tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40922813160372444662024-03-13T07:52:10.781-07:00Invisible Ties (Lazos Invisibles)"We are because we feel, because we form invisible ties and timeless links to one another. Life is about the energy we share - a gaze, an embrace, a fleeting exchange of irreplicable moments. Life is about the connection."<hr>
"Somos porque sentimos, porque formamos lazos invisibles y vínculos atemporales entre nosotros. La vida trata de compartir energía - una mirada, un abrazo fugaz, un intercambio fluyente de momentos irreproducibles."
<br><p align="right">- Gabriela Condrea, When 1+1=1</p>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-31319390571123382512021-03-31T18:46:00.001-07:002021-03-31T18:46:13.044-07:00Tango Pinned Me Face-to-Face With Myself<p>When I met tango, it was love at first sight. I was enamored
by the spirals and shapes, the organic embrace, its sophisticated simplicity,
and perhaps most of all, the challenge it presented for me. You see, up until
then, I had lived my life pretty independently. I asked no-one for permission,
I had no debts. I did as I well pleased. As one of my friends put it: “A
rolling stone gathers no moss.” I started teaching gymnastics as soon as I was
old enough to work – literally on my 15<sup>th</sup> birthday, I taught my
first classes solo. After that, I dove into teaching 8<sup>th</sup> grade at a
school in which it was really up to each of us teachers to sort things out
within our four walls, with little support from the administration. Then I took
one year off that turned into many more to lead a volunteer project in Perú,
travel like the wind blows, and find what I didn’t even know I was looking for:
tango. <span></span></p><a name='more'></a>I continued my jet setting with tango as my inspiration and my book as
my fuel. And tango remains a journey of discovery, as much inward as it is
outward.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tango presented such a challenge because it required me to
be vulnerable. When I was so used to standing alone, to dance tango, I couldn’t
take even one step by myself. So I dove in, eager to learn, soaking everything
up like a sponge. And I soon realized that there was a disconnect between the
patterns of steps people memorized in tango classes and the organic dance that
unfolded as pairs who had been dancing for decades – the ones who moved
together like one four-legged creature – walked their way down the dance floor.
Most classes centered on a pattern really meant for the leads and the followers
were told “just follow” and given some adornments to do with their feet.
Basically, I ended up feeling like a ragdoll being tossed around as the
“leaders” copied the pattern (with little regard for my positioning or presence)
It felt little like the decadent, connected, fluid dances I had experienced. I
wanted more of <u>that</u>. And it was evident I’d have to go searching for it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My exploration of tango lead me to an
exploration of the parallels to human dynamics and relationships in my own life
– and a deep exploration of myself. It was so intense, I was compelled to write
in order to process it. After all, the dance partners change one after the
other; what remains constant and who tango pinned me face to face with is this
girl right here.</span>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-43743520360267340302021-03-31T18:44:00.004-07:002021-03-31T18:44:54.330-07:00Feminine Power is Anything but Passive<p>Perhaps because of the paradigms of power in our society,
feminine power is overlooked and underappreciated, and therefore underdeveloped.
I’ve heard of men being yelled at for opening doors. I think these are
confusing times. And in the tango world, women are often told to “let go”,
“surrender”, “trust”, or my favorite, “just follow.” People – often times women
– also say things like “anyone can dance with a good lead.” What about the
feminine role? How does one dance the feminine role well? After all, there <i>is </i>a difference between how one follow
dances and how another follow dances. And from having led some myself, I can
attest to the fact that, it is much easier to dance with a skilled follow as a
lead, as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, I decided to investigate further. I went right to the
source. I began seeking out the women who had been dancing since their teenage
years when they had to be chaperoned by their mothers and aunts to attend
milongas – the social tango dances. After observing the grace of their
connection and decades of experience on the dance floor, I would approach and
ask them, “How does one dance the woman’s/follow’s role well?” <span></span></p><a name='more'></a>One after
another, I got the same response: “You never do anything the man doesn’t lead.”
I tried changing the question a bit, adding the follow-up: “What do I need to
do to dance the follow’s role well? What advice would you give women learning
to dance?” Same answer: “Oh no, no, you never do anything the man doesn’t
lead.” <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I’m persistent, and I kept asking in different ways
all the older women whose dancing I admired. Until one day, after getting the
same answer as usual, I struck gold! “What do you do when the leads squeeze you
or hold you in a way that is uncomfortable?” She said, “No-one ever holds me in
a way that I don’t like.” Oh! Now we were getting somewhere! I asked her to
elaborate: “I position myself in a way that is comfortable for me.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then another evening at the milonga, I sat next to my
friend who I asked the same question. Her answer, after a bit of coaxing, was: “We use the same tools that they use on us (in
the embrace)” (arms, healthy tension) So, we position ourselves to create the
embrace we want with our partner; to create the dance we want with our partner.
