Sapience, the title of Diana Burbanos play making its world premiere at Moxie Theatre on Feb. 3, is a commonly misunderstood word.

To be sapient is to possess wisdom, sound judgment and self-awareness, which are qualities that set humans or Homo sapiens, meaning wise man in Latin on a different intellectual plane from the Earths other animals. Many scientists believe dolphins, whales and large apes are sapient, but without a common language, we can never know for sure.

Burbanos play is about Elsa, a Latinx primatologist, and her subject, an orangutan named Wookie, attempting to bridge the species communication barrier. Its also about how difficult communication can be for nonverbal people on the autism spectrum and between Spanish and English speakers.

Co-produced by Moxie and TuYo theaters, the play will feature optional post-performance educational workshops created with the help of the Autism Society of San Diego. The workshops are designed to help audience members appreciate how community and culture are enriched when the voices of people on the spectrum and who are Latinx and Spanish speakers are amplified.

Nancy Ross, top, as Wookie, and Mariel Leon as Elsa in Moxie and TuYo theaters Sapience.

(Moxie Theatre)

With Sapience, Vanessa Duron makes her Moxie directorial debut. An actor, writer and producer, Duron said she first encountered the play as a member of the Amigos Del Rep play selection committee for San Diego Repertory Theatres 2020 Latinx New Play Festival. A single mother of three and advocate for mental health awareness and theater about people of color, Duron said she was immediately struck by the script.

It is such a sweet and eye-opening play, Duron said. Its about communication. Its also about our relationship to each other and how we fail to understand how everyone communicates differently. But its also a play where the characters are trying to understand that in the best way that they can.

In Burbanos play, Elsa is a highly intellectual but unemotional scientist who has been hiding from her fellow researchers that shes on the autism spectrum. Meanwhile, her 12-year-old nephew, A.J., is on the spectrum as well, but hes nonverbal, locked-in emotionally and unable to communicate with others. Then one day, A.J. and the orangutan Wookie discover a common language and their conversations force Elsa to expand her ideas about communicating with others. Wookie will be played by an actor and the audience will be able to hear A.J. speaking with Wookie, even if Elsa cannot.

As human beings, we tend to be judgmental and sometimes selfish in the way we want to communicate, or critical of people in how they communicate with us, Duron said. Whats special about the relationship between Wookie and A.J. is they accept each other for everything that they are their flaws, their brilliance, their love, their lack of being able to show emotion or the way they show emotion.

Nancy Ross, left, and Mariel Leon in Moxie and TuYo theaters Sapience.

(Moxie Theatre)

Burbano is a Colombian immigrant, actor and prolific playwright who works as a teaching artist at both Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble and South Coast Repertory, both in Orange County. Many of her more than 50 plays have Latinx characters and themes, including Ghosts of Bogota and Fabulous Monsters. She wrote Sapience during a 2018-19 residency at Center Theatre Groups L.A. Writers Workshop.

In order to present the characters authentically and expand Moxie and TuYos efforts to expand diversity and inclusion, some of the actors cast in Sapience are neurodiverse. Part of the shows creative team is inclusion specialist Samantha Ginn, a San Diego actor who works as an educator for people in the the neurodiverse community. Ginn has been on hand to provide additional support to the neurodiverse cast members, and she is working to create a sensory-friendly experience for them for the entire run of the show.

Duron said that when she cast Sapience several months ago, she wanted to be inclusive in seeking out actors on the spectrum, but she didnt want to invade their privacy.

We didnt ask people on the spot if they were on the spectrum, we just asked if they had any life experience in this area.

During rehearsals, Duron has been working with Ginn and with Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, Moxies founding artistic director, who has served as an artistic mentor on this production. Duron said its been a great learning experience for her and has made her a better director.

Its been one of the best experiences of my life, she said. It has allowed me to develop a different way of thinking and looking at things. It has allowed me to give thought to how I give directions and how I want situations to look for an audience. It also helped me acknowledge that everyone has a different way of processing. Im more conscious of that now.

While Duron said she believes many people who have family members on the autism spectrum will be attracted to Sapience, the play has universal themes that will appeal to a wide audience.

Its such an amazing story. Its not just about communication, its about connection and the human experience. If we learn from this that everyone has accessibility needs, then we can be more compassionate, she said. Its a lovely play. You will leave the theater thinking, and thats whats important.

Moxie and TuYo have postponed the shows opening date by one week due to COVID-related issues. It will now open Feb. 3 and a filmed streaming option will be available Feb. 12, 15, 16 and 19 for audience members who would feel more comfortable watching the show from home.

