Went to the car wash today, i know it is a waste of good water and the soap probably is not so good for the environment, but it is a necessary evil. Well for as long as i drive a car and when occasionally, i can’t bear to see it so grimy. Maybe i should have bought a color which better hides the dirt.

Chose the do it yourself car wash as opposed to the drive through. Still too cold for the at home car wash. The do it yourself car wash is easier on my conscience as it uses less resources than the drive through, or so i tell myself. But it seems to me, obvious. Plus there is exercise, a bit anyway. Certainly more than the drive through.

While there, i fell into the routine developed from previous visits. Not till this moment as i am writing, did it strike me that i had a meditation in movement kind of thing going on as i washed the car. This much like the experience i sometimes get while in class at The Boston School of Boabom. On some rare occasions in class when i actually concentrate, on not concentrating, if that makes sense. Better put if i just relax and follow the movements, the rhythm and pace which the Teacher sets, i can at times really veg-out. Or more so tune in to la-la land. That’s the place where i forget about EVERYTHING except what is right there and right now.

It is a remarkable feeling of secure comfort and relaxation which can be achieved simply by focusing on what we are doing in class. If i can refrain from getting frustrated with my not doing it perfectly the first few times. If i just keep moving and trying, eventually the movement finds a way to help my body and mind understand and accept. When both body and mind get it, when both mutually form a bridge of partnership i am able to actually do a movement as the Teacher has been showing us for some time, or a close facsimile. These small accomplishment are a wonderful feeling and for this student a victory on more levels than just the obvious. They are self earned healing and advancement. They help me to stop dealing with the obvious in the same old tired and negative way. By learning something new with both body and mind acting in unison, i also learn to look and see what is truly there and not what has been taught and accepted for far too long.

While in the process of the car wash dance, i was interrupted by a woman who was having trouble operating the car wash equipment in the next bay. i explained the process rather briefly as the clock was ticking and it is a by the minute charge. When my four wheeled friend was feeling and looking better, we drove out of the bay, and as is the tradition i stopped to admire my friend. He really likes the inflated ego feeling he gets from my acknowledging how clean and sparkly he looks. Being much more secure i did not exhibit any insecure male type ego, by attaching anything to the AMAZING, SUPER EXPERT, and MOST PROFESSIONAL job of cleaning!!!

Nooooooooooo, not me, this is all about my friend, it is his moment to shine! So i let him have his moment. After it was almost over, i approached the woman who had asked me how to use the equipment. If for no other reason than to stop my friend’s gloating and Ego Dancing all over the place. Plus i could have originally been more generous and helpful to her. As i spoke with her and tried to help, it became obvious she was drawing a negative attachment which could well lead to a negative conclusion of her car wash encounter.

This allowed me the connection of how we learn and live, or how i did so, before Boabom. Boabom has provided an environment in which to learn, which is fun, healthy and positive. This allows for me to reevaluate stuff, lots of stuff.

She was most likely feeling frustrated and hindered by her lack of experience and comfort. As i spoke with her and tried to provide some support and a wee bit of positive energy via some humor. She helped me see what was so obviously there. What had been right there all along, yet hidden by my running with the rest of the herd and the herd mentality.

Previously i may have just rolled my eyes and reached the preset conclusion of WOMEN!!! Helpless, Hopeless Women, poor little thing could not handle the old car wash. Same car wash any 12 yr old boy could handle. This very subtle lesson is what i had learned and accepted to see as the norm or prevailing attitude. Women are less, is a mistake most likely created by some poor misinformed, insecure GUY. In reality people are people, ALL people have the ability to learn and grow, to function and change if given the opportunity.

My experience held that this woman was intimidated by the guyness of the car wash. Something i found to be very familiar and was quite comfortable with, (don’t read too much into that OK?). The car wash was designed by guys for guys. All the machinery, electronics, bells, buzzers, gadgets and buttons are guy heaven!!!

All she had to do was eliminate the testosterone factor and “reduce” things OOPs sorry i meant “elevate” things to a simple female wisdom. “Rinse, Soap and rinse.”!!

Here was a beautiful and intelligent woman who was more than capable of accomplishing what she had set out to do. Her beauty was in her confidence and willingness to try something new, to be self sufficient and enriching. Her wisdom and intelligence was in her doing something a GUY would never do, SHE ASKED!!! She was secure and confident enough in herself to ask about something she was unfamiliar with.

