The poor mental health of asylum seekers in detention is no longer a guilt-trip that Australians hold at bay. Were getting a taste of it, especially the anxiety. Maybe some anger, simmering or otherwise.

You may be seeing this in family members who are struggling to adapt to a life where walking in the open air is a restricted, disciplined adventure, not dissimilar from walking the yard in jail.

Now and then you might hear somebody singing in the neighbourhood. Perhaps a number of people. And there it is: Singing makes you feel better.

Hence the breakout of couch choirs and balcony singing (see here and here) around the world.

The virtual and fragmented sing-a-longs prompted Australian Catholic University Professor of Music Tim McKenry this week to issue a press release with the following observation:

People are self-medicating with music because they can feel it making a difference. They are following a social pattern that goes back thousands of years to turn to music in times of stress.

Professor McKenry said many of the traditional forms of music such as hymns, slave songs, and military music developed in response to social isolation.

The sound of music, and the experience of making music, he said, is a powerful resource to draw upon, for modulating our mood and behaviour, and attendant stress.

Music helps us process and express emotions which is particularly important at a time when we are experiencing so much change and uncertainty, he said.

Throughout history humans have intentionally used music to influence mood and behaviour. We use songs to revel and rejoice, to worship and work, and to remember and reminisce. It is absolutely consistent that we use it now to deal with the contemporary challenges of the pandemic.

Theres plenty of research that supports this idea.

In fact, Professor McKenry cited more than two dozen research papers that highlight positive relationships between music participation, health and well-being in terms of social, emotional, cognitive and physical health, musicianship, spiritual, identity, self-improvement and life satisfaction benefits.

A study from 2013 found members of a choir become physically in-sync, not just emotionally, with a positive effect on total wellbeing.

The study found that the structures of songs, respiration and heart rates were all connected, with unison singing of known, regular song structures creating a synchronisation of heart rate variability so that they decelerate and accelerate at the same time.

Accordingly, choir singing was found to relax the vagus nerve, resulting in feelings of well-being and connectedness. This research gives further support for the role of therapeutic choirs to promote social capital and health equity in community settings.

Professor McKenry also notes that music can promote endurance: Chain gang songs or military marches tap into the power of rhythmic entrainment to keep people going long past the point of exhaustion.

On the other hand, one of Professor McKenrys sustaining favourites is this:

Prison research shows that music can positively and negatively determine the mood of a population in confinement. A 2013 Israeli study found relaxing music reduced anger and stress in a prison population, for inmates and guards.

A 2018 study found music was central to a prisons emotional geography.

In other words, in the quarters of a prison where more aggressive music is played, youre more likely to get a punch in the face; whereas the inmates partial to Cat Stevenss Morning Has Broken are likely to hug you to death.

Well duh!

If academia leaves you cold. Think of the few moments in The Shawkshank Redemption when the prisoners are freed from their spiritual austerity, and down-heartedness, by the magic of two women singing a duet from Mozart.

In 2011, Dutch psychologists found music is not only able to affect your mood, but can even change the way we perceive the world, to the point of seeing things that arent actually there.

The researchers from the University of Groningen found that, under the influence of a happy or sad tune, people sometimes see happy or sad faces. How is this possible?

In a statement from the university, lead author Dr Jacob Jolij writes: Seeing things that are not there is the result of top-down processes in the brain. Conscious perception is largely based on these top-down processes: your brain continuously compares the information that comes in through your eyes with what it expects on the basis of what you know about the world.

The final result of this comparison process is what we eventually experience as reality. Our research results suggest that the brain builds up expectations not just on the basis of experience but on your mood as well.

A 2016 study from Bournemouth University found music therapy reduces depression in children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems.

According to a statement from the university, the researchers found children and young people, aged eight to 16 years old, who received music therapy had significantly improved self-esteem and significantly reduced depression compared with those who received treatment without music therapy.

In his statement, Professor McKenry said the greatest benefits from music were gained by participation, but you dont have to be an expert musician: just connecting with the rhythm and melody helps.

When people sing, dance or play together that creates a sense of well-being and connectedness, he said.

At this time of social isolation, we can magnify the connections we are able to have whether by having family music time or by connecting with neighbours, as Italians have demonstrated so beautifully by singing from their balconies.

But we can also simulate that sense of connection to some degree and gain some of the benefits by singing, dancing or clapping along with recorded music or with friends over video-conferencing technology. It might feel strange at first but the research shows it works.

From Senior Editor Zona Black:

From reporter Cait Kelly, who describes the tune as chill as but upbeat.

Home page editor Basil Hegazi goes upbeat:

Our Sports editor Andrew Spud Tate pleads:

Social media reporter Cathryn Boyes has one for a bean bag:

Deputy Money Editor Killian Plastow loves:

Reporter and wombat advocate Sam Dick is crying out for freedom:

And The New Daily Science Editors personal pick-me-up is out of Africa:

Go here to see the original:

Is your family struggling emotionally? The sound of music is there to help - The New Daily

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has converted to black and white) Tyler ... [+] Joseph of Twenty One Pilots perform at Staples Center on November 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

This frame has turned out to be pretty quiet toward to the top of the U.K. singles ranking, as only two tunes break into the top 40 this time around. While not many hits blow past the marker that determines when a song has become a real smash, there are several new tracks on the list promoted by superstars and two cuts continue to perform well, despite having already charted for a long time.

