In the beginning all is new and shiny. The world is ours to experience with no shame or construct and there is much joy. In the middle we plow toward targets and view through a filter lens both reality and the response to all the output within us. At the end we let go of the construct and return to see the world with open eyes and no shame or hurry. Only then do we see both the world and ourselves as we really eyes. Through honesty. Through awareness and through knowledge unmasked from short lived desires and wants.
How does this relate to my martial art practice ?
I say it is the root of what we do. You want to fight me and I want to go home and play with my son. You want to feel superior over your cronies and I want to see the sunset with my lady. This is how we live and this is how many die. Here are a few drills to shed some light on this type of focus in day to day life.
1. You are on your way to the car (red Lamborghini of course:) and someone asks you for a loan with his sharp buddy from the cutlery store. Do you try to defeat him or her and then get to the car or would you prefer to maintain a broader focus on the situation. Drill with your group in this way. Two or more partners accost you on your way to X and you need to maintain the focus on what you want to do instead of giving chase or trying to fix things.
2. You are walking in the rain and an old person falls down in front of you. do you rush to help or approach with open eyes to see if this is a trap or guile of some sort. Drill: Walk in a row or column and every so often someone turns and either asks a question or attacks as he or she speaks (connecting two usually separate modules of operation) and you must maintain both your person and your place in the formation. Soldiers may feel this relates to them more but it is in all walks of life that we are fed by our placement on some ladder.
3. You are at home at night and suddenly (usually there are signs before the break in that you ignored) a windows is shoved in or broken. You get up to run away or fight and suddenly you feel a tightness and numbness altogether in your chest. Drill: Try to get from A to B on your playground as two or more partners are pushing and shoving you away and each time you do this you have one less body part you can use. For example you start of with a hand that cannot open and continue to the elbow and then to the shoulder and then a leg becomes stiff and so on.
How we are today is just a blink in life and what is important changes very slowly. Be mindful to keep your scope broad and to be on your path instead of the path someone else wishes you do be on his or her bidding.
Follow your heart. Your heart.
The Martial Art of Walking 