![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yoga is so wonderful. I was craving some yesterday and went this morning and it was just what I needed. I know I say this every time I go, which is so rarely. I do not have time to add another regular activity to my schedule so intermittent yoga it is. I also really love the studio. I should probably try the gym's yoga classes since I already pay for them, but I guess I'm a yoga snob? and really like the atmosphere of the studio. (Plus tea and cookies!)
A million years ago![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bayleaf gave me a list of 5 things she associations with me.
1. National Gallery of Art
I'm an art historian and love the National Gallery. When I was preparing for my comprehensive exams some of you were kind enough to let me take you on a tour of the gallery and babble on about the art :) I do love to look and talk about art, so if anyone ever wants to visit any art museum let me know.
2. Belly dance
Oh bellydance! I started dancing over 2 years ago. It began as something to do in the summer after curling ended. Bellydance = love. I love the movements, the way it makes me relate to my body, and the challenge of isolation and vibration. (I'm trying really hard to learn to love finger cymbals right now, but adding an instrument on top of the dancing is just so hard.) I really love the music and how you are expressing the music through your body. Plus the bonuses of jingly hip scarves, and sparkly things, and fun eye makeup. It's also helped a lot with body acceptance, I made myself go to class in just a sports bra and pants even when I weighed a noticeable amount more than I do now. And I could still do the stuff and still felt accepted amongst all the women there.
I'm trying to figure out what place dancing has in my life now. Do I want to get more serious? It's not a priority this semester, but I'm always keeping it in the schedule and trying to get better in small increments. At some point I hope to invest more energy in it.
3. Curling
Oh curling! I started curling because of the awesome people, stayed for the physical challenge, got a little bored but stayed for the awesome people, and last year got into the strategy of the game. (So if bellydance = heart, curling is head, and I think trapeze is joy/spirit/something to complete my cheesy metaphor).
I love that you don't need to work for years to play well enough to enjoy the game, but that it's hard to be really good. The level of precision and teamwork is lovely. As a recovering perfectionist I don't think I want to invest the time and energy to curl at a serious level, but I just love club play. The awesome people and culture surrounding the game contribute to that a lot.
4. Strength
I'm not sure ifbayleaf was referring to something specific here, but thank you? If we're talking about physical strength a few years ago bayleaf and I were gym buddies and she was the one who was into the weights and I was into cardio. She really helped me get into strength training and I love feeling physically strong and powerful. If we're talking about other forms of strength, mental, emotional, I don't know. I don't necessarily consider myself a strong person, but I do think of myself as confident. I have a core of faith/certainty/ego/something? that I will be all right (or dead and then unable to worry about it), even if at times I feel incredibly empty and fragile. In general my life has run smoothly with lots of loving people around me so I don't know if that strength has been tested.
5. Family
I do love family, both biological and chosen. I like it when everyone comes together, I love ritual and reunion. Also I have some mother hen tendencies (I'm sure you've noticed). Is everyone accounted for and okay? What's going on with you? Do we have food, do you need a nap, a hug, a ride, a quiet place to sit, or a date?
I'm a big fan of communication as a means of social support, which means I'm a big fan of gossip. Not nasty, malicious gossip, but the kind of communication that allows people to be supportive of each others' needs. (Did you know his mother died, we should get a card, he should know we're thinking of him; she's having a hard time at work maybe we should all go out; she just started dating someone and is so excited so ask about the new girlfriend, etc.) I love you, we love you, we want to be there for you, so tell us your joys and your sorrows, tell us what you need and we will provide as best we can. (And if you're not sure maybe you want a snack to raise your blood sugar a little?)
These communities were modeled for me in my own family (but with less open communication which is sometimes a good thing), at church camp in highschool (after which I was terrified that I would never find it again), at Amarna in college, and among all of you now :)
If you want me to list 5 things I associate with you please post.
A million years ago
bayleaf gave me a list of 5 things she associations with me. 1. National Gallery of Art
I'm an art historian and love the National Gallery. When I was preparing for my comprehensive exams some of you were kind enough to let me take you on a tour of the gallery and babble on about the art :) I do love to look and talk about art, so if anyone ever wants to visit any art museum let me know.
2. Belly dance
Oh bellydance! I started dancing over 2 years ago. It began as something to do in the summer after curling ended. Bellydance = love. I love the movements, the way it makes me relate to my body, and the challenge of isolation and vibration. (I'm trying really hard to learn to love finger cymbals right now, but adding an instrument on top of the dancing is just so hard.) I really love the music and how you are expressing the music through your body. Plus the bonuses of jingly hip scarves, and sparkly things, and fun eye makeup. It's also helped a lot with body acceptance, I made myself go to class in just a sports bra and pants even when I weighed a noticeable amount more than I do now. And I could still do the stuff and still felt accepted amongst all the women there.
I'm trying to figure out what place dancing has in my life now. Do I want to get more serious? It's not a priority this semester, but I'm always keeping it in the schedule and trying to get better in small increments. At some point I hope to invest more energy in it.
3. Curling
Oh curling! I started curling because of the awesome people, stayed for the physical challenge, got a little bored but stayed for the awesome people, and last year got into the strategy of the game. (So if bellydance = heart, curling is head, and I think trapeze is joy/spirit/something to complete my cheesy metaphor).
I love that you don't need to work for years to play well enough to enjoy the game, but that it's hard to be really good. The level of precision and teamwork is lovely. As a recovering perfectionist I don't think I want to invest the time and energy to curl at a serious level, but I just love club play. The awesome people and culture surrounding the game contribute to that a lot.
4. Strength
I'm not sure if
bayleaf was referring to something specific here, but thank you? If we're talking about physical strength a few years ago bayleaf and I were gym buddies and she was the one who was into the weights and I was into cardio. She really helped me get into strength training and I love feeling physically strong and powerful. If we're talking about other forms of strength, mental, emotional, I don't know. I don't necessarily consider myself a strong person, but I do think of myself as confident. I have a core of faith/certainty/ego/something? that I will be all right (or dead and then unable to worry about it), even if at times I feel incredibly empty and fragile. In general my life has run smoothly with lots of loving people around me so I don't know if that strength has been tested. 5. Family
I do love family, both biological and chosen. I like it when everyone comes together, I love ritual and reunion. Also I have some mother hen tendencies (I'm sure you've noticed). Is everyone accounted for and okay? What's going on with you? Do we have food, do you need a nap, a hug, a ride, a quiet place to sit, or a date?
I'm a big fan of communication as a means of social support, which means I'm a big fan of gossip. Not nasty, malicious gossip, but the kind of communication that allows people to be supportive of each others' needs. (Did you know his mother died, we should get a card, he should know we're thinking of him; she's having a hard time at work maybe we should all go out; she just started dating someone and is so excited so ask about the new girlfriend, etc.) I love you, we love you, we want to be there for you, so tell us your joys and your sorrows, tell us what you need and we will provide as best we can. (And if you're not sure maybe you want a snack to raise your blood sugar a little?)
These communities were modeled for me in my own family (but with less open communication which is sometimes a good thing), at church camp in highschool (after which I was terrified that I would never find it again), at Amarna in college, and among all of you now :)
If you want me to list 5 things I associate with you please post.
Tags: