walk, then run

how enlightenment is closer than you may think

the power of supination

as a “barefoot” enthusiast, the biomechanics of human motion is incredibly curious to me.

for months now i have been attempting to diagnose and treat deeply rooted calf pain when i run, stumping me until i read The Practice of Natural Movement by Erwan Le Corre.

i found the basic mechanics of walking to include placing or landing on the outside of the foot since it locks the ankle into a sturdier position (supination).

incredibly it worked— yesterday i ran 2.6 miles and didn’t feel a single singe of pain in either of my calves.

skipping stairs

this made me realize that in order to run well, we must first learn how to properly walk by working on the basics.

in life there is no stair-skipping.

in order to learn to paint like one of the greats, you must first learn how to hold the brush. bad form will hamper your art for the rest of your career, so why not spend time correcting the basics?

for me the basics always feel too simplistic, too boring. i want to be the best, now.

spiritual work always feels like it’s “out there”, maybe at a yoga retreat or ashram.

but it’s right here and now.

it’s in the brief meals with friends as they pass through town. it’s bickering with your parents. it’s having to cook a full meal after a long work day.

life constantly provides opportunities to apply your spiritual theories (learned at a yoga retreat?), and until it clicks, it won’t let up.

modern enlightenment

so if spiritual work (the pursuit of enlightenment) isn’t “out there”, where is it?

we might say it’s “in here” as we meditate, but that internal change doesn’t affect anything until it’s put into the world.

American writer Wayne Dyer had an atypical definition of enlightenment i find applicable here:

Enlightenment is all about improving your relationships. Being more loving with your spouse. Being more patient with your children. The quest for enlightenment is about improving your daily life in real ways.

this is much more in line with what i feel Jesus Christ or Buddha were here to say.

less “obey me!” and more “you can do it, it’s simple.”

in my opinion they’d be referring to a similar definition as Dyer above.

hell just may well very be spending your life waiting to be struck by lightning or to levitate while meditating in order for the spiritual work to begin, only to find out you missed all the minor stair-steps along the way— each designed custom for your growth at that time.

conclusion

for me this looks like more time for reflection throughout my day in order to process what is going on around me as to extract the juicy lesson it’s teaching me. even if i hate it.

because it’s like eating broccoli, even if it sucks it makes us better.

so to be “enlightened” get that sleep; call that friend; do the simple things that improve your life, one stair-step at a time.