I saw a guy doing tai chi today. He was by himself, in a dress shirt and suit pants, moving in slow motion on my office building’s front lawn. He didn’t seem to notice the steady stream of traffic on the street, or the stares from passersby.

I stared at him, too. At first I thought he looked silly. Out of place. But then I was drawn into the fluid grace of his movements. Even from my ninth-floor perch, I could see his concentration.

Something about the incongruous image appealed to me. Maybe it was his courage in being himself, in spite of the stares. Or his ability to create an oasis of tranquility on a small patch of grass.

I found myself wanting to join him. Too bad I don’t know tai chi.