This gallery contains 7 photos.
I love doodling. Always have. I never know where it will take me. It is like big adventure and meditation combined. I hope you will like it:
This gallery contains 7 photos.
I love doodling. Always have. I never know where it will take me. It is like big adventure and meditation combined. I hope you will like it:
2022. The year of war and my 50th birthday.
I was born in the forest.
Actually in the hospital built in the beautiful forest, not far from my hometown.
I think this forest has been with me whole my life. After my mum delivered me to this world there, I visited this place only once, in my 20s, and I recognise all of it. It seems at once strange and natural.
The bond with the nature is so essential for our life. Even when we are lost and hallucinating on the fumes of the philosophers’ ideas. It gives as strength to survive, to strive, to try –
To breathe and swim under the open sky with the stars above you. To breathe in the wonderful smell of pine trees which surround you is like a blessing from heaven.
That was my birthday gift.
In July, I was lucky enough to join our Tai Chi Tuczno Camp in this incredible place. Being there makes me melt, thaw, loosen. Being surrounded with tai chi, true friends and nature does this unlike any other thing. And the LAKE. The lake, I tell you, the lake is a thing of splendour. Pure and gorgeous.
Then I went home. Just few kilometres from the forest I was born into. My family and friends prepared such a perfect celebration for me that I still can’t believe it happened. Bone fires, candle lights, music, a film about my being here 50 years, my mum’s garden in the background I felt like Greg Zorba dancing whole night, being drunk on our friendship and love. (And a little bit of alcohol.)
Then, I returned to work.
You know, this place where we spent most of our lives?
But not for very long.
After 2 weeks I went to Zlatý Kopec in Prague.
That was an adventure. At the time, all the travel issues, due to Corona, Brexit and all the Other Shit went mad. It was a long circle to get myself there. It was long enough to meet past, present.
How long do we have?
The very non virgin male vestals lit the bone fires for me. We had celebrated just in front of the Milky Way. We have great view at it, straight from “Zapraži”. The songs were sang in five languages, and there was more than enough of laughing. All the secrets kept quiet for a moment. Will they be still silenced when the winter arrives?
The last practice of 2021 in my secret place. It has been another strange covid year with plenty of Tai Chi to keep me sane, but no Tuczno, nor Zlatý Kopec, nor International push hands meetings in Prague.
Let’s hope 2022 will be kinder to all of us.
There is hope though, although January, one can smell springtime in the air 🌞🍀
#ThomasNowakowski #ShapesofBalance #TaiChi #London
Preparing for new “no fuel” order
Human world has been crazy place as long as we know. But we had those hopes, that we are going in the right direction after disastrous first part of 20th century. 2nd part wasn’t that great for eastern Europe neither, but it didn’t stop us, and at the end, we changed plenty. Changed for better. Why we forget this so easily?
Last week I attended Fedessa Conference, Yearly Self-Storage meeting, which was absolutely great after whole lockdown life.
One of the topics was “listening”. I think we should try to learn much more about that.
Stop lecturing world. Start to listen.
Funny enough one of the exercises within this lecture, was to try communicating in such a way that one person is talking about your favourite hobby, when another is only nodding, and not allowed to say anything.
Try for yourself to see how Difficult it is.
I happened to be one who talks, and realised once more, that actually swimming and not taking is one of my favourites.
You know, I do Tai Chi a lot. I started in 1995, the year I also finished my architectural studies.
Daily practice keeps me sane when the pressure is getting mad..meaning every second day 😉
But my weekly swim gives me special kick.
Just water, me, and deep cleansing breath.
Plus, smart watch to see how far I can go 😉
It is nice to see improvements every week.
Hopefully I will get so good I could cross English Chanel if needed 😉
I visited my old architectural office and had lovely meeting with architect Janina Dunal. We have worked together for almost a decade, and done so many cool projects. At the beginning I was still drawing by hand! Can you imagine?
I must be 100 years old 🤣🤣🤣
Look at that:
#architecture #design #projects #construction
This gallery contains 13 photos.
Work has been so crazy busy, and strange with all COVID issues, that we need fresh air and nature more than ever. So, For a change, here I am with couple of today’s rainy photos from around our lovely Hampton.