Snowstorm Waza

How do you harmonize with a snowstorm to gain understanding about Aikido? Power goes out. You’re stuck in the house.  It’s too windy to have fun outside.  Worst of all, you can’t make it to the dojo.

I’m always balancing obligations against opportunities to get to the dojo.  It’s always a negotiation and one way I know how good training is for me is that I keep making the argument.  I often wish I didn’t have to balancing anything.  That the argument would go away.  For a weekend, the snowstorm granted my wish and while it kept me away from the dojo it actually contributed to my training.  I began to wonder what I would do if the option of going to the dojo were taken away from me. What if it weren’t there or something happened in my life that prevented me from training?  

After I enjoyed the opportunity to sleep late on Saturday, I started to reflect on how I felt (physically, emotionally) without the option of going to the dojo.  Could I live like that?  I got news that the dojo was without power.  I began to worry.  How was the roof?  How was the power hook up? The mat? I was really looking forward to my next class.

Later in the week I was really feeling ready to get back but on Tuesday I had an accident while working out in a gym that required sixteen stitches in my leg.  The swelling went down, but I can’t risk messing around with the wound until the stitches are out.  I want to train. But I can’t. 

The only thing worse than having to negotiate against other obligations for training is not having the option of training.