thelawofdharma

Last week, I started my new job as a landscaper with a local company called Garden Angels and my position title is that of Newbie Angel. GA has been on the local scene in St. Catharines for eight years and is owned by a former corporate executive named Lisa. Roughly eight years ago, Lisa decided that the corporate world wasn’t for her and wanted to do something different. She started GA and has grown it to a strong company that employs local women – the Angels.

My first morning as an Angel

After a week of being with GA, I can say this:

“Landscaping is HARD work. We work long, hard hours and these Angels are tough cookies!”

“I can’t tell a weed from a perennial.”

“My knees suck. At the end of each day, they ache like a mother f*cker.”

“I love to be outside all day.”

“Like Chandler, I bruise like a peach.”

“Going to the dump is fun even though it smells like sh-“

“I feel tough when I walk around in my work pants and boots.”

Given my new employment, the following song just felt right for the song of the week.

Earth Angel

Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I’m just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou-ou

Earth Angel, The Penguins

Training Log – The Challenge

Monday: Coop d’Kill Workout

Tuesday:  “MUSHIN” with Wayne

Wednesday: 10 km run, Coop d’Kill Workout

Thursday: Fight Fit Workout

Friday: “MUSHIN” with Wayne (Technical Sparring), 5km run, Abs

Saturday: Coop d’Kill Workout

Sunday: DAY OFF

Its official – Coop d’Kill is the name of the garage/gym at the Hen House! Thanks everyone for your suggestions, they were all hilarious!

Although this week was a bit light in the total amount of workout hours and kms run, the intensity of each of the workouts by far made up for the lower numbers that I clocked.

As I start my fortieth year, I’ve decided to lay down the following challenge:

Each year I will be healthier than the one previous.

Today I ended up working out at The Hen House (aka Gail and Chris’ home). As luck would have it, their garage is set up with a heavy bag and a speed bag. There’s also tons of room to skip and shadow box. 

I ended up having a great workout. Here’s how it unfolded:

skipping rope: 20 minutes

shadow boxing: 10 minutes

speed bag: 10 minutes (I thought my shoulders were going to combust!)

heavy bag: 3 minute rounds x 5 (Punctuated with too many grunts.)

mat work: ABS! (Sweet Jesus, the ABS!)

As I worked out, I was trying to think of a Hen House-related name that I could give my new gym. The best I could come up with was The Rotisserie. I’m not sure if this is the best name though…any suggestions?

Training Log – Let’s Do This!

Monday: DAY OFF

Tuesday: Fight Fit Workout, “MUSHIN” with Wayne

Wednesday: Weight Training – Biceps/Triceps/Abs, 10 km run

Thursday: Weight Training – Chest/Back/Abs, 5 km run

Friday: “MUSHIN” with Wayne (Technical Sparring), 5 km run

Saturday: DAY OFF

Sunday: Weight Training – Shoulders/Legs/Abs, 5 km run

It’s time for me to make my goal of having an amateur fight more tangible. I need something concrete to work towards. Given that I’m the Captain of this ship, I’ve finally taken control of the helm and I’m steering it towards June 5^th.

On June 5^th, the Hadaba Fight Club is hosting an event at the Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa. My goal is to be one of the boxers fighting at this event.

I’m tired of talking about it. It’s time to do it. Training Camp starts April 4^th. If talk is so cheap, you may be wondering why Training Camp doesn’t start today. It’s simple. On the 3^rd I turn 39 and I know that more than a couple of drinks will be in order to celebrate the beginning of my 40^th year.

Observations – Dreamer

I’m a dreamer. Daydreaming has gotten me through many a rough patch and many a hard run. Unfortunately, my tendency to daydream has been a hindrance as much as it has been a help. This is going to change. I’m going to reframe it. Not only do I captain my ship, I was the one who built it and repairs it along the way. So, it’s time for a little maintenance.

The Daydream

Before bed and while I run, I’ve daydream about my fight. I see me, but I look different. There’s a look of determination that is not familiar to me, but is exciting when I see it in my mind’s eye.

