Apr 10, 2022·edited Apr 10, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
Hello again Dearest Suleika....and Hello Dearest Sofia
Most Sunday mornings, i try to take a Zumba class, (these days virtually), with the gorgeously talented and wonderful Jose Ozuna through the Alvin Ailey Dance Extension in Manhattan. This morning, i was prepared to ignore my alarm and skip my class, due to a sense of, well just needing to rest and let everything pass through me...and then i read your stunningly inspiring prompt this morning.....and i got up, and pushed myself through whatever had been holding me back, and took Jose's exquisite class. With a zillion gratitudes and much much love for you. and holding you in thoughts, prayers and hopes, always!
Apr 10, 2022·edited Apr 10, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
Dearest Suleika.....You inspire a zillion creative acts a day in a zillion unforseen ways. I keep thinking of what you wrote, it seems decades ago, although it could have been only a year ago...Survival as a Creative Act!!!!
You endure so much these days , our beautiful Suleika....and yet wherever you are....you create such magic from within the scary and unknown.
Sending you so.much love and strength, our Dearest Suleika
And coming from the back, it’s the newly wed, running in her Johnny gown with IV pole in clutch, singing, dancing and echoing words of encouragement, holding us up, pumping us with vigor and telling us to keep going onward and upward! It’s wonderful Suleika!
I’m enjoying my quotes search that I’m faithfully doing-I had to tell my granddaughter that I was going to be texting her an inspirational quote each day for 100 days. I’ll be faithful I expect.
She likes them. They have to be applicable. She’s a college student recovered from stem cell transplant last June. It’s a journey that I’m quite sure never ends, so we’re walking it!
I have given myself permission to realize that there will be days and times when I can’t do my hundred day project. But I can still walk up and down inside my apartment on bad weather days and bad pain days. It does help with the anxiety and loneliness.
I also hate when doctors or other medical personnel ask me to rate my pain level. I now at age 81 answer rudely “ about 50”. I have found that by writing on a calendar the levels I feel during my days and night, help.
Sorry about your setback , Suleika, but inspired by the strength you show .
Apr 10, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
I find myself struggling not to do something creative. To allow myself a day off. To recharge. To see art in museums. Galleries. To give my achy body a rest. To run errands. Walk the dog. Guilt free. I understand the good intentions behind the 100 day project but for me it has not brought joy. I love working on my art but it can be isolating. I like not being an artist some days!
Apr 10, 2022·edited Apr 10, 2022Liked by Suleika Jaouad, Carmen Radley
I decided to do a dance a day for my 100 day project because I realized that I've never listened to my body with intention. When I am sitting on an important zoom call, and I have to sit in my chair for an hour. When I am meeting strangers for the first time, and my arms want to raise over my head. When pushing distance on a run, the pain in my feet is secondary to the pace I want to achieve. In all of these moments, my body is screaming at me, and I finally decided to be bold enough to actually listen. How would my life change if I listened to my body after each meal? After each interaction with strangers? After each time I sit, move, or play?
For a long time, I've defined my identify with the ultra-marathon running that I compete in. I like to be known as being able to push the physical limits of my body, and thus far, it has earned me respect amongst my peers. Guiltily, I've found that I crave that awe and reverence, but what now scares me more than running 100 miles, is what would happen if I fully listened and honored what my body told me? Would I give up running? Would I gain any validation from peers? Would I love myself deeper?
As I set out on this new chapter with my body, I've found that beginning every morning with an intuitive dance has been a beautiful way for me to honor what my body is telling me, and although it is a small practice, I've found small reverberations popping up.
By the way, I haven’t been able to keep up with my 100 day project but I plan to get back on it. I will have to count doing prayers for others as a giving task, enjoying nature, reading my Bible and The isolation journals as part of my 100 day project. Within all of that I started a new business. I want to get back to watercolor painting but other things are taking precedence. However I am determined that I will get back to it very soon. Your motivation for life and creativity inspires me! Love you Suleika ❤️
I remember that dreadful year, back in 2001, dealing with bladder cystitis. I dealt with that because the leukemia I had would leave me with no platelets so the blood could not stay in my body. I was always having to be transfused. My blood would exit out through my gums, nostrils, kidneys and ureter/urethra. It was like having a baby through my urethra. Ugh! I’m so sorry Suleika! I’m pouring out the prayers for you even heavier now that I know. I pray they have better ways to deal with that than they did for me 21 years ago. I’m so glad you are surrounded by so much love and support. ❤️❤️❤️
Suleika, You so selflessly show up to this group no matter how much pain you are enduring or how many challenges you are facing. May the road ahead be filled with the love and kindness that seems to spill onto us from every pore of your being. What a gift you give to help us show up for ourselves. Sending the love back to you with wishes that you feel better soon.
