Thirty Days of Thoughts

Looking at my Facebook feed this morning I was reminded by my memories about my challenge for myself to write every day for 30 days to help with gaining momentum in my writing as well as to engage in the practice of writing to help enhance my ability to speak more clearly through the pen. I realized it has been some time since I have been able to commit to such a challenge due to my insanely busy schedule this past year and know that this is just the medicine I need.

Writing, like any art form, is a practice. I commit to practice in the dance form in all kinds of ways but in writing, the form in which I am the most unsure and nervous with, I tend to let go and place to the side. My challenge for myself this month is to put it at the front of the to do practice list and engage and challenge myself in new ways to express the thoughts and feelings I am having on a regular basis.

I invite you along on this journey to share in the process as well as the trials of expressing my thoughts in as clear, concise and poetic a ways as possible. I invite you to dialogue with me as well to discuss the topics or concepts brought up in these meanderings and engage in collaborating and mentoring the process. I have feared writing for so long and have be ashamed of my limited skill in this area and now am tired of hiding in the dark. I have returned to my warrior training and in doing so need to bring all of myself to the light in order to be at the physical, mental and emotional capacity to succeed.

I look forward to this journey with you and for the learning and development that will transpire as I engage the practice in the art of writing. May your heart feel what the eyes feed them and may your soul absorb what the language breathes.

A Well Placed Compliment

I get caught up inside the business of my life and often lose sight of the work it is I am doing. Often times I wonder if the information I share is relevant or even necessary at this time. Even though, with every fiber of my physicality, I know it is important; I still lose sight of my heart within the work.

Yesterday I was teaching a group of people who lovingly attend class with me in a setting of people who just love to dance and move their bodies. They come as regularly as their lives allow and always come with an open heart. They are not required to attend class, but they do because their spirits want to.  Naturally, the energy in the class is one of true community; everyone at their own time, own place, own reason working together to deepen their understanding of their body and soul through movement.

This particular day I decided to follow a theme I have been working on with my VCU students and really exaggerate the over curve of weight shift concept necessary in activating honest and holistic technique. In doing so I slowed down the moment of weight shift so they could feel what it meant to engage the entire body in the plie as well as tendu. We worked on it with one another and watched each other physicalize the concept and seeing the dancer intellectually and consciously connect to the work.

A delightful long time friend and student responded to the work and laid a compliment in front of me with such graciousness that her words humbled my heart. I heard her speak with her soul reminding me that this work is universal AND necessary. It made me slow myself in my tracks and remember, keep walking the long arc. What is to come is beyond your imagination. For this I am grateful and thankful to her for such a well placed compliment.

 

Lady M

A warrior rides the waves of light and sound.

She speaks soulfully through her movements while commanding focus with her silence.

She is only a mystery to those who don’t listen, but to those that dance the path, she is a rock.