With the end of year 2007, I ve promised myself to be more open and communicative with friends, family, colleagues and employers. Over the years I had grown into this bad habit where I thought that if I kept my feelings to myself and swallowed any feelings of hurt that, I had felt it would be ok and not happen again. Well I realized through bitter situations where I could have rectified problems just by being open and talking it over with people. Of course this might not always work too, because no one likes to get their ego hurt as well. So the manner in which i put across my thoughts and ideas also matter.

After years of learning sitting in a classroom, today I had my first class in Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a form of art that improves concentration and is along the lines of meditation.It emphasizes on breathing techniques and slow movements of the body. I learn't several forms today that I can hopefully practice at home.I have so far attended a class in kung fu and a class in Tai chi and in every class it felt really good.

Jake, our instructor hopes to become a master and then finally a Grand Master in Kung fu. It was a pleasure learning under him. Everyone including Jake was learning something new and were eager to learn. During Tai Chi class, I was able to flush out thoughts about my normal life and just concentrate on breathing at first and then gradually visualizing on an object from nature. I, for obvious reasons could picture a snow clad mountain while I breathing. Even though we had to do some fast exercises, I think i left the class feeling refreshed.

After little or no exercise Tai chi provides a perfect warm up for couch potatoes like me. Like all beginners, I am a white belt now and hopefully i can become a yellow belt before the holidays end.