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June Musing from Rebecca Crichton: Coming to Our Senses

There are two maxims if you want to be a writer: Show, Don’t Tell and Use All The Senses. I admit I don’t always follow those rules. I’m drawn to intellectual ideas that lead me to both emotional and psychological understanding. To enliven my writing, I try to include stories and body-based senses.

A recent episode of Hidden Brain addressed the concept of Emotional Regulation with suggestions about how to manage emotions by using the five senses for grounding and regaining equilibrium.

When people have panic attacks, reminding them to focus on what they see, hear, smell, and touch can start the calming process. Returning to our bodies allows us to counter the worst-case scenarios spinning in our heads when something upsets us. Not assuming anything about you, but there seem to be many more things that distress me these days than I remember from the past.

I recently had a week with some difficult events on the physical plane. A large jar of olives fell on my toe – the jar and toe unbroken, but the toe was badly bruised. Two days later, a small medical procedure resulted in a large white bandage on my right ear. (I answered to the name Vincent for a week.)

So, yes, I have been forced into body-based awareness. This keeps me more grounded than my own heady style usually does. This forced attention to my body compels me to make sense of how and why I do things. We are whole, unified beings, our bodies and our minds all part of the same integrated system.

This month’s What I Learned essay is by Kristin Jackson, a writer and former Seattle Times travel editor. Her introduction reminds us of our many identities over time and the way we see things differently. Kristin also shared a memory from her travels in an evocative essay that we featured in 2021.

 
We conclude this season’s Town Hall collaboration on June 16 with my conversation with Sue Bardsley, director of my choir, the North Seattle Treble Makers. The choir will share some of our repertoire, and the audience will be invited to add their voices.
 

The June events and activities include offerings that will stimulate all your senses.

Wishing you a month of sweet sensory experiences!
Rebecca

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NWCCA’s Collaboration with Town Hall

Monday, June 16, 7:30 PM
The Mehdi Reading Room, Town Hall Seattle
1119 8th Avenue, Seattle

Treble with a Cause!

Susan Bardsley nurtures beautiful harmonies from ‘women of a certain age.’ A new grandmother at 70, Bardsley brings knowledge, humor, and enthusiasm to the choirs she leads. The lively conversation with Rebecca Crichton will explore why singing at any age does more for our wellbeing than just making beautiful music.

Members of the North Seattle Treble Makers will share some of their repertoire and lead the Town Hall audience in singing together.

Harmony will be your takeaway from this tuneful event!

 

Special Intergenerational Event with Rebecca and Erika Crichton
Here’s to the Future

An Intergenerational Conversation about Aging and End-of-Life
Saturday, July 12, 6:30 – 8 PM, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Mother and daughter team Rebecca and Erika Crichton both bring extensive experience in the fields of aging, caregiving, and end-of-life planning. They will discuss how adult children and older parents can learn more about one another by openly discussing the joys and challenges of aging well in our modern world.