Heres a look at five of the most important moves on this weeks U.K. singles chart.

No. 17 - Meghan Thee Stallion - Savage

Still a rapper on the rise, Megan Thee Stallion hits a new high in the U.K. this week with her current single Savage, which is taken from her recent EP Suga. The cut steps up from No. 22 to No. 17, becoming her first top 20 in the country in the process.

No. 42 - Twenty One Pilots - Level of Concern

Alternative rockers Twenty One Pilots arent sitting back and relaxing during this pandemic. Instead, theyre using these tough times as inspiration for a new single, one which helps raise much-needed funds for people in the music industry who are suffering because they cant work.

Level of Concern, the first proper hit single related to the coronavirus and its effects on society, opens at No. 42 in the U.K., narrowly missing out on becoming a top 40 win for the duo. While it might not have entered the important region on the list, it does now stand as the two musicians third-highest-ranking cut in the country.

No. 55 - Selena Gomez - Boyfriend

Following the release of the deluxe edition of her latest album Rare, Selena Gomez returns to the singles chart in the U.K. with what has clearly been selected by fans as a favorite among the newly-dropped tracks. Boyfriend opens at No. 55, giving the singer another win on the ranking. She has now appeared on the chart more than 25 times.

No. 94 - Dave - Location (ft. Burna Boy)

Rapper Dave exploded into the U.K.s mainstream last year with his debut album Psychodrama, which went to No. 1 and which spun off a number of hit singles, including Location. The track, which features Burna Boy, once climbed to No. 6 (becoming the hip-hop stars second-highest-charting release), and it has now spent 52 weeks somewhere on the tally.

No. 99 - The Killers - Mr. Brightside

Somehow, The Killers 2003 single Mr. Brightside continues to sell and stream amazingly well in the U.K., where it has slowly become one of the most successful songs of all time. The cut has now racked up an incredible 222 weeks on the chart, and it falls off and returns (as is the case this frame) time and time again for seemingly no reason. Its back at No. 99 this time around, and it will probably disappear once again next week.

Read more here:

Twenty One Pilots, Selena Gomez And The Killers: 5 Major Moves On This Weeks U.K. Singles Chart - Forbes

By Zachary Anderson | 04/21/2020

Zachary Anderson is a Top 10 writer for The Cavalier Daily.

1. Its OK to be scared

In the era of information, it is OK to be overwhelmed by all the news articles and publications related to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is a time where there are many uncertainties, and having fears of what the future holds is valid in times of global crisis. Being constantly bombarded by statistics, downcast news stories and the stress of others does not stop the fear, so dont be afraid to take the time to disconnect and do things that comfort you.

2. Keep your loved ones close

Whether it is in person or through a screen, staying connected with those who are important in your life is necessary in these trying times. So talk to your parents, FaceTime your significant other and reconnect with your grandparents and relatives. We live in an era where social media helps us maintain connections, and it is a resource that people should take full advantage of.

3. Balance relaxation with something productive

Relaxation is a great way to reduce stress, but too much relaxation doesnt really get you anywhere. Speaking from personal experience, I relaxed a little too much when the stay-at-home order started in my state, and not using that time productively left a sour taste in my mouth. This is a great opportunity to learn something new or reacquire a skill that you had in the past.

4. Music heals the soul

Listening to music can add some much needed color and flavor to the bland days spent indoors. Hearing beautiful melodies or upbeat dance tunes can completely change the mood during the difficult days of quarantine. I love to listen to music that reminds me of the summer it brings back memories and inspires hope for a better and healthier future.

5. Stop taking your hometown for granted

Take a minute to thank your hometown heroes doctors, teachers and those who keep your home alive and well. Local businesses are working around the clock to ensure the comfort, health and general safety of their neighbors. Many restaurants are keeping their kitchens open for takeout, churches are collecting food and clothes and schoolteachers are navigating new technology to make sure that life stays the same. So when the quarantine is lifted, dedicate some time to your hometown.

6. Now is the time to rekindle friendships

As mentioned in No. 2, social media platforms are an invaluable tool for us as we maintain our social distances and quarantines. Maybe the time that we spend indoors can be time spent with those who we have lost touch with. Rekindling relationships with old friends even though it can seem slightly difficult is shockingly easy to do. Conveniently, quarantine has allowed for the perfect conversation starter Hows your quarantine going?

7. Nobody has the same quarantine experience

Nobodys quarantine is equal. You may know someone who is required to live with an abusive family member or someone who is living in complete solitude. Not everyone has the comforts that others may possess in these troubled times. With that said, I would urge everyone to be cognizant of those who may be living under difficult circumstances and be aware that not everyone can easily stay at home without problems.

