“If you come to a fork in the road, take it”, David recently quoting Yogi Berra.
How can I prepare for such a change in direction while avoiding mishaps? Friends of mine, relocating to new jobs, suffered minor strokes and a bout of pancreatitis. This is the advice offered in the current Yoga journal:
“Once you find your center, you can move in new directions”.
I am getting ready for my new adventure by slowly tidying up. In my personal life, inspecting the contents of closets, I found a picture of Barras that I took half a century ago with my Voigtlander (Vitomatic IIa, Color-SKorpa 2.8/50), a gift from Ossi. In my childhood, Barras accompanied me in on my solitary rambles along the North Sea.
In my professional life, I am passing on my experience and hybridoma cell lines.
Last not least, I am getting in touch with my body at Mindful Movement/Physical therapy without suffering the minor injuries contracted at previous Yoga centers, mega operations, where I was just another piece of cattle. Having taught how to properly do head stand, Sue is now explaining to me how to loosen my back and psoas muscles in preparation for camel pose.
My sense is that, supported by friends, I am slowly pulling in my tentacles without tearing anything.
My last statement reminds me of playing with an octopus in Hawaiian waters. Have you ever played with an octopus?
Birgit,
I bet there are way more than 8 projections. I’d say they’re more like filopodia that can retract and re-form elsewhere.
And I’m shocked to see you stole a portrait idea from some of my recent photographs. Even if you did do it fifty years ago…
filopodia!
Birgit:
As I remember, the Voightlander was quite a camera in its day. Had an old Exacta that took decent shots.
Hi Birgit, I don’t know what your new adventure is but I really appreciate your post. I also love the photo. What a great shot! And, I envy you your headstand! I’ve yet to reach that goal.
Steve,
Barras, a sturdy German philosopher, lacks the tantalizing eyelashes of your Montana Beauty.
But he does have whiskers, and an equally unflinching and intelligent eye. The word philosopher would indeed apply. I think your photo is deeper and more interesting than probably 99.99% of dog pictures.
Kimberly,
Thank you.
My tree pose needs some tender loving care!
Birgit,
I would love to know more about your transition. Sounds as if you are retiring from one world and about to enter another. This kind of change is exciting, difficult, scary, and very very possible — and I speak from personal experience. If you feel comfortable telling us more about what’s happening with you, please do.
As for the yoga, I’m seriously impressed. I mean _totally._ So, in order not to be too intimidated, I’ll let you know that in my 50th year, I ran my first marathon. And did another in my 51st year (but never again). And now, at age 65 I am going off in various other directions, like Montana in December.
Life is always amazing. So even if you aren’t sure of your center, you’ll move on. And I bet you’ll find it delicious.
AS for my absence here, I must report that I’ve been engaged in two interesting debates on Ragged Cloth http://www.raggedclothcafe.com. The first is about the medium, cloth/textiles, in which the group on Ragged Cloth works; We are trying to sort out the differences between our medium and other traditional areas of making art.
The other interesting post that has kept me busy is one in which works have been posted without names or identifications whatsoever, from a person who like myself, likes the abstract expressionists. That too has caused a lot of comments and interesting notions to arise. I’m particularly interested in the intersection of cultural knowledge and experiencing the art.
So forgive me for being distracted, but I’ll be back soon. Feel free to join us at Ragged Cloth. And Birgit, nosy folks really do want to know…………..
June,
I am impressed by your two marathons.
At Ragged Cloth I read
Do you consider light a pattern?
As for my adventure, so far, I have not burned any bridges. Your question reminds me of my last two intended changes of direction and how events, not foreseen, were significant. All I am doing now is to get ready for my changing interest to propel me into what comes next. Clearly, art and perception will play a big role.