Either he's dead or my watch has stopped . . .

We’re in the middle of the H1N1 pandemic in Alberta right now and we are all feeling the consequences of poor leadership. Thousands of healthy people stood in line for a vaccine while the high risk population stood unprotected. Heck, even the Calgary Flames got to the front of the queue while children with cystic fibrosis stood in line outside in the cold rain for five hours to get their vaccine. While everyone questioned each other’s “take care of our own” approach, the real problem was a total lack of leadership. Without strong leadership, people tend to adopt the strategy of every man for himself.

After witnessing the chaos surrounding the first wave of vaccinations, one can only wonder what it would be like if the pandemic became such a crisis that Tamiflu becomes the hot commodity. You need to receive the medicine within 48 hours for it to be effective. I can only imagine the widespread panic and violence that would occur if the rolling out of the Tamiflu treatment is as disorganized as the rolling out of the vaccine prevention. Without strong leadership we’re only one mass crisis away from anarchy.

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership lately and the vital role it plays in society. As a martial arts instructor I understand the value of leadership skills and I work hard at developing my school’s curriculum so that it reinforces this quality in my students. If we’re not producing strong leaders then we’re not maximizing our value to society.

“I don’t spend a lot of time studying stuff” - Ron Liepert, Alberta Minister of Health and Wellness.

Change is in the Wind

Change is inevitable. Our ability to handle change is a big factor in how we cope with stress. I learned a long time ago that it is much easier to accept a change, even one for the worse, if I have done everything within my power to prevent the situation from evolving to the point where change is necessary. I guess if my effort is there and my conscience is clear, I can see factors at play that are beyond my control and I have no choice but to accept and move on.

Some people consider me a risk taker. I know I jump into a lot of situations because my heart tells me to do so and I sort out the details as I go. As long as I have my long term objective in front of me, things always seem to work out for me. Even when things don’t work out the way I had envisioned, time always proves that it was still for the best. Who am I to argue with those types of results?

I am at a crossroads in my life. I guess I have been here for a long time but I have been fighting against the winds of change for so long that I have forgotten about the peace that comes with quiet acceptance. If one avoids something long enough, the stress of avoiding eventually far outweighs the stress of dealing with the situation.

Simplify, simplify, simplify. It has been my creed for along time and it seems that every November brings a fresh perspective to me that allows me to see things much more clearly. No matter how much effort I put into a situation that involves others who have their own agenda, a positive outcome is not in my complete control. It’s time to purge myself of a couple of sloppy situations that are taxing me and sucking my soul dry. Life is too short to fight against the inevitable.

Ahhhh, the sweet release of acceptance......

“Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.” - Denis Waitley (b. 1933)

David Suzuki - Living Hero #5

David Suzuki is a Canadian scientist and broadcaster who is a long time environmental activist dedicated to reversing global climate change through his organization, The David Suzuki Foundation.

“We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone’s arguing over where they’re going to sit”

David Suzuki’s academic accomplishments in zoology and genetics are well documented but it is his work in popularizing science and environmental issues that I feel define him as extraordinary. His environmental activism has caused many of us to rethink our values and self absorbed approach to living our lives. His daughter Severn Suzuki’s address at the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit stands out as a reminder of how long the climate change battle has raged on and how far we still have to go if our species is going to survive.

“The human brain now holds the key to our future. We have to recall the image of the planet from outer space: a single entity in which air, water, and continents are interconnected. This is our home.”

David’s book, The Sacred Balance, is a must read for everyone. How minutely we are all intertwined is so well explained you will never question your impact on the world around you again. Buddhists call this ‘interbeing’ and in my opinion the solution of the earth’s problems lies in our ability to embrace this concept. As David Suzuki points out, there is so much we do not know about our world, especially when it comes to our soil. What we do know for sure is that our atmosphere which provides us with a livable climate and air to breathe, is dependent upon the microorganisms in our soil. Perhaps we should reconsider our lifestyles rather than trying to preserve the unsustainable. Once you understand the concept of interbeing, you definitely will question the logic of developing technological solutions, like carbon capture technology that could upset the delicate balance of our soil, to solve what is ultimately a social issue.

“Our personal consumer choices have ecological, social, and spiritual consequences. It is time to reexamine some of our deeply held notions that underlie our lifestyles.”

It is difficult for me to accept that David Suzuki is seventy three years old. Anyone growing up in Canada has learned a lot about science and nature through his CBC television and radio programs that made those subjects so interesting and accessible to everyone. David Suzuki has been a constant voice of reason in a world straining from over consumption and I worry that there is no one ready to fill the void that will be left when he leaves this world. It is definitely up to you and I to step up and make our voices heard.

“In the environmental movement ..... every time you lose a battle it’s for good, but our victories always seem to be temporary and we keep fighting them over and over again.”

Kung Fu Pandamonium

With many of my school’s annual community projects coming online at almost the same time, the autumn season can be a challenge for me to keep everyone reminded of the pertinent roll these projects play in their kung fu training while not overwhelming them with all these extracurricular activities.

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by parents during their enrollment conference is: “Are we required to do any fundraising?” It seems that so many other activities their children are involved in have fundraising responsibilities attached to them to subsidize their enrollment. Since most parents are too busy to participate in these fundraising ventures, they tend to just associate the responsibility as an added expense related to the activity and simply write a cheque to discharge their responsibilities.
Another of the most frequently asked questions by parents is: “Will my child learn how to control the knowledge you are giving him?” No one wants their child to become an aggressive bully.

