For more than two and a half years, I have not gone anywhere overnight except the University of California San Francisco's Bakar Cancer Hospital. Nothing about this time — surgery, chemo, radiation, recovery, more surgery, more recovery, and the enduring exhaustion — resembled a vacation.
As you can appreciate, I was excited, nearly giddy, to board a plane for Europe last month. I was nervous about the latest surge of the pandemic as well. Not only did I get the vaccine booster, but, upon my doctor’s recommendation, I also received monoclonal antibodies before I left. I stocked up on N-95 masks and made sure to bring a couple of the N-99 models as well for the potentially more dangerous situations like boarding and leaving the plane and riding the train.
It was so good to be away from home, far from the intense worry and stress of the past years, and to remember what it was like to take it easy. I took a few days to begin to unwind, but I eventually relaxed and shifted into holiday mode.
My trip started with a sojourn in Paris, followed by a visit with one of my best buddies in Berlin. I got to spend time with friends and colleagues, take lots of long wandering walks, visit old haunts, and discover new places. The weather was warm and sunny nearly every day, which meant that I could meet folks outdoors for meals in restaurants and drinks at cafes.
After two wonderful weeks off, I taught a five-day postgraduate program in Munich. (It turns out that doing a week of work after two holiday weeks was just the right ratio.) Thanks to the easy-going and engaged group of colleagues from Austria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Switzerland, the seminar — my first in-person advanced course since November 2018 — went incredibly well. The balmy weather meant we could keep the windows of the large studio where we met open the whole time, making it easy to practice social distancing during the Awareness Through Movement lessons. We erred on the side of caution, wearing masks when practicing Functional Integration.
Thank goodness we were careful because it turned out that one of the participants got the coronavirus during the course, but no one else got sick. I was incredibly relieved since I wouldn’t have been able to return home if I had received a positive test result before traveling back. Thankfully, I have also continued to test negative after returning as well.
Though the pandemic is not over, and there’s still considerable uncertainty about what’s yet to come, I am relieved to learn, firsthand, that taking reasonable precautions does pay off.
The image for today’s blog is of a bottle cap that is part of an ever-changing installation in my neighbor Jane’s front yard. Willy Nelson’s classic rendition of “On the Road Again” from 1990 inspired this post. If you’d like to give it a listen, please click here.
Your thoughts?
Please let us know your perspective! Add your comments, reactions, suggestions, ideas, etc., by first logging in to your Mind in Motion account and then clicking here.
Commenting on blog posts is available to anyone with a Mind in Motion Online account.
- Join in by getting your free account, which gives you access to the e-book edition of Articulating Changes (Larry’s now-classic Master’s thesis), ATM® lessons, and more — all at no charge whatsoever.
- To find out more and sign up, please click here.
- Want to share this blog post with a friend? You can email them the web address shown in your browser. Or share the post via social media by clicking on one of the following icons:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
[This license gives you permission to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially. You may also remix, transform, and build upon the material. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.]
Responses:
Rashid Iqbal -May 24, 2022
Larry, I wish you very well. I stumbled upon your site about a week back when searching for the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais. Your article about aY60 came up. I tried it a few days back and kept it as another tool in tool box. Thank you.
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Thanks, Suzie. I'm so glad I got on the road again!
Larry Goldfarb -May 25, 2022
Thanks, Rashid! I am glad you got to know <a href="https://mindinmotion-online.com/an-unmistakable-and-powerful-experience-of-lengthening/">AY 60</a> - it's one of Moshe's brilliant creations, isn't it?
marina -May 24, 2022
So glad to hear that you had a wonderful and SAFE trip!! Very encouraging as we will be traveling to London and Berlin next week.
istvan-heimer -May 24, 2022
Great to hear all the good news from you Larry!
Beth Dobsevage -May 24, 2022
You are one cool cat! A phenom! J’aime beaucoup la photo d’Eiffel Tower and you!? Congratulations on a wonderful-filled trip!?
Larry Goldfarb -May 25, 2022
Thank you for your encouragement, Madeleine! I'd love to see you in Oz someday soon.
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Glad you appreciated the Willie Nelson angle, Lindy!
sulu -May 24, 2022
What a gift, Larry! ? So glad you stepped out and made the trip!
Larry Goldfarb -May 23, 2022
Thank you so much, Theresa. Celebrating life and sharing the joy of moment is what keeps me going.
Larry Goldfarb -May 29, 2022
Thank you, Marina. Hope your trip goes well!
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Thank you, Theresa! Celebrating life and enjoying the possibilities of the moment keeps me going.
mary-newell -May 24, 2022
I feel gratitude that I'm mature enough to be able to be fully joyous about your travel experience, without (much) envy. May the new and renewed impressions continue to nourish. Mary Newell
Tory JK Jones -May 24, 2022
Glad to hear you tripped out of the country , soaked in friends , nature and special spots AND taught beautifully; all in a balanced fashion and got back home safely , with health in tact… absolutely lovely news ! You deserved this long time coming journey ❣️?
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Good to hear from you, too, Petra. Thanks for your good wishes. Thanks for letting me know you're enjoying the Mastering the Method recording. Love, Larry
Lindy Ost -May 24, 2022
Willie Nelson deepens what it means for you...to be "on the road again"! Thank you and glad it was just the right thing for you Larry! Inspiration!
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Thank you, Tory. It was a wonderful trip, indeed. I'm already looking forward to the next journey!
Tom Edgar -May 24, 2022
Glad you are back on the road again! Keep going! Love Madeleine Edgar!
Sibyl Kneihs-Urbancic -May 24, 2022
So releived, dear Larry, and happy that everything went well, and you could enjoy the trip as well as the teaching. Stay cautious, stay well. With love, Sibyl
Larry Goldfarb -May 23, 2022
Merci beaucoup, Beth!
ncknowles@gmail.com -May 24, 2022
Great News! I’m happy for you
Larry Goldfarb -June 16, 2022
Hello Jappe - Thank you! I look forward to seeing you in the Netherlands soon. (In case you haven't heard, we are planning to start the <a href="https://mindinmotion-online.com/ams-6/">Amsterdam 6 training</a> next year.)
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Good to hear from you, dear Sibyl. I promise to stay cautious and I'll do my best to keep the virus at bay. Big love, Larry
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
To be happy for me without envy is certainly a sign of body and mature behavior. ;-) Thanks, Mary!
katie-hynes-petty -May 24, 2022
Ooh, this gives me hope and inspiration for the potential for traveling, wandering and hanging out in undiscovered places. Thanks for letting us see you.
jaap-cost-budde -May 24, 2022
That is really happy news for every FK lover and of cours for you in the first place. I hope the good news will remain and help you to fulfill your amazing life. Hope to meet you once again en The Netherlands. so keep on living and enjoying life. Dear greetings, Jaap Cost Budde
Larry Goldfarb -May 23, 2022
Thank you for saying so, Katie! What could be better than inspiring hope, kindly potential, and discovering new places?
Theresa Sawicka -May 24, 2022
Very uplifting, Larry - a celebration of wellness and possibilities for just living and enjoying every moment. Thank you - theresa (NZ)
Petra Wolf -May 23, 2022
So good to hear from you! Just listened to one of the recordings from Mastering the Method - so enjoying your vivid teaching!! Sending my best wishes to you, Love, Petra
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Thanks, Istvan. It is great to have good news to share.
Larry Goldfarb -May 24, 2022
Thank you, Nancy! I look forward to seeing you here, there, or somewhere.
Please Log in to comment
