BEING KIND

Our living room was fairly dark, with streams of early morning sun light. It was so beautiful to see the soft orange light of the rising sun on my dad’s silhouette as he gracefully moved. It was like watching a beautiful dance – full of peaceful energy and calmness.

As a small child (2-6) one of my favorite things to do was watch my father perform Tai Chi. I would wake up just before sunrise. I very quietly slipped out of bed so as not to be heard, tip toed towards our living room (very slowly – pretending I was the pink panther – theme music included), and hid behind one of our large glazed clay pots so I wouldn’t be seen.

Our living room was fairly dark, with streams of early morning sun light. It was so beautiful to see the soft orange light of the rising sun on my dad’s silhouette as he gracefully moved.  It was like watching a beautiful dance – full of peaceful energy and calmness. The sun would gradually change in intensity and position, leading my father’s energy and motions.

After he was done practicing Tai Chi for the morning I would take position in living room and repeat his motions – slowly creating my own rhythm and movement. It took me several years to be able to hold his wooden sword to incorporate it in my movement – never as a weapon, but as an extension of my body and energy.

I am thankful that my father shared these moments with me – knowingly or unknowingly.  I often recollect and call on this childhood memory to find the peace and calm energy that I discovered then. 

Thank you Dad for this tremendous gift!!