By Jess | August 2, 2017
As a woman living in the 21st century, it is an interesting time to live. The idea of female equality long ago emerged, and yet we struggle with how to implement these ideals in our lives or to even feel that we deserve it. There is a perception of the woman as being weak, physically and emotionally. In my own life, I have obtained a Bachelors degree in Nursing, worked in various stressful nursing environments, birthed two beautiful children at home (drug free), and stayed at home to raise them for nearly three years (probably the hardest thing I attempted). Yet, in the midst of this, the idea of empowerment and individuality was a difficult thing for me to grasp. As women, we do so much for others and yet feel guilty spending even small amounts of time on ourselves. We sacrifice our sense of connection to, and enjoyment of, life. After many years of living out these emotional patterns, I have realized that this is no place to wedge myself. As women, we can often feel stuck somewhere between our feelings of guilt, responsibility, and a sense of desperation for freedom.
How do we break free of these patterns in our lives? When do we say, “That’s enough, this is my life, damn it, I’m going to live!” Amazingly, I have found that, for me, it is in the simple, scary day to day choices that have made all the difference. How are we going to choose to spend our time? The scariest things to confront are our own views of what it means to be a “good” mother, a “good” wife, a “good” friend. We give until it hurts, because that is what we think we are supposed to do, and, to compensate, we cut out those things that are most important to us such as our creativity and our health. We tell ourselves that we “do not have the time”, in order to justify our self-neglect. The paradox in this is that, exponentially, when we give to ourselves we have more to give to others from our abundance of energy and love.
One of the best outlets I have found to enhance the self is through the practice of Ving Tsun Kung Fu. In February of 2016, my husband and I began this journey together and I could not be more thrilled that we chose Moy Tung Kung Fu Academy. Through the practice of Ving Tsun, my perception of self and my capabilities has utterly changed. My mother always described me as being a frail child and I carried this perception with me into adulthood, only to see that this is completely wrong. I am a strong and capable woman. I pack a punch that hurts. I can push through difficulties and thrive. And I have found that the biggest of my obstacles are my own emotional blockades and perceptions of who I am and what I can do. Each time I practice, there is a thrill of newness, the challenge of realizing my perceptions of who I am. I couldn’t have asked for better teachers. Simo is a strong, empowered woman who takes her practice very seriously, and I wouldn’t want to be the one between her and her child if you get my gist (because I wouldn’t last a second). She takes my practice to new levels each time she works with me. Simo is also a loving and doting mother. She, like each of us, has to walk a tight rope in balancing her roles in life.
Ultimately, as women, we all must balance our lives and find what helps us to grow, and to feel a sense of empowerment. Wing chun has brought me to a new level of living and experiencing life. I also get a sense of pleasure knowing that if someone did choose to attempt to victimize me, they would be in for more than they bargained for. This mama packs a pretty mean punch- mind the red nail polish.