Harvey Weinstein with his walking frame leaving Manhattan criminal court last week. Photograph: Bryan R Smith/AFP via Getty

Harvey Weinstein is not the first name that springs to mind when I think of the empowerment of women in Hollywood. But then you cant have everything although, for a while, he did.

Weinstein, lately seen hobbling on a walking frame into court, had, a few days later, strangely recovered enough to be photographed strolling unaided near his New York home. He still gets out to comedy clubs and still gives interviews where he boasts that he made more movies about women and directed by women than anyone else. It all got eviscerated because of what happened, he says. My work has been forgotten.

Yes. There is that what happened thing: the allegations of rape. Then there are the multiple accounts of sexual misconduct (more than 30) for which a $25m (18.7m) settlement has reportedly been reached. Weinstein also complained that he made Gwyneth Paltrow the highest-paid female actor in Hollwood. Great! She has also accused him of sexually harassing her. Still, as I said, you cant have everything.

Weinstein, surrounded by his swarm of minders/enablers/lawyers/whatevers, has racked up 57 violations of bail conditions involving his electronic tag. So in court, instead of $1m, his bail went up to $5m. Everything can be bought. The #MeToo movement never reckoned with the crude power of money and the insatiable taste for the legal system to pass this off as justice.

Weinstein harassed women because of the authority such wealth gives you. Now he whines about what he did for women as he pays them off. He remains a free man. Still, although money talks, not everyone is listening. Weinstein will be remembered. Not for his films, but for being a self-pitying predator. And, judging by the walking-frame performance, for being one of the worst actors Hollywood has ever produced.

Originally posted here:
Harvey Weinstein wants to be remembered. He will be as a self-pitying predator - The Guardian

This article contains opinion

Graduates, rejoice!

Youve finally come to the end of your long and illustrious road of endless studying, mind-boggling assignments and numerous packs of ramen at 1 a.m.

And while it is a joyous occasion, do not forget that you still have plenty of blank pages inside of your book of life and many stories to uncover.

You began this journey at age four, not knowing much about the world or life in general, and here you are now, much older and much more experienced in the world and those around you. You are now entering the disciplined world of adulthood.

This is not meant to scare you, but rather to keep you focused on reaching your highest potential in life.

You now have bills to pay.

You have to find a career.

You are now able to start a family.

You can now grow old and begin living the life you were meant to live.

That piece of paper that has your name and what you concentrated in isnt just a waste of a tree, its the key to your future and to your success.

We want to read your name in TIME Magazine as Person of the Year. We want you to receive the Nobel Prize. We want you to be the best version of you that you can be.

As you step beyond IUP, remember that you have more than 14,000 students and more than a million alumni who support you and wish you nothing but luck and support along your way through life.

Go out and make us proud.

Read the original here:
Sleb's Self-Help Column: A Guide to Proactive Life Solutions - A Letter for Graduating Students: Keep Striving - Indiana University The Penn Online

Dec. 11, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

The holidays roll around once a year so its understandable that youd want to enjoy the festive fare and put off healthier habits just for now. After all, why should you deny yourself the pleasure of that once-a-year holiday-themed sugar cookie or sausage stuffing or spiked eggnog?

Im all for enjoying any holiday goodies you fancy without guilt or giving it a second thought. However, the marathon food fest that occurs between Thanksgiving and December 31st can take a toll on your physical and emotional health. Overeating, eating poorly, and drinking more than the healthy booze limits can impact your mood and your sleep, and that can really put a damper on your holiday spirit! Plus, eating and drinking to excess often triggers guilt, stress and anxiety, which needless to say, isnt good for your wellbeing. Navigating the holiday season healthfully is tricky for everyone. Heres how to get through the season joyfully while remaining healthy-ish.

The allure of holiday food is often more about the fear of missing out than the food itself. Its that once a year, get it now or wait til next year mentality that can override other food sensibilities. This is especially true if youve been on an overly restrictive diet that eliminates your favorite foods or fun, but less healthful menu items.

Think about it this way: If youre eyeing a pair of shoes and the store only has one pair left in your size, it makes you want them that much more. But if you know you can order them online any time youd like, youre in a better position to compare them to other shoes and decide if and when youd like to make the purchase. The same is true with food. If you really want stuffing in July or a sugar cookie in September, you can find those foods. You may have to go a little out of your way to get or make them, but its totally doable. With an abundant mindset, you can be more selective at holiday meals.

Some holiday foods are mind-blowingly delicious and others are just so-so. When you become more mindful and aware of these distinctions, it puts you in a better position to be more intentional and deliberate with holiday foods. Sure, fruitcake is primarily available this time of year, but if it doesnt do much for you, theres no point in eating it. Prioritize the foods you truly enjoy and eat them in portions that feel good to you.

Savoring your food can go a long way toward increasing your satisfaction, lowering your overall intake and even reducing bloating and indigestion that can occur when youre eating too quickly and not chewing thoroughly. We live in a fast-paced world so its seemingly normal to wolf down a meal, but your body wants you to slow down!

