Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Reflecting on "Atlas Of The Heart"


Emotions are important to understand more deeply and can help us understand why we act, behave, think, and feel the way we do in a situation. I read Atlas of the Heart and felt someway about it. Here is my Goodreads Review where I point out what was useful and what was challenging for me.

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
by Brené Brown 

I have to say this was more challenging to work through than I thought it would be. In someway it felt too academic even though the language used was really easy to understand. Over all it felt like reading a interesting dictionary vs. a book you would normally sit down and read cover to cover.

Personally as someone who struggles with Interoception I think I thought this would be more useful to me than it was. I think I would have appreciated more stories/examples (Like how I loved how she used her experience working at a restaurant to clearly show the difference between stressed and overwhelmed) vs. the book being so definition heavy.

I do think the authors framework might be useful to me in the sense that when I am feeling something I can go bigger picture such as if I am avoiding knowing that is a "Place we go when things are uncertain or too much" and then thinking about what is uncertain or too much that might be leading to the avoidance etc.

But I am not sure if this book has given me a better frame work to be able to identify the emotions I am feeling at any given time. Yes there are 87 emotions via this book but really identifying them (knowing how they feel in my body or in my thoughts) and knowing what to do/feel/process when feeling them was unclear.


Monday, January 23, 2023

The 36th Mass Shooting Of 2023 ...

 

California, Louisiana, Mississippi

This past weekend we had mass shooting #33-36 of 2023 with injured or deaths

Or the #21 mass shooting with deaths 
Aka we have one mass shooting where someone dies on average every day

Or 51 people have been killed in mass shootings so far in 2023
Or two people die by mass shooting every day on average

California, Louisiana, Mississippi



Friday, January 20, 2023

2023 The Year Of The Rabbit

 

The Chinese year of the Rabbit is the fourth year of the 12-year cycle of Chinese Zodiac animals. The old Chinese story behind this was that the Jade emperor ordered a race to select the 12 animals to be his personal guards. The animals arrived in the order of the cycle.

Why Does The Rabbit Rank The Fourth In Chinese Zodiac?

Once upon a time, the rabbit and the ox were neighbors and they got along with each other very well. The ox was diligent and hardworking while the rabbit was smart and capable, so they all lived a comfortable life. 
 
One day, the rabbit good at running showed off to the ox: "I'm the long-distance running champion in the animal world and no one can defeat me!" The ox sought for advice about long-distance running modestly, but the rabbit shook its head proudly and said: "the long-distance running champion depends on the congenital quality and you cannot learn it. Besides, the long-distance running requires a slim body; but you are stout. I'm afraid you cannot run fast." 
 
One day, the rabbit good at running showed off to the ox: "I'm the long-distance running champion in the animal world and no one can defeat me!" The ox sought for advice about long-distance running modestly, but the rabbit shook its head proudly and said: "the long-distance running champion depends on the congenital quality and you cannot learn it. Besides, the long-distance running requires a slim body; but you are stout. I'm afraid you cannot run fast."

The ox was upset but it was unwilling to submit. From then on, the ox began to practice long-distance running and it finally gained the iron feet due to its perseverance. Once tailed up, it ran like the wind and never felt exhausted for a few days.

In accordance with the rules, the animals coming first would be listed for the Chinese zodiac signs on the day. The ox and the rabbit promised to each other that they would get up and go to the Heavenly Palace together after hearing the first cockcrow.

The next day, the ox got up after hearing the first cockcrow but the rabbit had already left. The rabbit ran for a long time and it found there was no animal, so it fell asleep for a while. The ox fell behind, but it never rested and arrived first at the Heavenly Palace due to its perseverance and iron feet when the rabbit was sleeping.

A burst of rapid footsteps awoke the rabbit; it opened its eyes and found the tiger running over quickly. The rabbit was anxious and it ran after the tiger. However, it still fell behind the tiger. Since the tricky rat hid under the ox horn, the rabbit only got the fourth position after the rat, the ox and the tiger.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

A Free Day At The Field Museum

 
(Yes I touched the real dinosaur bone)

The Field Museum offers select free admission days for Illinois residents throughout the year.

