Simple Movements, Deep Meaning

As one student said, T’ai Chi Chih, Joy Thru Movement seems like a simple set of movements when you first start. However, she continued, “The longer you study them, the more you realize there is so much to them.”

This was especially true for one student who came into class. He walked into class depressed, looking like death warmed over. He seemed thin and kept a stocking hat on during class. I didn’t think it was too strange since it was winter, but I did notice that he didn’t seem to have any hair under his hat. He was very faithful about coming to class, never missing a single one, even when we had a snow storm. During class, I usually invite students to talk about their practice, in 25 words or less, and encourage them to ask questions. This particular student always said that he did his movements faithfully and was enjoying them very much.

At the end of Week 7, he opened up, telling us he had come to class because an advertisement mentioned that several TCC teachers were ex-cancer patients. He then revealed that he had been diagnosed with incurable cancer, that the news was devastating. But he quickly smiled and added, “That was before I started doing T’ai Chi Chih. Now I know that it isn’t how long you live, but how well you live, that’s important. Now I am no longer waiting for the day I die, but rather enjoying today.” He finally removed his hat, saying, “Thank you for not minding that I’ve been wearing this hat. The radiation took all my hair.”

For the last class he came wearing a smile, and he spoke highly of what he had learned from the movements. I mentioned giving a two-weekend summer class, that it would be great if he would come as my guest. He came. Whenever he shared what he was learning, I felt like I should sit down, that he should be leading the class. His depth of understanding was a wonder.

He also came to some review sessions, and always with a smile even though he was growing thinner. Again, I invited him to the next series of classes. He said he’d try to make it. But Fall came and Joe didn’t show up. After the third class I called his home but there was no answer. I left a message to call. The class finished but still no Joe.

In mid-January I call his home again. This time his wife answered. She told me Joe had passed away. She apologized for not having returned my call but, of course, there was a lot to do. She thanked me for the way Joe had spent his final months. She said Joe had been very depressed before coming to T’ai Chi Chih, but that because of the class, he had developed a new attitude toward himself and his family. She said he died happy.

At the end of our days, if all of us can say that, we will have been true to the “Joy” in “Joy Thru Movement.” And as we live this joy, we will love and share the chi.