A brief introduction about me and my writing…Click on this post and keep reading to find out more.
MMXX – The Gone Off The Rails Year
If life were a busy train station, and you were stood still on the platform, unable to move – not an inch, not a centimetre – thoughts of personal failures come flooding back in. “Why didn’t I leave sooner?”, “Why didn’t I say this or that?”, “Why didn’t I…?” “Why did I..?” Why, oh why […]
September’s Unburdenings
As I step outside for my early morning run, there is a certain chillness about. The air is now crispy and misty, and it can only mean one thing: September is here so summer must leave. Colours are changing, nights are drawing in and your body is feeling tired. One day at a time and […]
Writing in Progress
When lockdown was announced in March, my usual rituals came to a halt. No dancing, no gym, no social gatherings…It was just me, members of my household (also includes the cat) and access to the internet. As I was browsing through my feed in social media, one post caught my attention. The team behind a […]
Identity – Chapter 2 (Movement)
While I was dreaming the follow-up to my chapter on identity, I kept looking for inspirational quotes by great dancers. They all made sense to me because I feel I say more dancing than I do when I speak. As I researched more and more, the initial idea of identity through movement via culture and […]
Identity – Chapter 1
If what you do you makes you who you are, what happens when there’s a lockdown? Social restrictions have meant we cannot fully commit to those activities, hobbies that are part of our identities. I still run, I still exercise. On the other end of the scale, I haven’t danced since early March so I […]
Marching for change
One of the strongest memories of my childhood was that of watching Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom once released from the prison that hid him from the world for decades. Even as a child I understood what his steps meant, not only for a whole country, but also for those who fought (and still […]
Slow: Work in Progress
When you look up the definition of “slow”, you come up with a number of synonyms: unhurried, leisurely, measured, moderate, deliberate, steady, easy, relaxed; but also sluggish, time-consuming, procrastinating, obtuse, dull, slow-moving, quiet. Reflect on that last one: quiet. Breathe it in like a fine wine or a morning-awakening coffee: quiet. How difficult it is […]
Unembraced: Conscious awakening to a new normal
It is still a very clear memory even after 18 years. It was my last day of holiday with my parents. We were on our way back home after an enjoyable day sightseeing, and our last stop was Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) in Cascais, near Lisbon. The radio was on and kept us company […]
Tango: the healing touch
With a thin string of sweat beads nesting on your brow, a few drops freely cascade down the right side of your face. You gently cool down with a hand held fan, either your own or that from your partner who has carefully pocketed it. Your skin reacts to the breeze instantly. And then a […]
In life, like in tango, breathe as the bandoneon
In this busyness, in this rush to get out of the labyrinth, in transporting ourselves out, we don’t notice how we move and how we breathe. It’s no surprise when someone is experiencing a panic attack, the focus switches from the stressing factor to breathing exercises. Regulate your breathing (in through the nose, out through […]
Nature reminds us to be resilient
Learning to be vulnerable seems to be a good path towards resourcefulness, and most importantly, resilience. Think, for instance, of weeds. Next time you go out and about, look out for weeds. Seriously! Weeds are often thought as unpleasant looking plants, creeping about, causing havoc in domestic settings – there are those who have many […]
