Yogaland Roundup
Friday, July 29th, 2023
What I should be doing right now: Editing our Yogaland live episode (it’s late; I am sorry), researching & booking new guests, figuring out what to do (if anything) about the giant cockroach that surprised me in my bathroom at 11pm last night, emailing my oncologist about some wonky blood test results, learning how the %$^ to set up and navigate Google ads.
What I am doing: Writing this little weekly round-up of links because nothing makes me happier. So thank you, thank you for reading and clicking, and hearting, and commenting, and subscribing!
Honoring the Whole of Someone
What a week. I’m still processing Sinead O’Connor’s death. I went to a women’s college in the early ‘90s and her siren’s call was woven into that experience along with Ani DiFranco, The Indigo Girls, Liz Phair. There were many young women on campus who sported Sinead’s buzz cut and, although I was never radical enough to do something similar, I remember loving the look. So fierce and vulnerable as she was.
I’ve done some deep dives this week, wanting to learn more about the years after O’Connor’s infamous stint on SNL where she ripped up a photo of the Pope. I unearthed some interesting pieces:
This 12-minute interview from 2008
A (now archival!) interview with her on Arsenio Hall in 1991
A 2021 interview in The Guardian, “I’ll always be a bit crazy, but that’s OK,” where she spoke about her traumatic upbringing and her more recent mental health challenges.
Three things leapt out at me from these pieces — the first is that she knew herself so well from such a young age. She was always a fierce advocate for justice and art for art’s sake. In the Arsenio Hall interview, she talked about her decision not to attend the Grammy’s. She was all of 23- years-old and she was already fighting the power. Despite her quick catapult to fame, she knew that the energy she got from her audience was far more valuable to her than “a piece of metal.”
The second quality that shines through in each interview is her humor. The chilling image of her on SNL have been replayed over and over this week. But what’s missing from all of the obituaries that I’ve read is her cheekiness. She was deeply wise and, in my experience, wise people see the absurdity of the world and embrace it. They’re funny. She was funny.
Lastly, these interviews highlighted how comfortable she was talking about her sexuality. In the 2008 interview she talked about she wished she’d worn more short skirts when she looks at her younger self because she was so hot. And she nearly flat out propositions Arsenio Hall on his show.
I’m deeply saddened by her passing and by the passing of her son about 18 months ago. It’s painful to read about how a hysterectomy that put in her into medical menopause, exacerbating her mental health issues. It’s gutting to imagine the abuse she endured by the hands of her own mother.
And also: Her life was so absolutely full — yes, full of tragedy. But also full of creativity and insight and deep spiritual connection. Full of love and sex and humor. Despite her many challenges, she also never lost sight of her own identity. Never became part of the music industry machine.
I like to think that she and Sally Kempton are meeting somewhere in the ether right now. Maybe they’re hanging out with Kali and Durga plotting their next moves. Maybe they’re just communing together in deep peace, angels surrounding us right here and now.
Suddenly, It Looks Like We’re in a Golden Age for Medicine
In a sea of murky news of the world, this article felt so good to read and highlights the innovations that have come down to the pike in the past 5 years. I am (somewhat selfishly) most excited by the progress that’s being made in cancer treatment. Although the progress is spotty, the idea that some of the most pernicious forms of cancer could be treatable soon is downright exhilarating.
On that note, I found this article from UCSF about how AI is being used to program T-cells to kill cancer pretty mind-blowing: How AI Found the Words to Kill Cancer Cells
Ethan Hawke on permission to be creative
One of the most concise and brilliant spoken essays about the value of creativity. I’ve watched it several times already.
There’s a thing that worries me sometimes whenever you talk about creativity because it can have this kind of feel that it’s just nice. You know, or it’s warm or something pleasant. It’s not. It’s vital. It’s the way we heal each other.
What a Human-Centered Approach Can Do for Workers with Disabilities
I appreciate that The New York Times published a short piece in their Business section about how difficult it can be for worker’s with disabilities to ask for workplace accommodations. It highlighted how people with “invisible” disabilities like autism, dyslexia, or chronic migraines are treated with suspicion and have to go through unnecessary red tape to prove they have a disability.
I’ve often wondered if it has gotten easier for worker’s to disclose given that the world seems to be a tiny bit more aware of things like neurodiversity. Within the school setting, we’ve been met with a fair amount of suspicion when asking for accommodations for ADHD and anxiety. I hope this will change because, even as a mother (there are no fiercer advocates, I’ve found), this need to “prove” that we’re not lying is…embarrassing and off-putting.
It’s difficult enough asking for help, right?
Here’s a link to The Times article (gifted to you), which also includes apps and web sites to help with disclosing.
Related: Here is a link provided by a reader (thanks, Amy!) to sensory-friendly experiences in Chicago. (Please continue to send these to me if you find them!)
Lastly! Read this great Instagram post from Kaelynn Partlow about the misnomer of “invisible disabilities”
No one has ever said my “keys are invisible” when they can’t find their keys. 🔑
Upcoming Offerings
Jason will be offering his unique 200-hour YTT this fall. I admire the design of this special program, which includes online lectures and practices that are accessible for a year, along with 14 weeks of live calls with Jason. Jason provides a structure for moving through the content together and lots of support with the live calls. Hop on the waitlist and we will send you an early bird discount code soon!
👏🏼yes 👏🏼yes👏🏼yes to all of this 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Multiple gifts here - thank you!