tjameswhite.com

For those gamers out there, you are aware of “leveling up” a character — that moment when the suddenly gain enough experience to be at the next higher level of development. Always seemed like a rather silly and sudden mechanic to me.

But, the thing is, it actually seems to reflect life. Or at least my t’ai chi. I go about practicing t’ai chi and after a while I begin to get frustrated. I won’t seem to be showing any improvement, in fact I often feel quite the opposite.

Then in one instant, I will leap ahead and feel that I have actually reached a new level of the craft. My form feels and looks better. My push hands is better. I seem to actually level up like some silly role playing character. I have gotten this feeling about once per year and I’m not alone. Some of my classmates have expressed the same feeling — lack of progress, then one big jump ahead.

So, I reckon I’m about 4th level now…. (I guess that’d be a 4th level monk.)

Oh, I just realized that I have been practicing the sword form for just over a year now. Wow, that went by fast. One year and I still haven’t learned the entire routine. Believe it or not, that makes me happy. I am in no hurry.