SPARKLE

Friend, good morning. I was speaking with a painter the other day.

This man, over the past three months, has learned how to stretch joints, tendons, muscles, breathe and mobilize limbs that hadn’t been moved for a long time. As we spoke, he added dabs and spots to a painting.

He made tiny adjustments to the picture, that, to me, seemed already finished and wonderful. What he was adding, he said, was “sparkle”. ?By that, he meant tiny changes that transformed the entire work. It’s an insight that comes from experience and ‘know-how’, picked up along the way. It's an example of how we learn by doing; seeing details that matter but are not apparent to the novice.

We can see that there's something not quite right and from previous experience will know the tiny change that makes such a huge difference. By the time he'd finished putting his 'touches' here and there, the painting was transformed from an accomplished Work of Art to a thing of beauty.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my good friend, Shay McNamee, one of the most accomplished Martial Artists on the planet, about exercise and movement. Practitioners of the martial arts are many. Those who reach the level of skill that then develops into artistry though, are few. Shay McNamee would be one of them.

He was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, for his lifelong contribution to the practice, development, and accomplishment of the art. A note was also made of his ability and skill in the teaching of it. (Read this first, then click HERE.)

We were speaking of the subtleties of performance at higher levels; how a fine balance, a sense of rhythm, an ability to read a pose, and an understanding of a minute gesture, all done in the blink of an eye, can determine an outcome. It can win or lose a contest. It can win or lose an All-Ireland. Or a Formula One Grand Prix. The same principle applies to any skilled activity.

?The act of breathing, exercising, walking, hill-climbing, sailing, swimming, riding a bike, driving a car, and casting a line, can all be focused, practiced, and accomplished activities. It’s this focused meditative application that brings quality to the move. It not only adds to the benefit of the practice but adds hugely to the value of the time spent doing it. This is one of the reasons why I would suggest thinking about any exercise activity not so much as a workout but as a “practice“ session.

This transforms the exercise session into a form of Meditation in Motion. It not only trains the body, the muscles the nervous system, and the brain but also develops the capacity of the mind to hold concentration for any required time.

It is, in other words, a practical form of Mindfulness. Think about it. Consider it seriously. And apply it. And if you'd like to learn how to do this, click HERE.

Have a Great Day and Do Well...