Moving with Sarah Mohr →

Published January 27, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 27  ·  

Moving with Sarah Mohr

What roles do movement, play, and internal-external balance play in human connection and self-expression?

The balance between internal and external experiences shapes how individuals perceive and express themselves.

Let us have the capacity to lose the safety, and the illusion of the safety, that we are given in our century, to figure out that pain is our beautiful companion.

~ Sarah Mohr (16:32)

The conversation explores the intrinsic human connection to movement and play, emphasizing how these activities serve as fundamental forms of communication. The discussion highlights the cultural differences in how movement and play are expressed, with some societies engaging more openly and visibly, while others internalize their play through structured or intellectual means. The relationship between internal and external experiences of play is dissected, particularly through the lens of dance, where the external beauty perceived by audiences contrasts with the internal mental and physical challenges faced by the dancer.

Another key focus is the integration of pain and love as essential forces for learning and personal growth. Pain is presented as a necessary companion that helps individuals rediscover their authentic selves and reconnect with forgotten aspects of their identities. This rediscovery is tied to the idea of balance, both within oneself and in relation to external perceptions, underscoring the role of self-awareness and trust in navigating life’s complexities.

(more…)

Ego →

Published January 27, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 27  ·  

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

~ Colin Powell

slip:4a749.

Dreams are maps →

Published January 26, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 26  ·  

The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps.

~ Carl Sagan

slip:4a742.

Shoulders of giants →

Published January 25, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 25  ·  

I’ve said many times of my generation that we drink deeply from wells of freedom and opportunity that we did not dig, that we eat from tables prepared for us by our ancestors, that we sit comfortably in the shade of trees that we did not cultivate. We stand on the shoulders of giants.

~ Cory Booker

slip:4a741.

Rest. Reflect. Recalibrate. →

Published January 24, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 24  ·  

When you’re able to recognize what’s happening and be deliberate with your actions, setbacks don’t have to be as painful. Coming out on the other side ready to recommit to your path requires that you harness all the skills you have learned and apply them to rest, reflect, recalibrate, and then get back on track.

~ Melody Wilding

slip:4a740.

Storytelling →

Published January 24, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 24  ·  

Linda McLachlan is the host and creative spark behind The Arena. Our conversation began with the topic of storytelling. I was interested in learning how she was using storytelling in the context of her podcast. In particular, I wondered if her thoughts on storytelling had changed after applying it to podcasting.

In The Arena, Linda uses a mostly consistent set of questions to power her conversation with her guests. This started as a backbone around which, in each conversation, she could find other questions to ask and build it out. Unexpectedly, the story that comes out each time is quite different.

(more…)

Commentary: On →

Published January 23, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 23

When I started adding quotes to this blog I put a lot of thought into how they were presented. In particular, I decided not to unpack my thoughts about the quote. And more recently I’ve pointed that out, saying that I wanted you to have the chance to stumble over the quote without my muddying your first impresions.

In hindsight, that doesn’t make any sense. Sometimes the quotes appear right adjacent to something else I’ve written, or next to other quotes… and at the very least you’re finding it in the context of my blog (or email.) Worse, I often find I have something I’d like to say about the quote, and I’ve simply let that stuff pass unwritten.

So there are about 700 quotes published here already. I’m going to republish them adding…

gotcha! No, I’m not. I just wanted to point out that you’re going to start seeing quotes paired with my reflections… and boy howdy that kinda looks like the rest of the stuff I do here already, like quote something someone wrote . . . so yeah Craig, what really is/was the difference.

Meanwhile, we’re going back to 7 “posts” within each weekly email. If you’ve been here a while (and if not– Hey, welcome new friend!) you know I’ve been trying to work through the “frontlog” of scheduled quotes. I’ve gotten ahead… or should I say, less ahead? …or closer to being behind?? Anyway, the scheduled queue is down to about 90 days into the future. So back to a post a day. (Because, after all, you can also just subscribe to the RSS feed— all Mailchimp does is check that feed, once a week, and email it to you. ;)

ɕ

Reasons to doubt →

Published January 22, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 22  ·  

There are always going to be reasons to doubt your own worth; The question is, how far do you allow yourself to go down that road before you look up and realize— you had the power to come home all along.

~ Sara Bareilles

slip:4a739.

Freedom with Brandon Sandén →

Published January 21, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 21  ·  

Freedom with Brandon Sandén

How does movement, particularly parkour, serve as a reflection of one’s mental and physical state while fostering personal growth and community connection?

Movement reveals the intricate connection between physical challenges and mental states.

One thing I really love about parkour, and what it’s been for me, is that it’s kind of a perfect mirror—I think, Dan Edwardes spoken about this a lot—but it’s a perfect mirror of who you are right now at this very moment.

~ Brandon Sandén (1:28)

The conversation explores how movement, particularly parkour, reflects one’s current mental and physical state. Movement is described as a mirror, revealing the moment’s truths, independent of past achievements. Parkour’s emphasis on adaptability and creativity helps individuals step beyond their mental barriers and embrace challenges.

The discussion also highlights the role of community in fostering a love for movement. Through initiatives like Sunday Jump Days, participants build inclusive spaces, transcending organizational boundaries. Teaching parkour is revealed to require a blend of structure and flexibility, reflecting the dynamic nature of the discipline. Lastly, the value of flow states, both in movement and teaching, underscores the deep connection between physical practice and mental clarity.

(more…)

Fun with Michelle Muri →

Published January 21, 2022  ·  All posts on Jan 21

How do podcasts serve as a medium to address critical issues in nonprofit work while fostering personal and professional connections?

The conversation reveals how fostering dogs during the pandemic opened unexpected emotional and social doors.

Nonprofits and foundations like to think of themselves as loving and nurturing, but their roots were not built in that.

~ Michelle Muri (7:48)

The conversation explores the transformational role of podcasting in addressing structural inequities within the nonprofit sector. It reflects on how a podcast like The Ethical Rainmaker brings awareness to the complicity of nonprofits in systemic racism and highlights strategies for change. The discussion also showcases the importance of prioritizing diverse voices and topics often overlooked in mainstream conversations.

Michelle recounts the personal risks and rewards of creating a podcast, including sacrificing health insurance to hire the right talent and subsequently reaching a significant milestone of 50,000 downloads. She discusses how her work resonates in classrooms and professional spaces, extending their podcast’s influence beyond the digital realm. The conversation underscores how authentic, voice-driven storytelling can build meaningful connections and inspire change.

(more…)