Little things

Have you ever noticed how much your work assists or hinders you physical health?

I've downloaded the moves app onto my phone and have it running in the background through out the day to see how far I walk.

The days that I work more at the restaurant, I'm averaging 5 kms of walking. The days I'm at the Town office more, I average 2.5 kms of walking per day.

Interesting to know, I'll have to adjust my eating habits to reflect this. Currently, I just eat what and whenever but I really should alter to eating to correlate with my working days.  2.5 kms extra of walking will affect the number of calories I burn so I should eat less/better on days that I'm working in the office more.

Just another little thing that could help you along you path to mastery. 

Missed opportunity

Another agenda package read and notes made for tomorrow's Council meeting.

Everyone who went down to Calgary for AUMA is back and they have a great time of meeting, learning, and sharing with other elected officials and levels of government. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to head down this year due to the Restaurant being short staffed. That's what happens you have other commitments.

I missed the opportunity to hear a keynote speaker that I really wanted to hear.  Which was Commander Hadfield, maybe I'll be able to catch him speak at another event.

Done for another year

Budget meetings are done for another year. The first night there was 9 people in the gallery, 5 the next night and only 4 on the final night where all the additions and subtractions were made to the budget.

After it was all the dust settled, it came to a 11.55% increase. It sounds like a big increase but it works out to be $18.55 per month for an average house ($400,000 is the average price in our area).  For the last six years Council have been slowing increasing tax rates to provide services for the community but it wasn't enough to offset the 9 consecutive years of 0% prior to 2008.

There is nothing wrong with that philosophy, it was the direction and vision of that Council. I wanted to address the issues that I've heard most often, the deterioration of service levels and policing and public safety.  I'm glad that the rest of Council have heard the same message and we were able to add personnel to address these issues.

My hope is that we continue to provide the services our residents expect and deserve. It takes a lot of planning and vision to set up a municipality that will be sustainable into the future.

Democracy?

As I finish preparing for budget meeting the next three evenings, I wonder how many people will come out and watch the proceedings?

Ever since I've been on Council, there has been no more the 5 people in the gallery during budget meetings.  I've never been to a budget meeting until I was elected onto Council, so I can guess that people are interested or just happy with whatever the decisions are of those we've elected.

Now that I've been involved for a few years, I see how important these decisions are and how the effect the residents and property owners of our community.  As a form of government, municipal officials are the closest to the people and the decisions made at the level have the most daily impact on the people.

After an election (only 20.8% of eligible voters voted in Stony Plain), are people happy to just let the elected officials make the choices for them? Do we place so much trust in our elected officials or the choices of a few voters to govern on our behalf.

Voter turnout in Federal, Provincial and Municipal elections on average are 55-70%, 45-65%, and 20-40% respectively. It should make one wonder if we really have a democracy?  At least we have the right to vote if we chose to exercise it.

Just random thoughts after a long week and preparing for another.

Go vote!

The election is 8 days ways and  I'm getting very excited to see the results and the new makeup of my Council team.  I mean "new" because regardless if your a veteran or rookie councillor, it's a new term, new focus, and new direction from Council.

I attended the candidates forum on Thursday. It was different sitting in the back and watching everything unfold. I found myself wanting to be in the thick of things. Sitting up front and answering questions posed by the residents.

All the candidates did very well and each one of them would be good representatives of the community. My job after the election is to evaluate the elected Councillors and determine what their best qualities are and how best they will fit into the team. With over 30 committees, boards and commission, it's not going to be an easy task.

October 21 from 9am to 8pm is Election Day. Make sure you go out and VOTE!!!!! This freedom is fought and died for all over the world and the majority of us take it for granted.  During the by-election last May when I won the Mayor seat, the voter turn out was only 20.5%.  Since I am acclaimed and there is no mayoralty race during this election, I'm not sure that the turnout will be any better.

