One of my favorite poets, Adrienne Rich, wrote:
“My heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world.”
Hi, this is Blythe Stephens of A Blythe Coach: dance education & coaching to move through life with balance, grace, & power. This podcast includes bite-sized insights on ballet, dance, yoga, well-being, creativity, and joy! In this episode, I talk about challenges I have faced in my life this far and the tools and resources that have supported me in getting through. Both reading and writing poetry has helped me process events and emotions in a healthy way, and I enjoy it during times of celebration and merriment as well.
In this episode, I also share a poem by Jane Hirschfield, “Optimism:”
“More and more I have come to admire resilience.
Not the simple resistance of a pillow, whose foam
returns over and over to the same shape, but the sinuous
tenacity of a tree: finding the light newly blocked on one side,
it turns in another. A blind intelligence, true.
But out of such persistence arose turtles, rivers,
mitochondria, figs -- all this resinous, unretractable earth.”
Both reading and writing poetry has helped me process events and emotions in a healthy way, and I enjoy it during times of celebration and merriment as well.
Being coached and using coaching tools has been also an incredible aid to my resilience. If you’re interested in learning more about my coaching services, I would be delighted to share more about these tools by appointment. Resilience, self-care, and thriving are ongoing themes in my yoga and dance education as well. You can find out more on my website at ablythecoach.com
In my opinion, one of the ultimate expressions of resilience is the work of Maya Angelou, including the final poem I share on this edition of the podcast, “And Still I Rise.”
