Being Grateful (January 2004)

Anyone who knows Justin, or who has read any of his writings, realizes that he is steeped in Gratitude. One of his favorite quotes on the subject is from Paul Reps: “How grateful I am with no thing to be grateful for.” And Justin comments, “He did not say Nothing to be grateful for, but No Thing to be grateful for.”

Each of us as T’ai Chi Chih teachers and humans can echo this phrase. I am particularly conscious of my personal gratitude to so very many teachers, who behind the scenes have spent time, energy and talent to further the cause of T’ai Chi Chih. I would like to mention a few who have chosen to allow others to use their talents in their place and wish to acknowledge them.

Over the past several years, Ed Altman endeavored to lay a solid foundation in our understanding of the TCC form, the Accreditation process; and supported, encouraged and developed teachers to use their talents in the cause of promoting TCC programs. Noel Altman produced high quality issues of The Vital Force, as well as the Teacher’s Directory. Jean Katus served the TCC community for 15 years distributing TCC materials through Good Karma Publishing, Inc. Kathy Albers volunteered her time to coordinate web site e-mails as well as teacher outreach information; i.e., special groups learning the TCC form. Ted Fleischman served as Web Master for three years monitoring and changing content and then working toward a smooth transition from this responsibility. Marjie Bassler’s organizational skills, along with her Albuquerque team volunteers, enabled us to receive our Vital Force on time.

It is my hope that as each of you will continue to contribute to the TCC community through your teaching and participation in Events. My gratitude for all you have done up to now so that it can be built upon and carried into the future.

I invite you, the reader, to heighten your awareness of the little and great things for which you are grateful in your life, and in your TCC practice/teaching. I am sincerely grateful for each TCC teacher as you deepen and refine your own practice, and continue to spread TCC throughout the world and into the future.

This brief Thank You ends with the same closing lines Justin used in his recent article for the December 2003 issue of the New Mexico T’ai Chi Chih News: “We Live with Impermanence: Gratitude for each day, and for this life, is the antidote for unhappiness.”

May each of you discover a deeper sense of joyful gratitude in your lives this New Year.