The dance doesn’t happen <u>to</u> us! Now <i>this</i>
was more consistent with my experience of switching lead and follow at Dance
Underground with the Tazmanian devil!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This new insight into feminine power revolutionized my
dance! And it better equipped me for situations like the time I was getting
ready to perform in front of a sold-out theater with a guy who besides dancing
tango, was also a musician. We chatted with the other performers – mostly
musicians, none were tango dancers – in the green room before our turn in the
line-up. “In tango,” he explained to the other musicians, “I play my partner
like I do my guitar.” What?! I mean, I wasn’t completely surprised considering
the way he danced, but WOW! I’m <u>not</u> your guitar, my body is not here to
be “played”, I dance in this dance, too! So my words, which were not nearly as
significant as what followed on stage, were something along the lines of, “I
think tango is more like a jazz jam session, where we are each instruments and
we improvise, creating the music or the dance together.” On stage, we danced to
an intense, emotional song, and I took all of it out on him – or better said, I
matched his energy and then some. <br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The feminine role in tango is far from passive.
It is patient, it is receiving, and it is absolutely responding. It’s even
setting the parameters for how you would like to be spoken to and treated. And
one thing it is not is </span><u style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">powerless</u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></p>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-41201068187213939372021-03-31T18:42:00.006-07:002021-03-31T18:42:51.566-07:00Is Power Finite?<p>Perhaps this idea is tied to our “scarcity complex”. In our
consumerist and materialistic society, we are conditioned to fear not having
enough, not being enough. That if one person has more, I will have less. That
for me to have more, someone else has to go without. And so it seems with
power: we seem to think of power as a dichotomy of the powerful and powerless.
How can we have two equally-powerful participants in the dance? And for leads
whose masculinity was the definition of power, their thinking might be, “If I
want my partner to have more power, I have to give some of my power away”.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While chatting over mate with a friend one afternoon, we
started talking about this very thing. He explained to me his definition of
what it means to be an “active follow” and like most things tango, he said,
“Here, let me show you.” We stood and composed our tango embrace, he in the
role of “active follow”. “You lead,” he said. I lead a few steps and then he
said, “Ok, my turn”. Without changing the configuration of our arms, he started
initiating movements. This was fun and then like in any good conversation, what
he was saying with his body gave me a flash of inspiration! I jumped back in the
conversation adding my two cents, like you would when someone tells you
something really interesting you’d like to add to. “No, no, no,” he said – I
think he even waved his finger, “I’m not done yet.” <span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Not to mention that this
took my little bubble of inspiration and totally deflated it, like poking a
hole in a balloon, it felt so artificial. Like pass the talking stick. As if we
were to push a button, “Ok, you talk”, “Now you talk”. And all reinforcing the
idea that if I’m speaking no-one else can move a muscle; no-one else has power.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another day at the studio, also exploring this same idea of
dancing more actively in the feminine role, somewhere mid-tango, my friend took
a step toward me and mid-step the music inspired me to add a little more
density to our movement. I gave him some resistance. Rather than taking my
energy and using it to continue the movement and create something together, he
stopped dead in his tracks, even retreated a bit. It’s like he was
hyper-sensitive to try to “allow” space for me to say something, to give me
room to speak. But in doing so, in handing over the mic, it felt as though he
left me on stage in front of an empty room. If you give me the mic and leave
the room, does it matter that I have the mic?</p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Power is not finite. Why can't we be
active together, at the same time, working toward a common goal?</span>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-89484643392781522382021-03-31T18:39:00.001-07:002021-03-31T18:40:12.579-07:00Is Power Masculine?<p>Power is masculine, or that to be powerful, you need to
assume a masculine role or masculine qualities. We live in a social paradigm
that equates power with masculine definitions of what power is. And we often
play into this without even realizing it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve heard women say that they want to lead to have more control
of the dance – the musical expression, the movements, even the ability to
invite people to dance. If we think that to be powerful as a woman, you have to
act more masculine, then it would make sense to want to lead to have more
power. LEADER = TRADITIONAL MALE ROLE = POWER, or more masculine = more
powerful<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One evening, I was at Dance Underground just up the hill
here, and a woman asked me to dance. She knew that I also lead, so she asked if
we could switch off lead and follow with each song. Why don’t you lead first,
she said. Ok. We established our embrace, shifted weight a couple of times to
calibrate with each other, and started walking. All was going alright until… we
came to a turn. As soon as I initiated a turn, she took off like a runaway dock
cart! A few more steps and another wild turn. Each time I’d start what I
intended as a gentle turn, she would take it and run. I felt a little like I do
playing Mario Kart or some of the race car games with really sensitive
steering, when my little car keeps falling off the track and into the lava. I
figured I had two options: I could try to fight her energy and subdue her, tame
her and force her into listening to me – which sounded like a lot more work
than it’s worth; or I could go with her energy and even add to it to make it
into something collaborative. I chose the latter, so we went spinning around
the dance floor like Tasmanian devils. After all, I came to dance, not fight.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a>
We paused between songs as is customary to do. As we released our arms to begin
the usual chit chat, she stepped back and said to me – she had the audacity to
say to me – “Well, that was…” she searched for the word, “groovy.” Implying
somehow that the crazy spinning around the dance floor was somehow <i>my</i> idea! Wait a minute! I thought to
myself, She’s blaming <i>me</i> for this?!
