Random Me-ness

It's too late to put anything coherent together, but here are some fun thoughts/updates/randomness:

-- This week was the week of Spring -- the trees budded Monday, daffodils Tuesday, tulips Wednesday, magnolias somewhere inbetween...by yesterday the trees were almost all green... I want to tell it all to slow down so I can keep it longer!
-- Feeling loved moment of the week: my favorite professor showed a music video of one of my favorite tango groups in class in honor of me! (Gotan Project listen!)
-- If you want to see a fantastic dance company, check out Alvin Ailey. I went last weekend and it was an aa-mazing experience. They're an 18 person, high-energy modern dance group with ballet and African influences.
-- For great poetry, check out Cesar Vallejo. He's a Peruvian poet from the Vanguardia era. I'm writing a paper on him, and he feeds my soul! His poetry breathes depth and compassion for humanity. He asks the hard questions of religion and God in the face of injustice, and makes beautiful use of language. You can read his stuff online or the book I'm reading of his is called "The Black Heralds."
-- Random countries/human rights violations I've been following lately: kidnappings in Haiti, Tibet activities, Zimbabwe elections and recent raid, inflation in Argentina.
-- Living Creatively Award of the Week goes to my roommate, who is going to work in a candy shop this summer and has a huge accordian on her bed that she's learning to play!

Big stuff on my mind: I graduate in two weeks... I want to learn how to cook Thai... I miss being in nature... I keep having teary moments thinking of not living with my roommate of 4 years... I heard Kevin Sites speak and it was super intense (author of In the Hot Zone -- check it out!)... I daydream about being able to read whatever I want after finals! The list of books will be posted...

Latin American Film Fest

If you're up for exploring the city this weekend, check out the Latin American Film Fest! There's a movie at Loyola Galvin Auditorium 6pm Saturday (tomorrow!). Or check out the calendar at:

http://www.latinoculturalcenter.org/

"Now is not as empty"

A friend passed this quote to me this morning. It resounded with my current struggles to rest in the now. May you enjoy it:

"The contemplative secret is to learn to live in the now. The now is not as empty as it might appear to be or that we fear it may be. Try to realize that everything is right here, right now.When we're doing life right, it means nothing more than it is right now, because God is in this moment in a nonblaming way.When we are able to experience that, taste it and enjoy it, we don't need to hold on to it. The next moment will have its own taste and enjoyment."
-- Richard Rohr

I often hang on tightly to the now, fearing losing it. I am challenged to trust in the goodness and providence of future "now's".

May our "now's" of today be filling...

Ella llegó!! (She arrived!)

La primavera llegó. Spring has come. I almost started crying yesterday I was so grateful. IT’S ABOUT TIME. I think we all agree. Two weeks ago I said, “When spring finally comes, I feel like Chicago will glow brighter from space – there will just be so much positive energy and joy!” I think Chicago sparkled yesterday and today.

One of my favorite artists is Merecedes Sosa, an argentine folklore singer. She has this beautiful song Lapachos en Primavera. It’s gentle and soft, and the lyrics are: “Te busco, te busco y te busco. Luz... te quiero, te quiero y te quiero.... La vida es como un camino hasta el verano. Luz... La primavera me dice esta llegando. Luz...” English: “I seek you, I seek you and I seek you... Light... I love you, I love you and I love you... Life is like a path unto summer. Light... Spring tells me it’s arriving.” The song speaks of hopeful waiting for spring’s light. I’ve been singing it forever!

As a child, my parents generously gave me a kitchen cabinet of my own. I often proudfully doned pink 80s sunglasses, cleared out the crayons and watercolors, climbed in, advised Mom, “I’m going to St. Louis. I’ll bring back a Mrs. Field’s cookie for you,” and shut the door. Whenever I returned from St. Louis, Mom would warmly and lovingly greet me, “THERE you are!! Welcome back!”

That’s how I felt today as I laid on my deck and read Pablo Neruda, and then went for a run on the lakefront. As if spring came back from the cabinet-trip, and I was lovingly greeting it. Other people on the path must have noticed my huge smile, contented look, and running-dance-moves (does anyone else dance while they run? We must look pretty silly). I was so glad she had arrived!! In a completely cheesy deliriuous happy state, I couldn't help but serenade Spring when Lauren Hill’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You came on my iPod. Oh, Spring...

Training wheels

Returning to thoughts on creativity...

In the past months I've made [seemingly] silly, fun and outrageous goals as to my creative aspirations. I've dreamed of perfect days, jobs, lives and pastimes ranging from living in a place with only spring flowers, to doing African dance, to being a photographer, to having a mountain in my backyard change form daily... *laugh* It's been hope-giving, but at times I've experienced resistance in the form of, "Megan, you can't do that! Why would you even dream about it? That's ridiculous!"

Not so!

This week, I experienced two of my goals take visible steps towards actualizing (for Spanish speakers, I want to use the verb "realizar"...)! Goal #1: Become a good enough tango dancer to keep up with my teacher. Hope #1: This week, when he taught me how to lean on him so he could put me into an incline, I learned quickly. He gave me a proud, excited hug and beso on the cheek and sent me off to practice. I am inspired by his encouragement and faith in me. Goal #2: Do a headstand in yoga by December 2009. Hope #2: Last night in yoga, as we worked on upper body strength, our scary teacher (we flinch when she walks past us -- she's so intimidating! Oh Gloria...) stopped in front of me and said, "Do you want to try a headstand today? It just clicked for you." (!!!!) I did a headstand! (Not completely alone... Gloria helped me balance.) Gloria ohhhmmm'd later, "You're like a kid on training wheels, it will happen."

Some fun exercises to think about:
1. What are 12 things you would love to do? They don't have to be things you already do... allow yourself to dream a bit! Don't think too hard, just list them.
2. List 20 things you like to do.
a. Now for each one, is it free or have a cost? Cheap or expensive? Do to alone or with someone? Is it daring or calming? What part of you does it feed -- spiritual, mental, emotional, physical?
b. From that list, create the perfect day as life is now.
c. Now create and describe a perfect day in your wish-world.

Eating Disorders, Latin America

While in Buenos Aires, I was challenged with body image because there is a heavy emphasis on maintaining one's figure. Culturally, it is very distinct than the United States. Of course, Argentines do eat healthier portions and walk more, but it was more than that...something was not right. I had heard random statistics of eating disorders, but had never read anything trustworthy. And finally on BBCmundo there is an article about eating disorders in Latin America! For those of you who read Spanish, here is the link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/misc/newsid_7294000/7294863.stm

The author speaks of women in Argentina (and now other places) taking anti-hunger drugs on a regular basis. These drugs, filled with amphetamines, sedatives, laxatives, diuretics and hormones, wreck women's bodies. My family was very healthy, therefore I was never directly affected by the use of anti-hunger drugs, but I knew others who were. The association of the fight against anorexia and bulimia (ALUBA) quotes that 1 in 10 Argentine girls have some sort of eating disorder. 1:10. That is incredible. Why more in Latin America? The answer must be more complex than differences in eating cultures. If I find answers, I'll let you know.