O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba taught that in order to achieve control of a situation – or even one’s life – in a spontaneous yet harmonious way, there should be only forward momentum. Aïkido just doesn’t recognize moving backwards as a suitable course of action. If one needs to go backwards, one is instead to move forward in a circular motion that will lead back where necessary. Granted, that’s a subtle distinction. Yet it changes everything.
It’s also happens to be my excuse for running forward. As in run away, or escape. I would never lower myself to simply run back to where I came from, that’s cheap, that’s weak, that’s what others do. Instead I hypocritically run forward. Never too long in one place, never too comfortable. But it seems responsibilities only start pilling up when one sits still long enough for them to incrust themselves like mussels on an old hull. So I keep the boat under way.
This time the step forward won’t lead me too far from where I pulled anchor. About 10 km to the west, the same number of storeys up, 100,000 people as my new immediate neighbors, and a park and a beach to convince me that I can actually do some real running forward while I escape. But who am I kidding? It’s more of the same. That little step allows me to temporarily avoid dealing with more pressing issues like having itchy feet and dreamy eyes. La fuite en avant s’arrêtera-t-elle un jour? Et où ?
« ’La fuite en avant s’arrêtera-t-elle un jour? Et où ?’
Date of comment: 2007-02-05 00:49 •Vince, If ever you find the answer, please let me know...It could be useful. Cheers mate. »
« Et la fuite en hauteur ?
Date of comment: 2007-02-05 16:06 •Ne te rapproche-t-elle pas du ciel, des oiseaux et du rêve ?
Salud, amigo ! »