It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive signals from your appetite-regulating hormones so if you arent spending at least this amount of time savoring a meal, you wont get those signals when youve had enough to eat. Several studies have linked fast eating with weight gain and bigger weight fluctuations and this habit is also associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

But setting aside the health concerns, slowing down can lead to better enjoyment of your meal. Whether youre having holiday fare or an ordinary meal, stay present and take time to appreciate every aspect of it. How does it smell? Whats the experience biting into it? How does it taste in your mouth? What else can you appreciate about the moment? Maybe its the music, the party setting or a beautiful wreath. The holidays are about much more than food and the process of being more mindful helps you fully appreciate the entire experience.

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Your body is constantly sending you physical signals, but over time, you may learn to ignore or override them. Start to tune into these signals, which include sensations of hunger and fullness as well as things, like reflux, bloating and gas.

If youre wondering how to discover your bodys signals, here are some ideas. About halfway through a meal, you might ask yourself how much youre enjoying your meal and assess how youre filling up. When you have a few bites left, you might evaluate how youre feeling and if you want to eat a few bites more. You might examine how different portion sizes make you feel. For instance, how does a large helping of an extra-rich casserole impact your digestive system? What about a smaller portion? Do you feel sluggish after eating or does a meal revive your energy?

As you decipher what your body is saying to you, practice responding to the signs you pick up on. The facts you discover can help inform another eating occasion so if a meal makes you feel overly full or wreaks havoc on your digestion, you might approach your next eating occasion differently. But dont go overboard here! Its unrealistic to expect that you will only eat in response to hunger, that youll always stop at the point of feeling content, and that youll only eat foods that make you feel your physical best. Again, the idea is to bring more awareness to eating so you can make choices. At a holiday meal, it might make sense to eat a little more or have a larger helping of dessert, but at other meals, a different approach might serve you better.

Prioritizing fruits and vegetables isnt about sticking to low-cal fare in between holiday splurges. Its about the happiness-boosting benefits they provide. Studies continue to point to the fact that these fiber-packed, antioxidant-rich plants may lead to meaningful gains in happiness and life satisfaction. In one study that looked at the eating habits of more than 12,000 adults, those who ate the most defined as eight servings a day experienced improvements in life satisfaction. If eight servings sounds like a lot, consider that as few as four servings per day were linked to higher happiness scores. Another study found that people eating three to four servings of fruit and veggies reported less stress compared to those eating just a serving. And other research shows that your happiness fluctuates depending on your daily portions of these foods.

The holidays are stressful enough. Filling half your plate with veggies at lunch and dinner and eating a couple of pieces of fruit each day might help mellow you out and lift your holiday spirits.

A glass of wine or a festive cocktail can be an enjoyable way to celebrate the season, but making a habit of going above the alcohol limits can have a negative impact on your mood. Before you head to a holiday party, try to set an intention of one or two drinks (the limits for women and men). If this isnt realistic for you, try to pace your drinking by sipping water alongside your cocktail or alternating a glass of H20 between each alcoholic drink.

You probably dont need me to tell you that a nasty hangover can make you feel like a scrooge so do your best to avoid this scenario. In addition to staying hydrated, dont drink on an empty stomach and if your holiday party rages well into the night, continue to nibble throughout the event. These strategies along with stopping when youve reached your limit will help keep your spirits up.

Staying healthy over the holidays isnt just about the foods you eat. Managing your stress levels and getting enough rest are critical to your overall wellbeing. When you feel depleted, youre more likely to catch a cold, your body is more prone to storing fat, your work suffers and its harder to feel in control of your food choices.

Take a look at the self-care practices that you regularly participate in and determine whether youre caring for yourself well or whether there may be an opportunity to do better. Youll enjoy the holidays more if you dont run yourself ragged.

Its so easy to say yes to another event, a second or third glass of prosecco or a few cookies from the cookie platter. Check in with yourself regularly and ask yourself if another event, cocktail or helping of food is at the expense of your own wellbeing. If overstuffing yourself leaves you feeling awful or if a certain type of food doesnt sit well with you, its not offensive to say "no, thank you".

Setting food aside, you may also want to apply this thinking to your social schedule. If youre overscheduled to the point of overwhelm, its likely that your health is suffering. RSVPing "no" to a party might open up some space to stay more consistent with physical activity or participate in other healthy practices that may have fallen by the wayside.

Skipping spin because youre heading to your fourth event of the week? Its totally normal to feel like you dont have time to exercise or cook healthfully or participate in any number of self-care practices that keep you in tip top shape. But the truth is, theres a huge space in between having all the time and energy and having none of it so find that magic in the middle. Sure, you might not have the time to devote to your usual spin class, but maybe you have time to take a 15-minute walk during your lunch break. A weeks worth of meal prep might be out, but you might find some shortcuts, like pre-washed veggies, to help you reach a happier veggie target. If the holidays throw a curveball in your usual yoga or meditation practice, a one-minute meditation practice or some deep breathing is better than none at all. Studies repeatedly show that some attempt at staying healthy is better than ditching it altogether so instead of letting everything slide, do whatever you can whenever you can and aim to be healthier (or healthy-ish) this season.