After all, I was “the leader”. I filled in my back and as we embraced for the
second tango – this time with me as the “follow” – and planted my feet, taking
in a full breath. I made myself dense and steady. It was as though I expanded
my presence. Bracing myself, I gave her enough resistance to show her A) I’m
not running around this dance floor (like a chicken with my head cut off), and
B) <i>this</i> is how I’d like to dance. She
must have gotten the message, because the next dance when we switched roles
again, she was a totally different dancer. She was patient, she listened and I
think we both <i>danced </i>better together.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most importantly for me, I realized that I had a lot more
“control” of the dance in the role of the “follow” in this situation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If people want to switch roles to switch roles – because
they like the lead role, great! But if they are switching roles to feel more
powerful, to be “in charge”, to tell their partner what to do, I think they’re
missing something. <o:p></o:p></p>
<i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feminine
traits and power are overlooked and undervalued. I wonder how much our society
loses out by defining power this way?</span></i>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-81555215605887738122019-12-28T03:29:00.000-08:002019-12-28T03:34:06.216-08:00Dad, "do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth."<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScdVtRUiGNQ/Xgc8AXJLbMI/AAAAAAABPxQ/13wXXfCn9FoEA-CEIcaahE0Q4BPwdloogCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/2019-11-19%2BLt%2BCl%2BVindman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScdVtRUiGNQ/Xgc8AXJLbMI/AAAAAAABPxQ/13wXXfCn9FoEA-CEIcaahE0Q4BPwdloogCK4BGAYYCw/s320/2019-11-19%2BLt%2BCl%2BVindman.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div>
These words. </div>
<div>
This moment </div>
<div>
moved me. </div>
<div>
I too was born</div>
<div>
in the Soviet Union</div>
<div>
where I know</div>
<div>
- like in many other countries around the word -</div>
<div>
it would not have been</div>
<div>
safe</div>
<div>
to speak up</div>
<div>
or to speak out;</div>
<div>
where it would not </div>
<div>
have been safe </div>
<div>
to speak the truth.</div>
<div>
Perhaps it is the absence of,</div>
<div>
knowing what it means to go without,</div>
<div>
that makes one treasure </div>
<div>
liberty and savor it</div>
<div>
- that makes one yearn so audaciously</div>
<div>
to preserve it,</div>
<div>
to uphold it,</div>
<div>
to defend it.</div>
<div>
I am #grateful</div>
<div>
for the #freedom of speech.</div>
<div>
#freedomofspeech #USA</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lt. Col. Vindman spoke these words on Nov 19, 2019 in his opening statement to the House Intelligence Committee. The Pentagon "has protections for whistleblowers -- they're guaranteed in law," said Defense Secretary Mark Esper.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#speakup #speakout</div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-90016635937634738712019-04-26T16:30:00.000-07:002019-04-26T16:30:09.035-07:00The Steps are Just the Beginning...<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljj-_M4x5cM/XMOUNXLYtAI/AAAAAAABBqw/k7aOyTJWXQAgt5arWOLzLtZ1A14m1rm6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Bootcamp%2BClose-Embrace%2B-%2BMay-4-2019%2Bfliers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="646" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ljj-_M4x5cM/XMOUNXLYtAI/AAAAAAABBqw/k7aOyTJWXQAgt5arWOLzLtZ1A14m1rm6QCLcBGAs/s320/Bootcamp%2BClose-Embrace%2B-%2BMay-4-2019%2Bfliers.jpg" width="320" /></a>I had a curious conversation with someone who has been dancing many years in our Pacific Northwest tango community about my upcoming Intermediate-Level <a href="http://tangoisabouttheconnection.com/events" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Close-Embrace Tango Bootcamp</a> May 4, 2019. The question they posed to me was, What will you cover? </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Fair question. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I explained that the point of these bootcamps is to improve posture and close-embrace technique -- the quality of the dance, and that we will also focus specifically on the cross (different qualities of movement, variations, shapes, etc.) of this so very "tango" movement. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
This person immediately went to: "Oh, I already know how to do the cross."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Yes, this is an Intermediate-Level workshop. Participants should "know" the cross. The point isn't to learn how to do the cross from scratch; the point is to amplify the nuance and possibilities within a movement that one already knows -- for both leads and follows. Tango isn't about "learning" the steps. That is just the beginning. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
I was grateful for the question and happy to expand on this for this person and others.</div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-63366950533139865892019-01-12T13:06:00.001-08:002019-01-13T09:23:24.555-08:00Sadness<div class="MsoNormal">
There are times</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
