à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Resistance
Silent Retreat: A Sedentary Camino
“The longest journey you will make in your life is from your head to your heart” – Sioux legend In December, friends offered to host a four day, mostly silent meditation retreat at their mountain home. For a modest fee, they’d provide lunch, snacks and facilitation; we could bring breakfast and dinner if we chose … Continue reading
Facing Stage Fright at Story Slam Boulder
“The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the essence is not to be afraid” – Rebbe Nachman of Breslav In mid-December I attended Story Slam Boulder, an open microphone event. Audience members could put their name in a hat to share a personal tale by heart, on stage. The evening’s theme? “Naughty or Nice”. … Continue reading
Dear Sugar: I’ve Filed for Divorce
Dear Sugar (C12H22O11), We’ve had a good run, not quite half a century together, longer than many marriages. I thought that by reaching for you when I felt blissful and blue, I proved my devotion to you. It never crossed my mind that you were a parasite who never reciprocated. Your complex molecule has romped, … Continue reading
Improv as Spiritual Practice
I just passed the half-way point of an improvisational acting class. It’s my first in many years, this time at Boulder Improv Collaborative, coached by Myles Goldin and Zac Chase. I enrolled out of a desire to have fun and practice spontaneity. While “practicing spontaneity” might sound like an oxymoron, it’s not. Some of us, … Continue reading
Can a Mammogram be “Fun”?
Mammograms can be a real pain in the boob. Although recommended as a screening tool, they are not foolproof. Mammograms failed to detect cancerous tumors in at least two women I know, including a family member. Still, each fall I schedule my appointment, a cross between a medical and psychological ritual. Even if imperfect and … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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