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.