Christmas Countdown

This is the last full week of training that we will have at my Geelong School before Christmas. I am so very glad to be home from my travels - and am loving being with my family. Tonight will be my first class since my return - and I am very much looking forward to it. We are preparing for the end-of-year gradings to be held next monday and tuesday nights. An exciting time for everyone involved - and a great way to finish up 2008!
Christmas is a fun time for everyone - giving treats and gifts to family and friends is what it's mostly about for our family - well that, and having fewer demands on our time.
The day after Christmas, a friend and I are heading for a four day walk into the Wilderness of Tasmania's Central Plateau - one of my favourite places on the planet. We havn't been there for two years - so I am really looking forward to it.
The day after I get back from there, my family and I are heading to Singapore for a wedding (Kon & Charmaine) - then on to Bali for 6 days.
In bali, I'll be catching up with two old training partners of mine from the early 80's. That will be interesting for sure! Apparently, they are both still training. They were hard-core back then - but that was 25 odd years ago - I am really looking forward to the catch-up!
Anyways - a bit to do before that happens. And ultimately, TODAY, is the time that matters most. Living in the now - and extracting the most we can out of living in the present is something that has been central to my philosophy for three decades now. In fact, as a youngster living in Indonesia - I used to wear a pendant that simply read "LIVE TODAY - DEATH WAIT'S FOR US TOMORROW". A bit morbid perhaps - but I was, after all, just a reckless 20 year old.
Still, for most of my life since then, I have been fairly excited and enthusiastic about each and every day I have lived. When giving martial arts instructors teaching advice - I often mention the importance of 'BEING FULLY ENGAGED" in every class we ever take. NEVER, just go through the motions. ENTHUSIASM and FULL-ENGAGEMENT breeds more of the same - and this in itself, stems from the concept of fully living i the NOW! As the old saying goes - LIVE FOR TODAY - BUT PLAN FOR TOMORROW.
Anyways - just got back from the pool an hour ago, where my wife and I swam a few laps together - she's a great swimmer, and she coached me with a few pointers that may have improved my feeble efforts somewhat. A quick bite to eat after this short blog - then a couple of friends will be arriving from Canberra for two of days training - Travis Faure (ADF) and Andy Gibbs (AFP) - so that's a nice bonus.
My blog has morphed into a bit of a 'dear diary' effort these past ten days - apologies. Don't despair - I'll get back into my usual format soon.
Best wishes,
JBW