Early morning thoughts

Its quiet here, as if there`s an agreed noise level that everybody keeps. I find myself fitting into some of the community habits, feeling out the routine of this area of the city. But it is still hard to relate to the people living around me. But did I feel closer to those back home so long ago? No, I find that the environment of a place screams at me more than a person. I guess back home I found the layout, structure and style of the town familiar. I could anticipate the scenery I would see. I remember whenver I would drive, walk or run somewhere, I woul seek out new ways, undiscovered pathways between point A and B. Here, even more so, for every direction is unknown. I learned from lots of hiking experience to orientate myself on landmarks. In the forest this meant noticing different shapes, classifying logs, rocks and streams, colors of moss or the quality of light because it indicated the density of the surrounding folliage. Here, in the city, it is easier. Signs, street damage, odd parks, family names, public artwork etc. With these visual clues it is easier to place in my mind a quick access map of any detail.

Again, my thinking parallels swordsmanship. A constant question: does the sword reflect upon everything it touches or perphaps does the development of character, of self influence the sword? It can only be both. Like above I seek to know the completness of a motion. one cut- perfection comes from knowing what is incorrect. If a specific angle of a cut feels right, why? Why are the other 44 degrees wrong? What other purpose might those angles serve? Might one be good for parrying and another just for slicing? These are questions I must ask to pare away those uncertainties that could lead to hesitation.