When: Opens Feb. 3 and runs through Feb. 20. Showtimes 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Streaming: A streaming option will be presented at scheduled times on Feb. 12, 15, 16 and 19 (check with theater for times, tickets)

Where: Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Suite N, San Diego

Tickets: $35-$37; $15 rush tickets one hour before performance (limited quantities)

Phone: (858) 598-7620

Online: moxietheatre.com, tuyotheatre.org

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Moxie and TuYo's world premiere 'Sapience' to examine barriers in communication - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Whether youre on the hunt for a new gig because youdon't feel your workplace is supporting your needs, you're looking to switch fields, or you're more simply looking for a related position at a different company, starting the job search can be daunting. It is, after all, important that the career shifts we make be made with intention and self-awareness because we spend so much of our life working. But, knowing how to find a job you love can feel at once impossible and like a luxury. (We need paychecks to live, regardless of how much we enjoy (or don't) how we're securing those funds.) Furthermore, being able to identify that a potential opportunity is one that aligns with your goals and interests isn't necessarily so simple, either, since you'd be hard-pressed to find a job for which you loveall components and responsibilities.

That said, plenty of people do seem to be making moves: According to a January report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in November 2021, a record 4.5 million people quit their job amid what's being called the Great Resignation. With people considering the factors of personal fulfillment, company values, and flexibility, among other components of a given job, many are considering what actually fits their needs.

To get specific regarding how to find a job you love, recruiting consultant Bert E. Miller shares three tips below to help you optimize your professional future as you're on the job hunt.

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Taking self-inventory means evaluating your commitment toward personal, professional, and financial goalsand the exercise can crucially help you identify what you want from a future role that you're not getting from a current one. Miller suggests writing an ideal job profile for yourself as part of your self-inventory to help you gain clarity about what youre looking for in job opportunities.

"Your job profile should showcase who you can become." Bert E. Miller, career expert

Be clear and transparent with what you want. Job profiles should detail the position while also highlighting the company mission and why you would be the best fit for the position and company, Miller says. There should be a balance between understanding the role and learning about the company. Your job profile should showcase who you can become.

In your inventory, include the job title, where the position is based, whether its full-time or part-time, what the salary range is, a summary of benefits, facts about the company (specifically its values and purpose), and the role as well as its responsibilities.

Make sure you get a professional headshotnot one sitting in a car, in the gym, or a selfie, says Miller. Next, when building your digital profile, ensure your mission is clear under the about section. The same goes with the description in your profile. Create a title and phrase that is concise, to the point, and searchable.

Miller adds that the focus here should be leaning into how a given role aligns with the job profile you created in step one. Its important to showcase how you've taken the skills you have acquired in previous jobs and leveraged them to move forward. Putting that into writing and having conversations about how those skills willmake recruiters see how you can help the companys objectives.

Being a lifelong learner is a great skill that translates directly into the workplace. When youre learning about a company that you want to work for, Miller says its key to know where the company is aiming to go. Its important to immerse yourself in their news," says Miller. "Company leaders like intrinsically motivated people who have a thirst for continuous learning in their craft.

To learn more about a company, check out their website, search for news about them online and in trade publications, and on LinkedIn. Using LinkedIn, seeking out connections there, and following what current employees are doing can also be helpful, says Miller. You can also stand out by posting on your own social media, sharing posts that are [informative], educational, and inspiring to others.

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3 Tips To Find a Job You Love and Actually Get It, According to a Career Recruiter - Well+Good

Do you have a good understanding of who you are?

Being in touch with who you are yields numerous benefits. Youll have more happiness, you will make better decisions, your goals will be more meaningful, you will be more motivated, and more in touch with your emotions. Some people innately know who they are. Others move through life without a clear understanding. If you dont really know who you are, today is a great time to start figuring it out. The more you know about yourself, the more youll be able to follow the path which best suits you. What are your likes and dislikes? This simple understanding is essential to your happiness. Doing more of what you like and less of what you dislike is a simple strategy for greater satisfaction. The quest for financial security often leads to jobs or careers which are less than satisfying. To see where you are currently, answer this question: How would you be spending your time if you were independently wealthy and didnt need to work? If your current job or occupation corresponds to what you would being doing if you didnt need the money, you are in great shape. If its not, getting more in touch with who you are will help you navigate a more desirable route. Who or what inspires you? Knowing your sources of motivation helps you focus on what fits you best. People make a living doing whatever you do for fun, vacations, or as a hobby. You can support yourself doing what you love. What are your best habits? These are the habits to cultivate and focus on. Your good habits assist you in making progress toward your goals. Good habits enable you to be effective and efficient. What are your worst habits? These habits produce negative results and need to be purged. Replace bad habits with good habits. Self-awareness enables you to monitor your actions so that you can eliminate undesirable habits. What are your fears? What are you afraid of? Fear is a major roadblock. Typically, you wont do something you are afraid of. Your fears may be holding you back. Since fears exist in your mind, a change in thinking overcomes fears. What obstacles, problems, and challenges are you facing? In order to overcome obstacles, solve problems, and move past challenges, you must first identify them. Until you do this, they will be a frustrating roadblock. What are your strengths? Everyone has strengths. Having more strengths than you realize is common. Underutilizing one or more of your strengths is a real waste. Use your strengths to overcome challenges. What are your weaknesses? Unfortunately, many people obsess about their weaknesses instead of tapping into their strengths. Weaknesses can be overcome by rectifying any deficiencies. Anything lacking can be enhanced. Take advantage of your strengths while overcoming your weaknesses. Use what you have instead of lamenting that which you feel you dont have. Make the most of all your current assets. What are your values? Its much more satisfying when your life lines up with your values. Acting counter to them leads to endless frustration. You dont have to justify your values; you need to know what they are and live by them. Whats your emotional temperament? How much patience do you have? What upsets you? What type of people do you like to associate with? How social are you? Answering these additional questions provides more insight into who you are. Knowing who you are is a starting point. You are a work in progress. You can make any desired changes. Build on the aspects you like, while adjusting any facets you are unhappy with.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit http://www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. 2021 Bryan Golden

