Happy Mother’s Day for those who partake. It’s a day that grossly undercompensates Moms for all that is expected of us and at the same time, it’s so sweet. Here is my last Pandemic Curation, I saved it for today and the coming week.
The last 6 weeks have been a brutal gauntlet of tragedies. My mind doesn’t have the amount of cognitive and emotional flexibility to comprehend all that’s going on and so I am staying with introspection. How can I continue to minimize the amount of harm I do personally, and when I do harm, how can I pivot, learn and listen as efficiently as possible. How much of my own discomfort can I sit with before I feel numbness? How much news can I consume before I feel hopeless? How many actions can I take on behalf of the just and stable democracy I crave, that represents and responds to all Americans equitably? How much can I do, process or grieve before I lose a grip on my own family, my mind, body and soul? These are the questions I’m asking myself these days.
In light of this ponderance, I’ve been looking for places to maximize joy. I don’t have a very healthy relationship with joy. I’ve been a lousy partner. So…we’ll see how this goes. The mantle of martyrdom, bodhisattva, renunciation and the like, is quite heavy.
May these invitations and commentary lighten and brighten your coming days and weeks. With love:
New York City Ballet is broadcasting full ballets and excerpts twice a week through May 29. For more info and links: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-online-season-virus.html
If you have a printer and ink, you can download this Cards Against Humanity Beta Family Edition. It took a bit of time to cut the cards, but it’s been worth it. We have an 8 year old and a 12 year old and it’s been a great way to laugh hysterically and slip in some great teachable moments. Link at: https://www.cardsagainsthumanityfamilyedition.com/
Dyson Engineering Challenges: I have not looked at these to suss out the feasibility or accessibility, so I can not speak to or endorse on that level. Nevertheless, here is another place to sift for gems that might fit for your children. https://www.jamesdysonfoundation.co.uk/resources/challenge-cards.html
Michelle Obama is reading our children stories. Need I say more? http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/mondays-with-michelle-obama-story-times-with-penguin-random-house-and-pbs-kids-streaming-on-youtube-and-facebook-start-monday-april-20-12-noon-et/
My mentors at Yoga Calm, the people who taught me to teach adult and children’s yoga, have been going live and archiving those for people to access. Jim Gillen taught my yoga teacher training and I love that I can share his classes. Lynea Gillen is the founder of Yoga Calm for Children and many more beautiful offerings. Facebook users can find a treasure trove of videos here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/yogacalm/ and you can find things on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-SC9f3Xaq_tieNGMghy-w
Something odd I’ve observed…I seem to be parenting and coping entirely through rap and R&B lyrics off and on. My homage to the following artists, whose lyrics I find coming out of my mouth repeatedly and filling my mind’s idle moments:
Rihanna and Eminem: “One day I’ll walk amongst you a regular civilian.”
DMX: “Y’all gon make me lose my mind, up in here, up in here…”
Kelis and Too Short: Why, you ask, my son? “You know why? ‘Cause I’m a boss. I’m bossy.”
Snoop Dogg: “With so much drama in the L-B-C. It’s kinda hard bein stuck here in quar-an-tine.” (This is especially helpful, because we live in Benton County, so LBC can change from Long Beach City to Lil’ Benton County. Nice.)
And…on behalf of my great love and appreciation for the music and other artistic, scientific, literary, culinary, and general community and societal contributions of BIPOC people (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), I want to also share this history curriculum created by Delina Pryce Mcphaull: https://wokehomeschooling.com/
People may wonder why I post so often about racial inequity and anti-racism. It’s because there can never be enough reparations paid to Black and Indigenous people for the violent history of our country. This is what I feel compelled to do, and it is so little when taken in context.
To end, here is the work of another Black artist. I am thriving because of this song, alongside others. If you’ve not had the good fortune to learn about Stormzy yet, please let me share:
Thanks for the Cards against Humanity link! Hope you like your photos! Dan
Sent from my iPhone
>
Hi Dan! I love my photos! You are welcome. So so funny
Thank you for sharing – will look into the ballet link, and that music video gave me goosebumps! Also, this is somewhat random but I’m working on a virtual health event that will include online activities such as yoga and meditation throughout the program, and I’d love to see if you or the YogaCalm community would be interested in being a part of that. It takes place May 27 so it’s a short timeframe, but if it’s a yes or a maybe, you can reach me at sradjy[at]gmail (leaving it at that to avoid catching spam).
– Shahnaz
Ah, you are welcome, and thank you for the invite. I will check in. Your disconnect to reconnect model feels accurate. I love your vision!