Birthdays and Anniversaries

This last week was marked by the birthday of one of my instructors.......not a big thing...but for someone who's 80.....that's a very important milestone.  Alma teaches my tuth morning classes for seniors.  She credits her health and disposition to only one thing and that's...Taiji!!  She has had a bout with breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy.....and then had to have one of her knees replaced.  But despite these setbacks she always in class........she returned from breast surgery after only two weeks...when asked by the doctors what she was doing.....she replied Taiji was what helped her recover....the doctors told her to keep it up!!  Alma says many of her friends have the old people's syndrome.........I'm getting old and the end is comimg soon.......Alma says she has no time for this kind of thinking.......there is just so much to do in life....enjoy it..........don't waste time thinking about what you have no control over!  Certainly a very inspirational person....who exemplifies the Taiji ideal of growing old gracefully and living life to it's fullest!!   She came into class with a big smile on Tuesday.....I asked her why...........she said that the doctors told her her cancer is completely gone and she will no longer need any medication!  What better birthday present can you have!?  Teaching Taiji is always enjoyable, but it really makes it special when I see it change people's lives.............it makes what I do so rewarding.

And speaking of birthdays, I want to wish everyone at AnD a Happy Anniversary........you are all doing a great job and providing an important forum for Asian Artist everywhere........Pat, Raffi, Stephen..............thanks again!!

That's Alma our 80 years young Taiji Instructor.........wishing her a Happy 8oth.....and all of us at the Japantown YMCA and the SF Wushu Team...wish AnD.....a Happy first Anniversary!!