SelfDevelopment photos on Flickr

車がようようすれ違えるほどの車線のない道。古い民家と鬱蒼と茂る木々との間を交互に行くような薄暗いカーブになった道。途中土手に掘られた穴があってそれは防空壕だったと聞いた。確か2回ほど曲がるところがあったはず。そこを抜けると田んぼが広がって、おたまじゃくしの泳ぐのを見ながら畦道を抜けていくと、そこにある。そこから先は軽トラックが1台やっと通れる山沿いに行く道。1度だけ乗せてもらって通ったことがあったけどどこへどう抜けてどこへ行ったのかは忘れてしまった。なるほど住所は麓後。そのままだ。そこから30mほど奥へ行ったところに一軒だけ家があった。隣のおばちゃんち。隣なのにこんなに離れてるんだと思ったものだった。家の敷地の入り口を入ってすぐ左側に手漕ぎポンプがあって、その水でビニールプールをさせてくれた。冷たくてとても気持ち良かった。トイレ（というより便所、が正しい表現）は家の中にはなく、家の向かいに建っていた納屋の中にあった。夜、真っ暗な中1人でトイレに行くことが出来ずに親を起こしてついてきてもらわなければならなかった。いつも大きな蛾や蜘蛛がいて、身のすくむのを我慢しながら用を足した。定時ごとにボーン、ボーンと鳴る柱時計は昼間は平気なのに夜になると不気味で仕方なかった。夜空は見たこともない夥しい数の星で埋めつくされて、すぐ手が届きそうなほどのところまで迫ってきている。圧迫感なのかなんなのか、星に襲われそうな気がして上を見るのが怖かった。お風呂は五右衛門風呂。軽い身体では上手く底板を沈めることがなかなかできず苦労した。何かしらおかずを作ってくれて食べたはずなのに、覚えているのは味噌汁とご飯だけ。具だくさんの味噌汁は美味しかったし、ちょっと柔らかめに炊かれたご飯がとても美味しかったのだ。それが伊佐米で有名なお米と大人になって知ったのだけど。

もう両祖父母はずっと前に他界して、子どもである母もその兄弟も大阪にいる。その家は面影はあるものの姿を変えて別の若い家族が住んでいた。周りの鬱蒼とした感もなくなって、あったものもかなりなくなってすっきりしてしまっていたからか私の記憶とはかなりかけ離れる。それはそうだな。あの頃の私が今の私になったように。そういうことなのだろうね。

Acro Revolution Teacher Training #7 / ARTT Reunion/Training Week 2017 by a4gpa

As part of my ongoing attempt at tidying and organizing my 25TB+ and growing collection of images, videos, digital content and overall stuff in life and asking myself, does this spark joy (think Marie Kondo, the founder of the spark joy konMari lifestyle movement), I came across this time-lapse I create two years ago. while watching this and reminiscing about all the connections I've made, lessons in life I've learned, skills I've become aware of and have honed, changes in perspective, and overall improvements in the way I live life and how I interact with myself and others. I'm happy to say this little art project brings me so much joy.

While watching I was reminded of some insights I've learned through observation and conversation with @yogabrock and his ability to connect and love everyone we met on the road (restaurant employees, cooking staff, bouncers, office assistants, and all the other behind the scenes folks). Because of Brock's kindness, the connections made afforded us many opportunities to gain access backstage, to invitation only events, and numerous other memory making moments. Because of these prior experiences, when this TT started it only felt natural to want to get to know the kitchen staff and possibly learn and co-create with them as well. This is where I met @brother.joshua and was able to see, taste, feel, and overall experience how someone could become calmer as their surroundings became more demanding. I was fascinated to observe how a being could treat others with so much respect while being so talented and passionate about the amazing meals / experiences he provided for everyone at the training. Getting the chance to learn from Josh and hearing his first hand accounts of his time as a monk, whether it was being solely depending on the generosity of others to get his daily food through alm offers, or holding another monk in his arms and having them die after being involved in a bus crash and how those experiences molded this him. How he was taught many times over while working with head chefs at the world's top restaurants on how NOT to treat people. Or how he brought a local farmer's family in to give us a presentation in an attempt to help educate all of us on supporting the local environment / community, sourcing quality organic plants and animals and giving us a true appreciation for a farm to table experience. Getting to eat some of the art that came out of his kitchen was some of the best nurturing experiences I've had in this lifetime. And if you've ever seen me make love eating food, well, we will keep it at memorable.

I wish embodying these characteristics, mind sets and qualities only took osmosis. However, once you become aware and / or have felt something, it is up to us to choice to make it a practice for our self.

I'd go on about how much I love the yoga, acro, slacklining, sound healing, the ted talks, the great one-on-one conversations and pretty much all the other items that make up an event like this. However, I'm four hours into attempting to articulate some of my experiences from this event and it was all started randomly when organizing folders on my computer, which I need to get back too. I'll save the other yoga / acro missionary work and life metaphors for another time.

Here is to making more adventures like this something that I am a part of in the upcoming months.

I'll leave you with a few comments below that were made when I originally started to share this timelapse on IG almost two years ago, back when you could only share one minute videos and it would was going to take me 16 posts to get all of the timelapse shared....

I learn so much about myself as I help document and participate in the Acro Revolution TT's. I'm not sure if it is just where I am on my path or it is a conscious effort by the beautiful people that make an event like this possible, yet, ever teacher training seems to do a better job of bringing out some aspects of myself and others where I am given the choice to grow in the way I interact, connect and see the world and the relationships I create, grow, and in some cases let go of. Thanks for making all of this possible Lizzy Tomber @lizzytomber and Josh Young @acropediaorg.

Music Credit: Best of ODESZA

#AcroRevolution #EricWardPhotography #SelfDevelopment #acro #yoga

@lizzytomber comment:

I think this is my favorite of your video captures because you managed to capture so much of the co-creation process. There are moments of movement followed by long talks, then trial and error, asking for help from spotters, refinement and then at the end of the process everyone was brave and shared where they were in that moment

*Enjoy Camera Life by TEIKO

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ZENZA BRONICA ETR si

ZENZANON EII 75mm f2.8

Untitled by SAME-HADAO

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by ftshsakakibara

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自撮り王子 by Junichiro Kano