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Real Life, Real Stories… with Steve Rowe

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There were two things that prompted me to ask Steve Rowe if I could interview him. The first, his passion for doing the same thing for over 40 years. The second, his humour in facing the prospect of having his leg amputated.

I had two questions. How can you be so passionate about something for so long and how can you laugh at such adversity. So in my car I went to Kent to meet this 8^th Dan martial arts master and self professed ‘nutter’.

Steve met me, struggling on crutches after the umpteenth treatment to fix his leg after a catalogue of medical misfeasance, cheery and welcoming. We ate, we talked and I recorded a podcast.

His story, no, love affair borne out of necessity to deal with violence in his early life, the need to find a direction and a taste for something exotic is extraordinary.   Forty years later, a pile wiser, living the life he loves, he takes the proverbial out of something that could stop him doing what he’s still so passionate about.

This is a podcast for everyone, no martial arts experience necessary, and his story and lessons learned offer much insight and inspiration to all.

More information: http://shikon.com/

Steve Rowe on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shikonboss | Steve Rowe on Twitter:  @shikonboss

How one man changed the world

Mohamed Bouazizi is a name that few know. Just a apple seller in a Tunisian market refusing to accept corruption any more. He set himself on fire as protest when the authorities refused to do the right thing. What followed this was the Arab Spring where oppressed people stood up and said that their voices should be heard. You may never have heard of him but his actions sparked a revolution. One man who stood and said enough is enough. One man that changed the world.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2044723,00.html

Grateful

For the past eight weeks getting out of bed hasn’t been easy. I didn’t know what they day would bring until I would turn and place my foot on the floor. At that point I knew it would be OK and without to much pain or more times than not, a battle with sciatica and at times excruciating pain. At times it gets me down for just walking on the bad days is hard and I love to run. That said the OK days become better than that because I appreciate them more. Its not until the things you take for granted break and upset the apple cart that you take a moment to think you should be thankful. I’ve heard two stories today of people saying if only I had thought, if only I had the opportunity, if only I knew at the time. Taking time to take stock of the half full cup always brings a smile and I’d rather raise half a cup high than peer into a cup half empty. It feels better that way.

The whole truth…

“A bicycle wheel-builder makes a buckled wheel true by tightening spokes: when the pull from both sides is evenly spread, the wheel is straight and ‘true’ again. Truth, in a bicycle wheel, is about a balance of forces.” … And life.

From Storyful

Your choice

Its a scary thing, choice. You think you want it, but do you really, do you want the autonomy because everything that happens to you then is your fault. Now that’s a proper scary deep deep fear….

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

by Marianne Williamson