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Read more from the original source:
10 tips to avoid letting healthy habits slip during the holidays - NBC News

A so-called pro-choice group in Texas is promoting abortion as magical and a form of self-care and using the holidays to do it.

Texas Equal Access (TEA) Fund thought it would be festive to create party favors for their upcoming holiday party in the form of prayer candles with the message, Abortions are Magical printed in block-letters on the sides.

TEA shared an image of the candles on Facebook, which the group said it made to honor our volunteers and show them a token of appreciation."

As Fox News reports, several pro-life groups and advocates including founder and president of Live Action Lila Rose and the March for Life have responded to TEAs insensitive if not outright disgusting messaging.

Abortion is not 'magical,' abortion is murder, said Rose in an interview with Daily Caller.

"Abortion simplify inflicts another act of violence against the woman & her innocent child," Live Action tweeted.

March for Life responded by inviting TEA to attend the 2020 March for Life:

Despite backlash, TEA doubled-down on its messaging. A day after sharing the photo of their holiday party favors, TEA posted on Facebook an explanation for why we use the language we use:

Abortions are an option for people who dont want to be pregnant, plain and simple, the post reads. Access to abortion care allows people to decide when to start a family. They provide new beginnings for people trying to create a future for themselves that may have been unimaginable without their abortion. Abortions help people prioritize their own physical and mental health.

TEA goes on, Abortions are magical for most people who have them and refuting that just increases stigma around abortion. They are health care, self care, and community care. We are proud to help people access abortion care and support them through the process.

TEA reposted their explanation on Wednesday and continues to post content normalizing abortion.

(Cover Photo: Flickr / Sergio Santos)

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Texas Group Says Abortions are 'Magical' and a Form of 'Self-Care' - MRCTV

I do not agree that selfish is a four-letter word ... Sarah Knight. Photograph: Alfredo Esteban Morales

Fuck seems to have been the word weve all needed to hear. As in, stop giving a fuck, calm the fuck down, say fuck, no: all sentiments at the heart of every self-help book published since the genre exploded. But where these books were once determinedly optimistic and outwardly focused on goals such as making money and influencing people, they now assume the voice of your bluntest friend, one who is not afraid to curse while telling you how it is.

Self-help has turned sweary, and no one has made being blue a bigger part of their brand than Sarah Knight, author of the five No Fucks Given Guides, most recently Fuck No!. The series, which started with the 2015 bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck, has sold more than 2m copies worldwide and ushered in a new wave of tough-love tomes, such as The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson and Gary John Bishops Unfuck Yourself each bestsellers themselves.

Pragmatic, profane, irreverent, it is self-help for people who dont like self-help, says Knight, 41, a former book editor who credits Jen Sincero with starting the trend with You Are a Badass back in 2013. The appeal, Knight suggests, is because readers have these pent-up feelings that they felt they couldnt express, and we are helping them channel them.

Knights debut was intended as an affectionate parody of Marie Kondos 2011 tidying bible, persuasively subtitled, How to stop spending time you dont have with people you dont like doing things you dont want to do. (Baby showers, for Knight, are a particular sticking point.)

The desire to say no to care less is already there, says Knight; her books just give readers permission to act on it, like throwing a lit match on gasoline. Thats been the catalyst for them to go forth and feel liberated, and live lives that they want to live Im really preaching what I consider to be common sense, as someone who has done it and Im here to tell them that it works.

In 2009, Knight was a senior editor at Random House in New York and had just signed Gillian Flynns Gone Girl when she suffered her first panic attack, passing out in front of her coworkers. It spurred what she remembers now as a watershed time of re-evaluation and reckoning, and a clinical diagnosis of anxiety, which eventually led to her giving up her 15-year career in publishing and relocating with her husband to the Caribbean.

Im getting messages daily from teenagers, saying I loved your book, its making me think about what I want to do with my life'

There was this very stark contrast between the success that I was having on paper, and the nadir of my emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing, Knight says now, via Skype from her new home in the Dominican Republic. The fact that they were happening at the same time [gave] me clarity: OK, obviously this really hardcore pursuit of success is damaging me in other ways. How do I balance it out?

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck, bringing together the lessons of what Knight terms her great personal and professional meltdown, was published just six months after Knight finally quit her job. The book has since sold more than half a million copies, with Knights own trade of the rat race for a tropical island a big selling point. Such literal escape may not be possible for everyone both Knight and her husband Judd can work remotely, and they are happily child-free but the spirit of no fucks given behind it is, she says.