8. Quarantine is not a vacation

Quarantining is a serious matter there is a global pandemic occurring. What this means for us is that this is not the time to be traveling around town and going over to friends houses. We all wish that we can be hanging out with friends and family in-person during this time, but the health and safety of those who we care for should be strongly taken into account.

9. Take advantage of sunny days

Staying inside all the time can be really mentally draining, but summer is coming fast, and now is the time to start preparing for the warm embrace of the summer sun. Socially distanced walks in the neighborhood, yoga in the parking lot and relaxing in the backyard are all great ways to get outside and get some good old vitamin D.

10. This might be the new normal for a while

Staying at home and living the life of less social interaction is something that may end in two weeks or two months, and the uncertainty that we face does not guarantee anything. Fortunately, everyone shares one thing in common in these times of trouble hope. Hope that the quarantine will eventually be lifted, hope that we can return to our jobs and our normal ways of life hope that allows us to see a life returned to the way it was before.

See more here:

Top 10 lessons that quarantine has taught me - University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily

Currently people are only talking about Covid-19, which can bring about emotions of fear, anxiety, anger or desperation. What can couples do to help one another?

Anxiety and fear are emotions that can be transmitted. We are seeing people who are generally calm about the whole situation but then get anxious after calling certain family members, or partners. If your partner is anxious, ideally you call them with video instead of chat by text. Calm yourself down before calling them. Use your presence and tone of voice to help them realise that there are things one can control and things that one does not have control over.

Ask them if they are being cautious about their own safety and if they feel they are doing all that they can. If they are, theres nothing else they can do. Remind them of the statistics and the amount of people who are not infected.

There are individuals who are currently single during this time, and might be facing moments of anxiety, sexual frustration or loneliness. Some might not want to spend this period alone; what advice would you provide to such individuals?

Being alone does not necessarily mean feeling lonely. We also know individuals who are in a full house who are feeling lonely. Anyone who is feeling so should seek support. They can contact friends, colleagues or relatives through chat or calls.

Dating apps or Facebook groups can also be a good way of starting relationships during such a time. Flirting and chatting without meeting can add a level of excitement for some, whilst reducing anxiety for others. The fact that one invests in getting to know the other person without physically hanging out can ease the pressure off some. The postponing of sexual interaction due to the current situation can also be a blessing for people who suffer from performance anxiety.

As with every change that we will go through in our lives, it is important to learn to look inwards and seek the coping strategies that have helped in the past and use them to adapt to new situations. If coping strategies we used in the past are not available or helpful we need to build new strategies and skills to be able to adapt.

We also suggest that they seek professional help if they need that extra push to initiate contact with others.

Are people still using dating apps? Is it a good time to use such apps?

People are still using dating apps, and research shows that there has been an increase in the use of dating apps, likely as people are bored and are also looking for other ways to connect with people since they are unable to socialise outdoors. There is nothing wrong with using these apps to connect with people, or to find partners with whom to engage in online sex with. However since meeting people outside your house is not advised, it is ideal to not use these apps to find people with whom to meet outside during the time of the pandemic, but there is nothing wrong with planning to meet these persons after.

Some couples might feel pressure to be more sexually active during this period of time. Is it okay to not feel constantly in the mood to perform? In what other ways can couples be intimate together?

Covid-19 has brought with it stress and anxiety. It is normal to have decreased appetite for sex when you are feeling stressed. This is a new situation that everyone is adapting to at their own pace. This is however an opportunity to spend more time with your partner, and there is more time to be intimate and actively present in those intimate moments. This is the perfect time to take a nice bath together, put on some relaxing music, some candles and enjoy a relaxing at home spa night.

You can plan activities to do together in the house-hold and enjoy being present together in these moments. That in itself can be intimate. If you do decide to have sex, you can enjoy taking it easier and having more time to explore different things in your sex life.

What advice would you give to couples who are now constantly together, working from home, cooking, cleaningsome might be experiencing petty arguments due to constantly being together.

It is advised to make sure to take time for yourselves as individuals. Set aside time in the day where you can spend some time alone, reading, taking a bath, having a video-call with a friend, so as to avoid getting frustrated with each others presence because of the limited ability to be elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to give each other space, and it can make the communication in the relationship stronger when you are planning your time in this way.

How will relationships change post Covid-19?

This is a very difficult question as we have never experienced something like this before. We believe that some would have learnt the importance of being over doing. Being by themselves, with their families, and living the moment. Others might work even harder in order to make up for the perceived missed opportunities and income due to the current situation.

Some will come out of this traumatised whilst others will learn that they survived such a time and therefore feel more confident about themselves and their skills.

Our personalities and perspective of life determines how we live and perceive any situation. Hopefully, readers use this time by reflecting on their own perspective of life and their relationships and come out of this situation more aware of what their priorities are. We encourage all reading this to give meaning to these weeks/ months spent safe at home by delving deeper into themselves, and their relationships and come out stronger at more in tune with who they want to be.