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Dare To Live Without Limits Week Of 1/24/2022 - Press Publications Inc.

The Delhi government plans to complete its survey to assess the psychological and emotional impact of Covid-19 on children before the start of the next academic year in April.

On Friday, the government decided to conduct a large-scale survey to understand the changes in the mental and emotional state of school children in the past two years and to use these findings and inputs from experts to modify the Happiness Curriculum in schools.

According to an education department official, the development of the survey is at a nascent stage and the planning department is working on a proposal to carry it out.

It is the mandate of the planning department to carry out surveys such as these and the education department will be supporting it. Because the decision itself was taken just a few days back, there is not a clear timeline as such for it but it should be completed before the coming academic session, said the official.

With the stated objectives of developing self-awareness and mindfulness, critical thinking and inquiry, enabling expression, among others, Happiness Classes in Delhi government schools involve mindfulness sessions, storytelling and teacher-student interactions. The plan is to modify it by introducing new chapters, stories and activities so that students can learn to be stress-free in challenging situations like pandemic.

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Delhi govt to complete survey to assess psychological impact of Covid-19 on children before April - The Indian Express

Being aware of your thoughts and how you talk to yourself about a challenge can make a big impact, research finds. (Antonio Guillem, Alamy)

Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes

ATLANTA "I think therefore I am," mind over matter, the little engine that thought he could our philosophers, language and literature all point to the power of perspective.

Psychologists say this common wisdom is right: What you expect from yourself and the world make a big impact on the results of your endeavors.

"From a neuroscience perspective, the brain will believe anything you tell it, right and wrong," said Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a Connecticut-based psychologist.

Research has shown that this phenomenon can have huge benefits when approaching a significant or difficult task, said David Robson, science writer and author of "The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World."

"We do know that there's the mind-body connection, which isn't kind of mysterious or magical, it's just, it's how it has to work and that this is in itself changing our physiology," Robson told CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his podcast, Chasing Life.

Thinking that you could catch up in a race or that your public speaking anxiety could help you perform better does, in many cases, Robson said.

Psychologists agree and say that rerouting your expectations to work more for you takes self-awareness, self-compassion and resilience. Here are six expert ways to develop a mindset that pushes you toward success.

Expectations, even negative ones, are meant to help our brains navigate a complicated world by simplifying our predictions of the wide range of outcomes to any situation, Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, said.

Those negative expectations can help up anticipate and avoid danger, but they aren't always up to date with the context that surrounds us, she added. The bias to sense danger sometimes inaccurately skews how we see the situation ahead of us.

And inaccurate information in the face of a challenge can create obstacles of its own.

"Pessimistic thoughts really just put you in a position where you're more vulnerable to actually experiencing that unpleasant or negative outcome," she added.

Setting more positive expectations and hopefully reaping the rewards starts with how you talk to yourself, Capanna-Hodge said.

When baseball players step up to the plate, they tell themselves they will knock it out of the park, she said, and the rest of the world should be doing the same, whether it comes to dietary changes, dating, career development or physical challenges.

Sometimes, though, those negative thoughts feel pretty automatic. If that's the case, Capanna-Hodge recommends activities like prayer, meditation, journaling and visualization to get better in touch with your goals and more in control about how you think about them.

We tend to see ourselves and our obstacles in two ways, Simon-Thomas said. Either our abilities are fixed or can grow, and our obstacles are a threat or a challenge.

Shifting the focus to believe that we can develop skills and to see difficulties as a challenge to be met rather than a threat to be avoided has shown to result in more success, she said.

"Is this a challenge that I can get excited about trying to drum up the resources to accomplish? Or is this a threat to my worth as a person?" Simon-Thomas said. "If you could relate to or interpret that situation as a challenge, your physiological response is empowering and equips you to be more creative and effective."