when you just need to be sad,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
even if you know better,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
even if it’s not worth it<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
even if it makes you feel vulnerable<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
even if it makes you question your worth<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
even if it makes you sad to feel sad.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are times when you can’t get around the sadness,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>can’t make it go away,<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
can’t activity-it to the side, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
or go around it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
You can’t cover it up with happy things,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
sweet things,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
tender, beautiful things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sad is sometimes just itself,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
just sad,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
just droopy,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and painful<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and important.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sometimes you have to see it,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
be it,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
feel it,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
and walk your way into it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buenos Aires, 1/12/2019</span></span>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-83006602640788480782018-01-11T12:27:00.002-08:002018-01-11T12:29:30.817-08:00Do you believe in Synergy?<div dir="ltr">
In November of 2015, I left Seattle for Buenos Aires and was concerned about leaving my students, especially Tho Nguyen (who I had been working with for 1.5 years at that point) hanging without being able to practice his walking for 6 weeks. I suggested that he get back with a PT to keep working on his walking while I was away, but it took until January to set up. Since I was already back, he asked me to come to <a href="http://www.valleymed.org/" target="_blank">Valley Medical Center</a> in Renton to show his new PT how we walked. The PT & OT linked me up with Stroke Nurse Sarah Devine to see about setting up our first group class at the hospital.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-heLooAx6Zmw/WlfG8plJCFI/AAAAAAAAsdk/BZhKPFA4eY0dEcJSSMDGSMPG2gKWfQKxACKgBGAs/s1600/20160103_203444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-heLooAx6Zmw/WlfG8plJCFI/AAAAAAAAsdk/BZhKPFA4eY0dEcJSSMDGSMPG2gKWfQKxACKgBGAs/s320/20160103_203444.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the meantime, also in January 2016, I met <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/top-chefs-remember-northwest-fish-missionary-jon-rowley/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jon Rowley</a> at one of <a href="https://twitter.com/seattletallpopp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Traca Savadogo</a>'s Cook the Book gatherings at Archis Gore's place. That meeting was a catalyst.</div>
<a name='more'></a>Jon took an interest in tango and joined our <a href="http://tangohappyhour.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tango Happy Hour</a>, where he met Tho, whose story inspired him. He told <a href="https://twitter.com/nicolebrodeur" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nicole Brodeur</a> and she wrote a beautiful piece that ended up on the front page of <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/how-tango-lessons-helped-a-stroke-victim-learn-to-walk-again/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Seattle Times</a> the day before our small-group pilot began at The Fitness Center at Valley Medical Center! And that's how the <a href="http://tangostride.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TangoStride</a> Program was born.<br />
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-32114629014694977922018-01-11T11:46:00.001-08:002018-01-11T11:46:20.357-08:00Seattle Spoke<div dir="ltr">
This Jewish girl watched the Neo-Nazi rally in Seattle get supplanted by counter-protestors. Freedom of Speech means you can say what you want, and so can everyone else. Seattle spoke. (2017)</div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-28790552172432268362017-05-08T14:03:00.001-07:002017-05-08T14:03:35.021-07:00Close Embrace<div class="_1dwg _1w_m" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 12px 12px 0px;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Adrienne Yvr, <i><a href="http://seattletangomarathon.com/" target="_blank">Seattle Tango Marathon</a></i> 2017.</td></tr>
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The sweetness<br />of holding someone<br />and being held,<br />knowing that,<br />no matter what happens <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"><br />during the journey of the dance,<br />that journey<br />you will walk together.</span></div>
