One of the things about being an Adjunct Professor at a college is taking professional development courses. And I’m taking one about implicit bias and sensitivity in the classroom, which has been really fascinating for me. Of course, I’m reflecting on all the situations I’ve found myself in where I’ve...
Ya Salaam!
I woke up Wednesday morning to so many WhatsApp messages from friends overseas, saying “What a relief!” “Finally!” and of course, many saying “Ya salaam!” “Ya salaam” literally means, “Oh, peace!” Arabic speakers say it when something incredible, marvelous, or astonishing happens. Or when you’re waiting for something and it...
I never learned how to ride a bike
So, this might come as a surprise… but I never learned how to ride a bike. Like, not ever. My mom wouldn’t let me. Starting as a pre-teen, I was the breadwinner of the family, teaching dance around the country. And my mom was afraid that I would hurt myself...
Going in to go out
As the stay-at-home order here in California goes on and on, week after week, month after month, I keep thinking about the concept of Home Position. When my body is in Home Position—the starting posture of my dance format—I go into a kind of meditation. It’s where I find awareness...
What does freedom mean?
I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the recent events here in the United States, wondering what I could possibly say that would be appropriate or meaningful right now. And today is the 19th of June, the date in 1863 when Black people in the United States were...
I am Inspired
I am INSPIRED. I am so inspired by you. You have fed my soul through my entire life. I grew up listening to your music. My mother grew up listening to your music. Every move I manifested in my childhood, if it wasn't music from the Middle East, it was coming...
Finding hope in everyday moments
These days, daily walks have became essential for my overall wellbeing. I start my walk (with my little dog Bruno) and as I take each step, I feel the stress of hours of working on the computer falling away behind me. Every day is different, as far as who I'll see,...
What does bouncing back look like?
What a surreal moment in time we're in. And every day is so different... I'm sure it's the same for you, too. Some days I feel rested, like this time is just what my body needed to heal. For example, I travel so much for work that I'm constantly jet lagged,...
How I handle challenging times
A few days ago, I walked down the main street of my neighborhood. Others were out, too, particularly families. Of course, we stayed six feet away from each other, but we made eye contact and said, "Hello!" We made a connection, despite our physical distance. I know there are many people working hard...
Embracing change and listening to the creative force
I'm lucky to be very in touch with how I really feel about things... all kinds of things. To the chairs I sit on to a friend's facial expression, if you ask me what I want to eat or how I'm feeling, I will never not know. You'll never hear...