1. You have taken me back to when I used to study tai chi under a teacher named Weilun Huang, who taught in the middle of a small park called "All Wars" (as in remembering veterans of all wars, but also, well, that's a name) in a part of North Miami that I think a lot of my friends would consider "sketchy" especially after dark. There were no swans, but probably alligators in the canal and occasional hecklers shortcutting across the grass, and on one occasional someone who wasn't entirely right first tried to follow along with the class (fine) then tried to stop everything and get in Sifu Huang's face. There was not a physical altercation, but I can't say exactly why. There was a lot of calm imperturbability and graceful, fast movements as Sifu Huang shifted so he was between the interloper and one student or another, totally impassive and perhaps unbothered (there were some gasps from class, though). I suppose the most beautiful thing was the way the situation just evaporated and the unpredictable fella just ... left.
2. I know how this is likely to sound, but the science APPEARS to be valid here - a Lancet study (double-blind, OK-sized study group) recently published on long covid and gut biome: https://guildofscientifictroubadours.com/2023/12/09/probiotics-to-treat-long-covid/ Might be worth keeping an eye on, at least, if you're not already. (You probably are, but I miss things all the time so ... why not risk being that guy just in case.) I hope the fog stays lifted and the stars continue shining.
Kate, I'm sorry you're dealing with another round of Covid on top of the lingering effects of Long Covid. Layers upon layers of Covid. I've had several rounds myself. I'm with you in looking for ways to abide in it with as much calm and intentional presence as I can muster--with varying degrees of success and failure depending on the day. I can picture you painting with every shade of blue and that image is poetic and true. The way you insist on finding beauty in the midst of this struggle, and then to put this into words, it's vitalizing to me. Thank you. 💙
1. You have taken me back to when I used to study tai chi under a teacher named Weilun Huang, who taught in the middle of a small park called "All Wars" (as in remembering veterans of all wars, but also, well, that's a name) in a part of North Miami that I think a lot of my friends would consider "sketchy" especially after dark. There were no swans, but probably alligators in the canal and occasional hecklers shortcutting across the grass, and on one occasional someone who wasn't entirely right first tried to follow along with the class (fine) then tried to stop everything and get in Sifu Huang's face. There was not a physical altercation, but I can't say exactly why. There was a lot of calm imperturbability and graceful, fast movements as Sifu Huang shifted so he was between the interloper and one student or another, totally impassive and perhaps unbothered (there were some gasps from class, though). I suppose the most beautiful thing was the way the situation just evaporated and the unpredictable fella just ... left.
2. I know how this is likely to sound, but the science APPEARS to be valid here - a Lancet study (double-blind, OK-sized study group) recently published on long covid and gut biome: https://guildofscientifictroubadours.com/2023/12/09/probiotics-to-treat-long-covid/ Might be worth keeping an eye on, at least, if you're not already. (You probably are, but I miss things all the time so ... why not risk being that guy just in case.) I hope the fog stays lifted and the stars continue shining.
Thankyou for sharing, I feel like I felt this to my very my soul, but I can't find the words to express it. Maybe, thank you is enough.
Thank you for writing this, Kate. It was my pleasure to read it, all the way to the end.
May all your swans become bats.
in this essay i find gentle victory and quiet power
Kate, I'm sorry you're dealing with another round of Covid on top of the lingering effects of Long Covid. Layers upon layers of Covid. I've had several rounds myself. I'm with you in looking for ways to abide in it with as much calm and intentional presence as I can muster--with varying degrees of success and failure depending on the day. I can picture you painting with every shade of blue and that image is poetic and true. The way you insist on finding beauty in the midst of this struggle, and then to put this into words, it's vitalizing to me. Thank you. 💙