Small Steps, Big Questions

Time seems to be passing quickly at the moment. I’m training hard and seeing improvement, but there’s always that underlying feeling of a ticking clock, moving just ahead of me.

An invisible gate sits deep in the shadowy corners of my mind, questioning progress, commitment, everything. I want to move faster, to learn more. But I also know that slow movement is necessary as I navigate the twists and turns of this journey.

Maybe it’s because I’ve had a few days off. Or maybe I’m just looking for something new to lift my spirits. What I know for sure is that I want to know these forms intimately — to feel them woven into my being. And the only way to get there is by taking the time to learn, to practice, and to stay patient with the process.

Today, maybe I’ll start learning Baguazhang. It doesn’t matter. Every step, new or familiar, is still a step in the right direction.

I’ll enjoy the moments that are here and see where the day leads.

It feels like it’s been raining for months. It’s okay, but like many things in life, when it’s all you know, it starts to feel dull. In fact, it becomes so normal that you begin to miss its beauty.

I suppose that mirrors a lot of things in life. Love, work, passions. When we only do one thing, we can lose the spark that once made it exciting. I wonder, though, how I can practice Tai Chi over and over, appreciating every small improvement, but not apply the same patience to other areas of my life.

This is an interesting thought. To treat everything like a form — something that requires consistent practice and effort, with the quiet certainty that the benefits will show up over time.

It’s a concept I’ve never truly considered before, but something worth exploring.

Funny how it took a season of rainy days to spark this thought. Life really is full of small surprises.