This is where all the subtle societal negatives came subliminally knocking. Movies, TV, songs, and written history all combine to inflate men by deflating woman. My observation was that this beautiful, intelligent and adventurous PERSON was intimidated and frustrated by the fact that she was taught to act and think like a female. Being in a male environment she possibly felt intimidated and confused. As well she should have, if a woman had designed the car wash it would have two buttons instead of the multiple buttons and attachments it’s maleness required to satisfy it’s need to control and create. The difference being woman can create so they do not need all the bells and whistles.

This “would” have been a somewhat shocking, painful and eye opening observation for this GUY. Like many observations since beginning at The Boston School of Boabom it led to other connections. But it led me there in a clear and humorous manner. Like how women seem more comfortable at accepting and learning the new movements in class while some guys (Ok Ok this GUy) struggles to control himself and so too the movement. Guy’s try to conquer, while women accept, adapt, change and grow.

Maybe what i am trying to say and learn is that we are all people. But with beautiful, amazingly unique qualities and abilities. That there is a very real difference between how females and males act, process, learn and live, and that this was TAUGHT.

Maybe just maybe, if we stop defining by gender, race, color, or national origin. Maybe just maybe, if we just stop stereotyping self and others. Maybe just maybe, if we relax and begin accepting people as simply being people. Maybe just maybe, if we begin to clearly observe life. Well then, maybe just maybe, we can begin to relax into a most stress-free, negative-free, stereotype-free life without fear or worry. That my friends will be a beautiful thing!!!!!!!!

Sojammmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

–The Anonymous Student (Boabom North)

Just occurred to me that i truly enjoy checking in with The Boabom Journal. Often with anticipation, as to what new thought provoking and insightful positive it will hold. At times there will be a gap between entries, which could for one less secure prove a disappointment, or a let down. Last time the Journal went awhile without an entry, in true Boabom Style, i turned my disappointment into a positive and reread some of the older entries.Possibly after a most positive “rassa – frassa” or two!!!!!! So my new found slice of security replaced my recently departed disappointment. Such a brave little soldier, almost tantrum free!

This small bit of progress for me coincided with a Teacher telling us of a favorite book he often returns to. He spoke of how the book provides different and new insights each time he revisits it. Like many things i have learned since becoming a student at The Boston School of Boabom, this too had been my experience. When i think back to how many times i had said roughly the same thing of a different book, it produces the smirk and positive head shake of Eureka! Finally getting something that has been sitting under that big ole imaginary Flashing Neon sign, is both enriching and humbling. But then that was teacher’s point, i think.

The book does not change, but the reader does. If they are constant, positive and open to change this can occur in a most favorable way. This as well led to another realization of how very much i learn, listening to students and Teachers while waiting for class to begin or in conversing after class as well. Something about this Art called Boabom and the few special folks who practice and share it with all they contact, make everything about it a positive experience. Well, most everything; a few memorable warm ups at the beginning of class were in the moment a challenge. But then that was my doing in the energy i chose to put into them. May well have been told about conserving energy. But that lesson sits under an imaginary neon sign i am not yet ready to acknowledge. It’s a gift! That often the recessive Guy Gene lies to me and lets me believe i’m still 20 and in shape. Such a mischief maker that Guy Gene! But in this there is realization, growth and a better me headed down a more positive path.

At this point i am in much better shape on a number levels. This due to a small bit of constancy on my part and a bit of guidance in The art from some exceptional Teachers. Oh and maybe just maybe a boat load of patience by those Teacher types as well. But this for me needs to be refreshed and replenished in an ongoing cycle. this requires input!!!!!!

Soooooooooooo, fellow students and Teacher types how’s about sharing some of your lesson’s insights, realizations, passions, experiences and ideas so my new found security is not tested by lack of new articles in The Journal. You all know what they say about “idle hands”. From experience it is far worse for an idle mind when visited by The Guy Gene! Don’t know about anyone else but i am always trying to eat and live healthier so maybe a recipe for a healthy meal or a healthy recipe for life!!! Better yet, make me laugh. Whatever you share it is all good !!!!!!

Sojammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !!!!!

–Anonymous Student, Boabom North