I crossed an ocean with equal parts anticipation and tension, fearful of the unknowns to a point that most would consider irrational, as is common for “my kind”.
I’m alone beside others who are not.
Cross ocean with fear
Find joy raising others up
Birds chirp in these lands too
Warm sun, distant lands
Sharing the path with others
Sadness in leaving
I find myself thinking about the microcosms of the individuals here contrasted against the macrocosm of that oddity that is the lot of us coming together on this one path at the same place and time.
I think I figured out another good thing I get from doing budō. Efforts to create and maintain group harmony is actually helping me learn how to socialize better, and helping me connect with people. I think I saw some fruits of those efforts today. It was a really good feeling. Rewarding. Maybe I helped someone. Not sure I can really say that for sure, but I hope I did. A small aside — I love how some of my classmates tend to speak in metaphors, even when they may not mean to. Having people around from different parts of the world with different first languages lends itself to that, and it’s another way for me to broaden my way of thinking. I love it.
Our core values colour all our choices and practices.
Two beginners practicing together on a quiet summer night.