Headwaters School of Tai Chi

WHAT CAN I DO?

I can’t.
I can’t—yet.
I will.
I can.

That’s the simple formula for improvement. Every time I learn something new, I can’t do it at first. I’ve read thousands of interviews where the subject says that they tried something and it fit like a glove the first time. I long to know what that’s like. I get discouraged. I’ve come close to giving up many times. And then I doggedly drag myself along. If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t surpass those dark episodes.

So when I can’t do something, I think, “What else is new?” And then I decide that I will keep trying until I can.

How many times have I gone through that? It’s like counting the steps on a thousand-mile journey. Maybe counting is privately helpful on a granular level. But ultimately, I want to reach, “I can.”

Afterward, I can then say this: “What can I do with what I can do?”

I like this.

Always Be Silent in 5 Situation - A Zen Master Motivational story This video is about Always Be Silent In Five Situations Best Motivational Video By Zen Master Welcome to my channel! story path In this powerful and inspirin...

Great advice.

Always Be Silent in 5 Situation - A Zen Master Motivational story This video is about Always Be Silent In Five Situations Best Motivational Video By Zen Master Welcome to my channel! story path In this powerful and inspirin...

"I asked a friend who has crossed 70 and is heading towards 80 what sort of changes she is feeling in herself?

She sent me the following:

1 After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children and my friends, I have now started loving myself.

2 I have realized that I am not “Atlas”. The world does not rest on my shoulders.

3 I have stopped bargaining with vegetable & fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

4 I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.

5 I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane & relive their past.

6 I have learned not to correct people even when I know they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.

7 I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me. And a small tip for the recipient of a compliment, never, NEVER turn it down, just say "Thank You.”

8 I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.

9 I walk away from people who don't value me. They might not know my worth, but I do.

10 I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat and neither am I in any race.

11 I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It’s my emotions that make me human.

12 I have learned that it's better to drop the ego than to break a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas, with relationships, I will never be alone.

13 I have learned to live each day as if it's the last. After all, it might be the last.

14 I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!

I decided to share this with all my friends. Why do we have to wait to be 60 or 70 or 80, why can't we practice this at any stage and age?

Posted by Starlette Tolver, no source mentioned

Art: Laura Wolf

laurawolf.de

IF YOU COULD WIPE YOUR MEMORIES AWAY, WOULD YOU?

I was watching a movie where a god offered to wipe the memories of a woman because of what seemed (at that point) to be a doomed love. Everything would stay the same except she would have no memories of that relationship. After some struggle, she declined.

I wonder if we're the same? As painful as our love can be, would we rather forget it? I certainly have had great disappointments and utter pain from relationships. I have experienced anger, humiliation, grief, and desperation. But if someone offered to delete the entire relationship from my memory, would I accept? Who would I be then? Wouldn't I be bothered by the gaps in my life?

Alzheimer's is one of our most dreaded diseases. Especially as I get older, I wonder whether I will lose my memories. We carelessly say "I lost my mind," to tell others that we went wild with sadness, but we don't really mean that literally. Yes, people drink, take drugs, and go on crazy adventures to forget their pain, but they don't ultimately want to go all the way.

Maybe we can see our pain from a different perspective. It's awful, yes. But it's also part of us and we wouldn't want to forget the beauty that went with the pain.

It's too glib to say we are our pain. It's too easy to say, "bad goes with good." It's too tempting to dismiss everything by saying, "at least you had other blessings in your life." The person in pain lives with it—until they’re ready to let it go. Nothing compensates for it. It will change. It will shade into more muted tones. It will slowly reveal itself to be as much a part of life as anything we eagerly call good. But it will always be a part of us.

When we look back on what made us, we have to include everything—and not forget it.

Absolutely!

LAUGH

Most Taoists regard the world with equanimity and calm. They see through the appearances of the world and concentrate on the constant.

There’s another kind of Taoist who sees that too—but with cheer and humor. You’ll always see them laughing. Little bothers them.

While humans aren’t the only species that laugh—chimpanzees, gorillas, dolphins, and perhaps rats show laughter-like behaviors—it’s a much bigger part of our lives. If we can laugh about things, if we can marvel at the absurdity of it all, if we don’t take ourselves too seriously, then we can manage life better. That includes Taoism itself. A Taoist is typically well-studied, intelligent, and capable. But you won’t see them pounding a pulpit or going to the barricades over doctrinal trivialities.

So whatever you’re facing, find the humor in it. It’s human. It’s sacred. It’s sane.