Those who are not safe at home, please do seek help. Moments like these can become so intense that they make you question even more why you are in such a situation. Call for help. Get help. Change your situation.

Is it safe to have sex right now or is there a chance of spreading COVID-19?

Covid-19 is a respiratory virus that spreads through droplets, even through saliva. When having sex people are very close to each other and therefore this alone poses a risk of transmitting the virus. If you do have sex, it is recommended that you wash-up before sex and after sex. Covid-19 can live on surfaces for many hours and so its very important you take care of washing yourself before you touch your partner paying extra attention to your hands!

The safest way to have sex is sex with yourself! Masturbation will not spread Covid-19, especially if you wash your hands or any sex toys before and after with soap and water.

While it is not advised to do so because of the risks, if you want to have sex with people outside of your household, it is advisable to engage in sex with as few partners as possible. If you usually meet your sex partners online, maybe consider not meeting in-person and make use of digital platforms.

There might be some individuals who have just started a new relationship before Covid-19, and now due to physical distancing and quarantine, it will be difficult to meet as a couple right now. What advice would you give to such couples right now?

As sexual health professionals we always encourage couples to invest in physical time and contact. This makes the couple feel closer. However, we need to adapt to the situation were in and physical safety comes first. We encourage the couples in this situation to make use of technology so that they can be creative in staying in touch. Couples can spend time on online dates; send sex toys to each other, and sext.

The attachment between two people has several layers and types of connections. Although the physical one is a very important one, there are other connections that the couple can focus on in such times. Ask questions to get to know each other better. Play games online. Call each other to hear each others voice. Stay in touch through texting.

Lets not forget that there are a lot of couples who have survived long distance for many years. We can learn from them and adapt our intimacy and connection to the current situation. The most important thing is to make time for each other.

For anyone seeking support, you can message the WillingnessTeam Facebook chat with #COVID. WillingnessTeam Professionals are also offering online therapy on secure platforms, and support. They can be contacted through or 7929 1817. Willigness Team are also currently conducting an anonymous questionnaire regarding how Coronavirus has impacted relationships and sexuality.

Link:

Love in the time of Covid-19: Sex and relationships Q&A - Malta Independent Online

Published Apr 22, 2020

7

Little Flower grows out of the folk-rock style of her Mapmaker EP from 2016 but keeps and expands upon the graceful, attentive arrangements of that release. While the piano remains her primary songwriting instrument, this album finds Rockarts gravitating further toward the guitar while fleshing out these songs with a variety of different sounds to suit each mood.

The title track is a blissful, laid-back beach-folk tune about the quiet strength of an introvert. The piano ballad "Margaret" reflects on a character who won't commit to love, emanating with the wounded tenderness of Regina Spektor or maybe even Joni Mitchell. "Stay" is a peppy, electrified indie-pop tune about a breakup that you wish wouldn't have happened, even though you could see it coming almost from the beginning. "Stranger" seethes with a dark, sinister energy, its thick guitars stomping along menacingly as Rockarts excoriates the predatory nature of the reviled catcaller: "I'm scared to go out late at night / And I'm frightened of the dark / You put this fear into my mind / When nobody has the right."

The lyricism is fairly modest, with room to be more evocative and uniquely stylish. Songs like "Without You" and "Right Now" are among those that are perhaps too literal and simplistic to be very powerful, but the pleasantness of the songs may be enough to subdue that desire for more depth. "Vistas" and "Golden Hour," meanwhile, have more of that poet's touch, coupled with dazzling, moving, string-based arrangements that end the album with delicate poignancy especially as Rockarts sings the gorgeous, tearjerker closer about lifelong partners fading away from each other with the onset of Alzheimer's disease and with more beauty than ever.

Particularly for fans of other Canadian indie-rock auteurs like Feist, Andy Shauf, Dan Mangan, Bahamas and Elliot Maginot (as well as non-Canadians like Faye Webster and Weyes Blood), Emily Rockarts' Little Flower is certainly worth a listen. (Independent)

Link:
Emily Rockarts' 'Little Flower' Glows from the Inside Out - Exclaim!

CHICAGO and SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leveraging digital channels for always-on, remote access has quickly evolved from a differentiator to a minimum requirement, especially when it comes to consumer finance. To better serve the evolving credit needs of consumers, TransUnion (TRU) has entered into a strategic partnership with CuneXus, a data-driven lending and marketing automation pioneer, to enable financial institutions to extend relevant credit offers to consumers via digital delivery channels.

This partnership delivers tremendous service power in the hands of our customers while providing relevant brand experiences to consumers that are safe and timely, said Sean Flynn, senior director of credit unions at TransUnion. The CuneXus solution allows lenders to harness the power of todays most sophisticated data assets, like trended credit data, and operationalizes that data for maximum consumer impact. In addition, our combined solutions will enable lenders to deploy prescreen strategies that have been optimized based on our companies combined expertise and many years of evaluating best practices in consumer lending.

