That photo wasn’t taken in California. But what I’m about to describe did. And that’s about what I looked like at the time.
Circa early 1990s
Every time I do tai chi, I think of California. Not for any of the usual reasons people associate those two things. I was in California on a business trip with two other government attorneys. It’s hard to remember now exactly where the motel was, but I do remember going outside my room and seeing tai chi, being practiced by Asian men on balconies of the building next door.
I was taken by the sight. The men looked like slow motion dancers. Just watching them seemed to have a calming effect. But I had no idea what they were doing.
When I mentioned this to one of the attorneys, he said, “They’re doing tai chi.” And that was the first I’d ever heard the term. It’s interesting, because tai chi is technically a martial art, and I had taken karate while in my 20s. Thought about trying to pursue that but didn’t. There are many things I could’ve pursued, but didn’t.
And just for the sake of context, at the time of this trip, I was in my mid-30s, working as an attorney for the Pesticides and Toxics Division of the Office of General Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned after several decades of living, it’s not to worry about the things you didn’t pursue. Focus more on the things you really want to pursue. And once decided, don’t agonize so much over the alternative. Not if you really want to go where you’re headed.
PS: Here’s a random shot of me in California. :)
BTW, I thought that Triumph was the coolest!