Control and compassion are byproducts of empathy. The most powerful tool I have at my disposal to teach my students about empathy is our annual Kung Fu Pandamonium Fundraiser. Children’s Ability Fund, Malawi Girls on the Move, Healing Hands of Katmandu, the Simon Poultney Foundation, and the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society will all benefit from our fundraising efforts but the real value in what we do is found in the awareness we foster. While money can assist in addressing certain matters, social issues are best addressed through public education.

We are living in a time where we are blissfully applauding the accomplishments of scientists who are working on making us all immortal while as a society we continue to consume and waste at a rate way beyond anything sustainable. There is this complete disconnect in our logic that allows us to stampede toward discovering a solution to aging while we ignore the fact that our environmental policies are totally destroying the long term viability of our entire species. Does this not seem somewhat insane to attempt to increase our lifespans to a couple of hundred years when our planet does not even have the resources to support our current population? Aging should be the least of our concerns when it comes to expanding our lifespan.

Our future lies in educating people about what is going on in the world around them. Starting with our children, it is imperative that we become personally engaged with issues and learn experientially that writing a cheque is not a solution to problems perpetuated by public apathy and indifference.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler (b. 1928)

Rhaul Bharti - Living Hero #4

Rahul Bharti is an accomplished Nuad Phaen Boran teacher who lives in Kathmandu, Nepal. While he is famous worldwide for his teaching and practice of Thai Massage through The Healing Hands Centre that he founded, it is his humanitarian work for the homeless in Kathmandu that is extraordinary.

My school’s benevolent foundation contributed money toward one of Rahul’s mass feedings last year and then I had the opportunity to spend some time with him when he visited Stony Plain over the summer.

My personal experience with Rahul Bharti has been limited but his gentle, enlightened approach to healing the world is obvious to anyone who has the opportunity to spend even a minute in his presence. Rahul does not accept blind monetary donations to his cause. He feels, rightly so, that too many of us throw money at a problem and feel we have done all that we can. Rahul believes the only way to sustain lasting change is to get a personal, visceral commitment from people. People need to experience first hand what a difference their donations and actions can create in order for the decisions they make on a daily basis to become mindful, and as such consistently reflect the change they want to see in the world.

Rahul Bhati is a master at his craft and accordingly can chose to live anywhere in the world in a life of luxury. His heritage resides in India, his family is European, and he chooses to live a simple life in Nepal, helping clothe, feed, and heal the homeless.

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go." - Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997)

Trichotillomania

In observance of Mental Illness Awareness Week, one of my black belts has asked everyone to research and educate themselves on a mental illness of their choice. Over half of us will be touched by mental illness at some point in our lives, either directly or indirectly. Despite this staggering statistic, mental health issues remain shrouded in taboo and as a consequence, many people suffer in ashamed silence.

Trichotillomania is a form of self-injurious behavior that can manifest in many ways for different reasons. Trichotillomania is characterized by the urge to pull out your hair. It usually starts with the eyelashes and eyebrows but ultimately spreads to the scalp hair and body hair. For some, hair pulling is an adopted strategy for handling stress and anxiety. By pulling hair and causing the associated pain, the brain releases endorphins that help numb the pain. With elevated endorphin levels we feel less pain and fewer negative effects of stress.

As is the case for most mental illnesses, the side affects of trichotillomania can be even more severe. Imagine only being able to cope with your anxiety and stress by pulling your own hair. It won’t take much time before you start to feel a little self conscious about your appearance. Before long you will adopt a strategy of avoiding going out in public - but the kicker is, if you do go out in public your anxiety and stress levels will be extremely high because of your self consciousness with your appearance. This just leads to more hair pulling and the reinforcing of the whole negative cycle. Clinical depression will soon follow.

Trichotillomania is extremely difficult to treat and unfortunately, most people affected with this disorder are so ashamed and confused about their situation that they never seek treatment. Once a person has the cycle of hair pulling, anxiety, social anxiety, and depression going, it becomes difficult to address one issue without causing a negative affect to another issue. We have to grease the squeaky wheel and suffer the consequences because whatever issue is at the biggest crisis level becomes the priority.

The key for successful treatment of any type of mental illnesses is early intervention. Sufferers tend to go through the phases of denial and embarrassment before they ask for help. By the time they have accepted their condition and seek treatment, their condition has often become more complicated and so their treatment strategy also becomes more complicated.

The real key to combating mental illness is raising awareness. If we can remove the taboo associated with mental health issues we will open up worlds of possibility for those who are currently suffering alone in silence.

“Mental health problems to not affect three or four out of every five persons but one out of one.” - Dr. William Menninger (1899 - 1966)

Interpretation vs. Intent

This week I was reminded of the the disconnect that can occur in communication when a person’s interpretation of something said is contrary to the message the speaker had intended to convey. There are many reasons why miscommunication occurs but I find almost all instances are instigated by an emotional response. Many times we hear what we want to hear and almost everything we take in is filtered by the paradigms we have constructed over the years, and our own self talk.

In communication, context is everything when considering intent. A solitary word has very precise definitions but once you put that word in a sentence with other words or a paragraph that defines the context, its relevance to the conversation changes. Stripping a word out of an entire conversation and ignoring the context in which the word was used will almost always distort the intent behind the word. Not to mention that the more ambiguous the word that is used, the more wiggle room there is for interpretation.

Anger management training is probably one of the most powerful tools a person can acquire to improve their communication skills. Not only does it teach you how to convey your thoughts in a non confrontational manner, but it also gives you the insights you need to open your mind to alternative interpretations of other people’s words and actions.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)