For me, it does sound familiar, but it was decades ago
The strange thing is, since I was in dojos so many years I do things differently from most people in daily life, like cleaning house, cooking related stuff, and yard and garden stuff. Even tossing banana peels on the back of compost pile, aiming not to get caught on small tree branches. (Oh no the IS/IP folks might think I'm trying to do their stuff without proper study from those who know
) So I agree with the "interesting and mysterious" statement at the end also.
The stairs example is excellent! It is so true of many things, not just aikido.
Hope more people answer who are training now, or even people like me who did so years ago.
Some similar words of wisdom that I never forgot since it was such a great image:
We had a friend from Korea who had a wig store here in town and taught kendo in a church basement, I took it for a while but then got busy with work and my small aikido class at a Y, but when the teacher moved a couple of towns away he taught at the Y there and I was delighted that the brother of one of my original Aikido students who had started studying kendo here continued with Mr. Park in Norwalk. Years later, I just found out from my former student that his brother reached Sandan there!
I just added the details, the point is what Mr. Park once said, and I think he meant life in general. He said to think about the frog. Before the frog jumps, he shrinks.
Somehow this reminds me of the whole plateau thing, to which you, Mario, have found an excellent image to encourage people. Even if I don't teach again, I can use that to encourage anyone I know who feels stagnant or is having a rough time at something.
Thanks!