à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Anxiety
When Even Good Habits Allow Us to Hide from Ourselves
“When you know what you are doing you can do what you want” – Moshe Feldenkrais Ideally, we form conscious habits and become aware of our behavior (“know what you are doing”) to help us thrive (“do what you want”). If our habits are no longer serving us, we can cultivate different ones. That is … Continue reading
Anthony Bourdain, Food and the Soul
I knew of Anthony Bourdain but hadn’t watched any of his shows until I learned of his passing. In viewing parts of several episodes, I discovered that we had been kindred spirits: lovers of food, travel, exploring the unknown and, also, appreciators of simple pleasures. In one tribute to his life, there is a video … Continue reading
What’s Scarier than Public Speaking? An Aikido Rank Test
It’s a truism that many people fear public speaking more than death. I can safely say that an Aikido rank test is more terrifying than addressing a group of people. When I began practicing Aikido in early 2017, I sought an intense physical and spiritual challenge to lift me out of a dark place. I … Continue reading
Unexpected Reflections for 9/11
I was at work when planes flew into the World Trade Center in New York and another into the Pentagon. Someone plugged in a small television and we watched the unspeakable unfold. Even the office manager, a normally stoic man with a love of beer, began to cry. He dismissed us for the day. I … Continue reading
How Do You Know You’re on the Right Track?
Life can be discombobulating if not frustrating for those of us who crave a degree of certainty and predictability yet who also want to embrace the mystery of existence, be open to surprises or connect with the divine. At what point does too much certainty, predictability and routine crowd out mystery and preclude the possibility of transcendence? Can … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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