Being social makes me nervous. I never quite know what’s going on because I can’t really ‘see’
facial expressions or subtle body language. It’s a weird feeling, being there and not having all the
clues I need to interpret social cues accurately.
There is always uncertainty for me in every interaction I make with people. I make a lot of
mistakes.
Especially when I’m not all there. When my body is there but my mind is not. Sort of like my
head position during a Kata, I wander off mentally sometimes. I loose track of where I am for a
second.
Being present. To be here and now. To not think of the past or the future, or a possible doomsday
scenario.
Karate has shown me how imperative it is to be in the here and now. Not just because I goof
social interactions whenever I lose focus. If I daydream for a minute, someone could punch me in the face. Or worse.
It’s a work in progress.
Quick thought by Nathali Carrera