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Jul
26
Tai Chi at the Bus Stop
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I returned from Cali this morning. I had a good time—the drive was a killer, but well worth it. I helped my sister and brother-in-law move some tables at my aunt’s house and on the trip back both my brother-in-law and I noticed an older Chinese man waiting for the bus. He had his back to the street, courier bag strapped diagonally down his back, and a light jacket resting on his other shoulder. He was doing Tai chi.
We watched, it was beautiful and smooth and I felt like this dude wasn’t fretting or worried about when the bus was going to arrive. He wasn’t half way in the street trying to see how far down the number 89 was. He was doing his art while he waited—it was very Taoist–you can’t control the universe or bus drivers or traffic, so might as well get some Tai chi in.
On my trip to Cali, my family did a lot of waiting. Anytime you get a big group of people together you’re bound to have to wait for someone, that’s just how it goes. After watching the Tai-chi-bus-stop-man I decided to make the best of it. Before making a trip to, ironically, China Town in San Francisco, my family and I waited while my other family members got ready. I was ready, my family was ready and instead of fretting, I sat down and read from a book; it was very relaxing and before I knew it, everyone was ready and I got a chapter read.
Tai chi at the bust stop was a reminder about controlling what you can, and not worrying about the things you can’t control—like bus drivers, traffic, or the universe.
Great post!