ESSENCE OF SURVIVAL I am by far not one of the most disadvantaged people in the world but when you are in great pain, physically, mentally, emotionally, and your energy reserves are really low it is difficult to keep your spirit high. So far the beginning of 2008 has brought with it overwhelming challenges. After a bright promising start I encountered one of the most painful periods in my life. It isn’t the first and it wont been the last but as I approach 55 years old it seems to get much harder to recover and of course face your own mortality. Some may choose to sweep the problems under the carpet, shut out and avoid mentally, or in fact run away rather than face the challenge. Sometimes of course we cannot avoid, like an oncoming car, and just have to take it and accept the consequences. Not facing our demons or numbing the pain with medication unnecessarily may result in the problem going deeper into our psyche or reduce motivation to carry on and one becomes weaker and more desperate. Without going into too much detail here about my condition and personal crises, suffice it to say I have been put to the test at all levels. Am I through it? Not yet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and my faith is stronger than ever. One reason for not saying too much is that I have noticed it is easy to do, self pity. In fact I believe doing any kind of sympathy to another may only weaken us further. Easy to say, but difficult not to do, for everyone involved in the situation. Empathy is different and it is amazing how many stories of others in the same situation come out at the time you are suffering. Some even worse which then reminds you to be humble. It is more about the lessons we can learn, the principles we can live by and discovering the strength and faith that can lift us out of our predicament. It is these things that help us define meaning and purpose in life and give us the power to survive and move forward. I love life and the beautiful people around me who continue to support and offer kindness and love unconditionally. This is wealth beyond measure and I am a most fortunate and grateful for this. Nevertheless you do get some interesting comments: “How come someone like you who does t’ai chi becomes ill?” “You are not a good advert for t’ai chi!” It is NOT because of t’ai chi that I have become ill and without the knowledge and understanding I now have I would not be surviving this difficult challenge the way I am. Patience, perseverance and discipline don’t just happen, they need to be trained and cultivated through some body-mind-spiritual path. I am also reminded of how much the good influence of t’ai chi has had on so many people. Despite me not teaching classes, participants are turning out at some venues to practice on their own, for their own fulfilment, whether for the exercise, social or just pleasure of completing the routine. For me this has been one of the most heart warming effects of the recent period and shows how the spirit of t’ai chi is passed on without actual physical presence. An old Chinese proverb says: “If you believe everything you read in books, don’t read books. If you rely soley on a teacher, then don’t have a teacher!” This is not forgetting the financial contribution some have made above that required for renting the hall, which is most appreciated. Also leaders have emerged to take responsibility organising, guiding and helping their colleagues through the movements. I have always believed you learn so much more about yourself and the process when you actually get out there, up front, and do the teaching. A great achievement, well done. There are going to be changes in my life and the company over this next year as a result of all this. I need to be respectful of the lessons learned and the health of my own self as well as balancing the financial aspects of a business. Without being too ambitious there are opportunities for growth and development in new areas and this will mean less emphasis on the physical and more on the caring and sharing aspects of what I know and can give to others. I would like to be more inspired, and be more inspiring to others, in whatever way I can. I think the following pages in this website may start to reveal the direction I am taking. “That this joyous, peaceful, fulfilling state is really one’s own ESSENCE has been a basic tenet of every great spiritual leader.” From POWER v FORCE by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., Please feel free to contact me for advice and help in surviving your personal lives. Michael Cashmore LIVING ESSENCE is devoted to helping people find their Human Essence and cultivating it for an improved quality of life, no matter what their age, physical or mental condition. There are many interventions and techniques that can be used but I keep the approach as simple and practical as possible, demystifying some of the traditional methods. If I cannot directly help I have many friends and colleagues who can be referred to. Basically my job is to EDUCATE and INFORM you in the most interesting and stimulating way so that you can discover your own potential. At Living Essence I sincerely believe you can learn for yourself what your need to know for a truly meaningful and joyful existence. CURRENT FEATURES OF THIS WEB SITE ARE: TAI CHI - ATTITUDE, INTENTION AND ACTION - STEP 14 T'AI CHI LIFESTYLE & DIET - DAILY ROUTINES & BALANCING YOUR DOSHAS WISDOM BOOKS - POWER v FORCE INNER ROOM - INWARD BOUND NEWS - class schedule for t'ai chi and meditation PLEASE SELECT "CONTACT" FOR RELATED LINKS TO USEFUL WEB SITES