Why is it so hard to be still?  The other day I compared my Tai Chi practice to my gym practice, I have to admit that it’s more demanding to do Tai Chi.  Not so much in the aerobic way we associate with many western exercise methods, but in the manner of self observation and the level that it happens at. 

It’s interesting how little prepared all this gym and exercise business makes us for stillness, I was meditating the other night, paying more attention to my posture than usual and found that some of my back muscles were starting to complain.  For all our strength and cardio training, slowing down or even stopping is so challenging. 

Amusing, isn’t it?  Not fit enough to sit still….

I went into my local city, Birmingham, on Saturday afternoon.  It was as packed as always, crowds everywhere and an air of restlessness that almost gave me a headache.  The experience reinforced my belief that we live in a restless society, unable to slow down, or stop fidgeting, always rushing round in haste, but where to?

As everything is impermanent, I have to question our wisdom in rushing round breathlessly after temporary, illusory goals.  Wherever you’re rushing to, the things that you’re after are impermanent, is the stress really worth it?

I have a pet theory that if we slowed down, stopped rushing and noticed what’s round us a bit more, the world would change irrevocably and immensely, simply from the fact that we’d be more present in the moment.  We’d actually stop and think and notice things, and maybe we’d enjoy life a bit more as well.