Occupy What?
I hear a lot of people of all political persuasions expressing frustration or even disdain for those in the occupy movement and it’s “lack of message.” I believe that lack of message allows for a breath in the endless political posturing that keeps us in such a rigid stalemate. Some patience with what the occupiers are bringing us could yield some fascinating new ways of thinking. One such example is from filmmakers Velcrow Ripper and Ian MacKenzie, which may seem naive at first but has a very substantive core message: a purchasing society does not need community and community is what is missing in America; love is a value as much as currency. Take a breath and allow in some alternative viewpoints.
no thought for the day
i am in the only place at the only time doing the only thing
A poem for the debt crisis
On the subway today,
An Asian woman notates a score, five or more parts, perhaps a symphony;
The woman of color in the green hoodie is mixing a poem about a French kiss, no doubt tasted in Brooklyn;
Two business people leaning against the don’t-lean door are discussing a reading of the one’s play — it was just a reading, she apologizes, though he is nonetheless impressed;
The nondescript young man against the railing caresses the head of an electric guitar case leaning lovingly against his belly;
I begin a poem on my way to teach yoga class.
There is no decrease in the importance of culture in the budget of my world.
Here are the keepers of the flame of our civilization, like yogis dispelling darkness in a lineage back to the gods;
They continue their work of non-market-value and offer us more than patriotic consumption…
more than brand-name poetry;
The creative abundance of the universe
flows from the riders
on the subway today.
by Peter Ferko
October 5, 2011
one more reason to love yoga
Thanks to Joelle Hann for this tidbit about “yogasms.” It quotes Alan Finger and others.
a facebook verse
i like liking, but often need disliking, and would love loving, although like laughing out loud, I fear it would quickly fall into hyperbole
for the 20th time
just viewed High Art…again
Still love it after all these years. One of my favorite lines of all time:
Cyd: You look so serious
Lucy: I look serious?
Cyd: Yeah
Lucy: Well…I’m kinda hot…that’s kinda serious
Love you Lisa Cholodenko!
Finding your Self
I need a laugh
I believe people are writing LOL when they are not actually laughing out loud. If the usage were an accurate reflection of the act, I am quite certain I would be hearing more laughter everywhere. Perhaps we need a less dramatic, but more honest acronym, for example, one of these: STM, NL, CAB, GAL.
How to be Late… Gracefully
This was originally published on the Happiness Series
How to be Late… Gracefully
By Peter Ferko
Being fashionably late is one thing, but being late to a job, a meeting, or an appointment is not quite as hip. Instead being late is stressful! I’m often running on several tracks at a time and find myself running late more often than I’d like. I used to give myself a stomach ache over it, but I’ve found some perspective to help avoid lateness and some tools that help when I can’t:
1. When you realize you’re going to be late, call to see if you can reschedule or just adjust the time until when you’ll get there. You will be amazed at how often people could care less about you changing an appointment. Stress gone!
2. When you see you’re going to be late to a fixed appointment, call in to be responsible and to help create a workaround, if necessary. Once you get in, don’t mention it (you already called it in), just get on with things. Stress minimized!
3. When you’re late for things that don’t always start on time — the theater, a movie, a dinner party — surrender to the consequences. Since I stopped worrying about it, I’ve noticed that most of the time things starts late, so I’m on time anyway. Once in a while they don’t, and you watch the first 15 minutes from the lobby TV (for the theater) or you miss the trailers (at the movies) or you miss a cocktail (at the party). Stress never even appeared!
4. Trust that things work out the way they are supposed to. If you’re late, it will likely be okay. Just try to avoid being late in the future, it will be better for everyone involved. What stress?
5. Work on the causal plane. A yoga teacher can give you a mantra to help remove obstacles in your path, which could be a train that won’t show up or the forgetfullness around setting your iPhone alarm! Mantras are best when passed from teacher to student, so the energy the teacher has amassed around the intention passes to the student.