You Don’t Need to Keep Checking That Your Singing from the Same Map

It’s obvious to say that we need not worry with regards to age, as there is nothing that one can do about it. It’s inevitable. So within being young should there be a rule to stay young? Well, growing older physically and temporarily at times is something we all have to do and putting it off is pointless.

 

All the things that we do know are not exactly the same as when we were in our 20s. I was reading the newspaper today and there was a story about a chap whom had taken his father backpacking in the Greek islands. His dad is 78 and he said that he had trouble keeping up with him. Now that’s staying young.   There is a woman I know in her 70’s that describes how she feels the same inside now as she did when she was 21. And it shows outside. It’s something more than just staying young. It’s probably due to several things.

 

Who says you can’t try new tastes, new places, and new styles and come to have a “mind shift” in which you don’t just sit and do the same thing each and every day.  It’s not going for safe options it’s being abreast of what is happening, not giving up things because one thinks they are not able to do it.  If your young by way of age ~ pondering that one here myself ~ but one day you will probably come to ponder on it.

 

Staying young is the ability to be in a state of mind that takes on things in a manner that is enjoyable.  Each person is different and each person has different situations going on in their own life – yet the ability to gain in the areas of life that one desires is something that only does come to be complicated. And so very often that complicated ponder is held close to the heart waiting to unveil itself with another – which leads to friendships, trust, and all that was mentioned before.

 

Today I had the pleasure of speaking to a man that runs one very great company. Within our talk we were sitting and sharing different thoughts with regards to work and what this company was doing and it lead into several other things in which we share. He loves photography, his girlfriend is from a city I used to live in and he goes there each month. And we left off with meeting up again during lunch.   I asked him a question with regards to the people that he has working for him. And how he views the manner of society and where it’s going. He indicated to me that he has seen so many things that he really does not have any understanding of it all, but if I was to sit amongst it all he said that he is sure that I would come to a very quick understanding on how people seem to be, and added a few things and we had a laugh. We were not talking about the age of people but the way of people. Not in a cynical manner as this was a really good chap, he had started off working in one area and it lead into several other areas. As far as he was concerned  - life is an easygoing thing. At the end of the lunch I was leaving and he asked me if I kept my camera with me.   We both laughed, as it was something that we had in common, and within the hobbies and things that we take on, we both had something in common. A small worked if you ask me.

 

Being around the same age, when leaving his office I could see that he had a daughter – so he must have went through a divorce, but yet he moved past it.  Why did he, probably there was no choice, why did he have an attitude as such – I think part of it was that he was comfortable in having a conversation on business which led into other things.   Interesting enough his company is one of the largest companies that services commercial airlines in Internationally.  But his life was not based on the company, it was based on his lifestyle.  Hence, we all do have a common thread. Not everyone, but some of us within what we write. And how we tend to writing.  As it’s all in the manner in how we approach things. Aside of that it seems that a cold front is coming - but within three months it shall pass.

A Zen Sunday

Today was a very enjoyable Sunday. There has been something that I have wished to return to for some time. That is Aikido.

I started learning the art when I was 13 years of age and I was the first teacher of it at a very young age.

 

Two years ago I spoke with my original teacher (sensei) whom now lives in Cleveland and was a very influential during my formative youthful years.  He had asked me how I had been doing with teaching Aikido and I had stopped teaching it but I had done much with it.  Being the youngest teaching in all of North America and then teaching self defense programs as well as being invited to demonstrate the art.  And as well, many see me as a very determined person, however I am just more conservative and in many ways how I write is within the areas of philosophy and no need of certain elements.  I guess it’s been my positive vice that I left aside – but in many ways I never have as most all that I have wrote has been without shame, it has been with a method, and in my point of view it’s really been a manner where by I love to write in a manner that is not anything but just enjoyment – yet authentic.

 

With all said, in many ways the manner of Aikido and the philosophy have been an integrated part of my life for many years. So when I arrived in this city I looked up to see if there was a dojo and there was the original version of Aikido.  I have never considered Aikido anything other than a spiritual, philosophical and physical art form.  So I was fortunate to talk to the older main instructor and get directions and then go and watch the class take place.

 

After driving within the University and getting lost a few time – I finally found the place. And when I walked in there it was – the traditional style and I sat down and watched. There after I was told that I should have brought my “gi” which is the uniform that you see here. I explained that I merely wanted to watch and during the two hours. I was in my glory as I was in the flow while watching the class take place. And as well, being able to speak with the participants and teacher thereafter. I had not revisited the past, as Aikido has always been something that I hold within myself. The definition of Aikido from English to Japanese has several different translations. But basically it means to be in harmony with one’s center – or within spirit.

 

And yes there is a much to be said with regards to Aikido as it’s not about just the physical it’s about the manner in which one handles themselves in life. Being within a flow has many meanings to it but “within harmony with ones spirit” while at the same time learning to meditate, and as well to do much more than just static techniques.

 

What I was most pleased with was the ability to meet with a group of people that are from different backgrounds and enjoy watching a small class taking place on a Sunday. I have been invited to partake within the organization here – and I have made a few new friends. For me that is where the vertical and the horizontal come together.  Aikido is passive, and as well very deep routed in philosophy.

 

So in speaking with someone for the first time regarding the art, and as well being able to be invited to partake back into something that I have taught people as well as learned more from people many.

 

Aikido is not like most other martial art forms. It was a branch from ju juitsu. The founder of Aikido wanted to break away and founded Aikido, while at the same time a Japanese man by the name of Kano, started a competitive sport at the same time called Judo. However I once wrote as a child while studying the art the following short poem as I recall it vividly and it goes like this:

 

“I am not one two people or three

I am one whole – one whole is me

I am not rugged nor even tough

But I am dedicated to my stuff

My stuff is fast and it is slow

For it’s the soft style Aikido

And it has soul”

 

That was at the age of 13. And still to this day I just know that this is one area that I am going to embark back into. Not entirely in the same manner – but in a manner that I did for years.  Right now the teachings on the university campus are going through a transition as they are looking for a place to have as their own. So within some time I will return back into something I was fortunate as a child to be placed into and thrived in. But I never did it for the “art of fighting”; it’s been an art form for me for many years. 

 

And it remains an art to me to this day.