Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to a contact improv lesson and jam, something I haven’t done in years. For the uninitiated, contact improvisation is a style of dance characterized by the words in its name: the dance is unchoreographed and improvisational, and the dancer strives to stay in contact with one or moreContinue reading “Contact Improv: a study in touch and consent”
Category Archives: My Life
Facing (bodying) the fragility of life
It is hard to know what to do in the face of such shocking news. I found myself struck by a strange and nonspecific sadness, the strange regret – guilt? – that I never got to know him well, that now I never will. I’ve been near tears several times today, but never all the way to breaking. Some part of me seems to say, What right do you have?
Wednesday Sway: Taking flight
I’m going out of town at the end of this week, and I’m not going to be super-available by email or phone between July 25 and August 8. I’m thrilled to report that I will be traveling in Europe, for the first time in 20 years, and most of the places I will visit willContinue reading “Wednesday Sway: Taking flight”
5 Things Not to Do If You’re Over 40
Last month, I hit the big 4-0. While I don’t go in much for chronological age meaning anything, there are tremendous cultural tropes around what it means to turn 20, to turn 30, to turn 40. 40 always seems more momentous, perhaps because, in this day and age when we are living longer and delayingContinue reading “5 Things Not to Do If You’re Over 40”
Childhood, consent, and learning to be human
In anticipation of my talk on embodied consent in September, I’m going to writing a lot about consent in this space. I’m away until August 10, so for the next two entires, you’ll be getting reruns. Here’s an oldy but goody that practically went viral when I first posted it. What imprints do we receiveContinue reading “Childhood, consent, and learning to be human”
Heroic helplessness
Image courtesy of Mme Scherzo I was taken with David Kanigan’s post the other day, quoting Florida Scott-Maxwell on aging, and including this beautiful photograph of I-know-not-whom, but surely one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen of any age. I include the entirely of the quotation he included here, because it is worthwhile:Continue reading “Heroic helplessness”
[Rerun] On the Solstice, contemplating the concept of faith
Reprinted from last year, and presented to you a few days after the Solstice, while your humble writer is on vacation. Enjoy it, and the days to come. *** Today is the Winter Solstice – the shortest day, and the longest night, of the year. Pagans tend to celebrate this night as Yule, the timeContinue reading “[Rerun] On the Solstice, contemplating the concept of faith”
[Rerun] Trauma and streaming, or, why I was shaking this morning after falling down the stairs
Yes, this morning I fell down the stairs. I had put on comfy fuzzy socks, and was looking at my phone a little, and my foot slipped and I tumbled down a half-flight to the landing, bracing myself with my left hand. My forearm got bruised up and I’m still figuring out what’s going onContinue reading “[Rerun] Trauma and streaming, or, why I was shaking this morning after falling down the stairs”
Gardening, or, Doing What Makes You Happy
Yesterday, I spent a few hours out on the patio around the old, drained pool that accompanies my house. Slowly, and in as cost-effective a way as possible (read: free), we’re filling the pool to make it into a garden bed. Until then, though, we’re managing a bunch of containers, and yesterday was the firstContinue reading “Gardening, or, Doing What Makes You Happy”
Childhood, consent, and learning to be human
What imprints do we receive as children? When you were five, or six, or seven, what messages really stuck and taught you how people ought to treat each other, how you deserved to be treated, and what options you had for interaction with others? I know for my part, I was teased a lot asContinue reading “Childhood, consent, and learning to be human”
Power In Your Hands 