The strategic partnership combines the cutting-edge technology of the CuneXus Perpetual Loan Approval platform with TransUnions robust data assets not only to enhance the lending experience for credit unions and banks, but also empowering them to serve members and customers more efficiently and effectively through existing digital channels. This enables lenders to deliver offers that are tailored to specific consumer needs, preferences and patterns.

CuneXus and TransUnion have a shared vision of how data and automation will shape the future of lending and digital engagement, making the partnership a natural match. We are thrilled to have found a partner with a long history of customer advocacy to enhance our application-free lending solution, said Dave Buerger, president & CEO of CuneXus. If the CuneXus platform is the engine, TransUnions wealth of data and knowledge is the rocket fuel.

Over the course of the partnership CuneXus and TransUnion will work together to integrate future products and services to deliver even greater capabilities and insights to customers. For more information on implementing digital lending solutions, please visit: https://www.transunion.com/industry/credit-unions.

About TransUnion (TRU) TransUnion is a global information and insights company that makes trust possible in the modern economy. We do this by providing a comprehensive picture of each person so they can be reliably and safely represented in the marketplace. As a result, businesses and consumers can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good.

A leading presence in more than 30 countries across five continents, TransUnion provides solutions that help create economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for hundreds of millions of people.

http://www.transunion.com/business

About CuneXus CuneXus is focused on data-driven application-free lending that helps financial institutions optimize operational efficiency and customer experience. Its pioneering technologies are at the forefront of the transition to a new era of customer empowerment through on-demand lending and borrowing. With more than 130 of the nations largest credit unions and community banks as clients, CuneXus has generated tens of billions of dollars in consumer loan volume by bringing transparent borrowing experiences to over 17 million consumers in every major U.S. market. Among its numerous accolades the company has been recognized as one of just ten startups to watch on KPMGs global report of The 50 Best Fintech Innovators; named the winner of the Best Consumer Lending Company in the 2020 Fintech Breakthrough Awards; named the winner of the Callahan & Associates 2019 Innovation in Lending award, and named Top Emerging Technology Company at the 2019 LendIt Fintech Industry Awards . Visit http://www.cunexus.com for more information.

Read the rest here:
CuneXus and TransUnion Collaboration Delivers Enhanced Digital Lending Capabilities for Financial Institutions - Yahoo Finance

Richner Communications Inc., publisher of Herald Community Newspapers and The Riverdale Press, named Malverne High School senior Olivia Marco as a recipient of the 2020 Wonder Girl Award. Each year, the publication selects one female student from Nassau County for the award and Marco was chosen based on her grades, resume, leadership and dedication to womens health and empowerment.

During her time at Malverne High School, she founded and currently serves as president of the Girls Club, which celebrates female empowerment, and has a fundraising component to benefit Girls, Inc. In addition, this year Marco has started a local chapter of the Menstrual Movement and has organized drives to donate female products to local womens shelters. She is also captain of the color guard and a member of the varsity tennis team.

In addition to this honor, Marco has also received an Army ROTC Scholarship, which will cover full tuition to any university that has a program. Marco has accepted early decision to attend Vanderbilt University and intends to major in business and economics.

Courtesy Malverne School District; compiled by Nakeem Grant

See more here:
Malverne teen honored with Wonder Girl award - liherald.com

Surrender does not equate to inaction. Surrender is a deeply active and engaged process. Its thrown around as commonly as concepts like light and shadow, personal empowerment, and collective consciousness, with little context as to what it truly means. Though its become a sort of spiritual buzzword over the last few decades, it stems from roots thousands of years old in the ancient philosophy of yoga. There surrender is named Ishvara Pranidhana. Ishvara Pranidhana, what does this ancient, seemingly archaic perlocution mean? And how is it even acutely applicable, or relevant today? One might say, in this context it means surrender to God, the divine, the universe, or spirit. Lets trace it back a bit further.

Ishvara Pranidhana is one of the five Niyamas, or personal ethics, that comprise the eight limbs of yoga. These 8 limbs are often referred to as steps on the Raja Yoga path associated with Ashtanga yoga, meaning 8-limbed. This is not the yoga of core power studios and 98 degree sweat lodges, no, this is the yoga of life, a philosophy of values, ethics, and invitations into greater awareness and deeper skills of perception of ones experience and ultimately, of reality.

How does this serve us during a global crisis? With all the sources of input and information right now, our ability to perceive with clarity is of the utmost importance to our mental and spiritual well being. As we sit inside our homes, we are faced with a certain thundering uncertainty and so, we must sit with ourselves. Our hidden thoughts, emotions, ideas, positive and negative, in totality. Our instinctual inclination is to numb, distract, tune out, and engage in something that eases or soothes discomfort. There is absolutely a time and place for this. But what of the fact that we are ALL being asked to consider ourselves?

