Lighter Side (August 2014)

During our final T’ai Chi Chih class, I ask my college students to bring in an item for show and tell. This brings the group together in a fun and creative way, and serves to get a feel for their experiences in the class. I ask students to think about what they’ve gained from TCC, and to bring in an item that best symbolizes this. We then sit in a circle, and each student takes a turn to show and tell. Here are some examples:

1. Laundry detergent: “I’m making a clean, fresh, start.”

2. Quart of oil: “TCC eases my joint pain.”

3. Construction level: “It balances and levels me out.”

4. Can of Pringles potato chips: “It reminds me of my stack of coins; my posture is better.”

5. Resistance Bands: “I felt resistant at first, but now I’m flexible.”

6. Multi Tool: “You leave it alone and it does nothing. You pick it up and it helps you.”

7. Check: “When I have money in the bank I feel happy and relaxed, and that’s how TCC makes me feel.”

8. Birth Certificate: “I feel like it was a rebirth for me.”

9. Pillow: “I sleep like a rock.”

And of course, some items make me laugh. One student pulled a bag of marshmallows out of a cereal box. He said the class was not what he expected.(in a good way).

And more recently, one student brought in a pack of cigarettes. He said that since TCC had inspired him to get more healthy, he was trying to quit smoking. When he said only two remained in the pack, I immediately said, “I’ll take them.” At that moment, the entire class burst into laughter. I didn’t understand what was so funny, and then I realized that the class thought I wanted to smoke the cigarettes myself.