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A few years ago, a person I will not name, who is Black, came to talk to me about the Hall, and we spoke about his work in the field of education in our community and I spoke about my vision for the Hall in our community, and a half hour into the conversation, he leaned in, and whispered, “Why do you like Black people so much?” Caught off guard, I bellowed out a laugh.…
Here’s what no one told me, having a child was going to turn me inside out, expose the soft parts, the scars, the missing connectors, the entrenched and mystifying behaviors, and force me into the most uncomfortable growth of my life. No one said this. I thought I was raising a child, instead I was learning to parent myself. Yesterday, I had a conversation with my son where I had to tell him why I…
A friend told me that when she first met me she thought of me as a luna moth – this came up because another friend, an artist, wants to paint dragonflies on my walls. Dragonflies symbolize adaptability and luna moths symbolize rebirth. Both winged creatures are symbols of transformation, but oh, if I could be like a luna moth and inhabit its experience just for a day? The luna moth is an exquisite masterpiece, perfect…
I did a meditation this morning with Artist Morning, and Darius asked this question at the opening. What does my heart want to say? Mine wants to say, I’m here, I’m vulnerable, and I can handle it. Ha! In the chat, someone said vulnerability is a bridge. Yes, it is a bridge to another human, to the universe, to sorrow and to joy. And it begins with a brave heart. I’d like to think I…
Owning the 100 Men Hall has offered me a wild ride in this life. I’ve met so many people, made so many friends, and every day has been different from the day before or the day after. And there have been highlights. So many highlights. One was the day Bobby Rush came to the Hall to play a Blues Brunch and stole my heart. Here was a superstar, an icon, the King of the Chitlin’…
This week at the Hall, we hosted a Masterclass on Prince – the man, the symbol, the rebel, the genius and the icon. The esteemed C Liegh McInnis, poet, author, teacher, and Prince expert taught the week long class to a classroom that had an age span of 8 years old to 68 years old. We, the students, enjoyed every minute. At the end of the week, one of the teen students came up and…
The Art of War helps you know when to engage and when to retreat. It took me way too many years to learn this art form. I was headlong into engage so many times when all the signs were pointing to retreat. I was watching a clip in the Hall’s Masterclass: Prince yesterday where Prince is called up to the stage at Michael Jackson’s request to James Brown. Prince got up and went full on…
I have a friend who is nearing 90 years old, and many of her friends have passed away. I try to imagine losing most of my friends and how bereft I would feel without their presence in my life and how forced I would be to contemplate my own death. And how lonely I would be living without them. I hope if I live to almost 90, I would meet a friend like me, someone…
I went for a hike with Betsy on Thursday early in Sabino Canyon, then on Friday, I walked in Hoffman Park, which is right outside the house we are staying in. Today, I cruised the neighborhood checking out the plants in people’s yards. Tucson and its plants are enchanting wonders – gardens look filled with props for an Arizona movie set. I was listening to a podcast my friend, Kat had recommended with Dan Harris…
What I really want to say is that sometimes I cannot be what you want me to be. I get tired. I get a virus. I get a UTI. I get overwhelmed. I rant. I rave. I can’t seem to circle back to myself. I have nothing left to say. There are no meditations that center me. My body starts to hurt. Sciatica. Piriformis. I lead with this when I speak to someone about any…