Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now

Stuff gets done here

recent posts

  • Right mind

    In anticipation of attending a Jon Batiste concert, I watched the documentary of Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad, an author whose memoirs are inspiring. American Symphony touched me deeply. There are many many things to recommend this intimate look at the two: She is undergoing cancer treatment, while he is pushing his limits, writing a full symphony the year his album “We Are” received 9 Grammy nominations and 5 wins.

    I will just share the deep wisdom Batiste offers anyone who works in any of the creative arts. It’s a mind set that is so hard to achieve, much less sustain. I watched the film and heard the words when I needed to hear them: You have to confront the brutal … reality that you might not pull it off but at the same time have faith, completely unwavering faith, and you have to do both at the same time.

    Thanks Mr. Batiste. Looking forward to seeing you on stage in Eugene, Oregon.

  • An act of hope

    Sometime last March, a few Eugene Oregon folks decided to reconnect with their fellow citizens by walking across the country. Thousands of miles, one step at a time, they figured it would be a way to bridge the us-and-them divide. They called their effort Liberty Walks. They made a web site. They invited support via GoFundMe. And they started walking on July 4th. They’ve reached Nebraska. They’re headed to Washington D.C.

    Here’s their mission statement: We walk to affirm a shared belief in kindness, courage, respect, and curiosity, values that transcend division and foster the common good. Rooted in the spirit of “e pluribus unum,” we walk not to take sides, but to walk with others, building connection and hope along the way.

    Think of that. Building connection and hope. I can’t help but believe those are values that serve us all.

    For a flavor of the connections they are building, check out their blogs. This recent one so enriched me.

    https://www.libertywalks.org/post/days-68-69-hay-springs-rushville-ne-1308-miles-from-home

    Maybe it will enrich you, too.

  • Just don’t wanna

    Lately I haven’t wanted to go to dance class. It’s weird. For the last five years, I’ve had this great love affair with Nia, a fusion of dance, martial arts and healing arts. I’ve written it about many times. I believe there is even some bragging in my posts about always wanting to go.

    The last few weeks, not so much. I don’t know why this is. Googling the phrase “mental inertia” conjures up dozens of articles about people who want to make changes in their lives but seem stuck and not able to make them. I found nothing about suddenly not wanting to do a thing I have ample proof that I love doing.

    Maybe it’s a bit like long-term love affairs. In the beginning it is so fine to be in love, to do things for and with the beloved, who seems perfect in every way. But in committed love relationships, there comes a moment where the loving feeling ebbs. What then? I have learned to evaluate it this way: Sometimes love lifts me up and sometimes I have to expend some mental/emotional energy to sustain love. I have found that effort to be worth making. For me, feelings are like weather. Love always comes back around to buoy me up.

    Despite the inner, I-don’t-wanna, I’ve gone to dance anyway, and it’s helped me evaluate my dance practice from a different perspective. I haven’t yet regretted going. I’ve always been glad to be there. That’s a through-line I’m grateful for.