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New Year Day 6

January 5, 2020 By Arlene Faulk

crane
REFLECT ON YOUR OPTIONS

Filed Under: Change, Energy, Mindfulness, Paying Attention Tagged With: mindfulness, new ideas, outside the box, reflecting

The Value of Nothing

September 9, 2012 By Arlene Faulk

One day when I was in my 20’s, my friend Kathie, said, “You will have arrived when you can stare out your window at beautiful Lake Michigan and do nothing.” Obviously, the inference was that I could not do that. Correct. I was busy doing and achieving. Actually, doing nothing was not in my realm of understanding. I attached positive value to accomplishment, to finishing a task. I thought nothing had a negative value, connoting laziness and lack of motivation.

Today I see great value in  nothing, meaning being present and awake in this time and place and being comfortable with silence. Plus, looking into what seems like nothing may be misleading. There may be something in the place where it looks like nothing is there.

A few years ago I visited the National Museum for Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with my good friend, Darca. We were viewing a video presentation, “Chief American Bison”, with artist Robert Bateman talking about his painting “Chief”, a magnificent, large work hanging in the museum.

“Empty space is not nothing,” Bateman said. “There’s always something happening in that space.”

The painting depicted a bison moving forward with great speed toward us, the viewers, sand flying everywhere as he ran. Bateman said he painted over the bison with paint, flicking his brush with white paint, filling the canvas. He focused on that white space he created, covering parts of the bison’s body and reminded us who were looking not to assume that nothing was happening in that space.

What profound meaning there was in the simplicity of what Bateman said, what he did in his “Chief” painting. I suggest to my Tai Chi students to look at the spaces between the branches of a tree, at the space around and between the petals of a tulip. We can’t assume nothing is happening there. There is Qi (energy) flowing, moving and nourishing. As Bateman said, “Empty space is not nothing. There’s always something happening in that space.”

Filed Under: Change, Mindfulness, Paying Attention, Tai Chi Tagged With: empty space. silence, reflecting, seeing what's not there

Arlene Faulk

Arlene Faulk

After a years-long struggle to understand and conceal debilitating symptoms while I ascended the corporate ladder, I found comfort and healing through Tai Chi and Chinese Medicine.

My memoir, Walking on Pins and Needles, is the story about the power to control our lives and move in the direction of possibility. Read more...

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“A LIFE-AFFIRMING STORY”

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FROM TAI CHI STUDENTS

Tai Chi makes me feel calm, yet energized. Because of my practice, the small irritants of life affect me less.

Tai Chi student

I had back surgery, was in pain and had little range of motion. Tai Chi practice at Heartwood has helped me increase flexibility, my range of motion and my overall stamina.

Tai Chi student

Arlene teaches the Tai Chi form in such a gentle and connected way that many movements now feel utterly natural and healing.

Tai Chi student

I've even shared some of the exercises with my bike club to help reduce injuries. They really work!

Tai Chi student

I've always been a klutz and have regularly lost my balance and fallen when walking outside. Arlene taught me how to stand and walk properly through Tai Chi. I really can't believe it: I haven't fallen in four years since I've been taking Tai Chi with Arlene!

Tai Chi student

I love Arlene's Tai Chi classes. She helps us understand not only what we're doing, but also why we're doing it. That really helps me take what I learn in class and apply it to my daily life.

Tai Chi student

I'm really inspired by what Tai Chi has done for Arlene. She is a great teacher, who is calm and very patient. She has really helped me not to be so hard on myself.

Tai Chi student

I play golf and had a lesson after school, on the same day we had Tai Chi class. My coach commented, 'Your posture is amazing and all of the balance issues that we have been fighting for so long seem to have just taken a vacation.' I mentioned to him that I thought it was due to Tai Chi.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi relaxes your entire body and promotes peace and proper breathing. The more I manage to breathe properly while doing any activity in my life, I generally tend to do a lot better at it. I benefited from Tai Chi because it managed to help me with my breathing skills even more.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi really gives my body strength to put up with the pains of my breast cancer and back problems. Tai Chi is 'sneaky'. You don't think it's helping, but eventually you realize it's helping you.

Tai Chi student

For me, Tai Chi brings comfort and quiet amidst all the chaos and change.

Becky, Tai Chi student

In just a few months, the practice has become perhaps the most nurturing element in my life during COVID times, when sustaining a commitment to anything else has been challenging.

Barb, Tai Chi student

The community Tai Chi has provided has been a gift. With so much we can now do whenever we wish --- with an app, YouTube video, or streaming service --- meeting weekly (via zoom) in real time, live, to practice Tai Chi creates true community.

David, Tai Chi student

I really enjoy our time together and I've found Tai Chi a great way to "keep moving," not only during this pandemic but also as a regular practice with a wonderful integration of mind, body and spirit.

Martha, Tai Chi student

Tuning into the class and seeing familiar faces of the other students brings a nice sense of community and connection during this time of separation and isolation.

Julia, Tai Chi student

I love the walking practice because it helps me slow down and focus only on the moment.

Tai Chi student

Tai Chi has made me aware of how I’m standing and where my weight is. My balance is improving.

Tai Chi student

I hear Arlene saying to listen to my body and only do what I can do. That helps me relax.

Tai Chi student

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