Im getting messages daily from people as young as 14, 15 years old, saying I loved your book, its making me think about what I want to do with my life, and from people in their 60s and 70s saying I wish Id adopted this life philosophy sooner, she says.

She summarises her philosophy, explored over five books, as take care of yourself first: granting yourself permission to say no, free from anxiety or guilt. Her method works to reduce mental clutter in the same way that Kondos removed it from the home, creating space for joy. Policing ones personal boundaries gets easier with practice, she says. I do not agree that selfish is a four-letter word, even though it gets treated like that in our society and I know quite a bit about four-letter words.

Some people do need to be told to prioritise their health and happiness as much as they do their career or, in the case of caregivers, other peoples, says Knight. And for an older generation, they just didnt ever know it was allowed they werent raised in a culture that promoted personal wellbeing.

Today we have arguably over-corrected, with the modern preoccupation with wellness which Knight agrees her work taps into reflecting widespread unease with the impact of technology, work-life imbalance and unstable employment on our health. But she suggests that anxiety and burnout may not be more prevalent today than in the past we might just understand them better. At the very least, were talking about them more, so it may make them feel more present.

Knight is upfront that she is not a doctor or therapist, but even a strategy as simple as what she terms the no-and-switch (politely declining, with a preferred alternative) might still help some. Having the opportunity to read a $20 book and get some really good suggestions, if you cant afford $2,000 in therapy, can only help. She readily admits that many of the techniques in her books are just cognitive behavioural therapy, dressed up in sweary language but I also take medication, and Im not ashamed of that.

But Knights advice, while sensible at the individual level, sits uneasily against a global backdrop of inequality and climate change that can only be tackled collectively. Are more people thinking only of themselves really what the world needs?

Im not trying to raise a generation of sociopaths, or say that all you should do is look out for number one, because you wont have a good life that way either, she says. It is possible to prioritise ones own needs without hurting others, or at least without it hurting someone else more than it helps you.

Say you refuse an invitation to a dinner party: Yes, you are disappointing your friend. However, if you have terrible social anxiety or a really demanding job, and you simply cannot be out until 10 at night, guzzling white wine on a Wednesday it would hurt you more to say yes, than it hurts them for you to say no, Knight says. She calls it being self-ish: a kind of risk-benefit analysis that takes others needs into account to an extent. On the flipside, I think that other people have to be a little bit less sensitive about me not coming to their dinner party.

She puts down the failures of political leaders in the US and the UK to greed. To me, thats not what being selfish is thats the root of all evil. Knight is unequivocal in her disgust at the egocentrism on display among politicians; in Fuck No!, she writes that her aim is to destigmatise the act of saying nyet as in, No, I wont accept foreign interference in this election.

There is also a mini-chapter in Fuck No! on sexual consent, empowering women to say no for any reason they like. It took Knight 30 years to learn this lesson herself, in which time she had sex with awful people, wasted time and compromised her individual ethics with regrettable yeses.

Noes beget noes, with more positive consequences than negative. You have to be able to communicate your boundaries. Otherwise, you are not going to be happy. Its not just no, I dont want to come to your open mic night, its no to your parents, your siblings, your lover, your children, Knight says. We all have to be able to do it a little bit better. Theres no point in walking around feeling resentful, obligated and guilty while doing things we dont want to do.

It is a reminder that the personal is political. Though Knights philosophy may seem obvious, women still socialised to put others first are more likely to benefit from it. She agrees that her books have a feminist bent, but says that her imagined reader is her younger self.

Dont wait as long as I did. I just wish I had known all this stuff 20 years ago Im constantly reminding myself of my own advice, says Knight. Does she swear at herself, too? I do.

Fuck No! by Sarah Knight is published by Quercus.

Read more from the original source:
Hate baby showers and dinner parties? Sarah Knight wants you to say no - The Guardian

QUEER EYE: WERE IN JAPAN! Stream on Netflix. The reboot of this feel-good reality TV show deviated from the original by leaving its mostly New York setting to help people of all genders and sexual orientations across America. Now the Fab Five are taking their expertise in food, grooming, culture, fashion and interior design to Tokyo. With the American-Japanese model and actress Kiko Mizuhara and the Japanese comedian Naomi Watanabe as their guides, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness meet four new faces and work to transform their lives. Along the way, the self-help gurus explore the citys cultural offerings, making the mini-series part makeover show, part travelogue.

THE NIGHTINGALE (2019) Stream on Hulu; Rent on Google Play and YouTube. Jennifer Kent, the director of The Babadook, wrote and directed this feature about 1820s Tasmania, where British soldiers rule over convicts who were relocated there from England and Ireland, while also warring with the areas indigenous peoples. Within that ladder of cruelty that A.O. Scott described in his New York Times review, the film follows an Irish convict named Clare (Aisling Franciosi), who ventures out into the wilderness with an Aboriginal guide to seek revenge on the British officer who raped her. The film has been criticized for its portrayal of sexual assault and brutality, but Scott still named it a Critics Pick. This is a difficult movie because the questions it raises are not easy, he wrote, adding, You might say its too angry. Or too honest.

