The old saw has it that "If I'd known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself." While that is semi-amusing, I doubt its truth.
As I age, I believe more and more that the conscious part of ourselves is like a passenger atop a large bottle rocket composed of our felt, but unconscious, energies of karmic or genetic disposition. We ride this sucker out with choice points along the way that allow for quick steerage. "This way or that way?" "That way!" And off we go hurtling along on our unique and wild voyage, a surging of energies that we are, yet do not fully comprehend.
For example, I chose to spar with a guy who did not know what to do when I leaped into the air with a double jump-kick aimed at his face. I did not know he did not know. Instead of stepping back (the right move), he just stood there. Rather than kicking him in the face, I pulled the kick and dropped down to the thick and too cushiony mats recently installed. My landing foot caught in the mat thickness as my body dropped to the left. Crack! A broken ankle.
As a geezer in my 70's, the ankle bothers me.Yet it helps me know who I am. I am vulnerable. I will do my best to not harm another human. When injured, strong will kicks in and I move through life as if I have no injury. I can laugh at myself. Plus I learned that crutches are an excellent training device for balance and for strengthening of the upper torso.
I am thankful for all my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual injuries. They have healed fairly well and each taught a valuable lesson.
As I age, I believe more and more that the conscious part of ourselves is like a passenger atop a large bottle rocket composed of our felt, but unconscious, energies of karmic or genetic disposition. We ride this sucker out with choice points along the way that allow for quick steerage. "This way or that way?" "That way!" And off we go hurtling along on our unique and wild voyage, a surging of energies that we are, yet do not fully comprehend.
For example, I chose to spar with a guy who did not know what to do when I leaped into the air with a double jump-kick aimed at his face. I did not know he did not know. Instead of stepping back (the right move), he just stood there. Rather than kicking him in the face, I pulled the kick and dropped down to the thick and too cushiony mats recently installed. My landing foot caught in the mat thickness as my body dropped to the left. Crack! A broken ankle.
As a geezer in my 70's, the ankle bothers me.Yet it helps me know who I am. I am vulnerable. I will do my best to not harm another human. When injured, strong will kicks in and I move through life as if I have no injury. I can laugh at myself. Plus I learned that crutches are an excellent training device for balance and for strengthening of the upper torso.
I am thankful for all my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual injuries. They have healed fairly well and each taught a valuable lesson.
I like the rocket image very much. I picture myself spiraling with it. Still a novice with the controls.
ReplyDelete"I am thankful for all my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual injuries." -- As I am for mine... I shutter to think who I might have been without these strengthening 'exercises'. Namaste...
ReplyDeleteHoly smokers, folk! Didn't mean to give the wrong impression. That ankle break took place in 1968. I'm getting folk sending prayers for my quick recovery. I do accept the prayers however.
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