Blind // Deaf ...and Dancing.
A clear and valuable lesson I learned as a dancer is that we all need basic technique to create a stable foundation to then explore real liberation and wild magic. I have memories upon memories of watching different dancers in my career stun me with their unique EXPRESSION and INTERPRETATION of choreography and story-telling.
We allow this.
Artists allow this.
We as a collective understand that dance requires great control and obscene amounts of discipline. To facilitate the most exceptional sorts of movement, you must have remarkable amounts of control. There is no other way.
Okay welllll … there is another way and that is not a pretty sight …
It’s order and chaos, once again.
Control and freedom.
Light and dark.
We’re only 28 days in to 2025 and I’d love to be experiencing some version of a “life plateau” where the world takes a 15 minute time out and we share a collective nap …however it seems we are nowhere near a time for coasting. Big shifts are taking place.
You knew this though.
Before you contracted into this version of you, I believe that your soul (and mine as well) came here with these parameters because YOU (and I) were exactly what the world needed at this time. The unique way you (and I) alchemize these situations make for interpretations of hardship, excellence, creativity, true love, leadership, healing and so, so much more. We need this from one another. It’s the human dance.
We are the embodiment of God him/her/itself and the strangest thing is that often we find ourselves surprised at the mess and the beauty, the tragedy and the comedy of it all.
Confession: I have misjudged a few friends.
After meeting them, I immediately wrote them off as ‘not my people’.
This bitter lesson has taught me so much about the light and dark within me.
I have about 4 friends, ranging in closeness, where by my first impression “turned me off”. Whatever that means. The energy exchange, the circumstances, the conversation in which I met them felt like a MISMATCH.
…and this is where God laughs and then draws me closer.
Closer in relationship to them … and to myself.
Each of them unique in their personalities, with their strong opinions because their foundation was built so differently than mine. It’s beautiful. I learn from these souls in ways I wouldn’t with those friends where the pieces just fit. I hope you have people in your life that make the dance that much more colorful and loud.
Every time I reflect on what I “thought I didn’t like”, I find an aspect of myself that needs healing and attention.
Where did this ‘ick’ come from?
Is it jealousy?
Is it a lack of life experience?
Is it what I was told to expect?
In retrospect, I know that I am blind and deaf to the whole picture.
Just as dancers float through the air and defy the odds with their physicality, you can only safely attempt this if you have a strong base. Therein lies the work. The discipline. The commitment to getting so clear that although you may only see, hear, and witness a portion of what this life entails, you have the acuity to love it whole heartedly. As I write this now, I understand I am still blind and deaf to the entirety of my experience … and yours as well.
Can we still dance if we are blind and deaf to the scope of life?
Yes.
The answer is yes.
Trust your foundation … and embrace this lack of big picture understanding because the alternative is you (and I) not showing up.
That’s when we miss the chance to dance.
To tell the story.
NBD but there’s only one person who can share yours.
Lao-Tzu said:
"The five colors make a man blind, the five tones make a man deaf, because if you can only see five colors, you’re blind, and if you can only hear five tones in music, you’re deaf. You see, if you force sound into five tones, you force color into five colours, you’re blind and deaf.
OKAYILOVEYOUYBYEEE,
xx
Nic.
ps. * Tuesday QUICKIE YOGA 12-12:30pm pst. $10. A well rounded music based mobility focused yoga flow. This was created as a community class and if you ever need financial assistance to attend - please just reach out or use code NEWFRIEND to try a class for free. Sign up here.
* Saturday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 9-10am, 10:15-11:15am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
* Sunday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW. 10:45-11:45am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
pps. I’m going in on my YOUTUBE CHANNEL, y’all. I’ve wanted to share the full video version of my podcast for a year now and finally, we are making progress. If you prefer to watch the episodes PLEASE follow my channel, leave a review, share it with your besties (or your worsties) and help me build community on the ‘tube. Appreciate you. CLICK HERE to check it out.
ppps. THE LATEST EPISODE OF SHOCK AND YALL IS OUT NOW and I’m speaking with TARA BERNIE. You may remember her name from her Access Hollywood days or from the Daily Mail but what you likely don’t know is this woman has taken hit after hit and continues to rise all the way to the top. From the loss of her husband, to lay off after lay off, to a cancer diagnosis, to a thriving and successful yoga career - she proves it’s always a good time to pivot. Take a listen, share with your friends, and here are a couple sneak peeks from our episode:
OH WAIT. You’re still here … could you, would you, pretty please leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Just click this link, scroll to the bottom to leave your thoughts and “stars” and I’ll send you an energetic HIGH FIVE along with my sincere appreciation.