A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
~Confucius
I think that I wanted to write something profound here, but the profundity just want come. 
So, I’ll just share my thoughts about my Tai Chi practice over the past year.
Of course, when I walked into The Peaceful Dragon on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, I had never taken a Tai Chi class in my life. I had no idea what to expect, therefore, no expectations.
My first few classes were intimidating, as the 30 minute warm-up prior to class was pretty intense. However, we were always told to do what you can, push yourself, but don’t hurt yourself. That’s what I did.
A year later, there are still some things in the warm up that I cannot do, but I do my best to do them in a modified way.
Tai Chi, as a moving meditation has greatly improved my fluidity of motion. I feel like I walk better, am more graceful. Tai Chi as a meditation has given me more focus and a lot more peace. I really feel at peace, sometimes, when I’m doing the movements. I say sometimes because sometimes the Wild Monkey Mind is chattering away and refuses to be calmed. Tai Chi as a martial art is impressive. From the outside, no one would expect that there are martial applications. As far as they are concerned, these are just nice, graceful, calming moves. They would be wrong.
After attending for a while, I have found that I break into form practice spontaneously in most unlikely places. I’ve practiced my form in my cubicle while waiting for a software build to finish. I’ve practiced on the elevator … when I’m alone. Heck, I’ve even practiced at the stop light. Arm movements only, though. It just brings a real sense of peace to do these motions.
I’ve found that I’m not in a hurry to do the next part of the Solo Form because I want to get better at this part before moving on. Some of my classmates are way ahead of me, but this doesn’t bother me at all. I’m more patient. Is Tai Chi some kind of magic? No. I don’t think so, I just think that I’ve found that martial art that really fits my personality. So, doing it is a pleasure, even when it’s difficult.
Speaking of when it’s difficult: That part is great. That has built a lot of confidence and given me the desire to continue to push the envelope and see what I can do!
Physically, I’m a different specimen, to be sure. Losing all of that weight has made a huge difference in how I feel. My goal was to lose 100 pounds (45.5Kg) in one year. I didn’t make that, but I am very happy with the 73 (33.2 Kg) that I lost. I’m still shooting for the 100, but at a slightly slower pace. I really feel good about what I’ve accomplished and where I am right now.
Overall, it has been a pleasant journey. I’ve never felt pushed, rushed, intimidated by teachers or students, and just felt really welcomed and part of the family right from the start.
It’s been a fantastic experience. I have taken the first step of my journey.
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I’ve been talking to a friend about what makes us happy. It seems that besides our relationships with the people around us, having something to do that involves a challenge – but isn’t so hard we can’t do it, is a big part of feeling happy and contented. I think your Tai Chi is like my knitting, so many of the things you said there I could say the same thing (well apart from the losing weight bit, but at least when i’m knitting i can’t eat at the same time!). There are plenty people who are better at it than me, but that’s ok, because I’m learning and improving all the time and it’s not a competition. Some bits are difficult but the satisfaction you get from actually managing to do something you originally looked at and thought “whoa, no way!” makes it hugely worthwhile.
It’s funny because photography probably should tick the same boxes, but it doesn’t quite do it for me. I wonder if that’s because it’s so much more subjective – there’s no defined path to mastery, there’s no way to say “I have reached level x”, it’s something that gives a different kind of satisfaction. Do you feel the same about that?
That’s and interesting thought, Julie. I guess that I hadn’t thought of that way. You’re right about photography, though. There is no defined path to mastery, nor is there a definition of what mastery is, for that matter.
I think that it was a large amount of imbalance that I had in my life. All yin, no yang. That is, all of my pursuits where mental/emotional, none were physical. Adding in the walking and the Tai Chi seemed to bring a much needed balance.
As for people better than me at Tai Chi, I needn’t look very far in that school.
They’re all around me in every single class, but it just gives me something to look forward to,
Well said, my friend, and I’ve enjoyed following this journey of yours. You are so right about putting action to all those dreams and ideas that chatter in our minds.
I think the desire to be the “best” at something is not as ambitious as trying to be “better” all the time. Our goals and expectations have to be tempered with reason. Congratulations to you for an outstanding accomplishment.
Congratulations on sticking with it Paul, obviously you are recognizing the rewards! There are many similarities in the teachings of martial arts and photography. You tend to focus on just making steps that make you a little better than your last ones. That inward concentration can be rewarding both mentally and physically.
I applaude you!