An optimistic expectation doesn't always mean tying yourself to one specific outcome, said Joan Rosenberg, a California-based psychologist and author of "90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting Confidence, Resilience, and Authenticity."

Instead, she recommends setting expectations that anticipate a positive result, without being too hard on yourself.

For trying something new and challenging, Rosenberg said her ideal mindset is "I'm going to do the best I can and see just how far I can stretch."

The disappointing truth is those seeking to accomplish something new often will have to fail at least a few times. Part of going into those challenges with an optimal mindset means preparing to face whatever the emotional consequences are win or lose.

It usually isn't the loss people avoid, but the feelings that can come with it, like fear, anger, vulnerability, sadness and embarrassment, Rosenberg said. For most, the worst part is the physical feelings that come with a setback, like a flush in your cheeks or racing heart.

Fortunately, data has shown those feelings tend to last for no more than 90 seconds, she added. Preparing yourself to sit through whatever unpleasant emotion and feeling may arise can make you more ready to charge into the challenge as well as more resilient if it doesn't go your way, she said.

Sitting in those uncomfortable feelings of loss can actually be turned into a gain, Rosenberg added.

She recommended people find the opportunity to find information in the disappointment. Perhaps you learn that you need to eat something more substantial before your 5K or triathlon, that your feelings of sadness mean you really care about the kind of job you were interviewing for, or that the new friends you have been spending time with don't make you feel that good.

"Why would I want to stay present in those feelings? Because it's a source of information that, when joined with thought and reason, will help me make better decisions in my life," Rosenberg said.

Having realistically optimistic expectations is not a cure-all for life's disappointments and losses, but it does better equip each of us to go into a challenge with our best resources, experts said.

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How your expectations are getting in the way and what you can do to change it - KSL.com

Suburban teachers are figuring out ways to talk about race and racism and their roles in history to challenge timeworn methods for teaching about the past.

Whether such conversations belong in the classroom is a debate raging nationally and has become a political flashpoint pitting parents against teachers, school leaders and one another.

A state task force is working to help school districts improve how Black history is taught in classrooms, while Illinois educators are being trained on new culturally responsive teaching standards.

But Republican lawmakers and conservative activists have criticized diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in public schools, which they view as a means of promoting a controversial concept known as critical race theory.

Originating in the 1970s, the theory is an academic examination of social, cultural and legal issues regarding race and racism in the United States. The framework's basic tenet is that racism is more than individual prejudices and biases; it is embedded within economic and political systems and institutions, perpetuating racial inequities in health care, education and criminal justice.

Illinois' largest teachers unions -- the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers -- support using a racial and social justice framework to teach students. That requires educators, regardless of background or identity, to bring "a cultural understanding and a deep self-awareness to their work," the IEA says.

Though currently not part of Illinois' public school curriculum at any grade level, the concept of critical race theory is greatly misunderstood and misrepresented, suburban teachers say.

Some educators say teaching about race isn't theoretical and requires nuance, giving students the historical and contemporary contexts to help them think critically about the issue.

"What critical race theory actually is and how we use it colloquially are not really the same," said Paul Friedrich, who teaches Advanced Placement U.S. history and current issues at Vernon Hills High School.

Paul Friedrich

Friedrich said critics reject the idea of teaching about systemic racist elements in American society because it is seen as an indictment against the white majority.

"It's hard for me to think of something that proves white privilege more than white people making it illegal to teach content that makes them uncomfortable," Friedrich argued. "The very thing that they're criticizing ... very often is proven by the constrictive actions they're taking over the issue of how we teach race."

The 2020 police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd became a catalyst for a national racial reckoning that led to a summer of unrest.

In the fall of 2020, President Donald Trump's administration penned a memo describing critical race theory, or CRT, as "divisive, un-American propaganda." Trump also issued an executive order against federally funded training that promotes racial or sexual stereotyping or "scapegoating."

Conservative groups have linked CRT to Black Lives Matter protests and the LGBTQ movement. It's prompted several Republican-controlled states to adopt laws restricting classroom instruction on race and racism in response to a push for more culturally responsive teaching.

Fourteen states have imposed such bans and restrictions. Since January 2021, 35 states have introduced bills or taken steps to restrict teaching CRT or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism, an Education Week analysis shows.

Illinois is not among them.

National and state teachers associations have criticized such laws as overreach and a slippery slope toward censorship.

Many suburban school districts have broached the subject of racial and social justice as part of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training for employees and students to make schools more accommodating.

In Naperville Unit District 203, administrators took heat for a daylong workshop held last February for more than 1,900 district teachers and instructional support personnel. It featured keynote speaker Dena Simmons, a Black educator and former Yale University professor, 12 other presenters and groups of minority students sharing their experiences and personal struggles in school.

