Gratitude: A Practice that Leads to Joy
“If you want a happy life, be grateful,” Justin Stone, founder of T’ai Chi Chih, used to say frequently. This simple practice brings deep and profound results – including, yes, joy.
After Justin died in 2012, an outpouring of gratitude from TCC students and teachers from around the globe followed. As many in the U.S. celebrate Thanksgiving this week, here’s a sample of grateful tributes:
Would that he could have stayed here forever … but that is not the way. Justin’s gift, T’ai Chi Chih, will continue to serve as we continue to practice. Thank you, and blessings on your journey. — Diana Daffner
The T’ai Chi Chih community will miss Justin very much. There will be many more teachers and students who will continue to practise and teach this life enhancing, loving meditation now and in the future. We owe great thanks to this very special man. Special thoughts are with those closest to him…lots of love to you Justin x — Tracy Gibbons
Thank you, Justin. Your chi is still in the universe, and we will continue to share you and T’ai Chi Chih with all we meet. What love! — Terry Slaney
The core of my life has been softened by continued mastering of the gentle movements of the inner discipline called ‘T’ai Chi Chih: Joy Thru Movement.’ Your legacy to humankind will be passed on by the crowning “jewels of T’ai Chi Chih” – its teachers. Thank you, Justin. With deep respect. — Rose J. Alvarez-Diosdado
I never planned to be a teacher, but the Universe provides us a path if we chose to follow. After learning and practicing T’ai Chi Chih I began wanting to be of service to others by sharing the peace and joy through movement I have found when doing T’ai Chi Chih. When I went to Teacher Training and met Justin I was moved and inspired by his desire that T’ai Chi Chih not become a business, that it is a gift to humanity. I honor this wish through my volunteer teaching of T’ai Chi Chih, and I am thankful we have been blessed to have had Justin as our Guide and Leader for so many years. May we all continue to honor his gift to humanity through our practices of T’ai Chi Chih. — May Swanson
I experience a long list of health and personal benefits. T’ai Chi Chih brightens me, my family and those I touch each day. Many thanks to Justin and the teachers of T’ai Chi Chih.
T’ai Chi Chih practice feels like the truth of who we are. It’s a gift that keeps on teaching and giving, and so the gratitude continues. — Carol Spicer