“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.” Laurence Binyon
Hello all and welcome to my weekly journal where I share 5 points of interest, things that got my attention. Hopefully, there’s something of interest here for you as well.
1. Remembrance Day – A day to reflect, a day of gratitude and a day to give thanks to all those who served or are serving in the military. This week a moment of silence, a moment of reverence, November 11, at 11 AM.
Traditionally our Canadian flag is lowered to half-mast on remembrance day but since it’s already at half-mast on all government buildings because of the mass graves found at residential schools the powers that be had to come up with a new plan.
2. I study Ki in Daily Life and the teachings of Tohei Koichi sensei. I also study Aikido and this week someone sent me this link featuring Tohei sensei sparring with a much bigger American judo-ka or judo practitioner.
What I noticed was that Tohei sensei had challenges putting Aikido principles into action. However, sensei remained relaxed and he found methods to overpower or use the bigger man’s power against him. There were no flashy or magical Aikido techniques utilized, everything was tight, fast and smooth.
Tohei sensei’s four Ki principles are; Keep One Point. Relax Completely. Keep weight Underside. Extend Ki.
3. Reigniting your childhood curiosity. I believe our curiosity and our creativity are interlinked. When you discover something new and it excites you your imagination can be pushed into overdrive.
Imagination is the key to creativity. When remote teaching started for me earlier this year I enjoyed teaching an online creative writing class to young children aged 8 – 11.
Not only was it fun and engaging for me but it also got me to think up imaginative stories. I came up with three new stories that may one day become published.
Speaking of stories, I would like to share with you a chapter from my forthcoming book, Scratchy the Squirrel – A Time For Friends.
4. What I am reading this week, The Joy of Yoga, edited by Jennifer Schwamm Willis. This book is a smorgasbord of Yoga philosophy and the writings of Yoga and meditation masters.
With excerpts from The Tree of Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar, Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn and Yoga and the Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope as well as many others. There are some fantastic reads included here on how yoga can revitalize your body and spirit and change the way you live.
5. My audio craving this week is all about the music of Terrence Blanchard and his inspirational opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones.
The opera – based on the book of the same name, a memoir, by Charles M. Blow an American journalist.
Thank you for reading. If you think someone you know would enjoy my newsletter please share it with them. If you are looking for a great children’s book check out my new book, Samba in Brazil; Paperback version, on sale for a limited time. And the Portuguese version, Samba no Brasil, now available as a set.
Or one of my other books, Samba on a Snowy Day or the Brazilian/ Portuguese version Samba em um Dia de Neve.
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong and keep going.
Copyright © 2021 Paul Yanuziello, All rights reserved.