Sharing Sunshine with TCC

Sharing T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) with others is the best part of this practice — maybe even better than teaching me, finally, how to slow down. My two grown kids always say, “Mom, it’s too bad you weren’t doing TCC back when we were living at home.” I laugh because it’s true.

The seventeen years I’ve practiced have certainly changed me in many ways. I’m retired with grandchildren; the stresses of my work life are gone. The calm I can summon while moving softly and with continuity has become a lighthouse where I am a more settled, happy person. Our son does the practice fairly well for the time he devotes to it, but our daughter still says, “It’s so slow.” She takes a yoga class as time with her four children allow, so I remain hopeful that she will come to TCC someday.

But as wonderful as the personal and familial aspects of TCC are, the impact on my students may be even better. They have developed a community that pulls them back to class year after year. Their has forged real friends. They often go to lunch together after class and help each other when needed. It can be difficult to make friends as we age, but having a common practice draws interesting folks together. We often hear newer students tell us how much they enjoy everyone in the group, and how everyone makes newcomers feel at home.

I’m sure Justin would be pleased that the practice he distilled continues to spread sunshine.