Yin and yang symbolise the Dao or ‘way’. This ‘way’ teaches that Yin and yang are two sides of the same coin. Two sides of Qi or Ch’i (life-force) which are complementary to each other and dependant upon one another. The goal is harmony. A balance between giving and taking. Sounds good. Makes sense, doesn’t it? On the surface, yes. But let’s dig a little deeper.

I agree that equilibrium is achieved by even-handed, just behaviour. It is vital to achieve harmony and health. For there is indeed a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, and in our broken, mixed-up world, even a time for war and a time for peace. But why must there be a time for war? Why not only peace? Is this tension really necessary? Must everything have a complementary opposite for harmony to be achieved? Contrary to the teachings of Daoism, I contend no.
If there is peace, why do we need war? If something isn’t broken, then it doesn’t need fixing. If something is complete, it doesn’t require anything else to make it more complete. In such cases, thankfulness is all that is necessary to experience joy and harmony. Appreciation and contentment maintain this state indefinitely.

Darkness is not the complementary opposite of light. Darkness is the absence of light. Just as, we don’t need evil to complement goodness. On the contrary, evil is the absence of good, not its opposite. Contrary to the Dao, where there is true light, there can be no darkness. In true darkness, all light has gone. The darkness of evil occurs when goodness is diluted, hidden or suppressed, when something pure is twisted or misused.

Yes, it is sadly true that we all too often have to experience loss to appreciate what we have had. But that is because we so quickly take for granted the good we have and never satisfied. We always yearn for more.

Question; when will you have enough?
When will you be satisfied?
Is goodness not enough?

By God’s good grace and hard work I am fortunate enough to be in a position where I have been able to train and learn new skills in my life.  If you don’t mind I would like to share one of them with you all.  My objective in doing so is to encourage you to enjoy the life you have been blessed with, try new things and thus grow as a unique individual.

After several lessons with my patient instructor and now dear friend Maurice at First Choice Motorcycles in Glossop, Derbyshire it was not until September 9th 2010 is when I passed my motorcycle test.  “Not bad considering my original intent had been to pass my CBT, get a lime green Piaggio Scooter with matching clothing, a Man-bag and then scoot around Manchester trying to look as cool as the Italian men I had seen whilst in on vacation in Bologna & Florence previously.” Well once I saw myself on a Scooter…”Oops! not a pretty sight!” I soon changed my mind needless to say.

Three days after passing my test I purchased my Triumph Tiger 955i.  A tall, powerful but easy to handle Endurance bike (if you’re over 6ft and strong as an ox lol). Nothing like a sports-bike! More of a ‘sit up and beg’ type.

At the young age of 48 I felt mature enough to respect not only the bike but the roads also.  Motorcycling is not to be taken lightly as it can be a very dangerous activity even with the right training, best quality protective clothing and to be perfectly honest I never set off on any journey without first praying, but more so now I am a biker!

Through  learning this new skill I have much improved as a driver, more respectful of other road users and I have learned to enjoy each and every journey I embark upon, be it on foot, two wheels or four.

Life is a continual journey, as I always say, and along each path we take there is an invaluable lesson to be learned to equip us further down life’s highway.