“The French say that to part is to die a little. To be forgotten too is to die a little. It is to lose some of the links that anchor us to the rest of humanity. When I met Burmese migrant workers and refugees during my recent visit to Thailand, many cried out: “Don’t forget us!” They meant: ‘Don’t forget our plight. Don’t forget to do what you can to help us. Don’t forget we also belong to your world.’
When the Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to me they were recognizing that the oppressed and the isolated in Burma were also a part of the world. They were recognizing the oneness of humanity. So for me receiving the Nobel Peace Prize means personally extending my concerns for democracy and human rights beyond national borders. The Nobel Peace Prize opened up a door in my heart.”
– Aung San Suu Kyi. See highlights of her Nobel acceptance speech.
Since we recently had a retreat about “the pain of being forgotten… the power of being remembered” (link), it seemed even more timely to hear the words of Aung San Suu Kyi as she recently gave her Nobel Peace Prize speech in person, 21 years on delay. If we aspire to not forget, but instead to remember, to hold in mind, to keep in our heart, to bear witness, to stand with, to stand up for those who suffer greatly — how do we maintain our own inner state so that we are able to stay alive to the pain of others? How do we hear of tragedy after tragedy and not lose heart, nor give in to the inevitable temptation to look away, to turn away, to turn our back on those so desperately in need of help?
We cannot afford to underestimate the toll it takes on us to pay attention and seek to remain responsive. We are all at risk for being vicariously traumatized. Chronic and traumatic stress decrease empathy. The very act of seeking to be caring, over time, puts us at risk for winding up less caring. With all that is going on in this world, we cannot afford to ignore this.
And, we pay a price in our bodies. Everything from unrelenting tension in our neck, back, shoulders and jaw, to sleep disturbances, anxiety, weight gain, impatience, GI distress and a host of other things can result. In the long-term, we are at heightened risk of disease such as diabetes or heart disease.
Fortunately, our bodies also hold the key to staying well.
In our summer body group, we will be making use of Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), a body-centered method that is highly effective for releasing the deep chronic tensions that can accumulate from vicarious trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress, and especially the everyday cumulative stress that comes our way merely by living on this planet.
All details are below and on our website. To create an emotionally safe, secure space, we are limiting attendance to 10 people. If there is any financial hardship, please get in touch with us. We will gladly make arrangements to suit your situation.
Barbara & Anshul
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
– Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
. . .
LIVING UBUNTU SUMMER BODY GROUP
“I can’t keep pushing it away anymore”
Using TRE to heal the trauma of everyday living
“My normal way of coping just doesn’t work anymore.”
“There is never enough time. I can’t keep up with life.”
“How can I stop worrying all the time?”
“Why can’t I get a good night’s sleep?”
“I’m tired of trying the same thing again and again. Where is the joy?”
Living Ubuntu Summer Body Group
July – September 2012
6 sessions on Sunday afternoons (2:00p-4:30p)
Orange County, CA
Starts Sunday, July 8th
see all dates »
This Living Ubuntu Summer Body Group series will be experiential and offered in a casual setting. It will emphasize Bioenergetic body-centered methods to help us get in touch with these experiences, learn to stay more grounded, and help bring change and healing into our wounded and stuck places.
Barbara English is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience in the field. As a Certified Bioenergetic Therapist, she works from a mind-body perspective, and utilizes relational somatic methods as part of the process toward healing and a sense of well-being. Much of her training has focused on Early Development, Infant Mental Health, and healing after abuse or trauma. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Living Ubuntu.
Find out more at: http://livingubuntu.org/events
Questions? Contact us at (949) 891-2005 or firstname.lastname@example.org
* * *
[Ubuntu] n. Every human being truly becomes a human by means of relationships with other human beings.