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October 26, 2004
Busy busy over for now
I'm beginning to see just how important "the bathroom" is to me. I've spent a lot of time in bathrooms, probably more than the "average" 24 year old "male". I've heard "He's worse than a girl" (notice the implication that a girl is something bad to be) more times than I care to recall.
The bathroom can be a place of refuge and rejuvenation. Many people here use the sauna for that. Some take walks. And others have their own ways of taking that time for themselves that both relaxes and energizes.
It would seem that not many people feel this way about their bathroom area. This often means they don't really understand my needs surrounding the space, and because I haven't been clear on them or their importance, I haven't communicated them that well in the past. That of course can all change now.
Monday and Tuesday are the busiest days of my Heartwood week. Thankfully another set is behind me. Not that the rest of the week will be as laid back as it could. I'm doing more sessions this week than I normally would, I'm trying to tie up loose ends before the quarter ends, and the cadaver field trip is on Friday.
Also Friday I'm planning to trade computer tech support for another ortho-bionomy session. Yay.
A little more about my ortho-bionomy experience... bottom line: I feel more open in my chest and shoulder area, friendlier with my lungs, heart, and spine, and excited to do some more work. I'm not sure how much time I need to integrate before moving on, though. Perhaps I'll just use this Friday to work on my body mechanics for session-giving.
Some miscellaneous things.
I was told about this site today: Loving What Is. Apparently it's based just on four questions to deal with issues. I've had some familiarity of the concept of "arguing with reality" for some time; it's neat to see someone providing some structure for working with that concept. I especially like the idea of giving our judgments a voice--on paper, and with the intent to use them for self-realization, rather than attempting to change others.
It's been brought up that many of the patterns I've struggled with during my life are common in folks that didn't experience a vaginal birth. I was delivered via caesarean... I want to do some research before figuring out if I want to do any birth clearing work with someone.
And finally, I came to look more clearly today at possible ways Heartwood's structure and identity as an institution interact with its structure and identity as a community. In contemplating this topic, I now feel less safe here than I did. Politics can still "hurt" me here. I need to take 100% responsibility for my well being which will probably unfortunately result in holding back and being less authentic with certain others or in certain situations.
At least, that's where I'm at right now.
Posted by Josh A. at October 26, 2004 09:35 PM
Comments
I love the bathroom too, but then, I'm a girl, so I suppose that's to be expected. You should check out this 1970's book "The Bed and Bath Book." It was part of a series that included "The Apartment Book," and they were all massive square books with tons of 1970s photography of different beds, baths, and/or apartments, a short history section, celebrity profiles (Richard Dreyfus!), and a part about making your place wheelchair-accessible. Fantastic and very dated. Maybe you can find one on eBay.
Anyway, the bathroom section was wonderful, very validating for those of us who like to hang out in the bathroom. Through history the bathroom has indeed been a place of refuge; some of the bathrooms profiled included houseplant areas, big sofa chairs and bookshelves, and other indicators that many people consider the bathroom a nice, peaceful place to hang out.
My favorite bathroom activity: reading a novel in the bathtub, with a cup of hot chocolate on the edge of the tub.
Posted by: Ari Moore at October 27, 2004 06:18 AM
Right, right.
I'm glad you love the bathroom, too :-) Thanks for the book suggestion.
When I have a more permanent residence I plan to have a fantastic bathroom. You can come hang out in it sometime :-D
Posted by: Josh A. at October 27, 2004 09:10 PM