One goal that I hope to fulfill every day is acquiring new knowledge; about myself, nature, the world, and all of the intricacies involved with each. I try to utilize every source available to me. There are infinite ways to be educated, but there are four main veins that I frequently tap into. One way is through balancing my thoughts. Another is through learning from the exteriorization of my thoughts as well as the destiny I have created for myself. A third way is by pushing myself physically and mentally until my mentally constructed facades are knocked down. And finally, I use the power of self-suggestion to gain valuable insight. 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." and ZenA school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition. have been crucial to achieving my daily goal; they are the structure that gives me the strength to discipline myself and thereby fuel my determination to perpetually dig deeper.

In the morning I use the power of self-suggestion to help my physical well-being. I read aloud a passage from an author that I both admire and respect:

Every atom in my body, thrill with life to make me well.
Every molecule with in me, carry health from cell to cell.
Cells and organs in all systems build for lasting strength and youth,
Work in harmony together by the Conscious Light, as truth.

- Harold W. Percival

When I read this excerpt aloud the sensory impressions come through the optic as well as the auditory nerve and their reception initiates a subconscious adherence to the practice set forth. My belief in this practice is reaffirmed with the positive feedback I can feel manifested throughout my body. I accredit this in part to my heartfelt utterance of those words, which are honest in statement, true in thought, and simple in practice.

In the evening I have begun sitting before I go to bed. My ultimate desire is to sit until my mind calms and I embody stillness, although the progression is typically characterized by a shifting of awareness from the usual chatter inside my mind to a calmer state. I sit until I can separate myself from the thoughts that amass in my mind. I remind myself that these thoughts are not me, but merely attached to who I am. I wait for a certain feeling to settle over me, and then I reflect on my day. I begin by reflecting on my day as a whole and focus on the overall feeling that the day gives me. Then I go back through each event of the day and focus on the thoughts, interactions, or desires that stand out. I try to pinpoint the unbalanced thought that caused my attachment to it. If I can find that thought and realize why my conscience disapproved of it at the time I created it, then that thought will become balanced and disappear. This practice of sitting and reflecting in the evening has helped me to realize that I control my own destiny by creating it.

As many of you are aware, I am in the fifth month of recovery from knee surgery, and along with the expected physical changes there have been immeasurable mental alterations as well. Although tearing a ligament in my knee has temporarily taken away my physical ability to train at the dojoPlace of the way; a place for strengthening and refinement body, mind and spirit; training hall, it has given me training in a much different facet. At times, not being able to participate in body arts has made me feel very isolated from the 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." community, but at the same time I could feel the warmth and encouragement from my peers to continue to come and watch. Through my many hours of watching my skills of observations and visualization have greatly increased. Since my injury, my borders of patience have been broken open far beyond anything I thought I was capable of. It has retaught me that life is lived morning to evening to morning again, one moment at a time.

Perseverance through this harrowing part of my journey in life has given me an all-encompassing sense of compassion. Not only compassion for others but learning of the importance of having compassion for myself. I have traveled down treacherous peaks and ascended staggering slopes throughout this recovery. It has all helped me to realize that I am fiercely committed to learning more about myself through the art of Aikido. Despite all of the hardship this injury has wrought, I am truly grateful for everything that it has helped me to realize about myself and the community that I am engrained in. It has been a true gift.