Monocultures

Every several years, I would have a plant giveaway.  I post on Freecycle and Master Gardener listserv to invite people to come to my place to dig up plants for free.  

Many people respond by saying "I'll take whatever you want to get rid of."  The truth is:  I give plants away not because I want or need to get rid of them.  My garden is doing just fine.  I offered because I know many of the plants I have are quite popular among gardeners, but they can be pricey to buy from a store.  Since I have them in abundance, I thought I would share them with others so as to make people happy.

A few of the beneficiaries asked, "Since you have so many of these plants growing so nicely here, have you consider selling them?  You can fetch very good money."  I think they made these suggestions out of good intentions.  But, after they got my garden plants for free, they want the next person to pay for it?  I don't understand.

I volunteered myself to teach self defense classes for seniors at the local rec center because people have been asking for one, but the program director did not have anybody to teach it.  I have benefitted from several of their free classes.  I thought I would give back by teaching one for them.  

When the seniors taking the class found out I was teaching as a volunteer, they were very curious:  Why are you not paid?  Since there is a demand for this, why don't you open a school so you can charge people for your work?

These questions lead me to think of an old debate:  Aikido instructors spent a lot of time and money to take classes and seminars to develop their skills.  In addition, every promotion costs money.  Shouldn't they get paid for their instruction to recuperate their investment?  

I got my plants because I wanted them for my garden.  Since they grow so well and I have so many, I can share them with others.  It costs me nothing.  It makes me happy to think that my plants are flourishing in so many people's gardens. 

By the same token, I study Aikido because I love it.  Aikido has enriched my life and helped me grow as a person.  I practice and attend seminars for myself.  Never once did I attend a seminar thinking I would recuperate the training fees by teaching Aikido one day.  

My teachers taught me for so many years without ever taking a penny from me.  Why would I use Aikido as a way of making money?  This should just be a way to give forward and perpetuate the art.  

A friend once had a discussion with me about the possibility of teaching a seminar at his dojo.  However, he cannot get over notions in his heart.  The reason?  "I'd love to have you come teach, but you are not a 'known entity'.  Outside of our dojo membership, I am not sure how many people will come.  We are a small dojo.  I cannot afford to pay you teaching fees. . . " he muttered.

It really cracked me up 😆 .

"Is that what you are worrying about?  True.  I am no name brand 'known entity'.  There are only so many 'known entity" instructors out there.  They are known entities because we made them so."

He looked dumbfounded 😳.  "What do you mean?" 

"What do I mean?  I mean, if we really want to have a seminar, we should have a seminar!  It is supposed to be an educational experience.  Unknown entities are capable of teaching good seminars, too.  I appreciate your kind thoughts of paying me, but I do not need the money.  Whatever you collect, your dojo may keep it.  Just help me get a ticket.  Feed me and give me a bed when I am there.  We can have a fun time and learn together for a weekend.  How about that?" 

When I was young, our dojo would invite so many different instructors to come teach all year round.  They might not be well known or powerful figures in the Aikido world.  We invited them, nonetheless, because, our teacher believed it was good for his students to be exposed to different styles and approaches. Having something different and interesting to show was way more important than having a big name.  

I feel really blessed that I grew up in an era when dojos were meadows where all sorts of flowers bloom.  Sadly, nowadays, the box office has become such a major concern that cross pollination has become a lapsed practice.  Just like modern commercial farms, what we are left with are monocultures . . .