Finding time
by Paul McCafferty
April 2nd, 1997, marked my first anniversary as a member of Aikido Shugyo Dojo. It was a year I never thought possible, but I’m extremely glad it happened. After finally finding the time to get to my first class, I was still unsure where I would find the time to continue to practice. You see, with two jobs and two kids, time is a commodity, and my brokering skills were, to say the least, brutal.
Looking back over the year, I remember the small, sometimes trivial events that have transpired. For instance, the first time Ramin and Oleg threw me hard to the mat (and I survived), the first time Mateus (my son) stepped onto the mat with Kate and Amir and the first time Fran asked me to be uke. (I could even give you the exact date and time.) Someone said, “You only remember things that are important to you” and that “simple things mean a lot,” but to remember being whipped to the mat? Hmmm...
I’ve always loved those little “thoughts of the day” Fran shares with us before class. She talks about discipline, honesty, Zane (who?) and about practicing as often as possible to harvest enlightenment. Those speeches do go through my head the next day instead of me trying to figure out shihonage.
I’m a firm believer in destiny (which I control) and karma (which I don’t, but I hope the person who broke into my car on February 28, 1997, and stole my gi’s gets his or her just reward). Now, aikido is quenching my thirst for knowledge and discipline. I think we all need a time-out—daily, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Before, I used to go to work early. Aikido is my time-out now, my relaxation period, which helps me deal with problems more sincerely. It is aikido, in my opinion, that makes having two jobs and a family life run a little smoother, and for this I’m grateful and will continue.
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