Comments on: Looking both ways Part II: The pedestrian yields

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:53:28 +0000

You make me laugh!! I’m so glad that someone else thinks about the inane things I think about. I thought I was the only one. I have thought endlessly about the right-foot-leading syndrome (I’m a right-foot-leader also). It’s just one of those places my mind goes to.

By: Blog Segullah : Looking both ways Part III: Crash course

Blog Segullah : Looking both ways Part III: Crash course — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:38:12 +0000

[...] both ways” by our Geo, who blogs On Bright Street. You can find I and II here and here respectively. Thanks again dear [...]

By: wendy

wendy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:18:25 +0000

Now we’re talking. Time to arrange a girls’ night?

By: Geo

Geo — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:11:01 +0000

wendy—Better yet, we should watch it together!

Julie—I am so glad you didn’t stop at “Thank you.” What an insightful comment! Now you’ve given me more to think about too. Thank YOU so much.

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:37:38 +0000

After the fiddle contest last weekend, my sister was telling me about this girl who plays fiddle backwards: instead of holding the violin with her left hand and bowing with her right, she bows with her left and holds with her right. When she was little, her teacher told her she couldn’t play that way. He kept insisting and insisting until her parents gave in and made her switch. She began immediately to have problems: wetting the bed, nightmares, behavioral problems at home and school, panic attacks, etc. It got so bad that her parents finally insisted that her teacher allow her to play the way that she found most natural for her. Problems went away, and she started winning contests all over the country.

I’ve thought a lot about that, and then, when I found this beautiful post today, I revisited those thoughts. Doing this differently can not only strengthen new muscles, allowing us to reach for new grace, but can remind us that doing this “backwards” isn’t a bad thing. I think of the stories my mother tells me of teachers not allowing her to write or do other things with her left hand (because it was “wrong”) and loving her stubborn nature that didn’t allow her to cave. As a result, she can do many things with either hand, but she still writes with her left.

I know I’m rambling now, but your post has made my mind shoot off in all different directions. Perhaps a simple “Thank you” will suffice.

By: wendy

wendy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:30:17 +0000

I’d love to borrow it!

By: Geo

Geo — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:48:59 +0000

wendy—I have an amazing silhouette film from the 1920s that you might find inspiring before we try this puppet thing. It’s got me revved up.

MJ—Adventure is apparently what we all signed up for! Glad to share it with you.

Becca—I completely believe that the physical and mental are inseparable. I think the thing is to just begin, and pay attention. Lessons are in everything. I think the trick is to start small and then be open to whatever suggestions come. Let me know if you hit on anything.

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:53:01 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights. I love the idea that shaking things up physically expands things mentally; I may have to experiment with this.

Also, how to pick the challenges or which muscles to retrain? When to stick with what I do best and when to push the envelope? These are hard decisions for me.

By: MJ

MJ — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:30:30 +0000

Interesting thoughts… making weak things become strong”
It’s always an adventure to try something new…
Thanks for writing this, Geo.

By: wendy

wendy — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:39:48 +0000

chew tinfoil? Ow ow ow!!

Dalene, hooray!

I’ll see if I can kick start my brain.