I was just posting a comment on my friend, colleague and co-conspirator Carmen de Jesus's blog about stepping out of the dojo. I share some of her fears about the plateau. Usually I take the current level I am at and just make it harder - more and increasingly difficult challenges and limiting parameters.
But I'm tired of practicing. I've been practicing for years on so many varied tracks. 2006 is the year of kicking ass. And you can't kick ass if you're pulling punches for your uke. Even when sword is in hand, it's the wooden one, clanking away at your opponent's sword, staff or hands. Nothing really on the table.
Well... that's all changed. Everything in my life has moved to a different level. One in which, yes, like Carmen I feel secure - but the security is my honed skillset. The world provides the actual challenges to use my skills. I can't necessarily create these opportunities, just be aware when one comes my way.
I wish I could write about one activity I recently did that really proved to me that I am far from the Dojo. That I'm out in the thick of life - doing what I do best - doing what I love - and that in doing the activity, I am energized. Manifesting a character of myself I always wanted to be. It was simple in some ways and used all the skills and items I had collected in my past years.
But I can't speak of it. Not now, and maybe never. But that's ok. Because I know what I did and I saw the results. And I gain confidence and power from the experience.
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