This Life is a Blessing!
Awaken, Explore Nature, Express Yourself!
This morning I started the day by making a podcast. I recorded the framing for Art Sluts radio episodes 7 & 8 with Ann Wood. These two episodes are an archive of an interview that Ann Wood, Sheila Brunjulfson, Pamdemonium and I did for KCOU radio in Columbia MO January 1985. The topics of equal rights, bodily autonomy, feminism and social oppression that inspired us to do performance art as women in our early 20’s are, sadly, 40 years later, still completely relevant. In the song I wrote about David Letterman I sing: “Whenever I get depressed about nuclear waste or my love life, or the government or the imminent apocalyse… all I gotta do is turn on the tube …” Some things change and some stay the same.
I still struggle with depression and anxiety ( as any and all alive humans do right now). In my twenties I trusted the comedy of David Letterman and other late night talk shows to lift my mood. I now know that consuming other people’s media most often, for me, leads to more disassociation and depression.
As my friend/teacher; Antero Alli, (may he rest in power and pleasure) wrote:
“If you are consuming more culture than you are generating you are in trouble”
What I have learned in the last 40 years is that Nature is a much more reliable generator of soothing peaceful energy than other humans and their medias. Do yourself a favor and get outside. Be with trees and listen to birds. Hang out with your pets. Do some deep breathing. You can rely on Nature to be there for you.
I also know that expressing myself somatically, (physically with my body), through art, song and movement will redirect my attention and consciousness and center myself as a generator of culture rather than a passive consumer of culture. Take a moment right now to locate an experience of CALM or dare I say PLEASURE in your body right now. Breathe into and expand that sensation. Use your breath and the very fact of your existence, YOU ARE ALIVE, as evidence that you are blessed. Find a way to express yourself authentically and directly today. Blessed Be!