#15 Living in our bodies, going back to camp and our childhoods
Check what I found
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Hey there! This week's theme is all about living in the moment and appreciating your current surroundings. The amazing writers I found share one inspiring message: to remind us to focus on the present instead of worrying about the future. Whether you're enjoying summer camp or exploring Kyoto, being present can help you become more patient and kind to yourself. So let's embrace the now and enjoy these writers!
What I learned when my story was shared in a TEDx talk
In the vortex of grief and identity issues cropping up, I remembered the voice of someone whose work centers around care tasks for people who are neurodiverse or struggling with grief. Her name is KC Davis, and her instructions to my mind one day were simple: Wash what you need and leave the rest for when you have some more energy. So I washed the coffee mugs I knew we'd need for the next morning, and I let the rest of the dishes sit in the sink overnight.
Our bodies, themselves
Living in flesh in the digital age
Fast forward a few weeks. A large, bright dance studio in another part of the city. My husband bought me an introduction to Lindy Hop workshop for Christmas, something we’ve meant to do for — oh — almost a decade. I’ve been taking dance classes regularly for the past decade, but never partner dances. It seemed too complicated to schedule, to work out the details. Maybe even a bit of a hassle, to have to think about another person as well as my own body in space. But I love swing music and it was a chance to do something together for fun. A lot of people in that room had the same idea, about thirty of us in total, with wildly varying levels of dance experience.
Alone in Kyoto.
Loneliness, Japanese style.
Living alone in Kyoto, Japan, has been both a unique experience and a journey through solitude. The tranquil beauty of this ancient city contrasts with the subtle ache of loneliness that sometimes settles within me. Surrounded by vibrant cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant red maple leaves in fall, I find solace in the breathtaking landscapes, yet there are moments when the emptiness of my small apartment mirrors the void in my heart.
My visit to Ghana, navigating decision fatigue, and the gift of time.
Reflecting on belonging
Had my appearance suddenly transformed during my first few days in Ghana? Obviously not! But I soon realized that my self-awareness and self-perception had indeed shifted. In Ghana, I was walking with, talking with and interacting with many people with whom I shared physical appearances, facial features, and culture – even with all my “Americanisms” and with the cultural diversity in Accra.
on turning 30: entering a second childhood
a return to the childlike wonder of it all, pure love, and a dose of 90s nostalgia.
At the end of August, I say farewell to my twenties. My boyfriend, who turned 30 recently, often says that we’re in our second childhood now.
As a child, everything was new and exhilarating! I lived most authentically during that treasured first decade of life, aligned with my spirit. I made art without hesitation, discovered the joy of reading, and wrote theatrical short stories in my lockable pink diary that had the words top secret! written on the first page in blue gel pen.
Remember who the belly flop you are
Week 1: Find freedom in play 🐳
While assembling activities for Camp, I’ve been thinking about the big but simple movements, the loud and wholehearted noises, we used to make– jumping and spinning and whooping and running with our arms spread wide open. How these small, physical gestures feel so foreign to our adult bodies but familiar to our still young spirits. How taking up space in that way– unselfconscious and maybe even a little inconsiderate– can act like a tether to the kind of freedom that plants us, not just in the present, but back into ourselves.
Before you go…
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This is such a well curated list Luiza! Thank you for your including Camp AweGust alongside all these other beautiful reflections on presence and play.
Thank you for including me in your roundup! ☀️