A few community members questioned the training after reading an article in the conservative online magazine The Federalist, which noted that Simmons told attendees "our education is based on a foundation of whiteness" and that Americans are "spiritually murdering" students.

Simmons later clarified some of her comments were misconstrued as white bashing and emphasized her talk focused on racial healing, self-care strategies for educators and equity-responsive practices.

But a group of parents was incensed.

John Blakey of Naperville, a member of the parent group Awake Illinois, questioned why teachers and students need implicit bias and anti-racist training, which are part of District 203's equity plan.

"I still don't think there is a lot of substantiation or rationale being given as to what it means in the first place and secondly, why it's necessary," Blakey said. "To solve a problem, you have to define it. It cannot be vague. It cannot be generalistic."

The group has 30 chapters statewide with roughly 20,000 social media followers. Its members have been vocal at local school board meetings speaking against bringing in diversity trainers who talk about sensitive topics such as "white supremacy" and "white privilege," which they believe are CRT tenets embedded in culturally responsive teaching.

"I don't care what you call it. It is divisive education based on race," said Blakey, an adoptive and foster parent of children of different races and ethnicities.

Teaching about race is such "a lightning-rod issue" some teachers probably are hesitant to address it head on, said David Bell, social studies coordinator for Round Lake Area Unit District 116.

Bell said students need a safe space to explore the facts, sources and questions about racism, which is an indisputable part of American history.

"Our job is to help kids make good choices, and part of that is inquiry," Bell said. "Systemic racism ... comes up throughout history; it should be talked about throughout history."

Some school districts and advocates are attempting to reframe the racial conversation by distancing it from the academic critical race theory framework.

Karen Thomas -

Karen Thomas, DEI director for the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights and surrounding areas, said CRT has been used to hijack the conversation about race in schools when the focus should be on adopting curricula that provide a more accurate portrayal of history and incorporate multiple perspectives.

"(Critical race theory) has no place in elementary school, in high school," Thomas said. "(It) has dominated the conversation ... to pit people against each other and not to get to the real issue, which is that our educational system is not equitable."

Critics of CRT fail to recognize larger inequities within the education system for minority students, said Denise Barreto, a former Lake in the Hills village trustee and Cook County's director of equity and inclusion.

Denise Barreto

"It's a boogeyman and it's a complete distraction from what we should be discussing," Barreto said. "We can spend all this time talking about critical race theory, rather than talking about new ways to fund public education ... new ways of compensation for our teachers given all the trauma that we've all experienced in last few years. Critical race theory ... takes our eye off the ball, of all the other ways our education system is failing."

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Why teaching about critical race theory has become a lightning rod in suburban schools - Daily Herald

There is no doubt that meditation can boost our mind, our mood and health. Meditation can transform the quality of our life. It can help us be peaceful and happy; less stressed, worried and agitated. Inevitably, it also improves symptoms of stress related physical conditions, and reduces pain. It controls depression, and promotes emotional well-being. It increases self-awareness. But unfortunately, most of us do not actually understand what meditation really is.

Many people, for instance, seem more preoccupied with their posture while meditating. Their focus is on sitting on the floor, cross-legged, spine erect. Others spend hours searching the net or shopping for the perfect meditation mat, or candles. And there are some who are preoccupied with the music that they want to play to accompany their practice. However, if we do all this, but our mind continues to wander, it is not meditation. To reap benefits from meditation, we must understand what meditation is.

Meditation is all about making the mind still. The mind is a monkey that jumps from thought to thought. It swings like a monkey does, leaping from branch to branch. Sometimes, the mind jumps into the memories of the past, sometimes to the worries of tomorrow. The mind can produce a thought practically every second. This can become a whopping 50,000 thoughts per day. It is the mind that causes us to be depressed.

It causes us to be anxious and stressed, which can ultimately lead to depression, which in turn, can lead to suicidal thoughts or worse, the act of suicide itself. Unfortunately, ending our life, does not end our problems or misery. We will have to return to this world. We will be reborn to settle our unsettled deeds, our unredeemed Karma. Not only that, we will also have to pay for the act of suicide. Therefore, suicide is not a solution to problems or an escape from misery.

What we need to do is to eliminate stress and worry from our lives. How can we do that? By spending time in silence. Thats where meditation can help us. We have to tame the monkey mind. As long as the mind continues to jump from thought to thought, from one worry to another, we cannot meditate. We need to cut the tail of the monkey mind. When we cut its tail, and tame the monkey, the monkey mind becomes a monk. The mind is disciplined. Then, we are in the pink of health, we are in a happy mood, we are relaxed, joyful because the monkey that had been troubling us all this while, has been tamed.

