The Lesson of Taoist Tai Chi

I have been a fool. Again. I wonder if that ever stops happening? Or at least decreases in frequency? Probably not. The world is not that fair. Anyway on to the meat of things. For the past several months I have been under the mistaken assumption that just because something is hard it means that I will never be able to do it or it is worthwhile. I mean, obviously I did not realize I was thinking like that but I think it was pointed out to me a time or two. Well, I just got back from a Taoist Tai Chi class and it reminded me of a bit of my old self. I mean when I first started Taoist Tai Chi I struggled through. It hurt like hell, was probably one of the most difficult tasks I undertook at the time but I struggled through. Obviously it was not without encouragement but encouragement only works if one feels that it is right on some level. It is kind of weird looking back. I mean in Phys Ed class I struggled through the activities, and I struggled through academics in elementary school, and I struggled through curling in Grade 5 but somehow Taoist Tai Chi is the thing that reminds me the most that difficult tasks can be worthwhile. Taking that into account I think that Taoist Tai Chi for me has benefits that go beyond the standard physical and emotional benefits. I think it also has enormous psychological benefit: it humbles me, reminds me that learning is life-long, reminds me I am not perfect, and reminds me that difficult things can be worthwhile and probably dozens of other reminders. That all said–note to self: go to Taoist Tai Chi every week!

Addendum: Do not go to Tai Chi every week, go often enough to get the benefits, and rarely enough to not view it as an onerous obligation.