“Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on”
Earlier this summer I was singing the praises of Tai Chi & Qigong for the aging process. “I know many people in their 80’s and 90’s who still practice, have practiced for years, even decades!” One student boldly asked, “how old are YOU?” I realized too late that I really missed my chance. The best answer would have been, “Immortal!” Instead, I challenged her to guess. In my mind I was confident she would say, “late 50s? Early 60’s?” (I didn’t want too much…) Instead, she stated, “69.” The whole class let out an audible, “oooohhhhhhh…” Well, indeed I am 68 here in a couple weeks. Admittedly my ego took a tiny little bump! I guess 68 is the new 69! It must be all that wisdom….. (Laughing emoji).
In all fairness I am quite happy with my age. I have the good fortune to be healthy, of sound mind and with a heart that continues to seek openness. It can be said, I am content. After all, 68 years is a chunk of breathe in and breathe out not all get to experience. Whereas anything can happen as we all know, I am 100% sure that my 48 years in these practices have really helped me to be at this place. This surety is not just about my physical health, but about all dimensions of health.
I, like many people, had a youth filled with turmoil and bad choices. I remember very specifically saying to myself around my 19th birthday, if I don’t change course now, I’m not going to get another chance. I left the life I was living in Chicago and moved to Arizona. I re-enrolled in college and shortly before my 20th birthday, found my first martial arts dojo. As cliché’s go, mine was real. I knew immediately upon meeting my first teacher that I had entered what would become the rest of my life. He said, “why do you want to study?” I had all kinds of answers, but what came out of my mouth was, “I have no idea.” He said, “come to class on Tuesday.”
In my 30’s I tried two times to stop my practice and do other things with my time. Those hiatuses never lasted. The pull to be inside of myself, investigating alignment on all levels was simply too strong. And the life I was developing with other like-heart/minded people through training was more compelling than anything else I was finding. And so, 48 years later, on the cusp of 68, I may not be immortal, but I am extremely happy to be living the long-term benefits of that 19-year old’s choice. She found and continues to cultivate a healthy body, mind, heart & spirit. And through it all, we both get to know a fantastic community of amazing people all over the world.
I know I say the same thing repeatedly in classes, in blog posts . When I was younger and my teachers would go on their own rolls, I thought gah! Let’s just get on with training! But here I am now, older and following in their tradition. These tales from teachers and long time practioners may differ in characters and locations, but all have a common plot: praise for practice. We praise the journey because we’ve been on it long enough to do so. Maybe someday students who are secretly saying, “gah!” will laugh and remember fondly, telling their own stories and praising their own long journey.
Staying healthy and with a positive community has never been more important than it is now. The stresses and chaos we are living within will take its toll if we allow it to. Maybe I’m at the age now where I can offer advice so here goes: There is not a lot we can control – really – even when life is great - but we can control things that are important. So, in this time called your life, make intentional choices every day to feel your feet, to breathe in and out. Eat, sleep, move - your body, your heart, your mind. Keep steady, keep balance, look for the “feel good” every day. Look for your people. It’s there, we’re here. Tell that story.
See you on the floor!
Kim
“Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”