A Realization - There are no ordinary moments
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 3,226 legacy views
Legacy rating: 4/5 from 3 archived votes
I begin this by asking you two simple questions. Where are you? and what time is it? Almost everything I will write has a martial arts theme. That is because martial arts is part of who I chose to be. It is not who I am, but simply part of me. The reaso
I refer so often to it is because it has been and still is a great vehicle for my understanding of life in general.
Yesterday several of my students completed their level one Kyusho Jitsu exams (Black Belt). There was a year of preparation and classes to take this 3 hour written and physical exam. They all felt stressed and nervous, as most people would while waiting to face this or any other test. As they were writing this test I wanted to stop and ask them the questions above.
Where are you, and what time is it?
As I have stated so many times in different essays, in classes and to students and people who come to ask for advice, the purpose of life is to be happy. Are you happy? Sometimes they understand, but some will look at me like I am from mars.
As my students, (Kyusho or Hapkido) work and prepare for their goal of Black Belt do they only focus on the goal they wish to reach? I hope not. Like anything in life it is never about the goal, getting a Black Belt or not getting a Black Belt, it is about the JOU
EY. The journey is were true happiness is found, never the destination.
So, where are you? What time is it?
No matter where you are right now, at home, at work or at school stop and take a look around you. Take out the garbage that is running in your mind and pay attention to what is going on around you. There is ALWAYS sometime going on around you. THERE ARE NO ORDINARY MOMENTS.
Where are you?
What time is it?
The past is gone, the future has not been written and is not relevant anyways. What matters is what is happening in this moment, not the last or the next but this one. Empty the garbage from your mind and focus on this moment. If you are drinking a coffee right now TASTE IT. If there is music LISTEN to it.
Where am I? I am HERE.
What time is it?The time is NOW
When you understand and practice being in the moment, you will be on the journey to happiness.
Article author
About the Author
Art Mason is a professional martial artist and school owner.
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
In Defense of Karate (or any other martial art) as a "Fighting Art"
One of my students came to me recently, conce ed because she read a number of posts online that slammed karate for being "a less effective form of fighting/self-defense." How crude. Now, I'm trying REALLY hard not to sound like an elitist karate snob here (Okay, I admit it, I am an elitist ...
Related piece
Article
Accomplishing Your Training Goals With Indomitable Spirit
Ask yourself: “Why am I learning karate?” Some people come to the dojo to learn self-defense. Others come to relieve stress, get in better shape, learn a new art form, or meet new people. What are your personal training goals? If you’re seeking improved fitness, increased confidence, and ...
Related piece
Article
Learning to Punch Like a Girl
On any given night at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, the adult students can be found in their crisp white karate uniforms, moving up and down the training floor. In summer's brutal heat and in winter's bitter cold, they punch the focus mitts and kick the ...
Related piece
Article
The Empty Mind
The Empty Mind The term of karate-do is most commonly translated as "the way of the empty hand". While many people think this means a form of self-defense that specializes in not using weapons, the real meaning of the words is much deeper than that. The kanji of karate-do actually ...
Related piece