by Jan Hrbac
I was wondering a lot about the topic I should write for the ENF-Newsletter. Initially I said to myself not to touch the issue of the Covid19. However, this one is so big and omnipresent and has influenced our lives in a huge and unimaginable way. Thus, I am not able to avoid it completely.
When it all started about two years ago, at first I thought it would last for some weeks. However, it was prolonged more and more and now it has already been here for nearly two years and we have been still struggling with this issue.
At the beginning of the pandemic my feelings were really confused. After years of a certain lifestyle suddenly, out of the blue and without any warning, everything has been changed and stopped. In the first days I was thinking very much about it. How long it will last? How will it proceed or continue? After some time, I realised that it is not so bad, and I started to consider it as a new challenge or new chance where one could find a new space for development.
As it is said, every coin has two sides. On one side we were isolated and let me say physically cut off from our training partners or mates. On the other hand, it was the opportunity to stop, to calm down and to think or meditate more. I started to remember and go through in my mind all the seminars I attended or meetings with the teachers and their speeches and advice.
During the “normal” state especially after the seminar I always think that there are a lot of things I should include in my daily practice, or I should work on. I guess everybody of us knows that feeling very well. I had been full of new impulse, inspirations, and motivation. The easy exercises or small details were shown which could make a big improvement of the technique. But normally one is too busy and has no time to evolve them into the common routine. The problem might be that very often these exercises seem to be too easy or simple. Sometimes small changes or simple things can lead to a big progress. So finally, there is the chance to work on it and develop it.
From today’s point of view, I considered the possibility to travel, participate in the seminars and practice with the other people as something quite usual and matter of course. I re-realized that it is not such a common thing, and this experience made my eyes open. These days when I have the chance to meet and practice or share the experience with my friends, I am always very happy, and I feel much more grateful or thankful for having this opportunity. I appreciate it much more than in the past and I do not consider it as something common anymore. Since the restart of “the face to face” practice I have enjoyed it fully and given it every time all my best.
Furthermore, the other thing that can be perceived is the importance of the dojo as a place that one can enter leaving all troubles and problems behind. During this Covid-period a lot of us must have realized it. When one is practicing at home, a lot of things are attracting their attention and members of family or mates (or new technologies) are bringing their back to the ordinary life. But of course, nobody can realize this until they face the situation similar to the one we have been coping with nowadays.
The last but not least the thing that I appreciate very much is the opportunity of the new experience of the yagai geiko (outdoor practice). From my point of view, it was and has still been a good experience. Using the popular words of these days “to get out of the bubble or to leave a comfort zone” practicing on a different surface, in various environments and outfits while the other people are passing and observing what one is doing, may be considered as good preparation for the competitions or exams. Just to be able to calm down, focus on the job without thinking about unnecessary things and simply just doing one’s best.
I would like to close this short reflection by the quote by C.S. Lewis:
“You cannot go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” So, it is never too late and even though one is living in the strange and unusual time, they can start right now to learn new things and adopt new patterns of thinking and habits.
One more thing I would like to mention. Yes, this strange period took me a lot, but I have to admit that I was given a lot as well. Thanks to this crazy time I could spend much more time with my family watching my daughters growing and smiling.
I wish you all the best, stay safe and healthy and I am looking forward to meeting you all soon.