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-67649060358220974712017-04-28T21:21:00.000-07:002017-04-28T21:25:54.568-07:00Let the song carry youI had always loved to play the piano, Keith told me, but then life's circumstances split us apart. I longed to play again, so someone suggested I go to the open mic event -- they have a piano. Now, I hadn't played for people before and it had been so long since I had played at all, when I got up there -- I had given myself permission to decide not to, even at the last minute -- but when I made my way up to that piano bench, I sat down and faced the smooth ivory keys. My fingers pressed one note after another and soon the music was in motion. But I noticed my hand trembling. An internal dialogue ensured: I could focus on containing the nerves manifesting themselves through my fingers, but I knew I would lose the song. Or, I could let the song carry me.<br />
<br />
I chose the latter. And I share this story, he told me, because I think it can help you, too: When you find yourself in a place of uncertainty, anxiety and stress taking over, let your mission carry you.Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-57257895531342735602017-04-13T17:59:00.001-07:002017-04-13T18:00:21.357-07:00Unless of course, you want to learn.<p dir="ltr">Thirst for <span style="background-color:#D8DFEA;">#Learning</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">"The teacher didn't even show up," he said.<br>
The barista: "That's always nice."<br>
That's always nice...<br>
unless, of course, <br>
you want to <span style="background-color:#D8DFEA;">#learn</span>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Why is it "cool" to say, Yay! No teacher! No work! No homework! ? Do we value our learning opportunities? And if we do not, should we not change something about what and how we are studying and teaching? Then again, it takes two. I am a firm believer that if you want to learn something, you will -- it might or might not be what you thought you would be "taught", but if I as the agent of my own learning, want to gain something from an experience, I will. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Culture & attitudes about learning. What teachers are up against. What students want. What students value. #Knowledge is #power.</p>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-33430908160217388442016-12-05T13:59:00.001-08:002016-12-08T13:39:46.781-08:00What is the price tag?<div class="MsoNormal">
"Following orders"<br />
is just not good enough</div>
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to justify an action you know is wrong<br />
– your soul won't buy it.<br />
No-one makes you pull the trigger, <br />
no-one forces your aim <br />
toward an unarmed person’s face or groin <br />
to cause maximum injury with those rubber bullets. <br />
There is no-one to blame <br />
when you soak people <br />
– fellow human beings – <br />
on a freezing night, <br />
with water turning to sheets of ice. <br />
No, it's not like a real bullet, <br />
but you know the effect can be the same. <br />
And knowingly, you “follow orders”.<br />
For what? <br />
A paycheck? <br />
So looking back at this time, years from now, <br />
you will have exchanged your integrity as a human being <br />
for, <br />
tell me, <br />
what is the price tag? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0Standing Rock Reservation, Central Corson, SD, USA45.7502748 -101.2004153000000344.3371268 -103.78220230000004 47.1634228 -98.618628300000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-81505634868943039502016-10-27T19:03:00.000-07:002016-10-27T19:08:12.769-07:00Launching nonprofit Hugs that Empower!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b>Coming off an overdose of positivity and inspiration, I realize I haven't shared the BIG NEWS!</b><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnfuY8CZZ4o/WBKwQaIlmuI/AAAAAAAAYlU/ryTL3IpKPl0FZoJ5a1KkCBwP89yzgnJMQCLcB/s1600/SVP%2BFast%2BPitch%2BFinals_banner%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnfuY8CZZ4o/WBKwQaIlmuI/AAAAAAAAYlU/ryTL3IpKPl0FZoJ5a1KkCBwP89yzgnJMQCLcB/s400/SVP%2BFast%2BPitch%2BFinals_banner%2Bpic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here is the story...<br />
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What an empowering feeling it was to stand on the McCaw Hall stage at the <a href="http://www.socialventurepartners.org/seattle/fast-pitch/" target="_blank">SVP Fast Pitch Finals</a> this past Tuesday and share the work that inspires me day in and day out, stories of my brave students (stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors) who -- in the face of their immense challenges -- show up each week, to dance.</div>
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My <a href="http://tangostride.com/" target="_blank">TangoStride</a> Technique, powered by our new 501c3 nonprofit <a href="http://hugsthatempower.org/" target="_blank">Hugs that Empower</a> received the Grow50 Award -- giving our organization access to invaluable professional services, the Most Improved Pitch award (thanks to my amazing coaches), and 2 Angel Checks from audience members touched by our mission! Thanks to David Pierre-Louis for encouraging me to apply, to our Hugs that Empower Board Members, and to all my tango students -- you inspire me so!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's time to celebrate!</span></div>
