Tag Archives: darla

Art of the Listen - Bench Talk, Political Muck and Such

SOME HIPPIE ADVICE FOR TODAY’S WORLD

Like the peace sign. Peaceful marches. Lean on me brotherly love.

Without the current sharp sword of social media or the leaning left and right media coverage, most of that love sign advice was communicated in songs.

One that keeps rattling around my brain these days has these lyrics:

“I knew a man that I did not care for. And then one day, that man gave me a call. We sat and talked about things on our minds. And now that man, he is a friend of mine…”

(from “Reach Out of the Darkness”, Friend and Lover, 1968,)

So whether you remember that group or ever heard the song, it rings truer now that ever.

It’s just simple people science. When you speak of a group of folks all separated out and lumped together by their color/gender/sexual preference/political party/statehood/nationality…you name it…you know nothing about them.

Nothing. Except what you read in the sharp social media posts or left/right leaning media.

When you sit and talk about things on your mind, you find out all kinds of mind-altering things about that other person that may have absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

Get curious. You may find a friend.

Reach out of the darkness and give it a try. There’s really nothing uncomfortable about it.

Just some 50 year old advice….and a groovy song.

SKATE ON!

Darla

Art of the Listen - Bench Talk, Scabs and Other Body Parts

Will we ever touch again?

Six feet away.

“Will we ever hug again?” is the question of the day. As we creep out of our seclusions, will the bright light of the sun maybe do away with the guy who put us there?

Are we touch deprived?

Will it be different now for friends who formerly met each other with a hug? For strangers who began a greeting with a handshake? Or even for that anonymous shopper in the store whose shoulder you used to touch briefly in order to pass by?

Will people continue to avert their eyes from each other in an effort to keep distance? Will their lips tense just the tiniest of bits as someone walks toward them with a smile?

When the masks come off…and they will…will we approach the world with invisible gloves still on?

Here’s what I think, as I muse on a bench six feet away from anyone else.

Yes. Most of us will come to hug or offer our hand in greeting again, despite the warnings. We may just do it a little differently.

Now we know about long distance communication. We picked up the phone and called old friends. We zoomed into family reunions, office meetings and support groups.

We learned the power of a “Like”. We shared intimate details of our lives with the world…such as the type of pyjamas we wear or the true color of our hair.

We shared our fears, our disdain, our loves…without leaving the house. We laughed out loud with others thousands of miles away.

We did touch each other.

Down the street, out there in the bright sun, I see people gathering again. Music booms from car speakers. Could it be the sidewalk looks almost crowded by comparison? It appears the distances are shrinking.

I hope we don’t forget the ways we learned to touch each other when we were six feet away. I would miss that closeness.

SKATE ON!

Darla

(As far as I know, the park bench above is a widely shared, photo-shopped piece of fun. Credit unknown.)

For more Darla or to receive future blogs, go to Darla’s website and touch base. www.darlatherollerderbyqueen.com

Art of the Listen - Bench Talk, Political Muck and Such, Scabs and Other Body Parts

WHAT ARE YOU SHARING TODAY?

1 Comment

So, we no longer shake hands or hug friends at a gathering. This week I was taught we can only touch feet with shoes on, touch elbows, or just make a kind of queenly wave at each other as we come in the door.

I’m okay with that, I guess, as long as we can brandish a great smile at each other upon meeting.

But where’s the smile behind all those masks?

Don’t misunderstand.

We need to protect one another from spreadable diseases (even though I’m not sure the mask does all that….)

I liked this article today from a major news outlets (“Coronavirus: Does worrying increase your risk of getting sick?”} that asks: what exactly are we spreading?

“We’re in this fear state, but the fear state turns down the immune system. When you spread fear to your friends, it’s almost like spreading germs to them. You wouldn’t want people to do that to you. We shouldn’t do that to other people,” said David Ropeik.

So, just like a smile or a yawn, fear can also be contagious, he says.

Maybe we do need masks every once in a while, but you can always smile with your eyes.

SKATE ON!

Darla

Art of the Listen - Bench Talk, True Derby, Twinkle Lights Stories

24…..

Three derby skaters equal 24 wheels on any given day.

But on some days in history, just the number 24 speaks for everyone.

A day when a person who wore that number on a jersey leaves the world and wheels stop turning long enough for us to acknowledge some truths.

The truth that, like derby skates and skaters, we all come in different colors and sizes. From different places across the world. Different genders. Different sports. Different beliefs about where we go when it’s all over.

And for a moment we can see those common goals and traits of goodness that transcend competition, be it in basketball, politics or religion.

Same vulnerabilities of the body and spirit.

Same heartfelt gratitude that someone with the number 24 provided a glimpse of all that.

Something to remember as the wheels start to turn again.

SKATE ON!

Darla

Art of the Listen - Bench Talk, Skate-On! Gallery, Twinkle Lights Stories

BE THAT BRIGHT ONE….

It’s gloomy. People move slowly through the mush of winter. Gone is the sparkle of new snow and the rush of the holidays.

What the world needs is a bright one. The person who smiles at you for no reason. A cheery remark. A splash of color.

It could be you today! Be that bright one for no reason.

Skate On!

Darla