365 days down... It has been an interesting, challenging and diverse year...

In retrospect a lot of the 'problems' we have seen on Bob's path have been more because we expected the period to take on a certain 'flavour' and when it did not follow the expected route we, or I at the very least, took it as a shaking of the structure. Bob had said from the outset that he was not following a prescribed path and wanted to be open to situations that presented themselves along the way. It is certainly not the sort of retreat we envisaged with Bob becoming a recluse for extended periods and that aspect has not been maintained - but waking at 4am and meditation routines have been maintained with ... no, zeal would not be the right word; unquestioned determination.

Bob is still positive and upbeat about his journey - and continues to  see this period as a time of clearing out a lot of old baggage (mostly in the form of long outstanding jobs that are slowly being completed) and clearing the path ahead for forging forward. He says the period away from his involvement in the centre was served as a validation of the need to be involved in training and running the centre - and plans for 2008 - year two - are to concentrate on Hombu and get those long spoken about dreams of a new dojo building, administration block... etc off the ground. There are plans for year three, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there - but it is fair to mention that the 1000-days have officially (in Bob's head) been extended to a full three years.

I think my understanding of the mechanics of this sort of extended pilgrimage is now better understood - it came to me with the realisation that after the 1000 days or three years, that Bob would probably not actually stop anything that has been introduced... and the discipline of the retreat or pilgrimage of an extended period is really to inculcate new habits and lifestyle changes that you want to see - and if they are working (and one would only assume that you introduce them because they should work) you would retain them after the stipulated journey is complete. 

Otherwise: Bob is well. He has recovered from a sprained ankle and has been running regularly throughout the holiday period and looking to revamp the garage with gym equipment after a fall out with the management of our (now mine only) gym.

We have a morning Summer School starting next week and classes resume the week after. 

The most unexpected result of year one for me, given that I was looking at a fairly full immersion into the centre, has been more of a withdrawal from the direct running of the centre and a concentration on getting my writing side nicely established. That big contract that I last reported had fallen through has started - work began on 1 December (Bob's birthday) and seems to be going well. Helping is something that is core to my nature - I thrive on doing it, without expectation... but growing up as an only child I've been very slow in learning when not to help other's and when to help myself and live my own dreams first. Bob has always said that you have to love and take care of yourself in order to love and take care of others - and perhaps I am finally learning to bring the 'me' factor into better balance in my life. 

For 2008, I will be focusing on my writing, tai chi training and teaching, finding a farm cottage ad supporting Bob (probably in that order) - as well as exploring the possibility of combining my farm home dream with a combined dream with Bob of having a farm-based training centre as well.