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<b>Hugs that Empower ~ Launch Party!</b></div>
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Saturday, November 12th 2-5pm</div>
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tickets @ <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNHFZYq8BzdtuIR2l_czClhRclx1Xg" href="http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">hugsthatempowerlaunch.<wbr></wbr>eventbrite.com</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNHFZYq8BzdtuIR2l_czClhRclx1Xg" href="http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><i>A dressy afternoon affair...</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> to ensure that money is never an obstacle for anyone who wants to get movin' with the </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://tangostride.com/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNHEZ_xUBmZa9ctyM8rjFSeYHxJUPA" href="http://tangostride.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: normal;" target="_blank">TangoStride</a><span style="font-style: normal;"> Program, powered by 501c3 nonprofit </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://hugsthatempower.org/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNEwkwceAtBHOuu3TethFr0UAmkWBg" href="http://hugsthatempower.org/" style="color: #1155cc; font-style: normal;" target="_blank">Hugs that Empower</a><span style="font-style: normal;">, providing dance opportunities for people with disabilities.</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"></i></i><br />
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<i><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: start;"><br /></i></i></div>
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HOW YOU CAN HELP:</div>
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1) <b>Join us!</b> Your ticket is a contribution. Thank you!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">2) </span><i style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;"></i><br />
<div style="display: inline; text-align: center;">
<i style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Can't make it? Want to <b>make a donation</b>? Yes, please!<br />Please visit <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://hugsthatempower.org/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNEwkwceAtBHOuu3TethFr0UAmkWBg" href="http://hugsthatempower.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">HugsthatEmpower.org</a></span></i></div>
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</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">3) Spread the word: Please join our facebook event to help us build the momentum, and email the info and share any of these links...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
- <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/events/352329315100917/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNH9mXs8AmGuadP-URrey37ReyFELQ" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/352329315100917/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">facebook event</a><br />
- <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNHFZYq8BzdtuIR2l_czClhRclx1Xg" href="http://hugsthatempowerlaunch.eventbrite.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">eventbrite event</a><br />
- <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://HugsthatEmpower.org&source=gmail&ust=1477705998995000&usg=AFQjCNFyXjM9hoo3sPfvNlpcb7x0joGr9Q" href="http://hugsthatempower.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">HugsthatEmpower.org</a></div>
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Thank you so very much for your continued support!</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
BIG hugs,<br />
Gabriela</div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-62770244049919839452016-09-22T12:41:00.000-07:002016-09-22T12:45:58.626-07:00This is how you talk to strangers, Jim Hillman?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4092281316037244466" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><i>After I posted <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/garfield-football-team-takes-knee-prior-to-game-friday-night/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this article</a> on my personal Facebook page about my GHS Bulldogs taking a knee, I got 40+ "angry" faces from people who are not my Facebook friends and this… </i></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jB_8lkBywVQ/V-QzYc_dwCI/AAAAAAAAXyA/GqPsh-iY2MIJ2E9p3jmODP7cD-avwtZ5gCLcB/s1600/Screenshot_this%2Bis%2Bhow%2Byou%2Btalk%2Bto%2Bstrangers%2BJim%2BHillman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jB_8lkBywVQ/V-QzYc_dwCI/AAAAAAAAXyA/GqPsh-iY2MIJ2E9p3jmODP7cD-avwtZ5gCLcB/s320/Screenshot_this%2Bis%2Bhow%2Byou%2Btalk%2Bto%2Bstrangers%2BJim%2BHillman.png" width="282" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4092281316037244466" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
I posted a screenshot of the message on my Facebook page and questions arose: Was this message to me? Was this a hack? People looked up Jim Hillman's profile, his employer, and even his employer's email.</div>
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<br />
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I can confirm that this is a private message in fact sent to me directly.