So, how do we cut the tail of the monkey mind? If we look at the word 'monkey' carefully, it has EY at the end. What is this EY? The EY is the tail that is Ever-Yelling and Ever-Yearning. The mind chatters constantly. Meditation is being able to quieten this incessant chattering, and calming that monkey, our mind. The way to calm the mind is through silence. We must make the mind still. It really doesn't matter what position we sit in, where we are whether we are in a cave or our bedroom, or how we are sitting. What matters is: Can the mind be still? Can it be quiet?

Those who are experts in meditation, talk about that state of thoughtlessness which the Buddhists call mindfulness. This state of consciousness is when we are able to watch the mind, we are able to observe it as it jumps from thought to thought.

As we become conscious of our mind and we watch it as it goes here and there, the monkey mind begins to settle down, it quietens. However, the mind will not stop its monkey business, until we discipline it, silence it and eventually, make it into a monk. Yes, if we can reach that state of consciousness, then we can take charge of our life, our mind, our health, our mood. Remember, we must first understand what meditation is. What it is meant to do. What it implies. Once we do, we can be meditating all the time and we can become masters of our mind and our life.

(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)

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Guiding Light: How meditation can boost your mind, mood and health - Free Press Journal

Early last fall, Maya Benziger 22 and her fellow Merimanders were talking about plans to return to the stage after a long pandemic absence. What started as a simple discussion about songs and setlists became an existential moment.

We asked, Okay, well, what is our setlist? And then, How did we used to do this? What were our traditions?

Like college a cappella groups around the country, the Merimanders hadnt performed publicly since March 2020. Since then, two classes had graduated, stripping the ensemble of its institutional memory.

I realized that I was one of the few people in the group who actually knew and I realized I didnt want that to end with me, said Benziger.

At that moment, recalls Benziger, it wasnt going to suffice for me to just be another singer in the choir. It was important to step up and become one of the leaders.

Like many of her classmates, Benziger now co-president of the Merimanders has experienced key moments in her Bates experience, where her growing knowledge and self-awareness put her on a springboard, from which she jumped into action and leadership.

Taking on a leadership role was not something she would have predicted at the beginning of her college career. I dont think timid is the right word, said Benziger, but I think I was somebody who was sort of hesitant to go the full nine yards.

What if I fail? she would ask herself. What if its too much work? What if I cant do it?

She came face-to-face with that hesitation when she started working at a Lewiston nonprofit, the Center for Wisdoms Women. Benziger had reached out to Marty Deschaines 75 of the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, looking for student employment.

Deschaines, the Harward centers assistant director of community volunteerism and student leadership development, suggested Wisdoms Women, and the next day, Benziger walked over to the center and was overwhelmed.

There were just a lot of people, said Benziger. You walk in and theres 20, 30 women, and everyones having conversations. Back before the pandemic, thered be people in the kitchen cooking, other people would be doing an art class, or chatting over coffee.

The hubbub of the center intimidated Benziger at first but she decided to keep showing up. It just became like almost a home away from home. Theres always people talking, theres always things happening.

The things that I did, the people that I talked to, the stuff that I helped out with, it mattered to that person in the moment.

Soon, she was engaging with women at the center and finding her stride, committing wholeheartedly to the undertaking. She recalls spending a week helping a woman create a resume and practice for job interviews. The woman spoke a little English, and Portuguese, which was close-ish to Benzigers experience with Spanish.

I do a lot of things at Bates and theyre very important in a big-picture, theoretical sense, says Benziger, a triple major in music, history, and politics.

But going to the center was getting to be important to somebodys life in maybe a very micro sense, but also a very real sense, because the things that I did, the people that I talked to, the stuff that I helped out with, it mattered to that person in that moment.

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Video: Maya Benziger '22, from hesitation to the 'full nine yards' - Bates News

Who doesnt love a goodTheMuppets movie? Cranky people, thats who. For this list, were going to count downThe Muppets movies (theatrical releases only, folks) from worst to best, with even the worst one having the bonus of involving Muppets, so it cant be all that bad.

RELATED: The Muppet Show: All 5 Seasons of Classic Sitcom Coming to Disney+

Look, theres a reason that there was a twelve-year gap in Muppet movies after From Space, and I dont think it was because of Miss Piggys contract negotiations. While it does have the advantage of answering the age-old question What the heck is Gonzo? its also the only non-musical Muppet movie and has the disadvantage of starring Jeffrey Tambor and Rob Schneider. Those two men were not meant to star in a Muppet movie, and I think I can leave it at that.

Putting The Great Muppet Caper at second to last on this list guts me just a little. First, because it was the only Muppet movie directed by Jim Henson, and secondly because it starred the wonderful Diana Rigg, playing off of Miss Piggy. A Muppet heist movie should have been a smashing success, but the films premise of Kermit and Fozzie as reporters and the overly focused spotlight on Miss Piggy bog it down. The cast is wonderful and the actual heist itself is fun, and Hensons attention to technical details in some of the scenes is marvelous, but the plot could have been structured better.