I’m waiting to fight. I see my energy and it’s pulsating frantically. I start to warm up by skipping and the energy I see now is more controlled. It moves with the rhythm of the rope.

My coach, who is faceless, puts on my gloves. No words are exchanged between us. Actually, in this daydream no words are ever spoken.

Just outside the ring, just action the action, I’m working the mitts with my coach. We move in unison and it is as though we are talking with each combination called and thrown.

It’s my turn. I climb the steps to the ring, my coach holds open the ropes and I step in. It’s just me. I’m alone with my opponent. She is also faceless.

We exchange punches. I feel strong. I control the rhythm of the fight. She goes for the body shot and leaves herself open. I strike her down with a jab, cross, jab. The punches are fast, effective and knock her to her knees. I stand above her. It’s over. I’ve succeed.

Reframe: Visualization

It’s time now to reframe the daydream to a visualization that I will play over and over again. I need to fill in the blanks and add details so as to pull this story from the context of dream to that of future reality.

It’s time, let’s do this!

Monday: 5 km run, Abs, Training with Alan

Tuesday: Training with Alan (Light Sparring)

Wednesday: DAY OFF

Thursday: 10 km run, Abs

Friday: 5 km run, Abs

Saturday: 5 km run, Abs

Sunday: 5 km run, Abs

I feel so fortunate to have been able to go back home and check in with Alan – the person I consider my foundation in boxing and in spiritual well-being. I was also able to hang out with Janina (Alan’s wife) and Vivi (their beautiful daughter). It felt so comforting being back with them all, talking, laughing and working out in such an amazing atmosphere. I even got two goodnight kisses from Vivi which was by far one of the highlights of the entire week home.

When training with Alan, he reminded me several times to remember my paradigm. And, in him doing so, it was like I was snapped back as elastic is when it’s stretched to its thinnest and can’t be stretched any further. Over the last two months, my fitness has improved, I’ve grown stronger and I can hit like a mother fucker; these are all fantastic improvements. However, I fear that as I’ve worked on the heavy bag these past months, I’ve forgotten my paradigm. So now the challenge is reconciling them – the power and the technique. I’ve realized that together they form the elastic band.

This past week was also one that was dominated by sleep. Leading up to my trip home I had fallen back into a bad pattern of fitful sleeps. Thankfully, this pattern got its ass kicked when I was back at my parents’ home. Last week, I slept a lot and slept hard. This was great, but it did eat up time that I had put aside to keep up with my running and visit with people back home. As a result, I got into the bad habit of guzzling a large coffee and then hopping on the treadmill in the basement of my parents’ house. Forgotten were the healthy breakfast and then the time needed to digest said breakfast. I’ve not shied away from revealing that when I work out, I sweat. I sweat a lot. Well, last week it was taken to a new level as the dreaded “coffee sweats” were added on to the cleansing “workout sweats”. Thankfully, I was alone and the only people who had to see me afterwards were my Mom and Dad. And they love me to matter how gross I am. Now, would they hug me when I would teasingly ask for one before going for the much-needed shower? No, they wouldn’t. But do they still love me? Yes, they do.

Observations – Love is Simple

Love is simple. And yet, I’m not able define what love is in all its simplicity. I just can’t put words to it. But, what I can do is feel it. And last week, I felt it when…

I looked across the kitchen table to Dad and we’d share a smile as he teased my Mom.

Both my parents kissed me goodnight each night I was home and told me how happy they were to have me with them.

Steph and I easily slipped back into our rude ramblings and managed to out laugh one another with each comment.

Vivi gave me a kiss goodnight.

Ash and I spent hours talking, laughing and sharing our stories.

Cat managed to “out swear me”…again.

I was welcomed back into Alan and Janina’s home with open arms and hearts.

Chantal and I hugged good-bye knowing that it was just for a little while.

Texie let me cuddle him even though I’m convinced that cuddling isn’t one of his favourite pastimes.

I shared a pre-birthday celebration with some of the people closest to my heart and knew that they make me strong and a better person. I can only hope that I give them that same gift.

pre-birthday fun