Tai Chi is Celebrating Life

My daughter, after seeing some pictures of me doing tai chi, asked me why I wasn't smiling. I couldn't give her an answer right away, but later realized my mistake. I had been so intent on the form and my physical self, that I was not surrendering in the least. I was posing. I was moving through the form with only my ego to guide me. Very empty indeed and no reason to smile: the ego judges harshly. Her observation has stuck with me and whenever I find myself moving through the form without a smile, I realize I am cutting myself off from the very universe I am wanting to dance with. When I breathe in light and breathe out love, the universe carries me on its wings and I cannot help but smile while in the midst of this celebration of life.