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Artistic Philosophy, Background, and Goals
One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had as a performer – one of the times in life I’ve felt most useful – was in the hospital room of a dying man, surrounded by his family, singing his favorite Gospel songs. I began singing and performing leading children’s roles in musical theatre as a very young child – initially because it was fun, interesting, and something I was good at (Annie was the first dream role I performed). While enjoyment is still a motivating factor, my passion for the work I do (and the way I try to live) stems more from a desire to influence people’s lives for the…
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On Human Dignity and Shared Experiences
I had afternoon tea yesterday. I had afternoon tea with a stranger. I met this stranger because I had afternoon tea yesterday at Patisserie Valerie, where tea is only served for two, in St. Pancras International Railway Station. Because the seating area at Patisserie Valerie is open to the rest of the station, I shared afternoon tea for two with a stranger who was asking customers for spare change. I shared tea because my heart was softened when the woman my stranger first approached shared some of her money with her and treated her with kindness; and because I am learning to listen to my intuition and to not be…
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Doctorates, Down-Dogs and the Challenge of Self Talk (Guest Post)
This blog is new to me – but I find this post incredibly applicable! I have been practicing yoga on-and-off for the past year and notice remarkable differences in my mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing when I practice consistently – which is why I’m currently prioritizing it as part of my “life reorganization” (more on that later). I look forward to reading more from Fit Is a Feminist Issue! “The day I submitted my PhD dissertation was also my 95th day of a self-imposed 100 day yoga challenge. I had never intended to complete both tasks in such quick succession. Indeed, the fact that I actually completed either task at all…
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The Pursuit of: Intellectual Freedom
Throughout your upbringing and education, how many concepts were “truth,” and how many authority figures were “infallible”? I don’t know how to balance the need for children to have things they can count on – how to determine how much “grey” they can handle when they’re first developing – while instilling the idea that it is good essential to ask questions and to investigate ideas from various viewpoints before forming an opinion (we don’t even need to have an opinion on everything!). I fear that critical thinking is sorely lacking in (or even condemned by) many educational systems. We all have unique challenges to our growth and psychological development; some of my mine…