The sequel to 2011s The Muppets, Most Wanted deals with the gang getting back on their feet after a hiatus, meeting Tina Fey, and having Kermit kidnapped by an odd Russian imposter-frog. While its not a bad movie, and Fey and Ricky Gervais are excellent choices to star alongside the Muppets, it lacks that real Muppet spark that was so evident in its predecessor. Again, bogged down by an overly complicated plot and a very bizarre Kermit imposter, this film, like Caper, could have been so much more.

Ill admit, Im biased. I love the original book of Treasure Island. I also love Tim Curry, and the Muppets, and so Im willing to overlook minor gaffs and other issues, because its freaking Tim Curry and the Muppets! As pirates! And legitimate sailors. But no one in the history of ever has read or watched Treasure Island because they were interested in legitimate sailors. In addition to the excellent cast, Treasure Island has wormed its way up the list for several insanely catchy musical numbers including Cabin Fever and A Professional Pirate. While its not the most faithful adaptation of the classic, the story works well with the added Muppety charm.

The last Muppet movie before the death of Jim Henson, and often seen as the concluding entry in the trilogy, Take Manhattan is a true gem. Basically remixing the plot of the original movie and substituting Broadway for Hollywood, Kermit gets the band back together and sets their sights on the stage. Rizzo the Rat takes a lead role, and the Muppet Babies are seen for the first time, while Miss Piggy shows off the technical marvel of being a rollerskating puppet. NYC is a great backdrop for the Muppets shenanigans and fun, which keeps it from feeling stale.

Also known as The Great Muppet Comeback (Okay, no its not, I made that up) 2011s The Muppets is what brought the fuzzy crew back into the spotlight after over a decade of home video releases and moderately successful TV shows. Following in the footsteps of previous movies, Kermit sets out to reunite the Muppets with some help from new friends, while also dealing with a conniving businessman. The tongue in cheek humor and self-awareness are all perfect, and the soundtrack being stuffed full of catchy musical numbers and classic songs like We Built This City only makes it better.

If youd told me that Jason Segel, from How I Met Your Mother, was going to make a Muppets movie, Id have probably searched for the nearest table to hide under. This movie being not only good, but good enough to restart the Muppets franchise was an unexpected but utterly delightful surprise.

Often called the most faithful adaptation of A Christmas Carol, the Muppets and Michael Caine work oddly well together. Caine as Scrooge is perfect casting, and his stick straight delivery and demeanor through the whole thing only enhances the fun and joy that both the Muppets and his co-stars are having as kind, Christmas-loving folks.

The songs are catchy and the duo of Rizzo and Gonzo as narrators and Charles Dickens stand-ins works perfectly. While Kermit is out of focus more than usual in this film, the Muppet ghosts work hard to fill his shoes. Its festive, an excellent adaptation and shows the range of both the Muppets and the filmmakers behind it all. As the first Muppet film made after Jim Hensons death, its hard to imagine hed be anything other than extremely proud of his team and creations.

You cant beat a classic! Well, maybe you can, but not on this list. Snagging the number one spot is the original The Muppet Movie. This musical, technical extravaganza is pure fun from start to finish, featuring appearances by literally every single Muppet in the repertoire. While the framing device of the Muppets watching The Muppet Movie is great, the plot centering around Kermits dream of moving to Hollywood to become famous and bring joy to people is a touching parallel to Jim Henson himself, bringing the heart of the film as well as the laughs. Lest we forget, every song in this film is amazing, in particular The Rainbow Connection.

Every Muppet gets a chance to shine, and the celebrity cameos are all witty and brilliant, though that guy with the ventriloquist doll creeps me out. More than anything, The Muppet Movies theme of chasing your dreams and living life with your friends, despite the obstacles that come your way, is one that will always resonate with people and what truly makes this a timeless classic.

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From Treasure Islands to Alien Encounters: Ranking The Muppet Movies - ComingSoon.net

What looked like a funny-in-a-bad-way, watered-down version of Keeping Up with the Kardashians turned out to be a sad-in-an-awfully-depressing-way show about the culture and industries that have been built by the Internet.

Influencers are a sort of morbid fascination for me, particularly the way in which they revel in almost-celebrity lifestyles without quite ever reaching the pantheon of A-Listers. They dance, they sing, they act, and theyre almost always incredibly mediocre at it. So, when I saw that Netflixs show Hype House a show about, well, Hype House came out, I was curious; what is it about these people that enamors hordes of teenagers to watch every ten-second video that they produce? What started out as a guilty indulgence very quickly became a bleak insight into the influencer industry, and the pitfalls of modern self-commodification.

