Lessons to be learned

So here I am driving through downtown to go work on drywalling. I am sitting at red light and notice a older dude off to my right. He is sitting on his tricked out bike, with gorilla handle bars, sissy bar in the back, looking pretty cool. He is even wearing a bicycle helmet with sweet flames on the sides.

And he is just sitting there waiting at the red light. On a whim, he crosses in front of me in his unhurried way on his bike. I notice he has a smoke in his right hand. Then I spot a open container of beer sitting in a cup holder, duct taped to his right handle bar.

When he was half way across, the light turns green.

At this point, my thought is the bicycle helmet seems way out of place. This dude has the survival instincts of a slug in a salt mine.

So I sit at my green light pondering the lesson this meandering individual is teaching me. I try to live a safe, healthy life. Or do I? My calm demeanor hides my aggression. I use caffeine as a sedative. I practice iron bone to strengthen fist, arms and shins, and then see what kind of stuff I can break.

What do we use as a "safe" shield to feel safe? And what do we still do that we know is harmful to ourself? I think these are valid questions to always be asking ourselves. Do we really need that Quad Venti Mocha so we can spend an extra five minutes on the treadmill? Part of inner exploration is to see what is necessary for our growth and what is harmful. My T'ai Chi training is more like unearthing a lost civilization. ME! Bit by bit, the layers of defense and bad habits fall away to reveal me.

I strongly recommend a reasessment of one's self and finding the tools necessary release yourself from yourself.

How much for health?

Raising my cane up for another common sense THWACK across the forehead. I was watching a debate over the projections of health costs in 2010. The final agreed number is that we Americans (no foreigners allowed in this equation) will be spending 6.5 trillion dollars next year on health: insurance, doctor trips, surgeries, band aids, legal and illegal drugs (I can not keep up with these potheads and their legal stuff), and aspirin.

So using my cane to do some ciphering, that comes to $26000 a year per person in the USA. WHAT?! Seriously?! Holy Fu… This also includes the 25 million of us out of work. And those on Welfare. And those not legally in this country.

I am thinking I need a serious rebate due to being healthy for the last five years. Yes, it was just over five years ago I was really sick. It was a combination of Migraine/Flu/anthrax or some biological agent. I woke hurting and went to work. Within two hours decided to make out my will, because I was dying.

I left work and dragged myself to my doctor. There I was measured poked, pricked, elbowed and prostate checked by some battering ram device. Doctor said I just needed rest and it would pass. Then I ended up paying the exorbitant remainder that insurance would not cover. Health system gang-rape complete.

So I went home, took to aspirin and went to sleep, for about 36 hours. Yes, I was out for that long. Usually, if I am asleep for more than 4 hours someone needs to check for a pulse. I am determined to never get sick again. Being sick sucks.

My martial arts training has taught me to listen to my body. It has this cute little squeal when I am jumping off cliffs. No really, but adjusting my training, my rest and my diet, I have avoided serious illness. I tend to get slight headaches (lack of water), stuffy nose (over training or too much heavy food), stiff neck (taking little things too seriously).

I do have empathy for problem suffering from various ailments, just not a lot of sympathy, (none really). I put my time and effort into staying healthy. I feel most people put their time into whining and avoiding responsibility. This is where my cane tip comes off the ground and rises overhead.

We are all born unbalanced, some of us more than others. It just means this person has a greater challenge and a greater chance for greatness. The folk born with genetic difficulties are excluded for this rant. I speak about the normal folk that choose not to accept responsibility for their knees going bad, or their weight spiraling upward, or their whatevers getting worse each year.

So I do have empathy for your condition, just no sympathy for it. You have spent your entire life developing this imbalance through non-decision. Now is the time to decide to learn the tools for listening to the body and learning how to balance the body for a long healthy life.

The two biggest excuses I hear are that there is neither money nor time to train and be healthy. Well, 2010 people will be spending $2150 a month for health care. Even a snobby gym is not that expensive. First excuse solved.

You make a choice that you do not have time to train everyday. Your body will eventually make the choice for you. Then you will have time to be sick and suffer.

To me, a half an hour investment everyday to train is small beans compared to being sick for a week.

It is your life, you choose or not choose.