Falling Down

Lately, when I've been reflecting about my aikido practice, I've been considering how many times, since I began practicing over 5 years ago, just how many times I've fallen down to the mat. And while I have absolutely no idea what the actual number is, (tens of thousands but I don't think it really matters) I wonder what my life would be like had I not fallen down all those times I estimate I have fallen. I remember early on in my training, the muscles burning in my legs, my stomach, the seeming absurdity of falling down. "Why not just stay here, down?" Of course though, falling implies getting back up. There is no doubt in my mind that the physical effects of picking oneself back up, over and over again, builds an amazing resiliency and strength. Not just physical strength though, a transformational strength if you will, to continue to rise to the challenges life presents with skill and confidence, that I can be there to assist my fellow human beings to rise up when they are down. I know that if I fall down, I get back up. Fall down 7 times, get up 8.