Helpful Idea

I was up late last night going over the things I am working on with my lifecoach, and I realized all the energy I put into contemplating my legacy, whatever it will turn out to be. The best way for me to think about my life’s energy is as a gift. The totality of my life’s action and karma is a gift given to the Universe. It seems appropriate for the holiday season to think of it in that way. Furthermore, it seems to relieve any existential pressure I feel to ‘account’ for myself. Any significant goal or achievement that anyone strives for- (the first things I imagine are a medical, teaching, or engineering practice, a singing career, a groundbreaking piece of writing) – is a gift to the Universe. Someone who accomplishes this is presenting a substantial net gain of positive energy to the Universe. Part of what makes it significant is the challenge of it, the difficulty in it. Anything like these kinds of achievements should be seen as a gift, and any resulting recognition for it is other people celebrating it. It may seem obvious, but it is good for me to be reminded of the context of the effort, to speak it outright as an exercise.

I am sure I am not the only one

Christmas kind of kicks my ass. Working, shopping, guests, I am just plain whacked and honestly glad its over. It’s fun, but I am glad it only comes once a year. I still have not got the hang of wrapping presents:  they are not bad, but you can tell they are ‘guy-wrapped.’ Now I have that odd feeling that comes from napping in the mid afternoon- better, but not really all that refreshed. I don’t really want to do anything. I don’t want to watch TV or read. I am computered out and do not want to start spring cleaning yet. I think times like these are why God invented hi-test egg-nog. ;-]

Aikido

I went to a great intro lesson at Bond Street Dojo. Although I don’t have the budget allocatable until maybe spring or so, their dues are very affordable, especially for students. The community was  polite and friendly, the teaching was excellent. I think I learned about as much as is possible to learn in an introduction, I keep getting attracted to things that a person can spend a lifetime refining without really thinking they have perfected it. Aikido is based on a few simple principles and techniques. Leverage, balance, footwork and basic physiognomy all combine to create an extremely effective style with strong self-defense aspects. This is a good style for women and kids as well, because the techniques do not require a lot of force to be effective. One of the intermediate students assisting in the class said something pity: he said that we need something to work on outside of work, outside of our relationships, a little something for ourselves. It could be anything, but Aikido is an excellent choice. Some have videogames, some have remote control cars. Baseball is a popular choice in my neighborhood. Chess is another good choice in this city. My dad became a decent pianist and participated in a studio recital. Plus, it always bothered me that I never finished my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I have a feeling this will make an ideal substitution for singing.

Nice little sign in DeCafe

DeCafe is a little coffee shop on Broadway near 204th. No, it’s not in the Bronx. Manahattan extends all the way up to 218th street before you hit the Broadway bridge. Anyhoo, the sign said (paraphrasing) The things to have:

Something to do

Something to love

Something to hope for

(And some coffee!)

Close to something

I am not sure what it is about the Subway, but I have been meditating while I ride. It works, I can’t explain it. I felt something ‘click’ today that I can’t explain either, definitely a breakthrough of some kind. It’s possible it was the first jaana because that is how I imagined it might be. This little taste has really helped me, its also made me hungry for more. My practice is really starting to take shape, I really think its going well.