GO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Planning

Getting ready of another week.  I'm glad I don't have to prepare for the political forum. I've always been nervous about public speaking (kinda funny don't you think).

I've been doing a lot of planning for the next term since I'm not out campaigning. Who's going to be on my team? What are their strengths and weakness? What will their role in the team be? How are we going to functions as a team? What will my role be as the leader of the team? What do I want to accomplish in 4 years?

The lessons I've learnt as part of the I Ho Chaun team over the past 2 years will serve me well into the future.

Whew!

Acclaimed.
What a sense of relief.
The stress and anxiety I've been carry around for last couple of weeks has been lifted.

When I ran for Council, I was never worried. I knew my chances of securing enough votes to be in the top 6 was extremely good and I would have a seat in Council.

Running for the Mayor's seat is a totally different story. It's for all the marbles, if you opponent has one more vote then you, you don't get nothing.  The stress factor is 1000 fold more.

I'm humbled that no one put their name forward to run against me. The residents must feel that I'm doing a good job and want to with my leadership of the Town.

That's one goal taken care of.

Where I'm at

Here's where I'm at. 

It's been a long year and Kung fu has not been a high priority, I think I blogged about that a while ago. 

I thought I'd be able to attend I Ho Chaun classes in the summer. Normally, I could step out for an hour because supper period is longer and not as intense as the other seasons. However that didn't happen, my uncle who has been with me for 18 years left in May to help his son and daughter in law who started a restaurant in Edmonton. So my ability to step out just disappeared. 

Now I'm short two people in the kitchen as my cousin just left for China last Sunday to get married and won't be back for 3 months.  My other uncle will be leaving for China in November for a couple of months. That's not going to be fun for me. 

I'm now juggling multiple shifts at the Restaurant, the Mayorship, and my family. I can not commit to making Kung Fu a higher priority in my life. 

The skills that I've learnt from trying to achieve mastery in Kung fu is serving me well in other areas of my life.  

I'm not a great father or husband but I'm doing my best and one day I'll get closer to mastery in those aspects. 

As well, it translate very well to my role a Mayor. I don't think I would be doing this without the things I've learnt as part of the I Ho Chaun team the past two years. 

I'm sorry to my teammates, I haven't been there to support you guys. Before everything practice, demo or event you guys are already a man short. In spite of my failure to be part of the team you guys excelled.  Thank you for making the school look good. 

I don't foresee my priorities changing anytime soon.  I will stay as connected as I can. 

Run for life

Another Run for Life is over. What a wonderful event that allows the families who have lost loved ones through suicide they ability to grieve opening with others. The more awareness and acceptance we can bring to mental issues the more we'll be able to prevent suicide.

Btw, great performance from the team, you guys do a great job representing the school. I'm proud to call you guys class mates and honored that you guys carry me so often. Thank you

2013 numbers part 2

Posted the numbers for 2013, I haven't done a very good job of accounting and filling it in.  I need to get a better handle of marking everything done.

I'm behind in all my goals, the only good side is the fact that I'm actually moving forward. Not at break neck speed but still progress none the less. 

Moving forward is probably the biggest obstacle for most people. Any time someone receives push back or some kind of road block we tend to give up. It's easier and I would have to say it's part of our nature.

My philosophy, just do it...if you fail....why did you.....and do it again. 

You only fail if you stop trying and ONLY YOU can make that determination.

2013 tracking

Be kind

Ahhh!    I hate mental illness. 

Make sure you're kind people, you don't know what battles they're dealing with. 

Everyone can see and understand a physical disability.  We tend to go out of our way to help them, such getting to door,  letting them go first, we feel sorry for their circumstance, etc. 

Not many people can see a mental disability, even fewer people understand it.  Hence we do very little or give two thoughts about why they are acting the way they are. Many times we pass judgement, they're a bad parent, why don't they discipline him, I wouldn't do that, if he can just control himself and so forth. 

