September 1st was the end of our third year so I've been looking back at the time I've spent here, an thinking about all the changes that I've made (intentional or otherwise).
Physically, if you're training every day for 8 hours, there's just naturally going to be physical changes. A person wouldn't even have to try very hard to improve their strength and stamina. If a person has self discipline, this is a great place to immerse yourself in kung fu.
Mentally, the changes that my training here have precipitated, are too many to count. My emotional being has changed so completely. I have a much better understanding of myself, and the things that make me tick. I know what motivates me, I know what depresses me, I know what angers me and I know what calms me down, and through all of this knowledge I have really started to learn to control my emotions and my thoughts. I say that I have started to learn, because I believe that this will be a lifelong adventure. The world will continue to throw new situations and new people in my direction, and I will have to learn to adapt which in turn, will cause another step in my evolution as a human being.
Five years is the longest commitment I've made in my life. I've never gone to college or university, and I've never worked at one job for more than a couple of years. I love kung fu, and I love how I am able to spend so much of my time cultivating myself. Most people never see this opportunity, and I hope that I can continue to progress and learn more about myself in my remaining time here.
