LYHLing and Clowning - Same?

I REALLY LIKE DOING THINGS RIGHT.

Author

Elle Bottrell
November 29, 2024

Beloveds,

I love the pursuit of healthy living and I think healthy living is something that everybody wants, even when their actions imply otherwise. This is another way to say: everyone is doing their best.

We struggle to make healthy choices. We feel isolated in our ability to make those choices, often feeling like we don’t have enough information or fortitude and feeling like those around us don’t know how to do it either.

We are victims to people trying to make money from our confusion and desperation to live well. People in corporations market to our fears to pad their bank accounts and retirement plans.

We are taught to pursue physical beauty over true health and vitality. We are promised shortcuts rather than knowledge and wisdom to navigate the complexity and nuance of healthy living.

We are taught to act a certain ways versus being ourselves. We are taught to hide our emotions & thoughts, and to not use our voice.

You see this in the maddening and deafening silence all around - people afraid to speak up against injustice, people afraid to break the mold that’s been given them. It is stifling, suffocating, and often leads to despair.

People are afraid to move their bodies, to feel their bodies - all the discomfort, joy, excitement, and pain.

People are afraid to dance, take up space, use their face to express emotions and thoughts. 

We move stiffly. We wear masks and disguises. We act small.

All this is true and yet it doesn’t have to be this way.

Do you agree?

I’m currently in clown school! I am 3/4 of the way through the curriculum and I still don’t really understand what clown school is and what clowning is.

Things I don’t know:

  • How to do it right.

  • How to fully give myself to something.

  • If I have a clown in me.

  • How to always access and express my emotions.

  • What it means to clown.

  • What people think of me when I say I’m doing clown school.

  • How to connect with people all the time.

  • How to brush off failure.

  • How to risk BIG.

  • Famous clowns.

  • When I’ll get my red nose.

  • If I’ll get a red nose.

  • How to be a clown without a red nose and face paint.

Here is a few things that I do know :

  • Clowning is a verb, apparently an actual word, but don’t ask me to define it!

  • I'm vocalizing more, people are noticing, and it isn't always a pleasant change for everyone.

  • I am more able to access, identify, and express my emotions.

  • I'm practicing being silly in front of people.

  • It's making me want to do an open mic.

  • It is changing things in me that I can feel energetically, but can't yet describe.

  • I REALLY LIKE DOING THINGS RIGHT.

  • Clowning is more than we think it is.

  • Emotions pass through you.

  • Practicing failing is good.

  • Eye contact & presence in critical.

Based on the stirring in me from these classes, I know there's lots more.

To be continued…

Questions for Contemplation:

  • What are the ways you practice using your voice?

  • In what ways are you risking failure?

  • What would it take for you to do clown school?

  • How are you treated by yourself and others when you fail?

May you always see the blessing, beloveds.

-esb

Community Corner:

In response to last week’s “Grumpy Mood” post, J.P. shared:

“One thing that frustrates me or tends to cause frustration is if I am not seeing movement or progress. That is hard. Patience is hard. The only reset that really seems to work is any form of meditation. Just quiet, presence, deep breaths, in and out.”

Thanks for sharing with the LYHL community as we together working towards living our healthiest lives! :-)

P.S. - Thanks for being here. I’d love to hear how you’re doing!

P.P.S. - All the art in these newsletters is mine, unless otherwise specified.

P.P.P.S. - I’m a photographer and I sell fine art prints. If you peek here, you’ll see a small portion of my catalogue.