| "When attack becomes dance, everything is | | | | coughing. I have no ki to extend (it seems to |
| seen as a gift of energy."That sounds great, | | | | have retreated to the innermost recesses of |
| doesn't it?Couldn't we all use a little more | | | | my system). The only thing I can think to do |
| energy from time to time? I know I could. | | | | is to acknowledge and embrace.But that, at |
| Right now, for instance, as I sit with a | | | | least, is a beginning. In years past, I would |
| blanket over my shoulders, sipping lemon tea | | | | not acknowledge being sick. When I was sick, |
| and hoping that the next coughing spasm is | | | | I'd often go to work anyway. I plowed through |
| not as ferocious as the last two, I could use | | | | what needed doing with half a spirit and wore |
| a gift of energy. The tickle that started in | | | | myself out. I probably infected half a dozen |
| my nose and chest a few days ago has | | | | others in the process. I was sometimes |
| blossomed into a full-blown, body-wracking | | | | ill-tempered, depressed and depressing to be |
| cold, complete with chills and fever.The | | | | around. If I can't acknowledge what's going |
| martial art Aikido (The Way of Harmony) | | | | on, whether it's a cold or a problem at home, |
| teaches us to see everything that comes our | | | | I surely can't embrace it. By this I mean |
| way as energy to be danced with. By centering | | | | make it a part of me, connect with it so that |
| and extending our ki (life energy) we connect | | | | I can begin to look for solutions.Most of our |
| and blend with the energy of attack, making | | | | conflicts, internal or external, would |
| it a part of us. We redirect it from center, | | | | resolve themselves if we would only take this |
| keeping ourselves and our attacker safe from | | | | first step - acknowledge them! But because we |
| harm.How this elegant metaphor applies to | | | | see them as negative, we immediately resist |
| situations in our personal and professional | | | | by fighting or fleeing. If I can see what |
| lives is a continuing source of study and | | | | comes my way as energy, with no positive or |
| fascination for me. One of the ways I work at | | | | negative charge other than what I give it, I |
| integrating Aiki principles into my life is | | | | can be more curious about it. As unwanted as |
| by sharing the philosophy with others. My | | | | it may be, there's definitely more power in |
| workshops use physical exercises which help | | | | dancing with it than in resisting it.As for |
| our bodies remember how to do things like | | | | my cold, I'm still trying to learn if there's |
| center, extend, acknowledge and blend. We | | | | a gift here somewhere. Let's see - I've |
| begin to dance, flow and move with the energy | | | | already read a book I've been putting aside |
| of conflict instead of blocking it.So I sit, | | | | for months, started another, and gotten some |
| wondering how I can dance with this attack. | | | | much needed rest (in between coughs!). |
| Even centering doesn't stop the incessant | | | | |