06/07/2024
Meditation post by André Hajjar, hopefully it can be a message of self-evaluation for all my peers.
It's been 16 years since I picked up the sword, when I felt a je ne sais quoi that I understood after the years. Historical fencing will give your reasons to train, sparr, read and/or belong to the community as much as you want and need. Mine were very clear for the very beginning: I enjoy this. I feel joy and I have fun and I will keep sacrificing energy, time and money as long as I feel the same joy as I felt when in that 2008 I arrived to the club lead by Sendo and Aleix and I had my first sparring session, with jeans and mountain boots. I met many good humans on the way, so many that it would take an eternity to name them all... the pictures do not make justice, so don't mind if you don't appear on them. I also encountered other humans that, even if they don't deserve mention they also teach valuable lessons, daily and we must learn from those experiences.
At the end, we are obliged to share space, time and emotions with other people that may or may not share our values, goals or feelings. Time will discriminate between wolves and sheep and it's up to you to approach to some, and run from others.
Remember, we are here to pick up the sword and enjoy, to socialize as much as we want or need, but for sure to love and feel loved, regardless how much you win or lose. What one considers "results" should not be the guide that would rule our feelings. Instead, we should examine the emotions that brought us here, evaluate the positive aspects and keep pushing what put a smile on us. Taking HEMA seriously means working on that ALWAYS. Every-single-second. That is why we need self-reflection many times.
Take care of the community, of your peers, and work hard to make your environment better, so when you look back you can see the good harvested path and have a tear of pride and another one of nostalgia.
Cheers!