THE AFFAIR 9 p.m. on Showtime. When this show debuted in 2014, it focused on the deception and perspectives of Alison (Ruth Wilson), a married waitress, and Noah (Dominic West), a husband and father of four, who step out on their spouses to engage in an affair. The subsequent seasons have dealt with the fallout from that transgression, exploring how the dissolution of those marriages have affected their family members. By its fifth and final season, the show has expanded even further into two narrative timelines: one set in the present day, and the other decades in the future. The series finale brings together Noahs family for his daughters wedding, while Alisons adult daughter Joanie (Anna Paquin) grows closer to uncovering the truth about her mothers death.

90 DAY FIANC 8 p.m. on TLC. On a new season of this reality show that combines the perils of dating with culture shock, seven new couples allow cameras to capture their tumultuous K-1 visa process, which allows Americans to bring their fianc or fiance into the country for 90 days. In that time period, the couples will have to decide whether theyll walk down the aisle or whether their non-American partner will have to leave the country. In this seventh season, well be introduced to couples who are either meeting in person for the first time or are just getting to know each other. They include a 41-year-old banker and a 23-year-old Brazilian model; and a Nebraskan mother of three dating a man from Turkey despite the language barrier.

Originally posted here:
Whats on TV Sunday: Queer Eye and The Affair - The New York Times

Joan Zeta Zamora came of age in her native Jalisco, Mexico, cleaning up and decorating tombstones with flowers on Day of the Dead.

So when she learned that the Florence Library in South Los Angeles was closing, she turned the commemoration of ancestors and loved ones who have died into a tool for protest.

The 36-year-old constructed an altar in Grand Park, which depicted a politician as Ernesto de la Cruz, the mariachi villain in the Pixar Animation Studios film Coco.

Dia de los Muertos in Los Angeles has always had a political element to it, Zamora said.

Following the release of Pixars Coco, in which an aspiring guitarist is cast to the underworld after defying his Mexican grandmother, the Day of the Dead aesthetic has become especially ubiquitous, used to peddle all sorts of products, from alcohol to lottery scratchers. The Mexican holiday is also used to promote an ever-growing list of events across Los Angeles County, including a bicycle ride in Wilmington and a 5K and health fair in San Fernando.

Lorena Lopez and Maria Bustamante Morales, 4, look at the Day of the Dead Altar for Carlos Zaragoza at Self Help Graphics & Art.

(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)

Throughout October, vendors in downtown Los Angeles unload trucks chock-full of marigolds. The flowers, known as cempaschil, are no longer shipped from abroad but grown in Oxnard and San Diego. Merchants bundle them up in Korean-language newspapers, then hand them over to the thousands of Angelenos who observe Day of the Dead.

Come November, they will adorn altars throughout the county.

Despite the holidays commodification, for Xchitl Flores-Marcial, a historian at Cal State Northridge, it remains an intimate family affair, with preparations beginning months in advance.

Our entire life, she said, revolves around memory and holding on to the teachings of our ancestors. For her, using the tradition as a marketing tool is historical erasure.

I like to talk about it in terms of science, she continued, because we often forget that part when we talk about how people have appropriated only the things that look fun and festive and colorful.

For instance, she said, there are several different varieties of cempaschil, and because they contain a natural insecticide, they are planted among food crops in Mexico. This is why her family, Zapotecs from the state of Oaxaca, not only decorate their altars in L.A. with them, but also make it a point to include only the highest-quality corn, beans, chiles and squash in their tribute, or ofrenda.

Notes on paper cutout like fish at the Day of the Dead altar Cruzando (Crossing) at Self Help Graphics & Art.

(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)

This, said Flores-Marcial, is ultimately what were celebrating when were honoring our ancestors. Were saying, This is what weve harvested from this knowledge. That part, this knowledge that indigenous people have, is totally overlooked when people start appropriating these symbols.

Her familys customs, she added, represent just one example of ancestor worship.

You can find it in the Andes, too. You can find it in Guatemala. You can find it in so many places in the Americas. Its not only Mexican, she said.

Betty Avila, executive director of Self Help Graphics & Art in Boyle Heights, learned about Day of the Dead as an adult. For her and her parents, who emigrated from the Mexican state of Zacatecas, Dia de los Muertos is very much an L.A. thing, she said.

I think its interesting for my parents to see their kids really seek out these opportunities to be further connected with home in Zacatecas and, more broadly speaking, our Mexican heritage, Avila said.

Moreover, because Avila learned about the tradition at Self Help Graphics & Art, her understanding of it has always been rooted in political activism. The arts center, she noted, began celebrating Day of the Dead shortly after the Chicano Moratorium, in which residents of East Los Angeles took to the streets to protest the Vietnam War and the disproportionate number of casualties of Mexican descent.

