The gas has it.

I believe I've said this before, and not much has changed since I did.
The only thing that has is the continued support for the idea as far as I am concerned.
The idea I'm talking about?
That change is coming soon. A new creative boom that will change the way in which we function in a global society. Not unlike Renaissance.
And in many ways, it's already happening. 

This article describes it well- Art as Research.

"It is clear that pressing global challenges, such as economic inequality, migration, climate change, aging societies and food security, present problems too difficult for any one discipline to solve. It will take teams of thinkers working across disciplines. And, given the interconnectivity and global scale of these issues, the solutions will have to look and feel completely new. Artists, with their preference for unconventional approaches and unique forms of representation, are adept at this type of daring and creative problem solving. Increasingly welcomed into these conversations, they can help move consciousness forward, as they always have."

This type of inquiry is what we have been taught to follow. Intuitive practices. Trial and error. Searching and seeking answers in unexpected ways.

For example:

I have a group of boys that are notoriously rambunctious. At least in my sessions. They talk and talk and talk and they love sarcasm and sharp remarks. Don't get me wrong, I love it too! But there comes a time when in interferes with our overall goal, which is to explore expressing ourselves using nonverbal means- art.
So one day I talk to my supervisor about it and she suggests doing a 180 and surprising them with whoopie cushions- almost to force them to interact nonverbally.
It worked brilliantly.
They loved it.
Not to mention I surprised the heck out of them by "letting one rip" before they knew what we were doing.
The looks on their faces were priceless!

Quote, "Are you for real? Did that just happen?"

ANYWAY- From them playing around with whoopie cushions (and kazoos) I was able to glean some really great information about the way these kids function in the world- whether it refers to their interactions with others (feeding off of competition) or themselves (excelling at one or two coping mechanisms).

The overall message is clear.
If you seek an answer, you can find it.
Especially if you are willing to look in unexpected places.

Like the space between a couch cushion and some pants.
Let the research continue.

The yoga say WHAT?!

As a gift to myself I have begun to attend yoga classes again.
This is not the first time I began yoga during this time of year and it may be because during these months it can be more difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Winter has a profound effect on many people, and maybe just that little bit of mindful breathing and positive calming can make all the difference.

This image depicts a tree pose in yoga.
Its therapeutic application may help with sciatica- which is a collection of symptoms involving the compression/irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lower back.
According to WebMD specific symptoms include:

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

Now... with this being said, I am not claiming to have sciatica. What I will say is that I have been experiencing an increased amount of lower back pain for many months and also experience tingling sensations down my legs and others areas more frequently.

Since performing yoga more frequently, I've felt some of that pain decrease.
The tree pose in particular seemed to be the most comfortable although it requires much concentration and balance to perform.

Also, the more I attend these classes the more I learn that as a child I would often contort my body into these positions for fun, the tree pose being one of them.

The shoulder stand, another.
So in some ways it feels like I am taking a step back into the carefree playfulness of my younger years.

Now, yoga may not be for everyone.
Sometimes I even find myself questioning "They want me to do WHAT?"
But that's also very normal.
We don't live in a society that typically understands or values these concepts of body and mind.
That's what exploration is all about though...
...Finding what works for you.

And so... apparently both of these positions I have spoken about have been incorporated into the regime of the ever elusive Boba Fett.

I will be mastering all of these...to become an assassin of back pain and the stress of life.

OH- you were wondering what the whole gang would look like doing yoga poses?!?
Well say no more, here you are my friends... Enjoy!

January kinda sucks so far.

It appears that the New Year has alternative plans for me at the moment.

My grandfather passed away last week.
This week, I hit a pedestrian while making a right hand turn.

Now... both of these sentences sound much worse than I believe the reality. However, without the whole story a person is left to their own devices to assume whatever they'd like.

A grandparent passing can be a very difficult time, especially if it is unexpected- which this was.
He had a major heart attack and was not found by his wife until the next day...
He was a practical man. Showed care as much as he could for living so far away from his family.
He also did not want any services or flowers- so in mourning I lit candles and spoke to other family members about his passing. After the weekend there was some peace with the situation, which I believe is the way he would have wanted it.

Last night while coming home from work I was stopped at a red light and was looking at oncoming traffic, waiting to turn right. There was a jogger who had stopped before the crosswalk and when I had stepped on the gas to go, a man was walking in the crosswalk from the other direction and was in front of my car. I immediately stepped on the gas and it had appeared that I had startled him. I saw his arms raise and he slid down the bumper of my car and remained there. The jogger had come over and stated the he believed I must have knocked the wind out of him and that it looked like he would be fine. The man had a cell phone in his hand and a lit cigarette and when I couldn't figure out how to use his phone to call 911- he called.
I tried to help him up but he complained of his elbow hurting. After attempting to help him many times, and others attempting to help him up he remained stationary, saying he would prefer not to move. While waiting for the police and ambulance he made several statements like "I feel dizzy." "My neck hurts." "My back is tingling." "My leg hurts."
When the police arrived he said the same things to them, that he did not want to move until the ambulance got there... and he asked them for a light for his cigarette that had gone out in the meantime. The EMTs came on the scene and tried to help him up, but the man maintained that his neck hurt. So they placed a neck brace on him and asked if he thought he needed a stretcher. The man said yes.
Now... it is not my place to judge whether this man did or did not feel pain or have injuries. He was escorted to a nearby hospital. There was no damage to my vehicle and I was not issued a citation. The jogger, the police, and the EMTs all expressed doubts as to the severity of the accident.

... I'll be contacted by an insurance adjuster within the next 1-2 days. 

Apparently this happens more often than not.

Guess I'll be waiting and hope for the best.