Patience

I have patience for those around me, but I noticed I have little patience for myself. I am very hard on myself in many aspects in my life. This manifests in my attitude toward my kung fu. I look at those around me and see great martial artists, people who have spent years, decades mastering this incredible art. Do I benefit from being in their presence? You bet I do! So just what is my problem?

The problem is I don't see it this way all the time. I sometimes lose perspective and compare myself to them. I help teach the kids class with black belts, I have lived with multiple black belts, I am friends with black belts, I am married to a black belt! I am surrounded by all of this greatness and feel a little inadequate at times. I understand that this is a dangerous mindset to slip into and I am working on getting out of it.

A moment of clarity struck me today though that reinforced how I should view this. We were at my parents acreage, cross country skiing. While teaching Mel the basic concepts my dad made a remark to Mel, something like, "Don't worry, he has been doing this since he was quite young."

It dawned on me that everyone has their own journey, their own path. I have only been practicing kung fu for a few years. I have come a long way from where I started and I need to recognize that more often. My journey has not been a long one, have patience, don't look to the horizon so much and fully experience where I am now, what I am doing NOW.

"Develop compassion for yourself so that you  can be in the presence of a master and grow from the experience.  Rather than comparing yourself to (and resenting) people who have  mastery, remain open and receptive."     - Stuart Emery