A post from an artist and friend I love and admire recently reminded me of a journal reflection I completed as part of my YogaHour Teacher Training in early December 2020 (see the “Dear Ellen” section below). My friend’s post had to do with a recognition of how BURNED OUT she was feeling before the pandemic shut down life-as-we-know-it and radically changed life for artists like her, whose performance calendars used to be chock full of gigs but suddenly found themselves unexpectedly “free.” The “freedom” from an overly busy schedule may sound great to many of us who feel pressure…

Breathing in, I calm my body.Breathing out, I feel peace. For the month of July, I focused intentionally on freedom, specifically the yogic concept of moksha, a universal human desire for liberation and a lasting peace. This week my practice will be focused on peace of mind. Peace of mind can be hard to find, or at least hard to sustain, at times like these. A pandemic is hardly a calming influence. And, yet, part of what yoga and meditation offer us is a sense of calm amidst life’s turbulence. I admit my focus on peace this week is at…

Breathing in, I calm my body.Breathing out, I feel free. For the month of July, I’ve been focusing on freedom, specifically the yogic concept of moksa. In his book The Four Desires, Rod Stryker describes moksha as “the longing for liberation, true freedom,” a desire all humans have for “lasting peace,” a desire “to experience the sacred, whether it is found in church, temple, mosque, contemplative solitude, Nature, or self-inquiry.” According to Stryker moksha is a universal longing “to be completely unburdened…free of suffering.” That’s a pretty tall order, to be free of suffering. Yet that is my wish for…

All four are either currently pursuing post-secondary education or have recently completed their professional training. Several other GLOW girls–now women–are enrolled at colleges and universities in five different states. They are all pursuing unique academic and career paths, from the culinary arts to emergency medical response. Some may become teachers, helping the next generation learn and grow. Some are already working in helping professions, serving throughout the shutdown as “essential workers” assisting those with disabilities and special needs. Some are already becoming vocal advocates and activists, helping to reshape our society for the better. I could not be more proud…

Breathing in, I calm my body.Breathing out, I make peace. Since my last newsletter, our nation has endured yet another brutal week. It can be overwhelming at times to navigate the changes COVID has wrought and to simultaneously grapple with what seem to be intractable societal ills. A dear friend sent me some wonderful resources from Greater Good Magazine, which I found both affirming and inspiring. I encourage you to check out Rhonda Magee’s article on “How Mindfulness Can Defeat Racial Bias,” as well as Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu’s “How to Sustain Your Activism,” which both affirm the power of mindfulness and…

Wow!! I cannot believe how my GLOW girls and friends (above) have GROWN over the past six years that I’ve been privileged to volunteer with Girls Leading Our World, Inc. These “girls” have become young women, forging their own paths in the world and making it a brighter and better place already. The young women pictured above are enrolled in or have completed post-secondary education and serve as powerful examples for the next generation of GLOW girls (below). If you haven’t heard me speak about GLOW (maybe you just met me, ha?!), it is a life-changing leadership program for girls…

Please Excuse Annie Please excuse Annie. Please excuse Annie for death. Please excuse Annie for a death in the family. Please excuse Annie for a death of her family. Please excuse Annie for a death of the family within her. Please excuse Annie for the death of her husband and herself and all the babies they made together. They all died. Within her She is gone now so please excuse Annie from rehearsal from set from the office from the board of directors from the film society fundraiser Please excuse Annie …until further notice I have not written publicly about…

I hope you’ve all been able to enjoy a little time outdoors for Earth Week. Here in KC the Spring trees and flowers are absolutely magnificent! Walking through my neighborhood today with my husband and dogs rejuvenated my heart and mind and sent me searching for all things poetry on my bookshelves at home. If you can’t get out for a walk, I hope you have some good reading on hand (news doesn’t count!) and can find a little time simply to sit near a window and read. If nothing’s inspiring you right now, I’ll leave you with e.e. cummings:…

This week I was “feeling all the feels.” It’s FilmFest week, y’all! Kansas City FilmFest International, like so many of us, had to adapt to strictly online offerings but you can still see some awesome films, and All-Access Passes are a mere $10! The festival only runs through Sunday, April 19, so if you’re feeling stuck inside and need to mix up your Netflix routine, PLEASE consider buying a pass and check out as many films as you like, from local as well as international filmmakers. From shorts to features, documentaries to narratives, even films made my kids/teens, this festival…

Last week I mentioned Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Peace Is Every Step, and the need for a “breathing room.” I’ve definitely needed mine this week! After first my laptop and then my desktop computer failed…I started to wonder if electronics could catch COVID-19. Add to that the horror of discovering that my email had been hacked and I was ready to retreat to my breathing room forever! But…we’ve made it through the first week of April. The sun was shining bright and warm today and the big, beautiful moon is shining almost as bright right now. Trees are budding. Spring…