Kristen Johannesen, left, Olivia Ramos and her mother, Dora Magaa, work on papier-mache skulls at Self Help Graphics & Art.

(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)

From the beginning, said Avila, local artists and residents have made use of traditional Day of the Dead iconography to bring forward other issues and ideas that affect the community. In the 70s, for instance, the East Los Angeles-based art collective Asco combined the tradition with performance art to address the ways that they saw community members dying all around them. In its archives, the arts center preserves a photograph of the event, in which members of the collective not only dressed as skeletons but also as a pill, a switchblade and a syringe.

Today, Day of the Dead at Self Help Graphics & Arts maintains its activist roots, as exemplified by the altars in this years gallery exhibition. Among them is one created by the centers youth committee, which commemorates children who have died while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border or in the custody of immigration officials.

In addition to traditional elements such as candles and cempaschil, the youth committees altar includes candy and stuffed animals. These elements, said Karla Jacome, a student at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and East L.A. College, represent the children who lost their lives. Because the items featured in the altar are also an ofrenda, they are meant to give the children some comfort.

I really hope that these children, who passed in such difficult ways, feel how loved they are, Jacome said.

The altar, which displays portraits of migrant children who died, also includes a gallon of water, where the words Suerte en su camino (Good luck on your journey) are written in permanent marker. This message, Jacome said, speaks both to the physical journey from the childrens home countries to the United States, as well as from life to death.

The jug, she added, is also a form of protest, pointing to the prosecution of individuals who provided water to migrants trying to survive in the desert.

The youth committees installation also invites community members to write messages to the dead children on paper fish, which are then deposited in a river made of blue cloth that runs along the altar. One of the messages reads, in Spanish: Beautiful little angels, you will not be forgotten. May you rest in peace.

Detail from the Day of the Dead Altar for Carlos Zaragoza at Self Help Graphics & Art.

(Michael Owen Baker/For The Times)

On any given Saturday in October, the mural-laden building in Boyle Heights can be found teeming with friends and multiple generations of family members, including pets. Some of the crafts are incorporated into the arts centers community altar, a majestic, multi-tiered piece by master altarista Ofelia Esparza. This year, it includes framed photographs of Toni Morrison, Rep. Elijah Cummings, and local rapper and community activist Nipsey Hussle, all of whom died this year.

Many of those who participate in the Self Help Graphic & Arts weekend workshops take their work home. Often, they say they plan to make altars of their own.

The point, she said, is to bring the community together, to get people talking about loved ones who have died. The ability to share out that loss publicly, she added, is also part of the healing.

Read more here:
For many in Los Angeles, Day of the Dead is a chance for activism - Los Angeles Times

Source: Nastasia Mora / Courtesy of Taylor Elyse Morrison

For Taylor Elyse Morrison, fitness is about a lot more than the physical; your ability to perform certain tasks of daily living or movements involved in work and sports to a certain level. Instead, she believes that in order to truly be fit, you need to be intentionally caring for all aspects of yourself, including the emotional and the mental. Of course, most group fitness classes out there only focus on getting you in good shape in terms of the body, and might throw in a mediation moment here and there to help you tap into the internal as a cool down, but the 26-year-old Chicago native wanted a class to focus on whats happening within us. When she initially started to prioritize her own self-care, it helped her look at the benefits of physical activity differently.

Ive been putting a lot of focus on self-care and listening to what my body needs and not thinking about calories, she said. Im not thinking about how good Im going to look in a pair of jeans or something, but really knowing that when I work out, my stress levels go down and Im better able to deal with my anxiety and looking at it from that perspective.

Once she was able to do that, Morrison realized it was something that everyone needed, so she created Inner Workout. She describes it as a mat-based self-care practice for your whole being on Instagram, but specifically, its self-care focused on five parts to help you gain access to the layers that encompass you. You reach them through the physical, which is the yoga, dance and kinesthetics class participants do, as well as through the energetic of breathing, the mental of journaling, the wisdom of active meditation, and the bliss, which is using the last five minutes of class to do whatever brings you great joy.

The idea for my workout came into being because I saw a lot of group fitness classes, but nothing that was really focused on looking within and learning how to actually build that skill into self-care, she said. For me, that is listening within and responding in the most loving way possible. So Inner Workout is yes you move your body and you might sweat a little bit, but its really about building that muscle, so to speak.

We spoke to Morrison about the importance of tuning in, how the Inner Workout works, and the necessity of prioritizing something far greater than the physical for true fitness and happiness.

MadameNoire:What inspired you to create this workout and how did you start working within to make self-care a priority for yourself?

