I think we all realize how special our DojoPlace of the way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall is.  When you’re away for a while you realize it even more.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. It’s the WORK of SenseiTeacher; anyone who gives guidance along the way; literally "born before" and Patti, their personal EFFORT that made this place possible. They have given us a great gift: A VEHICLE FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION. It is about AIKIDOThe word "Aikido" is made up of three japanese characters: ai - harmony, ki - spirit, mind, or universal energy, do - the way. Thus Aikido is "the way of harmony with universal energy.", our TRAINING, and our PRACTICE and even more. Their WORK needs to be fully recognized. Here we learn how to FIGHT. We face and fight our fears. Here we learn how to go to battle against our sorrow, against our weakness. Here we fight our demons and we fight well. This battle breaks down our old skin—renewed, we emerge. When we transform ourselves we touch the rest of the world, changing everything and everyone that we come in contact with. Because of this WORK, these EFFORTS, the world is being altered for the better. When and if we deal with our personal issues, we are physically changing the universe. The choice is ours. It’s up to each one of us to do the WORK and put in the EFFORT. The point is that we have a vehicle for transforming the world. There is no more important WORK than that. It’s about LOVE. Sensei and Patti’s WORK and EFFORT affect all those who come through these GATES—even the customers. When my 80 year old mother-in-law lies down at night and hugs her Lavender pillow she forgets, for a few moments, her body’s failings, forgets the aches, the pain. She smells Lavender; she smells LOVE. I am grateful to have this vehicle for transformation. This WORK, their WORK, is making the world a better place to live. Really! That’s heavy duty—it doesn’t get any more REAL than that. Something is happening here and I do know what it is. |
