My coffee brewing ritual, baking bread, culturing yogurt – these have been anchor points for me, my yoga for maintaining a healthy mind in times of change and stress. And now they’re gone; left behind (for now)!
I’ve no cooking facilities, no fridge, no tools other than a sharp knife to cut fruit. Many ‘basics’ I’ve taken for granted have become arduous, and living a simplified life feels simple no more. Many things I’ve learnt about how to navigate the world suddenly no longer apply in a culture so foreign to that of my upbringing.
So I’m curious to note where I do find solace. No matter where I am or my state of being I am able to make music (with whatever’s at hand), sing and dance. It wasn’t obvious to me (things never are in dark corners) but somehow I’ve experienced a natural gravitation towards these. That is, so long as the mind doesn’t interrupt it with petty ideas of incapability.
I declare myself to be a musician simply because I’m picking up an instrument and trying it out again and again and again.
I declare myself to be a singer simply because I open my mouth and allow sounds go be formed and expressed.
I declare myself to be a dancer simply because I allow my body to respond to and move with the music that is every present.
Next level: find others to do these with and may we find a joyful place where cultural differences do not impinge co-creation and celebration.
And simply because this is written, I declare too that I am a writer.
I do miss my coffee though…