Smelling the Roses
We are such strange creatures. So often, a thought will occur to us that is so very true
and simple that we nod our heads, smile and file it away so deep it might as well have
never been born. Then, at various times, we will read this same thought expressed by
someone else, nod our heads and smile again, then once more file it away.
I often repeat something to a student and he or she says, "Oh, I know that". Sure. You
may have heard it or may have even said it, but until you LIVE it, you don't KNOW it.
What are some of these little truths that we file away?
- BABY STEPS. No accomplishment of excellence comes about by a miracle. One
careful baby step after another builds all superior achievement.
- For these baby steps to work you must BELIEVE that they will and have FAITH in
the outcome. How does one have faith in something one can't see yet? That is what
faith is all about - believing the unprovable. The lubricant for this faith and belief is
PATIENCE and CONSISTENT, UNFAILING EFFORT. Ten more minutes on a
trouble spot; one less cookie; five more minutes securing a memory problem; one
more vegetable; five more minutes a day on the treadmill; one more scale learned -
these baby steps are in themselves nothing, but tens and hundreds of them totalled
up?
- The PRESENT - RIGHT NOW, is all that matters. Except for the lessons learned
and the strength gained, the past is dead. The future is totally dependent on what we
are doing today, this minute. Don't drag yourself down by focusing on anything but
doing the best you can at this moment.
- YOUR ONLY COMPETITION IS YOURSELF! There is always going to be
someone with more glistening scales, bigger biceps or a smaller waist. These same
people are probably worrying about things you already have and take for granted.
Working toward the best that YOU are is more than enough to keep you going.
- YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST TEACHER. You must rely on yourself for constant
monitoring and develop the individual skills to KEEP YOURSELF MOTIVATED.
When we depend on someone else we become their slave. The road to personal
freedom is learning to push our own buttons. You may study once or twice a week
with the finest teacher in the world, but it still all comes down to the fact that, day to
day, YOU are the one you spend the most time with. Yours are the ears that have to
be constantly alert; yours is the mind that has to be creative every minute that you
work and finally you alone are responsible for keeping yourself psyched up for
productive practice (and living).
- Always remember that life is a PROCESS: ever changing and filled with obstacles
that we far too often allow to swallow us up. Overcome the obstacles-climb over
them, burrow under them or snake around them-- and keep the process alive and
thriving. That's why we are here, isn't it?
Phillip Dieckow
May 19, 1999
