Veterans: An Opportunity & Choice

The presentation by David Dorian Ross (he goes by DDR) at the Minnesota teacher conference was dynamic. And I have been working on the Free T’ai Chi for Veterans program since the day I returned home. At that time, there wasn’t an application process or anything on the TaijiFit website. You had to e-mail DDR to get the ball rolling. And what a ball it’s turning out to be.

You create accounts on numerous websites to complete tasks. I and others ask questions that go unanswered. Then I turn to other teachers to see if they have the answers. If they don’t, I let it go. At some point answers will come. You will be called when DDR needs some information from you or when your state or county is ready to go live with T’ai Chi for Veterans.

During the last meeting when people expressed frustration to DDR, he said, “Yes, we have to have patience, and we practice patience in T’ai Chi.” He also mentioned a new instructional video to help the process. They are trying. The scope of this project is huge. If jumping through hoops isn’t your thing, this might not be your opportunity.

When I googled DDR I found him to be an international competitive T’ai Chi champion – an 8-time U.S. gold medalist, World silver medalist and 2-time World bronze medalist in T’ai Chi competition. DDR is also the executive producer of “24 Hours of World Peace Livestream,” a live webcast of events during World T’ai Chi Qigong Day. Bill Douglas, the founder of World T’ai Chi Qigong Day, dedicated its 20th year to DDR for his contributions to the theme of world peace and harmony.

I believe DDR has the best interests of everyone at heart.

When I was trying to get paper towels out of a holder at the Minnesota conference, they kept tearing in my hand. Carmen was nearby and said, “Do it softly, dear.”

Do you practice T’ai Chi Chih, or do you practice T’ai Chi Chih in life? We need patience and softness in approaching this opportunity. Think of all the great reasons you want to teach (everyone and veterans). Think of all the ways T’ai Chi Chih has changed your life.

This is a long way from over, and a long way from being a smooth process. It is a tremendous opportunity and the choice is yours: softly go with the flow, or let it go, softly.