As we are needfully and necessarily shut in, many are wishing for things to return to the way things were and are actively awaiting the emergence of life as we knew it. *Cue the entrance of the title line Surrender*. The truth is, we cannot expect things to return to the way they were, and more than that, it is naive to believe so. Surrender invites us not only to accept that we can only emerge from the current global happenings as different it asks us to recognize and assimilate the fact that we have a role in how we emerge, individually and collectively. Surrender is the energy of full acceptance of what is and release of the grasp of what so many fiercely cling to.

Surrender is not inaction it is an active process of dissolution dissolution of false perceptions, untruths, programs that are no longer serving or protecting us. Surrender is allowing emotions to surface and finding spiritually mature ways to process, release, and assimilate them and the information they carry. Surrender is allowing ourselves to let go of outdated beliefs that are no longer useful and no longer offer us the protection they once did.

Allow me to offer lived example. In surfing, one of the least productive things a surfer can do when being tossed around in the ocean under a wave is to resist, to tense, to hold on. It will tire him or her out, send the nervous system into a state of panic, and can have grave repercussions. The best thing a surfer can do is surrender to the flow of the ocean, actively release and relax, and trust that they will surface, as they are attached to a board. The instinctual response for many is to tense, tighten, resist. To trust in something greater and more powerful feels utterly insane, and yet, its the quickest way back up to the surface. To trust that this collective shut-in is an opportunity to re-examine our inner lives and landscapes is the path of least resistance and most empowerment.

In short, we are not only being asked to practice letting go of what has been, but to actively and consciously disengage, so that we may re engage with the unlimited potentiality of what can be next. So we can call upon our imagination and our deep inner wisdom to pull us back up to the surface and emerge with gratitude and a kind of doe-eyed wonder about what comes next.

See original here:
What Most People Misunderstand about the Magic of Surrender - Thrive Global

Catherine Hover will tell you that, before moving to Saratoga, she had never experienced what it was like to live in small town USA. A native of New Orleans, she and her husband, Mark, came to Saratoga after living and working in New York City.

After being here for nearly 10 years, you can still hear faint wisps of that languid Big Easy drawl creeping into her conversation. We are sitting in the comfortable members only Palette Upstairs co-working space, part of her newest venture, Palette Caf, which opened last summer.

My goal was to learn more about this spritely young woman with seemingly boundless energy and her latest venture at 493 Broadway. By the way, dont let her youthful looks, bubbly manner and business title, Purveyor of Fun, blind you to the fact that she is a business powerhouse. In the relatively short time she has been here, Catherine has introduced the region to the paint and sip phenomenon, and Palette Caf is the next step in her journey of what she calls empowering women.

Catherine recalls first moving into town in 2011 with Mark, whose career as a hydrographer had brought them here to work on the Hudson River dredging project.

We had an apartment on the top floor of the Algonquin building and I remember watching the 4th of July parade on the street below. It was a totally new world to me!

The couple originally planned to live and work in Saratoga for five years and then return home. Not one to ride on her husbands coattails, as she puts it, Catherine began searching for an entrepreneurial adventure. Growing up in New Orleans, she and her mother would often frequent paint and sip cafes in and around the city, and she soon realized that there was nothing of the sort to be found in the Capital Region.

Now, I dont know one woman who doesnt drink coffee or wine, she says in that slow and easy cadence. A year after moving here, Catherine opened Saratoga Paint and Sip Studio on Henry Street, with two more locations in Burlington and Latham opening in the next few years.

It totally changed the trajectory of our lives. Today, Mark is her business partner and co-caregiver of their three young daughters.

So, we all know how successful her Paint and Sip Studios have been. But I wanted to know what makes Palette different from other coffee venues and why the focus is on women.

Its about bringing women together in a safe environment, she begins. Catherines sense is that, for many women, once we get to a certain point in our lives, we forget to try new things and often we become our own worst enemies.

The genesis of Palette Caf came about after Catherine heard of Sky Oro, a co-working community and event space in Bozeman, Montana, dedicated to advancing the personal and professional lives of women. Catherine realized that, like the paint and sip studios, there really wasnt anything like Sky Oro available to women in Saratoga.

However, Catherine is quick to point out that Palette Caf is open to everyone and kids, guys and puppies are always welcome! Even so, the focus of the space is on helping women in a variety of ways, and the vibe is one of inclusiveness and opportunities that may be lacking in other environments.

What Palette offers that no one else does is a community where patrons are encouraged to make new friends, team up for new ventures or learn something new, says their website.

Catherines vision for Palette Caf and Palette Upstairs, which opened in November, is to offer workspace to the mobile workforce, as well as programming and classes that will be offered by women (and an occasional dude) from the local community. Workshops are geared to women at all stages of their lives, from early career women, to stay at home moms, or those looking to re-invent themselves in a new career trajectory or personal lifestyle.

There are also book clubs, moms meetups, courses in financial literacy, all geared to bringing women together for dialogue, interaction and empowerment.

Women dont ask for help, says Catherine. By creating a space where support systems for women can flourish, Catherine feels she is bringing something unique and necessary to the area.

