Fire in my belly

I felt really good at class tonight. There's definitely a momentum building at the school, it's almost palpable.

I've decided on my charitable project for my China trip. I did some research and discovered that there is an orphanage in the town we're staying in so my sister Melanie and I are going to volunteer there to spend time with the kids and also help out if there's any supplies they need. Today I bought a video camera (which is funny because we were given a video project in class tonight) so I can film not only the orphanage but our trip in general. I hope to make it into a movie when I get back (with a bit of help) so that everyone who wants to can see what we experienced.

I'm getting so excited! Partly about the trip and partly about being a student member of UBBT 6 which starts between now and January. I'm a bit nervous just because I'll be away when it starts so I won't have that much access to Master Brinker and the rest of the team if I need help or advice. I'll be posting at least once a week though so I won't be totally cut off and I'm sure I'll be able to get the training in since that's pretty much all we'll be doing for most of the trip. I'm really looking forward to the meditation aspect of it. I've tried meditation before and I've only felt "successful" at it a couple of times, mostly I get distracted. At Wudang though we'll be meditating every day for over an hour with an experienced taoist teacher. I'll be so peaceful and serene when I get back!

I'm reading this really great book right now that I highly recommend. It's called On the Warrior's Path by Daniele Bolelli. It's interesting because although I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, there are certain parts that put into words so perfectly what the martial arts are really about. I was reading it this morning and was almost in tears because I was so moved and inspired by one chapter in particular. I hope that I can develop as much eloquence, honesty, and grace in expressing myself as this author has. Check it out, it's worth a read.

"Forging spirit and character can take years but it is only the preparation before the real battle. Many people train and prepare by walking along the way of the warrior, but never discover, or maybe just forget, what battle they have been training for. The battle rages in front of their eyes and they don't even realize it. The small psychodramas of daily life distract them to the point of taking away their global vision and making them forget why they set out walking along the warriors path in the first place. The battle is against mental limits, dullness, short-sightedness. It is against resignation, greed, sadness. Against all those powers that separate human beings from happiness. The warrior doesn't walk into battle only for himself. The warrior fights for everything and everyone. He views the destiny of the entire planet as a personal matter. As a warrior you are given weapons very few people posses. The self-confidence of a wild animal, a spirit that can't be broken, the tranquility of one whose roots are too deep to be disturbed by minor events. If you don't change the world, certainly nobody else will."