~ Inner Compass ~

Inspired upon arriving home. I wrote this write and and then I had a call from a very good friend of mine.  I logged on and I had mentioned this inner compass.  I was a kid and I really during my very young years was more not outgoing. My father decided to place me into this art called Aikido. I remember going to the first class and it was taught by too very fine teachers. They both were from Burma of a moderate Muslim background. They were very ordinary as time went on I came to see them as being very rich within spirit as well as within philosophy. More so that other teachers of this art that I have seen yet to today's date.

I was into all sports but I came to find that this was not a sport but was the way for me. It wasn't a religion - Aikido, but within the way I was taught it came to be a mindset of sorts. Well not sorts but it's hard to explain. As I was raised a catholic and we held on to the family religion. However, my father life in a different manner. I guess in some ways we do share that still to this day.

Aikido is an art as I see it but that coupled with the two brother one of which I still keep in touch with were something more. I can't place a name to it all I know is that they did not make money teaching and at the same time I will never forget going to a competition of another art.

I will never forget as a young kid sitting and watching a class. I was marveled at the spirituality and the way that the class was taught. Everyone sitting there in a mediation and then Ariff starting the class and all I remember was something that I left and told my father I wanted to join.

I started and during my first month I remember Ariff telling me that he would appreciate for me to come and watch a demonstration. I was always at the very timid of him at first as I thought of him very highly. I remember going to this competition of kickboxing, karate or something of that nature and then there was the intermission.

Ariff and his brother along with five of his top students sat down in what is called a five minute meditation - called Seiza. Meanwhile everyone was talking and then as soon as the what is called randori started - which is where everyone is around and attacking from all angles - the auditorium went silent. Literally. It was fluid, it was finesse, it was something that was truly amazing to everyone. As the entire place went silent and watched in awe. Thereafter again they all did the five minute mediation and then bowed on the mats and everyone went crazy - yet Ariff walked off not arrogant but just calm. From that day I would at the age of 13 to 17, all I did was practice go home and then I would train in my own gym for two hours - I would ....well I had over 300 books on culture and all that I knew was that within the mind, body and soul this was something that was not about fighting it was something that was a pathway for me and would serve me for my entire years.

Before returning to NYC, I went back with course and I would visit them. I won't say what I did with it but the the foundation of my youth seemingly carried on throughout the years. I had not talked to Ariff in some five years if not more - and the first time I called, his wife recalled me automatically. And then we talked. We have always kept in contact. I find that he coupled with the manner that he taught me assisted me in knowing that one does not have to prove. I so often will be philosophical and it's not contrived, I do have my own imperfections - we all do, but I am not much for those that have to prove in whom they are. I am proud, yet it's not the type of proud. There is another word for it.

Regardless of what happens within life I am attune to it. Certainly on a blog one can't just write about one thing, but you do get to a certain age and you gain a better understanding of the foundations of many things that encompass your life. One of which is the manner that I had a foundation of being centered/centre as well as understanding that there is a thread within life from which we all do flow. Some yes, but for myself, I wrote this short write really that was about knowing your own inner compass. I think we do. Yet I don't think that an art form replaced faith but it goes along within the parts of life that we all do render.

Intuition can one really by way of a blog come to understand others as they write. I certainly do think so. It's only due to the manner that we understand rather than just be self indulged.

Yes as I have always mentioned I am human. But I enjoy reading and writing. That is basically why I choose to be on here and right now there are some that have all the answers, then there are some that express, then there are some that you just know. At this stage of my life I have had my ups and downs - it's a human area that we all have had for a variety of reasons. But I certainly am not going around to everyones blog to be on a roll...

Yes pardon my pun I love the flow of thoughts and writes. 

It's all in good spirit...