Although Palette Upstairs has only recently opened, Catherine held a live event at the Caf in July, where people could tour the space and learn more about Catherines and her teams vision for it. Forty-five women showed up for the event, with ten joining that first night. Now, there are 60 founding members, including several corporate founding members who contribute services to the caf and its patrons.

Each new member has an hour and a half onboarding session to learn about the features of Palette Caf and Palette Upstairs and the opportunities for enrichment, networking and collaboration amongst members. Palette also offers a concierge service for its members. If youre starting your own business and need someone to run for office supplies, or you forgot to buy a birthday gift for your childs teacher, Kiki, the virtual concierge is there to get the job done.

Catherine hopes that Palette Caf and Palette Upstairs will grow along with the rest of the community and provide the experiential resources necessary for that growth, which she believes is lacking in the lives of so many women.

Theres nothing in life that we shouldnt feel comfortable controlling or taking charge of.

Here is the original post:
From Paint and Sip to Empowering Women; An Interview with Catherine Hover - Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images Carroll Fife, director of the Oakland chapter of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment and a representative of Moms 4 Housing, in front of a homeless encampment in Oakland, California, January 28, 2020

In late February, before the Covid-19 lockdown confined me to the phone, I traveled to northern California to report on a growing movement against corporate housing speculation. The resulting story, Moms 4 Housing: Redefining the Right to a Home in Oakland, published by the Daily on March 9, was about a collective of African-American mothers who had occupied, and were then dramatically evicted from, a vacant house in the west of the city. Though the mothers later negotiated to buy the property with the help of a community land trust, their larger campaignfor the human right to housinghas only become more urgent with the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the time of publication, I was waiting on responses to several public information requestsfiled with the office of Libby Schaaf, the mayor of Oakland; the Oakland Police Department; and the office of Gregory Ahern, the sheriff of Alameda County, who oversaw the eviction. Neither Mayor Schaafs office, care of Rose Rubel, an analyst in the city administrators office, nor the Oakland Police Department, care of Alisha Banda, a police records supervisor, have responded to my requests. But on April 9, I received a batch of one hundred and seven emails, in PDF form, from Cynthia Wilson, a technician in the Sheriffs Office.

My primary goal in contacting Alameda County was to learn more about the eviction, which took place on the morning of January 14. As I recount in the original story:

[The mothers] found the street overrunnot only by a throng of supporters, thanks to a text-message blast, but also by a ballistic vehicle and sheriffs vans from Alameda County. A dozen men were dressed infatigues and helmetsandwielded machine guns. Under orders from Sheriff Gregory Ahern and Commander Shawn Sexton, they used a battering ram to knock down the front door of the housewhich the moms say was unlocked but the Sheriffs Office says was fortified. Everyone inside wasarrested

Alameda County declined to pursue criminal charges against the moms and their allies, but the Sheriffs Office has refused to apologize for its show of force. Sergeant Ray Kelly, the agencys public information officer, told me that the Sheriffs Office has no regrets and that the AR15s and ballistic vehicle were commensurate to the threat posed by anarchist and criminal elements among the moms allies, based on social media and tips from an informant. [Carroll] Fife believes that the Sheriffs Office was targeting Fred Hampton Jr., a Chicago-based activist who had flown in to offer support. Hamptons father, a prominent Black Panther, was murdered by the FBI in 1969.

I also wanted to understand the relationship between the Sheriffs Office and Wedgewood LLC, which owned the house the mothers had occupied. A lingering question was why Wedgewood had believed it to be within its rights to discard the mothers belongings after the eviction. Again, as I wrote in March:

The next day, the mothers returned to the house to gather their furniture and other belongings, as Wedgewood had promised they couldthough Wedgewood disputes this. Cross told me that they arrived to find everything thrown onto the street, in a broken, muddy pile.

The emails provided by Alameda County, while incomplete, help answer three crucial questions:

Did the Sheriffs Office try to persuade the mothers to leave the occupied house before the eviction?

Sheriffs Office personnel have repeatedly stated that they tried to prevent a confrontational eviction by offering to help the mothers, only to be rebuffed. Just hours after the eviction, Sheriff Ahern himself wrote in emails to concerned citizens:

We have offered assistance and services, but they were declined. We must follow the order of the court.

We made offers to the group through their attorneys to assist with various programs. Our offers and suggestions were refused. They told us They want the fight,

The mothers and their representativesattorney Leah Simon-Weisberg and Carroll Fife, director of the Oakland chapter of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowermenttold me that they never heard from anyone at the Sheriffs Office.

This contradiction may be explained by an email sent by Kelly on January 10. He emailed Ahern and five others:

I spoke with the moms group attorney, Francisco Gutierrez, and he was very amicable. He wants nothing more than to resolve this issue without a confrontation. I asked him if his clients would sit down with us and come up with a solution that was in their best interest. We also offered resources and access to assistance. He went to the moms [sic] group and they told him there will be no negotiating and they are not leaving. They were very adamant! The attorney was very complimentary of Sgt. Kong and the civil unit and understood our position.