Taylor Elyse Morrison: I am really interested in self-care because Im honestly really bad at it. I have burned myself out a lot of times. Ive always been a person who will have a full-time job and then a side hustle and then maybe volunteering at a non-profit on top of being in a relationship and trying to hang out with friends. There was one summer where I had a pretty demanding full-time job, still had clients for my side hustle and then had also just recently gotten married. I was spending a Sunday night trying to do work and Im just sitting in front of my computer typing and switching between tabs but realizing that Im not doing anything. So I closed my laptop, took a bath, and that was like my first self-care practice: shutting down on Sunday nights, taking a bath and not looking at anything work-related until Monday morning. When that really started to feel good for me, I started to think, how can I incorporate that feeling outside of baths? So I started doing more with journaling and meditation and just trying to listen to myself. As I did that, and I would talk about it more, other people would ask me questions about self-care, and I realized that this is something were not really taught. Were not taught how to listen to ourselves, were just kind of taught, okay, eat healthy, exercise, accomplish all your goals and try not to burn yourself out in the process. But no one tells you how not to burn yourself out.

How did you get to a place of focusing on the internal and having a sense of gratitude? What was the work that needed to be done to prioritize that regularly?

With practice. I talk about self-care being proactive and reactive. So the proactive things are my Sunday night baths or taking a walk with my dog in the morning, things I know that set me up for a good day. Then there is the reactive self-care where I feel like super anxious and I could sit and I dont know, scroll down Instagram and try and numb myself, but I would teach myself to tune in and say, okay, youre feeling really anxious. What are the things you could try right now? You could try taking some deep breaths. You could try calling a friend. You could try dancing to Lizzo in your living room, whatever it is. But its about training myself to have that moment before going into kind of the crutches and numbing myself out. Im actually seeing what productive things I can do. Its all an experiment. It changes. What works for me when Im anxious today might not be what works for me when Im anxious tomorrow.

What does your class consist of? I read that its a blend of movement, breath work, meditation and journaling.

Its a 60-minute class and really the teacher is the facilitator. Its not like a yoga class where you need to be in a specific pose and hold it for a certain number of breaths. This teacher, the facilitator, gives you a set of movements, and then you flow within it. Youre training yourself to listen to whats going on. You might find one part of the flow where you just need to hang out there because your hips are tight. You dont even need to worry about the rest of it. So the first 20 minutes or so are movement, and then you move into a time of breath work, which is really a time to access your breath but also start to notice your energy. Then you move into journaling. Theres always two journaling prompts. Its called journaling, most people write, some people dont connect to writing, some people doodle. You have a good chunk of time to do that and then we move into a meditation. After journaling, youve brought up a lot of stuff, and so the meditation is a good time to kind of observe your thoughts and synthesize. And then the final portion is five minutes of flow. So hopefully, by this point of spending 55 minutes listening to yourself, youre starting to understand what you need. So the last five minutes, some people will do more stretching, some people will journal more, some people will just lie there and breathe. Its really your time to say, okay, what do I need in this moment? What can I give myself?

Source: Nastasia Mora / Courtesy of Taylor Elyse Morrison

Youre based in Chicago and the classes take place in the city. I see that you have a way though for people to get involved remotely, online. Since they cant be physically in the class, what is it that theyre getting?

So theres two aspects of online. Theres the free online community and thats open to anyone, whether or not they want to do Inner Workout. Thats just a place for conversation, for encouragement, for accountability. Its really cool at this point because its something that were co-creating together. So the people who are the members now are getting to see what they want to make it into. Then the other piece is, in January, well be launching video classes. You can buy the pre-recorded classes and incorporate an Inner Workout class into your day or your week, however it fits for you. Theres a package thats available for pre-order where they can get an Inner Workout journal that can go under the tree or whatever you do for holidays, and then whoever youre gifting it to can then enjoy the videos when they launch in January.

How important is it for people to prioritize self-care in this way, the way you offer with Inner Workout? It seems especially important at a time when people are becoming more comfortable talking about mental health and fitness in general has become more appealing.

In general, I think mental health is extremely important. I think its good that were starting to have this conversation, especially in communities of color where traditionally, its something thats a little more taboo. I think where Inner Workout is really helpful is that it provides a time and a structured framework for this. Theres so many people, my friends and myself included, where we know the things that are good for us. We know we should meditate, or journal, or stretch, but its something that at the end of the day gets put down on the to-do list. Whats great about Inner Workout is its something that you can put on your calendar and come to whether youre in Chicago, or schedule a time to watch a video. Youve got everything you need to have a really rich self-care practice. But Im also a big proponent of saying you dont have to buy anything to practice self-care. You just make a commitment to listen to yourself and respond with love. Its going to be hard and youre going to have to keep working at it. Even right now, as Im saying that Im thinking, I dont think Ive had any water today and were halfway through the day. I havent been doing a great job of listening to myself, but Im committed to doing the work, and thats all any of us can do.

And how important is this message of fitness not just being about the physical?

