Taking Time
Barack Obama was in London over the weekend. He was overheard having an informal, private conversation with the Conservative Party leader, David Cameron.
Cameron asked Obama if he had taken any holiday. Obama mentioned that he would hope to take a week in August and then continued,
"…somebody who had worked in the White House – not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process – said that, should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you’re doing is thinking."
It made me think of what we do in both Ki and Hapkido classes, and the importance of time-out, away from the constant barrage of demands at work or at home.
In the short term, Ki Class forces us to take a pause in our increasingly chaotic world. More importantly, one significant long term effect is our ability to manage our day-to day stresses much more effectively. Similarly, we experience this when we practice Hapkido, particularly though the discipline – which teaches us to be more present.
Sometimes the more stressed and busy our lives, the harder it is to take time out. But, paradoxically, it is usually then when we most need it.
I’ve lost count of the number of people who have come up to me after a class and said, “Saboumnim, I almost didn’t come to class tonight. Work is really full on at the moment, I felt shattered. But, I’m so pleased I came. I have so much more energy now, and my head is clearer.”
I’m really pleased. Let’s keep taking time.
Cameron asked Obama if he had taken any holiday. Obama mentioned that he would hope to take a week in August and then continued,
"…somebody who had worked in the White House – not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process – said that, should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you’re doing is thinking."
It made me think of what we do in both Ki and Hapkido classes, and the importance of time-out, away from the constant barrage of demands at work or at home.
In the short term, Ki Class forces us to take a pause in our increasingly chaotic world. More importantly, one significant long term effect is our ability to manage our day-to day stresses much more effectively. Similarly, we experience this when we practice Hapkido, particularly though the discipline – which teaches us to be more present.
Sometimes the more stressed and busy our lives, the harder it is to take time out. But, paradoxically, it is usually then when we most need it.
I’ve lost count of the number of people who have come up to me after a class and said, “Saboumnim, I almost didn’t come to class tonight. Work is really full on at the moment, I felt shattered. But, I’m so pleased I came. I have so much more energy now, and my head is clearer.”
I’m really pleased. Let’s keep taking time.
posted by Tammy Parlour at 5:57 AM
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