People are suggesting I contact his work to let them know about his words. Others
are arguing that this is not work-related. Someone even said, “I cannot tell if
he is kidding or not”. (No, contrary to recent public figures' use of this tactic, there are many ways to respond here, but "kidding" is not one I will accept.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I realized at the age of 14 when in training for my first
job at Seattle Gymnastics Academy that with that SGA T-shirt came
responsibilities, that how I act in other parts of my life, whether or not I
wear the logo, reflect on my employer and on me as a teacher. It was then that
I decided that my actions need to always align with what I would want my little
gymnasts and their parents to think of me – at all times, not just at work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That’s when I learned the meaning of “integrity”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I find most valuable about this message is the dialogue
it incited. <b>Thank you, Jim Hillman.</b></div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-38678315642916168232016-07-29T14:55:00.001-07:002016-07-29T14:55:28.027-07:00Schools punish poor families by isolating kids<p dir="ltr">A public school in the UK is punishing students for overdue lunch fees:<br>
"Children whose parents had not paid off lunch debts were made to sit in 'lunch isolation' away from friends and given substitute meals"</p>
<p dir="ltr">Here is a copy of the letter sent out to parents:<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">And the full article: http://ind.pn/2ahqlZs</p>
<p dir="ltr">Schools should be places of sanctuary. I'm tired of people saying, Well if the parents taught their kids this or that. My students were my kids. If they acted out, they made me look bad. And I told them so. Not your parents. You spend 5 hours of your week with me, I am responsible, too. And if a child needs something, something as basic as food, we need to help them. Sad, sad, sad. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It takes a village. We are that village.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lygKE5zgxcQ/V5vQyLSISSI/AAAAAAAAWvw/4r9tai8yM2I/s1600/Screenshot_2016-07-29-14-51-11-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lygKE5zgxcQ/V5vQyLSISSI/AAAAAAAAWvw/4r9tai8yM2I/s640/Screenshot_2016-07-29-14-51-11-1.png"> </a> </div>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-45593234283242865262016-06-21T14:08:00.001-07:002016-06-21T14:20:02.524-07:00Thank you, nice guy!<div dir="ltr">
As I pulled up, I noticed there was a space in front of his Explorer truck and space behind it.</div>
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"Do you think if you moved back a little, I might be able to squeeze in in front of you?"<br />
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<a name='more'></a>He took a look. "I think so."<br />
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And he got into his SUV and backed up some. I pulled up in front and started backing in, but it looked like I was pretty close and still not all the way in the spot. He backed up a little more and hopped out.</div>
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"Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part," I laughed a sigh.</div>
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"There's still 3 feet of space back here," he said as he guided me in. A little wiggle forward and back and I got front row/door parking. </div>
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Thank you, nice stranger guy! Hope you have a great day!</div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-34695982715892438832016-03-23T13:29:00.004-07:002016-04-07T04:34:05.315-07:00Coloring for the Soul<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_EDuI4o3f5M/VvL6m54rNmI/AAAAAAAASxc/r5mxhdQ0UfY/s1600/IMG_20160321_211442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_EDuI4o3f5M/VvL6m54rNmI/AAAAAAAASxc/r5mxhdQ0UfY/s320/IMG_20160321_211442.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">I saw this card when I went to my first ever </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=416956388508805&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/thecoloringproject/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; line-height: 16.08px;" target="_blank">The Coloring Project</a> <span style="color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">event in January, but I chose another one which better represented where I was at then. This past Monday, as I sifted through the stack of beautiful cards to color, I came across the fishy again. And this time, he stuck. Mission I'm Possible.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Finding </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/freedom" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">#freedom</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> in dancing with my whole self, <br />power in </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/vulnerability" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">#vulnerability</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">Thank you, Andrea Koehler, for creating cards and an event that speaks to people's souls, a space for connection and community. </span></span></span><br />
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-87986311701379380902016-03-23T13:22:00.001-07:002016-03-23T13:22:35.898-07:00Victim we are not<div dir="ltr">
I have a problem with the use of the word "victim". Just because someone is part of a minority group does not mean they are a victim. The reason Trump or anyone can "pick on" a group of people is because he highlights the difference, the us vs. them. But "victims", people who are different are not. </div>
Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-34137019540361590712016-02-08T15:13:00.000-08:002016-02-08T15:16:00.221-08:00Too Nice to Say NO"I don't know how to say No," she told her friend, "I'm too nice."<br />
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Not saying "No" when what you want to say is no, is not <i>nice</i>. In essence, you are lying to people. Sure, we all do things we are not extremely excited to do - take care of loved ones when they are sick, take out the garbage, homework, etc. Even these things I'd say are more like responsibilities and opportunities to learn, grow, better ourselves, to be there for the people who count on us, to keep our space clean and comfortable. These things are not much of a choice, but we do them, and in the long run, most of us would probably agree that it's a good idea to do them.<br />
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But when you say, I'm too nice, not good at saying No - keep in mind that people have choices, too. So if you're "too nice" and then are upset or make others miserable hanging out in your presence, you're not doing anyone any favors.<br />