Today, while fully engaged in viewing an outdoor sculpture, a loud noise rattled me to my core! Upon hearing the noise (along with my not so eloquent fear- induced response), my husband and I turned to see a sort of fanning of a straw colored sort of fence that filled our space. With a split second rotation, majestic plumes of iridescent blue and green color enveloped us. We were looking straight on at a magical peacock showing us his best display.
Evidently, peacocks are considered symbols of regrowth, rejuvenation, beauty, love and passion. I think the peacock showed up for you, Suleika and this community! May today mark the beginning of renewed hope and creative passion for all.
Learning to swim in the unknown...showing up is enough...shape shifting...transformation. Breath. Dance. Creative self expression that take us to new and unexpected places. Beautiful thoughts to ponder upon, to listen to, to absorb. It may take me longer than a day to react and respond to this prompt. Yet, that in itself gives me such joy and appreciation for the complexities and uncertainties of life.
Wishing to all my fellow members of this community a glorious day full of love and ease as we wallow in the wonder and curiosity of one another’s shared stories.
Thank you, Carmen and Suleika for providing a safe place for us to explore the “who we once were, to the person we can still be.”
One sure thing about life is that things will not go as planned. We constantly have to shift and do the next best thing and continue to show up in whatever way we can. It's a hard and beautiful life lesson. Wish you quick recovery. May the sickness go easy on you.
Thank you, Sofia & Suleika for this prompt. I am recovering from a severe neck injury and my pain is flared this week. Because any and all movement feels unsafe right now, I instead did a meditation with Headspace titled, "Connecting Mind and Body." It was lovely. I recommend for anyone else who may not currently be able to move.
"Life’s interruptions are not an excuse for me not to show up, and that showing up is the work." I love this thought; it resonates deeply with me.
Hello again Dearest Suleika....and Hello Dearest Sofia
Most Sunday mornings, i try to take a Zumba class, (these days virtually), with the gorgeously talented and wonderful Jose Ozuna through the Alvin Ailey Dance Extension in Manhattan. This morning, i was prepared to ignore my alarm and skip my class, due to a sense of, well just needing to rest and let everything pass through me...and then i read your stunningly inspiring prompt this morning.....and i got up, and pushed myself through whatever had been holding me back, and took Jose's exquisite class. With a zillion gratitudes and much much love for you. and holding you in thoughts, prayers and hopes, always!
janet
Dearest Suleika.....You inspire a zillion creative acts a day in a zillion unforseen ways. I keep thinking of what you wrote, it seems decades ago, although it could have been only a year ago...Survival as a Creative Act!!!!
You endure so much these days , our beautiful Suleika....and yet wherever you are....you create such magic from within the scary and unknown.
Sending you so.much love and strength, our Dearest Suleika
And coming from the back, it’s the newly wed, running in her Johnny gown with IV pole in clutch, singing, dancing and echoing words of encouragement, holding us up, pumping us with vigor and telling us to keep going onward and upward! It’s wonderful Suleika!
I’m enjoying my quotes search that I’m faithfully doing-I had to tell my granddaughter that I was going to be texting her an inspirational quote each day for 100 days. I’ll be faithful I expect.
She likes them. They have to be applicable. She’s a college student recovered from stem cell transplant last June. It’s a journey that I’m quite sure never ends, so we’re walking it!
I have given myself permission to realize that there will be days and times when I can’t do my hundred day project. But I can still walk up and down inside my apartment on bad weather days and bad pain days. It does help with the anxiety and loneliness.
I also hate when doctors or other medical personnel ask me to rate my pain level. I now at age 81 answer rudely “ about 50”. I have found that by writing on a calendar the levels I feel during my days and night, help.
Sorry about your setback , Suleika, but inspired by the strength you show .
Love and hugs ✍️❤️👵🏻
I find myself struggling not to do something creative. To allow myself a day off. To recharge. To see art in museums. Galleries. To give my achy body a rest. To run errands. Walk the dog. Guilt free. I understand the good intentions behind the 100 day project but for me it has not brought joy. I love working on my art but it can be isolating. I like not being an artist some days!
