As he was for many martial artists of my generation, Bruce Lee was a catalyst and inspiration for my own studies. In fact, I specifically opted to take up his original style of Wing Chun Kung Fu at a downtown NYC school.
The first form one learns in Wing Chun is called Sil Lum Tao, which is usually translated as “a little idea.” The movements of Sil Lum Tao may initially seem awkward or even esoteric. As you advance in Wing Chun, you discover that indeed, these movements offer “a little idea” of what lies ahead. How you choose to utilize and apply these movements, however, is ultimately up to you. (Can you smell a metaphor brewing?)
Yip Man (Bruce Lee’s teacher), Pinterest screenshot
I immediately loved the “little idea” concept and in many ways, it's carried over to my writing, public speaking, and even my photography. By offering a little idea of what is possible and encouraging others to partake, I can do my small part in helping others break free from what is accepted and expected.
During the 2020 pandemic, we are witnessing a little idea of how different things can be — at least on a micro-level. There has been paranoia and division at previously unparalleled levels. There have also been incredible examples of humans combining creativity with compassion to help others at previously unparalleled levels.
These are seeds. The partisanship and the partnership — each presenting a little idea of what our shared future could potentially look like. Contrary to popular belief (and activist dogma), you and I cannot impact the big picture all at once. What we can do is make personal, local choices. We can behave like a triage nurse — utilizing our resources to address the urgent needs of those within our reach.
Who knows? The little ideas, the tiny choices being made since this crisis commenced just may lead to a better world. But here’s the most important part: Even if the myriad examples of Covid kindness don’t change the long-term situation, they still offer so much in the present moment. There's no downside.
Reminder: We have absolutely nothing to lose by eschewing discord and instead choosing interdependence.
Photo by Mickey Z.
Coda: “Sil Lum Tao” has also been translated to mean “a beautiful beginning.” I choose to take this to mean that sometimes, all our little ideas can add up to a beautiful beginning.
Mickey Z. can be found here. He is also the founder of Helping Homeless Women - NYC, offering direct relief to women on the streets of New York City. To help him grow this project, CLICK HERE and make a donation right now. And please spread the word!
A large team of social scientists, psychologists and geriatric specialists affiliated with a host of institutions across the U.S. reports that women who remain optimistic…
A nationwide study of 196 cities shows that housing discrimination from 90 years ago still casts a historical shadow of inequities in colon cancer care…
New report highlights global strategies for accelerating AI in science and researchA comprehensive analysis of the integration of artificial intelligence in science and research across various countries addresses both the advancements made and the challenges faced…
techxplore.com/news/2024-03-highlights-global-strategies-ai-science.html
Amazon bets $150 billion on data centers required for AI boomAmazon.com Inc. plans to spend almost $150 billion in the coming 15 years on data centers, giving the cloud-computing giant the firepower to handle an…
techxplore.com/news/2024-03-amazon-billion-centers-required-ai.html
Responsible AI: Three tools to help businessesArtificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful tools developed in recent decades. And, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.
techxplore.com/news/2024-03-responsible-ai-tools-businesses.html
White House sets policies for federal AI use"Concrete safeguards" for government use of artificial intelligence were announced by the White House Thursday, as it vowed they would serve as a model for…
techxplore.com/news/2024-03-white-house-policies-federal-ai.html
Are schools that feature strong test scores highly effective, or do they mostly enroll students who are already well-prepared for success? A study co-authored by…