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Let's be clear and direct. Yes means yes. And no means no. Please?Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-26349390288332295502016-01-19T15:52:00.001-08:002016-01-19T16:08:16.256-08:00Creativity Problems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Problems I'll gladly accept. <b>Bored</b> isn't part of the vocabulary.<br />
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When your struggle is too many fun ideas and an overload of inspiration, it can be daunting, it can feel overwhelming. Treading water as the waves try to take you down. But swim in it, flow with it. Because at least with these problems, you know you'll never be bored, never be short of life energy, of vitality. Let your creativity guide you. </div>
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And here's a secret: there's never enough time and <b>there's always enough time.</b></div>
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<i>Dance. Create. </i><i>Be. </i></div>
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-11734553031383038902015-12-01T22:03:00.001-08:002015-12-08T15:40:53.996-08:00Disposable Everything<div dir="ltr">
Feeling like #MacGyver. With some guidance from John (thank you!), I played electrician and got the severed phone charger to work!</div>
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We live in a culture of #disposability: disposable containers, disposable gadgets, disposable relationships. But anything worth having will take some mending once in a while - your favorite socks, your car, miscommunications & disconnections are all opportunities. Sure, it's sometimes easier to just get a new one, but each stitch, each piece of tape, each twist of the wire is an investment in the sustained growth of the relationship. It makes sense that we have trouble investing in something we view as disposable. With the first sign of difficulty, we throw it out. The most meaningful things however, are often the ones we mend and patch over and over again, those we can't bear to throw away.</div>
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-2116452257502097182015-10-26T10:14:00.001-07:002015-10-26T10:14:30.634-07:00People are so Nice<p dir="ltr">At Carpinito Bros. Pumpkin Patch last weekend, I asked a nice gentleman where to get the wheelbarrows as I grappled awkwardly with my big pumpkin on one hip and my smaller sugar pumpkin in the other hand. Over there, he motioned with head and hand. I followed his arm past the couple rows of wheelbarrows already occupied by pumpkins to a couple empty ones on the far side. Then I looked back to my left at the long lines by the veggie stands and back again at the distant wheelbarrows. </p>
<p dir="ltr">He must have seen my hesitation, because before I could decide which direction to walk, he said, But you can have this one and I'll grab another one, and lifted his big pumpkin out of the wheelbarrow right in front of me. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Really? Thank you so much!<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aTd4idDS_CM/Vi5fYflFTcI/AAAAAAAAKUE/t0neRODpVLg/s1600/FB_IMG_1445879617564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aTd4idDS_CM/Vi5fYflFTcI/AAAAAAAAKUE/t0neRODpVLg/s640/FB_IMG_1445879617564.jpg"> </a> </div>Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-87635098288510940542015-10-23T10:52:00.000-07:002015-10-23T12:15:49.560-07:00Cherish them Today<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IR2chdwciLY/VipxpSgjMUI/AAAAAAAAKM0/UErekFawRmY/s1600/IMG_20151023_103654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IR2chdwciLY/VipxpSgjMUI/AAAAAAAAKM0/UErekFawRmY/s320/IMG_20151023_103654.jpg" width="320" /></a>I just thought of <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kentucky/obituary.aspx?n=Linda-McDaniel&pid=174345047" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Linda McDaniel</a> who kindly hosted me in Lexington, Kentucky during my 2012 Tour. She took such pleasure in life - in her passion for dance and music and her pride in her kids. I think of her from time to time, remembering the tour she took me on of the beautiful countryside - the green rolling hills she loved so much, Bourbon tasting and cooking dinner together, and the people we met along the way. </div>
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So I went to her facebook page to write her a message and say hello, and found out that she passed in March this year. We just never know. Reach out today, hug a friend, tell your kids you love them, take the time to cuddle. We just never know. </div>
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<i>I am sure that you are missed -- for even in a few days, you touched and inspired me deeply, Linda. Hugs to your kids.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda McDaniel, April 2013. Photo taken by her son.</td></tr>
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Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092281316037244466.post-66621782120714919942015-07-30T12:22:00.000-07:002015-07-30T12:23:31.623-07:00Sur16 hosts launch of Mingle&Move!<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OVUSmZEUE0Y/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OVUSmZEUE0Y?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>This Thursday, July 30th Sur16 hosts the launch of Mingle&Move! A family-owned Latin fusion restaurant, Sur16 is one of the newest additions to Capitol Hill's 15th Ave East. Mariana Martos - who owns the restaurant of her dreams with her husband Javier Dalzell - will offer a special happy hour for the event, but the menu is a surprise. Their menu is inspired by what is freshest on the market and they are constantly changing things up, guided by family recipes and Latin fusion inspiration.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTWwWgmv5x0/Vbp5GaRQTrI/AAAAAAAAHho/Ci12qP3wCmY/s1600/sur16_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTWwWgmv5x0/Vbp5GaRQTrI/AAAAAAAAHho/Ci12qP3wCmY/s200/sur16_logo.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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More about Sur16 at <a href="http://sur16.com/">Sur16.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Making mingling/networking fun & easy, with movement!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thursday, July 30th 8pm</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sur 16 ~ 340 15th Ave E, Seattle</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">tickets:</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://mingleandmove.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">MingleandMove.com</a></div>
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<br />Gabriela Condreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16884434726104684162noreply@blogger.com0