Dear friends,

I recently posted a very personal update on my Facebook profile.

Since it’s difficult for me to separate my personal and professional lives, I decided to summon up my courage and share this update with all of you as well.

I want you to know what’s been happening in my life, and where I’m headed.

I have 3 announcements for you today.

Announcement #1

First, it’s with deep sadness that I announce a change in my relationship status. Akemi and I have been working hard for over a year, both together and separately, in order to flush out the next stage of our relationship.

In 2018 it became clear that the romantic leg of our journey was over. Despite great effort, getting all of the pieces to fit into place doesn’t always work out.

There were no betrayals or anything like that, so please don’t let your minds wander there. We have simply decided to take separate paths.

The marriage matured me in countless ways over the last 12 years. It has given me access to a totally new dimension of healing, both for myself and my students. I’m grateful. My commitment to the healing arts is stronger than ever.

I’m not ready to share any more details at this time. Though I welcome loving thoughts and support, I would ask you to please respect our privacy.

Give us time to heal and also space to process this massive change in our lives.

Announcement #2

There’s another big change happening in my life. Starting in April, I will be going on an odyssey.

I purchased a campervan, and I’ll be traveling around North America as a digital nomad.

My plan is to visit friends, teach, write, meditate, and spend lots of time in National Parks. I want to take in the stunning scenery and the amazing qi as I clear my head and heal my heart.

Announcement #3

And here’s my final announcement: I am now on Instagram. Woohoo!

Find me on Instagram here: @flowingzen

Here’s why you might care, even if you’re not on Instagram.

As I travel around in my campervan, I’ll be shooting lots of photos and videos. I plan to share those on Instagram, which will act as a record of my travels.

I’ll also be micro-blogging on Instagram. You can see a few examples on my profile now. Rather than write long, 2000-word essays on my blog (which I’ve done for a decade), I will be playing with shorter, bite-sized posts on Instagram.

And of course, I’ll be sharing photos of my best friend, Sgt. Pepper!

Check my Instagram feed for tips, thoughts, pupdates, and inspiration. You don’t even need an Instagram account to look (but it’s more fun if you interact).

This Instagram campaign is part of my ongoing effort to reach more people with qigong, especially the younger generation.

No offense to all you old farts, but millennials desperately need qigong.

You may not know this, but there’s an epidemic of depression afflicting millennials. The research overwhelmingly suggests that this spike in depression is caused by social media.

My plan is to use social media to help them get off of social media. Fight fire with fire!

Don’t worry. I’ll also continue to blog and work on my book. If anything, I hope that this new lifestyle will give me more time for writing.

While going through this year of challenging transitions, soul-searching, and healing I have found a renewed commitment to Flowing Zen. Teaching these ancient, life-changing arts and bringing them to the people who desperately need them is where my heart is, and where I want my time and energy to go in this next phase of my life.

My students are my family. I hope to meet up with many of you as I travel. Workshops, casual meetups, retreats — I’ll be doing more of these in the near future.

If you like where my path is taking me, then I hope you’ll connect with me and follow my journey. Find me on Instagram, join our Facebook group, or subscribe to my YouTube channel. Or you can just stay on my email list and I’ll send you periodic updates about my travels.

Thanks for your kindness and understanding. It means a lot to me. 

From the heart,
Sifu Anthony

The post [Update] Life, Instagram, and the Path Ahead appeared first on Flowing Zen.