Readers Commentary (March 1997)

Thanks to the entire VFJ staff and especially you [Lois Mahaney] for all the support you provide.

– Jan Martindale
West Linn, OR

I am so pleased that I will be receiving VFJ once again. Very generous of Steve [Ridley]. I am happy and well, and I hope you are doing great!

– Tamara Johnson
Portland, OR

Thanks to all of you VFJ’ers for all the work you do. I look forward to every issue and keep them around to read and re-read.

– Karen Scharf Morgan
Rio Rancho, NM

Thank you for your long, long work for VFJ and T’ai Chi Chih. Love,

– Guadalupe Buchwald
Vancouver Is., BC

I am saving my old issues to give to my students (in hopes they will subscribe). The Vital Force is a joy to receive and share! Thanks so much for your wonderful efforts.

– Nan Moss Corbin
New Fairfield, CT

Every time I get my Vital Force I go through the same process: I sit down, read it cover-to-cover, feel this and feel that, think this and think that (especially this last issue); then, as I finish reading, I’m aware of an increasing urge to do T’ai Chi Chih! Even rereading an old issue leaves me with that impulse and I jump up and do my practice.

So, thank you for a job well done, issue after issue. Love,

– Beverly McFarland
Cedar Crest, NM

Thanks for sending the TCC Teachers’ Directory, and the reminder about subscription … Regards,

– Ellen Tatge
Albuquerque, NM

Letter of Thanks to Steve Ridley

Dear Steve:

I want to take this opportunity to thank you, thank you, thank you for all the love and dedication you poured into T’ai Chi Chih the past several decades. Words will never capture the deep transformation I’ve experienced from sharing your presence and insights. A transformation that bestows countless rewards and blessings on my students. The pebble you dropped in the pond will never stop rippling out through the world, gracing the lives of so many.

While I’m going to miss your very clear and inspirational writings in The Vital Force and being with you at the Conference this year, I treasure the reality that you are forever in my heart. A heart that is overjoyed on those spontaneous occasions when I’m practicing T’ai Chi Chih and feel as if it’s you inside me doing the movements.

With great love, respect, and gratitude, with blessings for your everlasting peace, happiness, and sharing of T’ai Chi,

– Timothy Stuetz
Anaheim, CA

Anonymous Recognition

I would like to send out a very special recognition to Liz Salada for her fine salute to Steve Ridley in the last VFJ. Steve has been an inspiration to us all and a vital part of the T’ai Chi Chih family. Steve has taught us what growth and evolving are all about. Thank you, Liz, for that extra special attention you gave to Steve’s many and most respectful years of service.

– Anonymous

On High Standards and Balance

A very special thank you to Liz Salada and the crew at VFJ. I know that you received a lot of information in the past few months. The love and the joy that went into the positive organization of all of the comments, opinions, evaluations, ideas, etc. makes me proud to be a part of such a positive and outstandingly balanced TCC family. Thank you, thank you for the balance that we all need. Keep up the good work! Joyfully,

– Susan Patterson
San Diego, CA

To me The Vital Force has always been an interesting mix of teacher experiences, inspiration and encouragement plus activity announcements. I’m so impressed with the way you set up the last issue! It must have been especially challenging and you deserve a special thank you. This is a difficult time for many teachers, and you [VFJ] provided us with a balanced explanation through the material provided … Good Luck in continuing your high standards. They are really appreciated.

– Hope Ridley
San Mateo, CA

Justin Shares a Letter

Dear Justin:

As you can read in the latest VFJ, I deeply enjoyed the Teacher Accreditation Course in St. Paul [MN] this past October. … I was surprised and saddened to read of Steve Ridley’s resignation. At first, I had a lot of emotional response, but as I let the feelings flow through me, I came to a place of peace; a wiser aspect of my being that knows all is working out for good; and in time the wisdom behind all such changes will become clear.

I suppose I am more of a devotional type; and I feel assured that there will in fact be a great inner strengthening for all involved with TCC. It takes ‘Big Mindedness’ and ‘Big Heartedness’ to allow for all possibilities for individual and group evolution of spirit, regardless of how things may appear on a human scale to our human perception.

May all those who practice and teach TCC come to know that such trials come to offer us all opportunities to deepen our love and acceptance, as well as our faith and attitude of surrender. In the spirit of accepting all that is, With Love,

– Barbara Peller Sommers
Cumberland, WI