à la carte spirit by ilona fried
ilona fried
In a Crisis, Old Memories Cycle into the Present
Yesterday I cycled into Northampton for the first farmer’s market of the season. The ride is about 30 minutes, mostly flat or downhill. It was my road biking debut, rather than using a bike path (to which I drive). At the market I stood in a socially distanced line for half an hour before I … Continue reading
My Toilet Paper Quest Unraveled an Ancient Memory
Ever since I walked El Camino de Santiago, I have had an aversion to buying products in bulk. Stocking up, stockpiling, or hoarding doesn’t make me feel safe or secure. Rather, that behavior makes me feel stifled, crowded and weighed down, as if fear or scarcity is occupying too much space in my nervous system. … Continue reading
We Are All Each Other
A few weeks ago, which seems like another lifetime, my local food co-op removed the cafe seating in the store. While watching an employee take the interior chairs and tables away as I sat at a counter by the window, a deep fear churned in my gut, as if a rug were being pulled out … Continue reading
Will COVID-19 Kill Perfectionism? I Hope So!
About ten days ago I co-hosted a Zoom meeting with a friend and client. It was my first time being in the role of presenter rather than audience, when I occasionally disable the video so that I can retain some privacy and not get distracted by how I look on screen. For this Zoom meeting, … Continue reading
Lessons from a Pilgrimage for a Pandemic
When life throws a curve ball, or I find myself in disappointing circumstances, I attempt to reset my expectations for whatever is happening NOW by recalling my experience walking El Camino de Santiago. What did I do then, when faced with all kinds of unexpected situations? I don’t always remember this exercise, or succeed when … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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