I decided to do a dance a day for my 100 day project because I realized that I've never listened to my body with intention. When I am sitting on an important zoom call, and I have to sit in my chair for an hour. When I am meeting strangers for the first time, and my arms want to raise over my head. When pushing distance on a run, the pain in my feet is secondary to the pace I want to achieve. In all of these moments, my body is screaming at me, and I finally decided to be bold enough to actually listen. How would my life change if I listened to my body after each meal? After each interaction with strangers? After each time I sit, move, or play?
For a long time, I've defined my identify with the ultra-marathon running that I compete in. I like to be known as being able to push the physical limits of my body, and thus far, it has earned me respect amongst my peers. Guiltily, I've found that I crave that awe and reverence, but what now scares me more than running 100 miles, is what would happen if I fully listened and honored what my body told me? Would I give up running? Would I gain any validation from peers? Would I love myself deeper?
As I set out on this new chapter with my body, I've found that beginning every morning with an intuitive dance has been a beautiful way for me to honor what my body is telling me, and although it is a small practice, I've found small reverberations popping up.
What an awesome prompt. I feel this deeply. ❤️ Love and strength to you.
By the way, I haven’t been able to keep up with my 100 day project but I plan to get back on it. I will have to count doing prayers for others as a giving task, enjoying nature, reading my Bible and The isolation journals as part of my 100 day project. Within all of that I started a new business. I want to get back to watercolor painting but other things are taking precedence. However I am determined that I will get back to it very soon. Your motivation for life and creativity inspires me! Love you Suleika ❤️
I remember that dreadful year, back in 2001, dealing with bladder cystitis. I dealt with that because the leukemia I had would leave me with no platelets so the blood could not stay in my body. I was always having to be transfused. My blood would exit out through my gums, nostrils, kidneys and ureter/urethra. It was like having a baby through my urethra. Ugh! I’m so sorry Suleika! I’m pouring out the prayers for you even heavier now that I know. I pray they have better ways to deal with that than they did for me 21 years ago. I’m so glad you are surrounded by so much love and support. ❤️❤️❤️
Suleika, You so selflessly show up to this group no matter how much pain you are enduring or how many challenges you are facing. May the road ahead be filled with the love and kindness that seems to spill onto us from every pore of your being. What a gift you give to help us show up for ourselves. Sending the love back to you with wishes that you feel better soon.
Today, while fully engaged in viewing an outdoor sculpture, a loud noise rattled me to my core! Upon hearing the noise (along with my not so eloquent fear- induced response), my husband and I turned to see a sort of fanning of a straw colored sort of fence that filled our space. With a split second rotation, majestic plumes of iridescent blue and green color enveloped us. We were looking straight on at a magical peacock showing us his best display.
Evidently, peacocks are considered symbols of regrowth, rejuvenation, beauty, love and passion. I think the peacock showed up for you, Suleika and this community! May today mark the beginning of renewed hope and creative passion for all.
Learning to swim in the unknown...showing up is enough...shape shifting...transformation. Breath. Dance. Creative self expression that take us to new and unexpected places. Beautiful thoughts to ponder upon, to listen to, to absorb. It may take me longer than a day to react and respond to this prompt. Yet, that in itself gives me such joy and appreciation for the complexities and uncertainties of life.
Wishing to all my fellow members of this community a glorious day full of love and ease as we wallow in the wonder and curiosity of one another’s shared stories.
Thank you, Carmen and Suleika for providing a safe place for us to explore the “who we once were, to the person we can still be.”
Thinking about you during these days of physical pain and uncertainty. Thank you for reminding us that creativity can be a refuge.
Love the worm 🐛 🪱 shedding & shifting. Take good rest lovely 🥰 the dance prompt with wisdom writing ✍🏻 from Sofia really suits me. I’ll post some.
One sure thing about life is that things will not go as planned. We constantly have to shift and do the next best thing and continue to show up in whatever way we can. It's a hard and beautiful life lesson. Wish you quick recovery. May the sickness go easy on you.
Thank you, Sofia & Suleika for this prompt. I am recovering from a severe neck injury and my pain is flared this week. Because any and all movement feels unsafe right now, I instead did a meditation with Headspace titled, "Connecting Mind and Body." It was lovely. I recommend for anyone else who may not currently be able to move.