In a piece for The Atlantic, writer Rachel Monroe writes that Charli DAmelios success is in large part due to her relatability and attainability, managing to telegraph an ordinary kind of specialness, an attribute which can be applied to DAmelios fellow Hype House members. These people are all conventionally attractive (and for the most part, White), though never overwhelmingly so. Theyre not supermodels, theyre the popular kids from high school, which is what these people reminded me of as I watched the show: suburbanites with too much energy who love doing s to impress their friends and girlfriends. (Coincidentally, Jack Wright, one-half of a TikTok duo made up of him and his twin brother, and a member of the Hype House, began attending the same high school as me during my senior year.)

Take Alex Warren for example, a member of Hype House who got his start on YouTube, making controversially David Dobrik-esque vlogs, but was shot into the spotlight upon joining Hype House on TikTok. His old vlogs, or at least the ones still up on his YouTube page, consist of him and his two buddies Patrick and Calvin making d jokes and screaming at the camera for four minutes straight. Watching these videos is like being dropped in a middle-of-nowhere suburb; it reminds you of high school, of that one group of boys that were too loud and too annoying, but just charismatic enough to get away with it. Theyre relatable, but most importantly, the image theyre selling is attainable. Any teen with an iPhone and an internet connection could be these guys, and thats probably why they blew up. And so emerges what my girlfriend has dubbed The Plight of the Influencer: what do you do when the most special thing about you the only reason youre famous is that youre not special?

Well, if youre Warren, you exploit the dreams and aspirations of your significant other in a futile attempt to combat dwindling viewership. In the show, he makes a point of how his videos have been receiving less and less engagement from audiences, something that worries him quite a lot especially because he spends up to seven times my yearly rent on his videos in any given month. The formula of his videos hasnt changed, its still just a group of bros being dudes in front of Warrens camera except now they live in a big mansion and drive around in G-Wagons. The relatability and the attainability of his videos have been lost, most likely a contributing factor to his loss in viewership. This pushes Warren to stage a fake wedding with his girlfriend and fellow Hype House member Kouvr Annon. Its painful to watch as Kouvr confesses to the camera and to her friends that getting married is something shes wanted for a while, and something shes talked to Warren about, only for the latter to turn around and exploit their relationship in the name of content creation. And while Warren is certainly not free of any criticism when it comes to the ethics of this content creation, his ludicrous spending and the extremes to which his job pushes his personal life should be seen as a symptom of the system. YouTube and TikTok pay their creators based on engagement; a sort of sliding scale rather than a fixed regular salary, the nature of which makes it difficult for any of these kids to feel comfortable taking a break, and which often pushes content creators to things like, say, swinging their friends around from an excavator.

In episode six of the show, Thomas Petrou, a founding member of Hype House, pays for a retreat to Joshua Tree which he hopes will jumpstart content creation among the stagnating members of the collective. This is a hot-button topic for Petrou, who throughout the show is asking members of the collective to post more content, only to be ignored. Its hard not to feel bad for the guy though not because his teenage employees are being teenagers. Its mostly because Petrou has convinced himself that he and his gang of industry disruptors have gamed the system, that social media works for them, and that thats whats made them so successful. Hes proselytized himself into the cult of The Hustler Mentality. But as the show continues, it becomes painfully obvious that this is not the case. Petrous constant breakdowns and consistent anxieties about losing everything hes worked for betray the idea that hes in control. Just as Warrens exploitation of his relationship is a red flag about the influencer machine, so is Petrous inability to step away from work. These kids are not hustling. Theyre burnt out and driving themselves into the ground. This isnt to say that posting a couple of ten-second videos a day is hard work, but rather that the economic model that this form of entertainment operates on is unsustainable. These pseudocelebrities and their careers are not built for longevity; they exist on platforms that encourage users to move on to the next interesting thing as soon as the current trend becomes boring. The influencer industry creates pressures that are detrimental to those who exist in it, and it should concern us that more and more people are aspiring to it.

In his piece for Harpers Magazine, writer and university professor Barrett Swanson catches TikTok star Baronscho during a refreshing moment of self-awareness: The scary thing is you never know how long this is going to last, and I think thats what eats a lot of us at night. Its like, whats next? How long can we entertain everyone for? How long before no one cares? The quote speaks to the hyper-consumerist nature of the internet, and the ways in which it has exacerbated the pre-existing anxieties and worries surrounding child stars within the traditional entertainment industry. The Hype House is a show about our generations child stars, one that set out to give us an inside look into the decadence and possibilities that this new industry brings; instead asserting that this show, and the industry it provides insight into should not exist. Its a bleak image, one of teenagers and twenty-somethings playing at being celebrities, the ever-tightening grip of the algorithm wrapped around their necks.

Image courtesy of Netflix.

Read more from the original source:
I Wish the Hype House Show Wasn't Real - The UCSD Guardian Online