How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!
Each prayer accepted, and each wish resigned.
- Excerpt from Elosia to Abelard by Alexander Pope
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
iDance
Originally posted on Facebook on April 10, 2009.
I am an enthusiast. I am an amateur. I like to express myself using my body because sometimes, there just aren’t the right words. This is what I call Dance. I watch others create stories and magic from their movements. This is also what I call Dance. I dance for myself, not for others. Not once have I danced on stage.
Most of the dance I do is improvised, learned through observation and imitation. For me, dance is always accompanied by music— on the CD or the instrument or in my head. I mould my movements to represent my thoughts, my unspoken words. Through dance, I make my own language. And you know what, people understand it. Everyone understands this wild, unstructured language with no syntax, no grammer, no rules. I am a dancer. I was born a dancer. I am a dancer to you? It doesn’t matter.
Bollywood, as crazy as it is, is powerful because of its integration of dance into the storytelling. Through Indian movies, I saw dance used to express emotions, describe events, and convey stories and social constructs. I saw the symbolic power of dance. That words can be translated to movement. That I could speak without speaking. That I can use my body to express excitement, joy, anger, and sadness. This is my dance. It is an expression of my thoughts, moods, and emotions— it is an expression of me. I express joy by stretching out my body completely until my toes tingle and my back cracks. When I feel free, I spread out my arms, turn my head towards the sky and close my eyes— I am a bird and I know no limits. I express excitement by jumping on alternate foot, moving my hips from side to side, and my hands up and down. I express confusion by spinning around in circles until I am dizzy. Also, just for the record, I find whirling Dervishes really cool.
I dance anywhere and everywhere except the stage. I have danced on sidewalks, at formals, in the middle of the road, in my room, in my bathroom, in car seats, and even in trees. As long as a place is relatively empty of people, I can dance in it. When my body isn’t dancing, my mind is. Dance is my indulgence, my guilty pleasure— something I wouldn’t mind going to Hell for.
I am a fuller person because I dance. Because of dance, I have a greater appreciation of music. Because of dance, I have a greater sensitivity to emotions. And because of dance, I have a relatively fit body despite my staple diet of grease. I couldn’t dance to save my life. But I sure could make a living as street performer that dances.
iDance, therefore I am.
I am an enthusiast. I am an amateur. I like to express myself using my body because sometimes, there just aren’t the right words. This is what I call Dance. I watch others create stories and magic from their movements. This is also what I call Dance. I dance for myself, not for others. Not once have I danced on stage.
Most of the dance I do is improvised, learned through observation and imitation. For me, dance is always accompanied by music— on the CD or the instrument or in my head. I mould my movements to represent my thoughts, my unspoken words. Through dance, I make my own language. And you know what, people understand it. Everyone understands this wild, unstructured language with no syntax, no grammer, no rules. I am a dancer. I was born a dancer. I am a dancer to you? It doesn’t matter.
Bollywood, as crazy as it is, is powerful because of its integration of dance into the storytelling. Through Indian movies, I saw dance used to express emotions, describe events, and convey stories and social constructs. I saw the symbolic power of dance. That words can be translated to movement. That I could speak without speaking. That I can use my body to express excitement, joy, anger, and sadness. This is my dance. It is an expression of my thoughts, moods, and emotions— it is an expression of me. I express joy by stretching out my body completely until my toes tingle and my back cracks. When I feel free, I spread out my arms, turn my head towards the sky and close my eyes— I am a bird and I know no limits. I express excitement by jumping on alternate foot, moving my hips from side to side, and my hands up and down. I express confusion by spinning around in circles until I am dizzy. Also, just for the record, I find whirling Dervishes really cool.
I dance anywhere and everywhere except the stage. I have danced on sidewalks, at formals, in the middle of the road, in my room, in my bathroom, in car seats, and even in trees. As long as a place is relatively empty of people, I can dance in it. When my body isn’t dancing, my mind is. Dance is my indulgence, my guilty pleasure— something I wouldn’t mind going to Hell for.
I am a fuller person because I dance. Because of dance, I have a greater appreciation of music. Because of dance, I have a greater sensitivity to emotions. And because of dance, I have a relatively fit body despite my staple diet of grease. I couldn’t dance to save my life. But I sure could make a living as street performer that dances.
iDance, therefore I am.
Seasons of Our Lives
[Thanks, to Yee-May.]
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.
Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
BrianA. "Drew" Chalker
[RIP BZK 09/19/2009]
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a season, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.
Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
BrianA. "Drew" Chalker
[RIP BZK 09/19/2009]
Monday, September 07, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Philadelphia, Je t'aime
I love Philadelphia for many reasons. Some of them being (in no particular order):
a) It's highly accessible on foot and has allowed me to continue my procrastination to learn driving.
b) Murals.
c) Wilma Theatre.
d) Opportunity. This city taught me independence like no other.
e) Diversity. And I mean it. There are literally all kinds of people here.
f) Philly Diner.
g) Pretzel Run.
h) Kelly Drive.
j) Ten Thousand Villages.
k) The Rebecca Davis Dance Company.
l) Rittenhouse Square.
m) The Electric Factory.
n) Restaurant Week.
o) First Fridays.
And the last is not the least. For those of you who don't know, First Friday is a cultural event of Philadelphia where on the first Friday of every month, many galleries and museums in Old City are free to the public from about 5 p.m. onwards until 9 p.m. Many many students (since, well, only either students or very rich, or very poor really live in Philadelphia) crowd Old city on such Friday evenings. Talking, exploring, eating, drinking and bumping into old friends and enemies etc. My favorite part about First Fridays are the random artists you meet on the street and the tremendous opportunity to rediscover art that lies within that. In the past, I've met many painters displaying their amateur yet fresh ideas on the pavement, and persevering musicians serenading the pedestrians with their compositions. It's kind of like the culture of street performers in New York City, only more shy and laid-back.
Once, I met a jazz artist selling CDs of his music. He gave me a free copy when I told him I had no cash, but that I'd make up for it by giving the CD to the shelves of Drexel's radio station. I don't really know how often he was able to tune-in to listen to his music being broadcasted, but the fact that he sent me off with the satisfaction and good will of knowing that I would do just what I had promised...It truly made my day.
Recently, I met a photographer who chose to build a House of Cards on canvas and wood. Kevin and I just went up to ask him what that House of Cards was made of and he immediately asked me what part of India I was from. I was Awestruck. Not because he could tell that I was India right away, but because he could tell by the way I talked and not from the color of my skin. The conversation continued to what I did, to his travels in India, his 6-week stint in Pune as a sanyasi, to his work. "Scientists are like artists too. Scientists put facts together. Artists put different kinds of facts together," he told me. It was unforgettable because when we walked away from that man, we had left with one the most profound things we'd heard in our lives.
"Don't go looking for the meaning of life. Give it meaning."
Whenever you walk the streets of Philadelphia, don't just go looking for adventure. Look for stories.
a) It's highly accessible on foot and has allowed me to continue my procrastination to learn driving.
b) Murals.
c) Wilma Theatre.
d) Opportunity. This city taught me independence like no other.
e) Diversity. And I mean it. There are literally all kinds of people here.
f) Philly Diner.
g) Pretzel Run.
h) Kelly Drive.
j) Ten Thousand Villages.
k) The Rebecca Davis Dance Company.
l) Rittenhouse Square.
m) The Electric Factory.
n) Restaurant Week.
o) First Fridays.
And the last is not the least. For those of you who don't know, First Friday is a cultural event of Philadelphia where on the first Friday of every month, many galleries and museums in Old City are free to the public from about 5 p.m. onwards until 9 p.m. Many many students (since, well, only either students or very rich, or very poor really live in Philadelphia) crowd Old city on such Friday evenings. Talking, exploring, eating, drinking and bumping into old friends and enemies etc. My favorite part about First Fridays are the random artists you meet on the street and the tremendous opportunity to rediscover art that lies within that. In the past, I've met many painters displaying their amateur yet fresh ideas on the pavement, and persevering musicians serenading the pedestrians with their compositions. It's kind of like the culture of street performers in New York City, only more shy and laid-back.
Once, I met a jazz artist selling CDs of his music. He gave me a free copy when I told him I had no cash, but that I'd make up for it by giving the CD to the shelves of Drexel's radio station. I don't really know how often he was able to tune-in to listen to his music being broadcasted, but the fact that he sent me off with the satisfaction and good will of knowing that I would do just what I had promised...It truly made my day.
Recently, I met a photographer who chose to build a House of Cards on canvas and wood. Kevin and I just went up to ask him what that House of Cards was made of and he immediately asked me what part of India I was from. I was Awestruck. Not because he could tell that I was India right away, but because he could tell by the way I talked and not from the color of my skin. The conversation continued to what I did, to his travels in India, his 6-week stint in Pune as a sanyasi, to his work. "Scientists are like artists too. Scientists put facts together. Artists put different kinds of facts together," he told me. It was unforgettable because when we walked away from that man, we had left with one the most profound things we'd heard in our lives.
"Don't go looking for the meaning of life. Give it meaning."
Whenever you walk the streets of Philadelphia, don't just go looking for adventure. Look for stories.
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