Sadness

There are times

when you just need to be sad,

even if you know better,

even if it’s not worth it

even if it makes you feel vulnerable

even if it makes you question your worth

even if it makes you sad to feel sad.

There are times when you can’t get around the sadness,

Do you believe in Synergy?

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 Valley Medical Center 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.

In the meantime, also in January 2016, I met Jon Rowley at one of Traca Savadogo's Cook the Book gatherings at Archis Gore's place. That meeting was a catalyst.

Seattle Spoke

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)

Close Embrace

Photo by Adrienne Yvr, Seattle Tango Marathon 2017.

The sweetness
of holding someone
and being held,
knowing that,
no matter what happens 
during the journey of the dance,
that journey
you will walk together.

Let the song carry you

I 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.

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.

Unless of course, you want to learn.

Thirst for #Learning

"The teacher didn't even show up," he said.
The barista: "That's always nice."
That's always nice...
unless, of course,
you want to #learn.

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.

Culture & attitudes about learning. What teachers are up against. What students want. What students value. #Knowledge is #power.

What is the price tag?

"Following orders"
is just not good enough

to justify an action you know is wrong
– your soul won't buy it.
No-one makes you pull the trigger,
no-one forces your aim
toward an unarmed person’s face or groin
to cause maximum injury with those rubber bullets.
There is no-one to blame
when you soak people
– fellow human beings –
on a freezing night,
with water turning to sheets of ice.
No, it's not like a real bullet,
but you know the effect can be the same.
And knowingly, you “follow orders”.
For what?
A paycheck?
So looking back at this time, years from now,
you will have exchanged your integrity as a human being
for,
tell me,
what is the price tag?