à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Sensitivity
On the Perils of Unsolicited Advice
In our talk-centric culture, opinions are exchanged as unconsciously as oxygen molecules. Many people apparently enjoy conversations that more closely resemble ping-pong matches than genuine inquiry. For some, offering advice is a compulsive habit. Regardless of whether anyone is interested, they are like fountains that gurgle their viewpoints on humans within hearing distance or on social media. But many folks, even non-gurglers, often … Continue reading
Feld-Zen-Krais: Doing and Not Doing
“Do it, and don’t do it.” Feldenkrais Trainer Aliza Stewart repeated this phrase, mantra like, as she directed us in a movement last week. Presiding at the front of the room, she reminded me of my compassionate and patient Zen teacher but with a compelling Israeli accent, a regal bearing and stylish red sandals. Perhaps I needed to hear “Do it, … Continue reading
Finding Feldenkrais, or Maybe It Found Me
What happens when you can’t do what you did before? Since returning from the Camino de Santiago with tendonitis, and vigorous, weight bearing exercise off limits, I’ve been asking myself a variation of that question: what opportunities have opened that I wasn’t available to in the past, either because I would have been hiking or … Continue reading
Strip Malls as Spiritual Teachers?!
The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. – Marcel Proust Colorado is blessed with dramatic landscapes and sweeping sunny skies that inspire many people, myself included, to relocate here. Some folks even call this place “God’s country”. I wonder if these are the same people who’ve … Continue reading
Reclaiming B.I.T.C.H.
I wonder if American culture will ever embrace, let alone celebrate, introverts, especially introverted women. I sketched this post at the end of 2013 after comparing notes on life and blogging via Skype with the author of http://www.space2live.net, which focuses on introversion. A few months ago I wrote Yes, I am a S.N.O.B. I’m proud … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
Recent comments