I love that you mentioned that. Thats why I love that were rooted in the kosha model because its the five layers of yourself, or the five aspects of yourself. In self-care and fitness and wellness, were still focused on the wellness, what goes into our physical bodies, how were moving our physical body, and not thinking that we are whole, multi-dimensional human beings who have so many layers and things that are going on. So yes, I think its great that we have pushed the conversation and were starting to talk about health and mental health and wellness and fitness, but yes, to really in my opinion be someone whos a fit person, you have to be accessing all of who you are, which goes beyond just the things that you can do in the gym.

Be sure to follow Taylors Inner Workout page on Instagram and check out the rest of our inspiring Fitness Fridays profiles here!

Continued here:
Fitness Fridays: After Realizing She Was Really Bad At Practicing Self-Care, Taylor Morrison Created A Workout Class To Help Others Listen Within -...

Zaria Howell, Op-Ed ContributorNovember 3, 2019

For me, college is a lot like a very slow race, but a race nonetheless. I always feel like Im rushing to get to the end of something the end of a negative emotion, the end of a cloud-filled day, the end of a draining lecture where the professor talks for entirely too long.

However, this race is unlike your typical one, as its an everyday, four-year-long battle. Some days you chalk it up to the highs and lows of college something you and your friends complain about over poor, borderline-inedible dining hall food. Other days, these things feel like blows to your soul, and you ask yourself: Am I enjoying my experience here? Why dont I feel as alive as Id like?

My dad frequently FaceTimes me out of the blue, asking me with a little too much urgency in his voice: How are you? I can tell from the concerned tone that hes not asking me about my latest friend drama or the grossest thing I came across in my dorm bathroom recently. Hes asking me about my literal mental health. He and I are both fully aware that just last year, a student on my campus died by suicide. Hes aware of the pressures of the monotony of college. So when he asks, I listen. And I reflect, almost like Im as concerned as he is.

On days where I dont feel my best, I pull out my repertoire of self-help aids: morning meditation sessions, evening journaling sessions, deep breathing exercises in nature, long phone calls with my mom. If I feel even an urge of sadness, or notice an absence of emotion at all, I pull out all the stops. Theres nothing scarier for a college student than the possible prospect of depression because theres the threat of not being to prevent it and not knowing how to deal with it once it arrives.

Even as I write this piece right now, Im borrowing a tool from that repertoire I just mentioned, writing. I feel oxygen and the universe and Gods presence, all at once, starting to fill those gaping holes in my soul. I reject bad vibes and possible negative energy more than frat parties. Its honestly an art form.

If I had to give a piece of advice to my fellow college students, itd be the advice my therapist gave me: Find what nurtures your soul and do a lot of it. Does cycling give you joy? Cycle until your thighs feel like stone. Does studying in particular places on campus make you feel more alive? Make those spaces your second home. Does being alone in your dorm room bring you comfort? Decorate it well, and allow it to be your oasis. Does being a part of a particular club make you feel like youre surrounded by family? Devote all your time to that and nothing else.

In college, it may seem like getting your degree is the most important aspect of your experience here. After all, we were all told at some point in our lives that we are at institutions like these to learn. But why does learning have to be strictly academic? Some of my most fruitful growth has taken place outside the classroom, outside of the impostor syndrome its confines impose, and its probably mold-ridden walls.

Whos to say that college, as it stands, might not be one of those things that you decide doesnt nurture your soul? And if it isnt, then how do you fix that? Id say: Find the version of college that makes you happy, and if that means changing your major three years in or finding a whole new group of friends, even though you already have some, then so be it.

This is your life. How would you like to live it?

Zaria Howell is a Medill sophomore. She can be contacted at zariahowell2022@u.northwestern.edu. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to opinion@dailynorthwestern.com. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.

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Opinion | The race of college - Daily Northwestern

Todd, 34, won the Byron Nelson in 2014, had four top 10s in 2015 but struggled mightily the next few seasons. He battled swing yips and mental hurdles, both of which he pinpoints to the 2015 BMW Championship and a disastrous four-iron that led to a 7 (and plenty of scar tissue). In 2006 he missed 25 of 29 cuts and barely earned $75,000. In 2017 it was eight missed cuts in nine starts, and in 2018 he was six for six in missed cuts on the PGA Tour.

It didnt really matter who I worked with because I hadnt taken enough time off, I think, to like calm my mind and just get away from it and say, OK, what did I do when I did play good? Todd said. For some reason I just couldnt figure out what it was.

After the 2018 season he hooked up with teacher Bradley Hughes, took time off, worked on drills in his basement and even read a self-help book to cure the yips. In 11 starts last season he mixed in four top 25s and made $252,546, and that helped him get into the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where he earned his card back. He missed the cut in his first four starts of this season before a tie for 28th at the Houston Open. His next start was in Bermuda. He started Sunday two back but made that up in no time.

We came to a golf course that none of us have ever seen and I was able to go out there and figure it out and execute the shots and play spectacular golf, he said. Always be the first Bermuda champion, so Im excited.

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Brendon Todd goes from nearly quitting golf to Bermuda Championship winner - Golf.com