Moving From Ambition to Meaning

I'm just finished watching a wonderful movie, called "Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life's Purpose," featuring Dr. Wayne Dyer, one of my "living heroes." I have been a longtime fan of Dr. Dyer's inspirational books and audio programs, and I was fortunate enough to see him at a live presentation a couple of years ago when he came to speak in Boston.

The movie is about the shift in consciousness that Dr. Dyer says that people tend to go through in "the afternoon of their lives," when one's focus moves away from the ego and toward the spirit. The shift is away from the tendency for constant "striving but never arriving" and toward living a life of purpose.

Reflecting as a martial artist — a 3rd degree Black Belt who has spent decades seeking continuous improvement and advancement — I find myself asking, "What good is another rank promotion, anyway? What would getting a 4th Dan really do for me?"

Challenging questions, to be sure: At this point, wouldn't another rank certificate just be one more frame on my wall for people to look at and be impressed by? Do I really need to be validated by some external authority?

So instead of asking, "What more can I get out of all of my karate training?", now I'm asking myself, "What more can I give to others as a result of all of my karate training?"

Now that's a question I could spend a few more decades seeking the answer for. And if I ever get promoted to 4th Dan along the way it will be nice, but I guess I don't really need it.

In Like A Lion

It's March. In like a lion, they say.

A foot of new snow forced the closure of the dojo yesterday. No "real" training got done, but I did shovel out the walk and our two cars, so I think that counts for something.

Today — now that the shoveling is all done — is a beautiful day: The sun is bright in a cloudless sky, and even though all around is white and cold, while observing the melting ice you can feel that the life energy undeniably on the rise.

Spring is coming. Days are longer. We move the clocks move forward this weekend. And underneath all that snow, I know the flowers are popping up. Saw them just last week.

Most everyone I know is sick of winter, and for none too few, this March storm added insult to injury. It has been a long winter. (Though, by the calendar, it's really no longer than last year, or any other.) But I'm surprised to find that I'm enjoying the inclement weather this week, and all the hassles that go with snow and ice and slush and salt just don't faze me. Perhaps it's because I know it can't last much longer. Or maybe it's because Ava asked me to go make snow angels with her, in that irresistible way that only a 2-year-old can.

Wrote about growth in my "Martial Musings" blog earlier week. And like a seed under the soil, I'm working on my own "inner" growth through more meditation, and reading, and by a few learning new skills.

I'm really looking forward to the two Saturday-morning seminars I have planned for March — they'll be a nice break in the normal training pattern. And at the end of the month, a new beginner's class kicks off.

Weather-wise, things are off to a rough start, but March is shaping up to be a great month. And I'm feeling so grateful about my life's unfolding that it's almost like Thanksgiving has come early this year.

So you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Look out, folks, I've got a webcam, and I'm not afraid to use it!

www.tokbox.com

Aren't You Supposed to Be Somewhere?

I'm no New York City exec, but I've noticed lately that the pace of modern living that I've been keeping these days hasn't left me much room for doing NOTHING. My days have been crammed with "doing" from sunrise to bedtime. I heard somewhere the reminder that we are not meant to be "humans doing." Rather, we are supposed to be "humans being." So today, I'm in outright revolt, and I encourage you to do the same.

Do yourself a favor: stop and smell the roses today.




Dare yourself to listen to a bird chirp, or even to notice the symphony of a dripping faucet. Don't just drink your coffee — TASTE IT. Read something that has nothing to do with your job, your to-do list, or your life goals. Spend 10 minutes looking at a painting and just FEEL SOMETHING.

Go to a place where you can actually see the horizon.

Go on, I dare you.

I promise it won't hurt.

Training On The Edge of Madness

There's a fine line between pushing the envelope and sheer madness. I think I may have crossed over it this week. We've been training hard in the dojo — really hard — and since I teach the majority of classes, I've had to, on a number of recent occasions, run some pretty hard-core training sessions back-to-back-to-back.

I've had a cold over the last two weeks. Nothing serious enough to truly sideline me or keep me home from work, but more than enough to make me feel like I could use a day in bed — which of course, I have not taken. And I'm cranky, too: I wasn't well enough yesterday to donate in the blood drive that I helped to organize!

One of my students just landed herself in the hospital from a bad cold. Taking this as a warning sign, I finally called the doc today. He thinks I have a viral infection, not a bacterial one, so his recommendation is for me to wait things out for another couple of days before starting on any antibiotics. (My student has a viral infection, too, and she's down for the count.)

And I've had a little inflammation in my left knee, too. There's no doubt that it's from all of the hard training, but I haven't given that any rest, either. I'm a long way from walking with a limp, but kneeling in seiza is uncomfortable, and I guess it would be nice to not feel that dull ache every time I go down a set of stairs…

OK, so I'm beginning to show some signs that I actually might not be bullet-proof. So perhaps some rest might be in order. It's Wednesday today, and I'm not slated to teach another class until Saturday morning — that gives me 3 days of rest, if I cut back on my own personal training for a couple of days. I hate to back off now, especially since I've made a lot of progress fitness-wise over the past 6 weeks, but I'm probably doing the right thing.

There's something to be said for training on the edge. But, I'm no Superman, and there are more important things in life than pushups.

My Reading List — This Week

Reading for self-education, reading for personal development, reading out of curiosity, reading as a means of escapism — call it whatever you will. This week, I thought I'd take a moment to share the list of books that I'm currently working through. I don't have a lot of spare time to read, so I peck away at these one chapter — and sometimes one page — at a time: before bed, over lunch at my desk, in the mornings while everyone else is still sleeping.

Without large chunks of time do devote to reading, I find it hard to concentrate on a single topic, so I've got several books going at once. Some are light and fluffy, some are dense and erudite. Some, of course, are about martial arts. Others are way out in left field. But I think there's a unifying theme here, somewhere.

Then again, maybe not. But the list does give a little insight into the inner workings of my mind. So, while you're in here, please grab a broom and sweep away my cobwebs. And, feel free to recommend some titles of your own.


Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence

The Seeker's Guide: Making Your Life A Spiritual Adventure

The Karate Way: Discovering the Spirit of Practice

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

Insight Meditation: A Step-By-Step Course On How To Meditate

Crunch Point: The 21 Secrets to Succeeding When It Matters Most

More Contradictions

I recently found an interesting article online: A letter from Deepak Chopra inviting readers to take a vow of non-violence. I took a few moments to ponder the implications here: Could I — a lifelong martial artist and former Marine — really and honestly take (and keep) such a vow without immediately bursting into flame?

Even though I've spent a lifetime studying fighting arts, combat strategy, anatomy, and weaponry, at heart, I'm a very peaceful guy. At least I like to think so. Despite all of my martial experience, I still encourage — and require — my students to study nonviolence, and to increase their skills at anger management and peaceful conflict resolution. I even try to meditate every day.

The truth is, I wouldn't hurt a fly. Okay, maybe the mice in the house are an exception here. Mosquitoes, too. And I'm not a vegetarian, either. And while I'll do everything I can to avoid a physical confrontation, I'm more than ready to enter into one if I really need to.

Ugh. This is hard! I AM committed to bringing about a world of peace, harmony, laughter, and love. And yet at the same time, I am who I am.

It's kind of messy, really.

For example, I'm currently reading two books: One explores the nature of violent physical encounters, and the other teaches meditation practices for inner peace. If I don't burst into flame, I'm pretty sure my head will, at some point, actually explode.

I wonder, how might I continue to engage in violent actions (practice martial arts), but without violent intent? Can I be peaceful, but not wimpy? How can I reconcile my desire for peace with my passion for my chosen art?