencing a trip of a lifetime.

I do enjoy when I am at home and taking care of the place when my wife is away.  I have always said to my son's, we can live like bears for a while.  The dogs get a freer roam of the house, meals take on a whole new dimension.  and we drive vehicles around our place where they probably shouldn't go. Oh and lots of target practice with the guns.

I will be gone for  a few days of work but in Alberta, not too much exciting there.  But my wife is experiencing something that few get to do.  First off she is a Dental Assistant by trade and teaches Dental Assisting at NAIT.  Because of this she was invited to participate in an international exchange where she is able to go and teach practical skills in Uganda and Rwanda in Africa.  So far what she has learned is there is a huge gap in skills between Canada and Africa.  She is actually humbled by how very lucky she was to be born in Canada and to receive her training in Canada.

Being able to go and practice your trade in other counties is not something many people get to do.  I miss her deeply but and so proud and happy she is able to have this experience in her life.  Oh and she gets to go on a Safari and to go see the mountain Gorillas.

What is team

Team is used a lot in todays vocabulary.  We hear about it at work.  The team.  We hear about it in other organizations.  The team.  How many truly understand what team is? When I think of a team I think about how as a group the individuals are better that the simple sum of themselves.  A team should be able to exponentially be better that the sum of the individuals.

Is this a truth of all teams?  Sadly I think not.  But if each of the individuals think of the team above themselves then I think that team can be better.

One of my business mentors has instilled in me to be great in business the organization/team all need to think as follows:

Mission
Team
I

There has to be a shared mission and the team then has to take precedence over the individual.  If this happens great things can happen

I saw this list the other day and it made me think about what my mentor has taught me.  It is talking about hockey but the lessons are the same.

Here comes spring and running

As the days get longer, I look forward to spring and everything that comes with it.  Well almost everything.  My nemesis comes around again in the spring after the snow is gone: running.  I don't like to run in the winter so I tend to do running from April to September.  Ok, I don't like to run in the summer either to be honest.

What I do know is running is one of those things that not only is good physically but also mentally.  I find I am able to be in a meditative state when I run.  After 5 or 10 minutes I am able to focus on my breathing and I can keep my head clear for the duration of the run.  The physical part is something I am not a big fan of, but gaining a state of mental relaxation  is one of the benefits of running.

So just waiting for the snow to go then back at the trails at Chicakoo.

What is the Essence?

Well the sheep is ready to move off into the sunset for greener pastures.  The monkey is coming down from the mountain and is getting ready to interact with me for the next year.

I am now finishing up my second year of I HO Chuan.  This upcoming  year I will be embarking on a trail by myself knowing that I have support from past team members.  These past two years have been physically and mentally challenging for me. I Ho Chuan is what I was looking for in my life and the benefits I have gained by being able to be involved in this very unique team will last a life time.  I have been involved in self improvement my whole life and have taken courses, programs and read extensively to become a better me.  I Ho Chuan has taken many of the concepts I have learned , but maybe not implemented, and simplified them to their very essence.

BE ENGAGED.

Wow simple words but oh so powerful.  With out the sore body, hurt shoulder, knee that felt like I may never be able to do another kick, I may never have been able to understand what engagement means.  It is spending a few minutes, many times, through out the day doing push-ups or squat thrusts, smiling at the person in the line up at the grocery store,  engaging a stranger in conversation, saying yes I will help or simply picking up a broom or garbage to do what needs to be done.  These are the physical parts of engagement.

What about the mental aspects.  Journaling my progress, constantly challenging what I "think" is true and opening my mind to new and powerful new ideas and concepts is invaluable.  For myself journaling has been the most powerful tool I have been able to incorporate to help me to be engaged. Writing is not natural for myself.  I have been able to articulate my thoughts with the spoken word but the written word was always more challenging.  By journaling I have been able to take the scramble of thought that enter my head and put them on paper and make something clear and articulate. ( At least to me, maybe not others) These thoughts or journal then becomes a permanent artifact that I can reread and understand what was going on in my mind and life at a particular point in time.

I think that everyone who is fortunate enough to be living right now and have the opportunity to be involved in this unique team should be thankful.  I will not take for granted the opportunity I have been fortunate enough to have experienced.  I will continue to incorporate what I have leaned and to grow personally to become a better person for my family, community and myself.

I am unsure what the future will bring. I am certain that the present will be mindful, engaged and focused on happiness.

Tea or not

I have read this quote and find it incredibly intriguing.  What does it mean? I have thought long and hard. Keeping your doors open to me means have an open mind and listen and allow thoughts without prejudice.  That would allow for you to be a free thinker without a pre-conceived direction for the thought.  Does the last part mean to not hold onto an idea or maybe to not spend too much time on one thought?  Or maybe not to over indulge in a thought?

I would really like if some of you could give me your perspective and thoughts on the quote.

Chinese New Year

I knew this might be coming and I was hoping that I could avoid it but alas I can't.  Because of work I will be away from the kwoon for Chinese New Year and the week before.  It can be frustrating sometimes that work can get in the way of things, but that is what happens.  I can be angry about it or I can find something positive in it.  I am looking to the positive and I know that it is there.

At this point all I can say is enjoy the night and have fun.

A really Canadian Moment

I had a moment on saturday that tells me I am living in the moment more and more.  This has been a challenge for me,  but when I see things and are able to reflect on them at the moment I see them, I know I am in the moment.

I had got tickets for the Battle of Alberta Game on Saturday night for my youngest son.  He is a Calgary Fan and my older son is an Edmonton Fan.  As a family we all decided to go to the game together.  Before going to the game, we had to stop to pick up some hockey equipment for my younger son who had grown out of some of his equipment. (this is nothing new to people who have kids in sports)

We stopped in at Pro Hockey life and were talking with a few of the sales reps and getting the sizing right.   I saw over in the skate section an older gentleman in his 70's and was curious so I took a closer look.  This gentleman was in the store with his wife and they were buying her a new pair of skates.  Most times I would be wrapped up in my own world and would miss the beauty of this moment.

I thought what an awesome thing, as I imagined the two people out skating together on a rink or pond somewhere out in the country.  These are two older people who are enjoying life, and in their 70's, are buying new skates to enjoy time together.

I reflected a little more on what I saw and decided I am going to buy my wife a new pair of skates for her seventieth birthday.

Today's Thought

I  have taken some time off between Christmas and this past weekend.  I am glad to see that my shoulder seems to be behaving better although my knee still does not feel to be 100%.

I keep plugging away at 20 pushups at a time and my shoulder seems to think that is OK.  I will keep it up for another week then start increasing reps.

What I am beginning to understand is there is no end to training, so I cant guide my training to a point in time.  I have to see it as an improvement over what I did yesterday.  If I am better today than I was yesterday then I am getting to my goals and moving towards mastery.