TCC & Consistency

I open my eyes to welcome a beautiful Saturday morning with my cat, Bella. It’s 5:30AM and the sleeping-in period is over. Bella paces, awaiting her daily brushing and breakfast. Feeling a bit sluggish, and with a strong desire to go back to bed, I begin my morning routine knowing that I have much to do. Although my inner lazy voice is trying to convince me not to practice T’ai Chi Chih (TCC), I listen to my higher self which is cajoling me into the opposite. Justin’s words, “Practice when you feel like it and practice when you don’t,” come to mind.

I’ve struggled with the pressure of putting 45 minutes aside to practice, which has led to procrastination and missing practices altogether. I deliberate: perhaps just one movement would be good enough? There are times when that may be true. Life happens and there will be disruptions. Not today, not acceptable! TCC has influenced my life so positively, so something had to change. Justin’s words, “Practice regularly,” echo loudly and clearly. The gym pops to mind, where the hardest part is getting there and walking through those doors. Once you’re there, you do the best you can. The same is true with TCC.

Once you begin, one movement leads to another, to another, until surprisingly, you’ve completed an entire practice. It may happen and it may not, but that’s okay. Be kind and show yourself some compassion. A simple weight shift practice while standing in line or stirring a pot on the stove, is practice. Whether one principle, one movement, or a complete practice, it’s all practice and beneficial. Eventually it leads me to a consistent practice. The wagon moves slowly; if you fall off you can easily jump back on. With gratitude, I give thanks.