Upcoming free museum days for Illinois residents at The Field Museum
January 24, 25, 31; February 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20

Free entry year-round for the following groups: Active military and Illinois teachers.

Today I took advantage of a free day at The Field Museum. I will say I felt more challenged going to the Field than I did going to the Art Institute earlier this week. I felt the most comfortable with the pretty gems, the dinosaurs, etc. because those felt less problematic. Even though I know that for several of the exhibits The Field has gotten a lot of feedback from the people referenced, some exhibits still felt a little voyeuristic/look at these people and how different they are from us. 


(I did not pay to see the Death exhibit but was glad she has an exhibit)





Monday, January 16, 2023

Enjoying An Art Institute Free Day


The Art Institute of Chicago offers select free admission days for Illinois residents throughout the year.

Upcoming free museum days for Illinois residents at the Art Institute of Chicago:Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays) from Jan. 9 – March 24, 2023

To receive free admission tickets, Illinois residents must reserve them online in advance.

The museum is always free for Chicago teens under the age of 18, all children under age 14, Link and WIC cardholders, active-duty military, and Illinois educators.

Today I took advantage of it being a free day at the Art Institute of Chicago. A good use of a rainy and gloomy day. The Art Institute is a #hobgadlingwonder because it is a modern marvel that I can see art made over centuries from around the world for free (well free on a free days lol) all without leaving home. I ended up spending about 3 hours before I was taped out. Here are a few things that stood out to me. Some new pieces and some old friends.






(There was a cool free audio tour of this exhibit on the Art Institute App)




Monday, January 9, 2023

The Liminal Space Of A New Year ...

 

Happy New Years, Happy 2023

Yes I know that 2023 is already a whole week old but because of weather and time going wibbly wobbly I am still sending everyone a Happy New Year. 

Because the holidays including New Year became a bit of a smear because my travel plans were delayed a week I am even more aware that the start of a new year is a liminal space. 

Typically there is something about the striking of midnight that seems to demarcate a new year and a new beginning but this year while I got to celebrate the new year I had to accept some of my new year's plans had to be modified for a short while until I was settled back home.  

(I have to admit I tend to feel like if you don't start something on Jan 1st you are running late, to the point where it has bugged me that Yoga with Adriene's Jan challenge (which this year is Center) always starts on the 2nd LOL)

So as I sit in this liminal space where 2022 and 2023 blend together or create a sunset/sunrise here are a few notes on both the year past and what I hope from the year to come.

2022 Biggest Self-Discovery -- My neurodivergence/Being Autistic

2022 Theme: "Throw away the plan" (Thanks Captain Cold)
2023 Theme: "I have so much to live for" (Thanks Hob Gadling)

2022 #carechronical #selfcarechronical (Thanks Wentworth Miller)
2023 adding #hobgadlingwonder (Thanks Hob Gadling)

#hobgadlingwonders is a celebration of "modern marvels". Modern as in post 1389 and marvels as in things Hob would share with Dream of the Endless when they meet up every 100 years. 

"Because you wanna know what it's like. All right. I'll tell you what it's like. ( sighs ) It's fսck¡ng brilliant. It's all changing... Um... Chimneys. Not having your eyes watering all the time from the smoke. ( chuckles ) And now we have these little cloth pieces for your nose. In the old days, we just used our sleeves. Oh. And playing cards." (Hob in The Sound Of Her Wings)

I am finding Andy Grammer's - Love Myself is speaking to me as I start 2023.

In terms of practical things in 2023 I am trying to make sure that I eat 3 meals each day 
My goal is to have one of those meals include at least 5 ingredients 
so that I can find a new passion in eating/food. 

In addition I am working on better understanding emotions and have started reading Atlas of the Heart.

I do not know what 2023 will bring for me or for you
But I hope we all have meaningful and memorable upcoming year.