Just because someone looks all right on the outside, it doesn't mean that they're alright on the inside. Make it a habit to be kind to everyone.  

Focus?

Another week has gone by, a little but of excitement this past week with Kurtis breaking his ankle and requiring surgery to fix it.  Nothing like more challenges to make life more interesting.

I'm finishing off some  reading for a couple of meetings this week. 

Training has slowed down, feel like I've hit a wall. The motivation to get engaged is lacking. Got to find some way o recharge the batteries. 

Tough week

http://vimeo.com/72023544?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complete-finished-20120100&utm_campaign=7701&email_id=Y2xpcF90cmFuc2NvZGVkfDkzM2Y2MzkwZDYwNDdkZWRjNmUwYzRjZjUyNWRmZTRmNDA3fDE2MjM1NjE4fDEzNzYwMzQ0MDY%3D

Nothing day

Finally had a relaxing day. Didn't have anything to read for meetings, no work, no Kung fu. To bad the weather wasn't very nice. It was windy and cold so I didn't get to go for a swim or a kayak. Now for an early bedtime as the grind starts early in the morning.  

Another first

Another first for me this weekend. I threw out the first pitch for the 2013 Provincial Baseball Championships. 

It was also a first for Baseball Alberta to have 3 Championships in one community.  This just shows how strong and dedicated our local organizations are. 

The Stony Plain Amateur Minor Ball Association (SPAMBA) has spent countless hours working to make sure this weekend would be a great success. I dropped in a few times and was elated that everything was going well.  These type of events (the preparation of) builds character in the community

http://youtu.be/FUEXtBfOa1M

Little steps

Training has been inconsistent, getting a few reps here and there but 

I'm in track to meet my I Ho Chaun goals.  

After half a year of doing sit up and push ups and a little training, I'm in the best physical shape I've been in.  Doing the little repetitive things goes a long way to reaching your goals. 

Sometimes your goals seem so fat away and maybe even impossible but if you take tiny steps towards that everyday you'll eventually reach your goal. 

Think about where you're today, how long has it taken you to get here? It didn't happen over night, so make sure you keep your eye on your goals and keep up with the little stuff that'll get you there. 

Oh Canada

Another great Canada day celebrations this year.   It was another great event that showcased what is Stony Plain and what it means to be Canadian. 

This year we had the added excitement with a Citizenship ceremony. This is a huge thing for us. It's been over two decades since there was a Citizenship ceremony outside of Edmonton on Canada Day.  

With my comments about having one last year and how much pride I had when I took my oath in 1991.  The hard work of the Town and Multicultural staff we were able to convince Citizenship and Immigration Canada to have another ceremony on Canada day.  It was a very touching day for the new Canadians and myself. 

There were 58 new Canadians sworn in from 36 different countries.  Only in Canada can you have this much diversity added to the country where we embrace our unique heritage and culture and celebrate them not to set us apart but to unite us as a collective whole.  We are a land of immigrants united as Canadians working towards a common goal of a better life for ourselves and our families. 

I'm a proud Canadian with a Chinese hertiage. 

Improving by the mundane

Here's my logs of my jogging this month:
6/1, 2.21km - 10:42min

6/7, 4.39 - 37:05

6/14, 2.76 - 15:50

6/16, 1.94 - 8:31

6/18, 2.22 - 10:08

6/25, 2.88 - 13.28

6/30, 3.07 - 17.02

As you can see, I'm not you would call a runner. Inconsistent at the best of times but I'm able to improve my preformance from when I started jogging last year. I would contribute this to my overall pyshical fitness through making sure I do the mundane push ups and sit-ups every day towards my 50,000 for the year. 

Each I Ho Chaun journey is different but if we follow the path laid out for us, we will eventfully get there. 

Here's a photo of the map my run app that I'm using to track my progress. 

It works well for me. 

Still going

Been working hard on my goals and towards mastery.  Kung fu has taken a back burner for now but keeping up with push ups and sit ups.