A Life In The Moment

I saw this movie recently. Stephanie rented it, but I ended up watching it. It was based true life events from book written by a guy named Dan Millman called "Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives."

The story is basically about a young male gymnast on the Cal Berkeley team some 30 years ago, although the movie made it seem more modern. The main character is a promising young gymnast, his talent driven by painful personal history. He is injured in a motorcyle accident and is basically told he may never walk, let alone compete, ever again. Fueled by the anger and rage that got him there in the first place, he fights his way back and thinks he is ready to compete again, but is not quite up to his previous performance level. He encounters an odd man, "Socrates" at a gas station at 3 a.m. played by Nick Nolte who becomes his mentor/guru.

Think Mr. Miyagi and Ralph Macchio, but with gymnastics instead of karate. The movie was largely under(or over)acted but the overall message was pretty strong.

Through the course of mentoring the young gymnast, Socrates teaches the young man how to FOCUS and live IN THE MOMENT. The main character regains strength and fights his way back to the competetive level. One of the final scenes shows him in "the zone" at a competition. Each move, although happening at light speed, shows him performing in a sort of time-space continuum where time virtually stands still. The whole process is very Matrix-like on film, and even though it was a little hokey, by the end of it, you're really rooting for the guy, and you seem to fall in love with the characters without noticing. I'm not going to say that I was bawling like a baby by the end of it, but the message to live in the moment was strong, as was the message that if you FOCUS hard enough, you can accomplish anything.

Flash forward to now. After watching this movie, I have felt, that the latter part of September and the beginning of October have felt like time is standing still, yet at the same time moving really fast for me. What I mean is, life is just moving along like normal, but I seem to be going through this process where I am IN each moment with crystal clarity and I feel like I am on the right life path. Sure, I have fleeting thoughts of "What if THIS happens" or "What about THAT", but for the most part, life feels right. It's kind of surreal, in a way I have never experienced before.

I don't think I'm doing a very good job of explaining it. Maybe this will help make it clearer: Elliott is really making big strides, but in little ways, developmentally. His cognition is amazing. Every new task you show him or he learns he gets quickly, and simply adds it to the pile of stuff he has already mastered. Every day, we are able to see these changes, however subtle, where people on the outside may not. Microscope in on that one level further and I feel like he and I have a bond that is so powerful, words cannot describe it. I feel very in tune with him right now and that I understand him in ways that nobody else can, not even Stephanie. She, obviously has her own powerful relationship with him, but I recognize my own with a strength and clarity that is profoundly unique. Maybe other parents have experienced this. Perhaps others with their careers or talents. Whatever it is it's amazing. I liken it to the first time, after being pounded relentlessly by the ground and ice, being able to snowboard flawlessly down a run in fresh powder. There's this sense of confidence and euphoria all balled into one. It's extremely empowering and exciting at the same time. If this is what living in the moment is like, I am on board.

As far as focus goes, I am finding it a little hard to stay on track with the daily writing. BlOgtoberfest is turning out to be more difficult than I had anticipated, and I'm only a week into it. It's been a nice dry run to see what a writing career will feel like. It's a solitary place; an awkward-ish lonely place, but at the same time comfortable and rewarding. I think it is a good indicator of things to come, and I like it, despite it feeling difficult.

I am still toe-tapping at the mailbox, but have not heard from the school.

Anybody else going through anything similar? Or, have you gone through anything similar and have some wisdom to share from the other side? Just curious.