Francisco Gutierrez is an attorney for Wedgewood LLC, not the mothers. It thus appears that Kelly was brokering a negotiation with only one party. When I recently asked Kelly whether he had ever communicated with a lawyer for the mothers, he said yesthat he had spoken with a man. The mothers have had only one attorney: Simon-Weisberg, a woman.

Why did the Sheriffs Office stage such a dramatic eviction?

On December 6 and 9, in response to a reporters query about the timing of the eviction, Kelly said in an email:

We are not looking for a confrontation or to escalate community tension.

I think these folks are looking for a showdown with law enforcement. Thats not going to happen.

This was reiterated a month laterjust three days before the evictionby his colleague, Sergeant Kenrick Kong, in an email to Emma Ishii, a staff member of a county supervisor:

As always it is the intention of the Sheriffs Office Civil Section to enforce Orders from the Court in as peaceful of a manner as possible. We are going to treat the enforcement of this order like any other order.

Yet it seems that, by mid-December, the Sheriffs Office was preparing for a clash. On December 16, after observing a court hearing on the mothers eviction, Lieutenant Patrick Jones wrote to Sexton and another colleague:

Moms for Housing came to Room 104 today. They filed six Claims of Right to Possession [RTP] for the Magnolia property. They had a crowd of 60 to 70 supporters with them. Once they exited the Civil Section Lobby, they announced the RTPs had been filed and we accepted them, causing their group of supporters to begin yelling and screaming. They then began to yell and chant, The people united will never be divided. I exited the Civil employee door, walked to the hallway next to the Courthouse Food Vendor, activated my BWC [body-worn camera] and I announced that yelling and screaming in a courthouse is unacceptable. There was a black male adult who immediately engaged me asking why I was being aggressive. I told him that yelling, screaming and chanting within the courthouse is unacceptable behavior. A white female, who appeared as though she might be their legal counsel, advised they were all leaving peacefully.

The Sheriffs Office deployed more than forty personnel and a BearCat armored vehicle to carry out the eviction on January 14, according to Kelly. A few hours after the eviction, Captain James McGrail emailed forty-five colleagues to provide instructions on how to file overtime hours and what to do if you rode home in the BearCat. He congratulated them for being superstars and attached two notes of praise from local citizens.

When I asked Kelly about these emails, he told me that its common for law enforcement to identify people by their gender and race, even outside of investigations, and that race had nothing to do with the nature of the eviction, adding that there were more whites than African-Americans among the mothers supporters. He said that the BearCat and other equipment were necessary because of aggressive conduct observed inside and outside of the occupied housewhich the mothers and their attorney deny.

Kelly told me that the Sheriffs Office spent more than $40,000 on personnel costs alone to carry out the eviction, all at taxpayer expense. In emails he sent to reporters between January 14 and 16, however, he stated that the cost was over $10k and would be billed to Wedgewood LLC. The company was never charged for any law enforcement expenses.

Why did Wedgewood LLC dispose of the mothers belongings the morning after the eviction?

Sam Singer, the spokesman for Wedgewood, told me in March that the company only ever agreed to put the mothers belongings on the sidewalk in front of the house. According to the mothers and Oakland City CouncilmemberNikki Bas, however, Wedgewood had promised to provide access to the house the morning after the eviction.

It appears that the Sheriffs Office told a Wedgewood attorney that the company was obliged to return the mothers belongings. On January 10, Captain Melanie Ditzenberger wrote to five of her colleagues and Scott Dickey, an attorney for Alameda County:

I received a call from Anthony Pacheco, the attorney who represents Wedgewood. I have spoken to him before, and he is very appreciative of our efforts He asked about the womens property, I told him that once the property was turned back over to Catamount [a Wedgewood subsidiary], they should secure the womens personal property for the amount of time required by law; and if assistance was needed; to work with OPD [Oakland Police Department].

She reiterated this in another email less than an hour later, to a different group of employees at the Sheriffs Office:

[Pacheco] was also concerned about the womens personal property and getting it out of the home. I said that once the Civil Unit affected [sic] the eviction; and returned the property to Catamount, it is their responsibility to secure the womens personal property for the amount of time required by law; and if they needed assistance removing it; to work with OPD.

When I asked Singer about these emails and what Wedgewood understood its obligations to be, he said, I never heard of this conversation.

Taken as a whole, the emails released by Alameda County reveal an agency struggling to coordinate a response to mass protestin the context of an otherwise ordinary eviction. And while the Sheriffs Office continued to exchange information with Wedgewood LLC and its attorneys, it did not communicate directly with Moms 4 Housing. Representatives of Moms 4 Housing told me that the mothers have had no contact with either the Sheriffs Office or Oakland police in recent weeks, but are currently making visits to homeless residents, in violation of the Bay Areas shelter-in-place order. As Carroll Fife explained, We cant shelter in place and say that we care about the community when theyre out living in the streets.

Read more from the original source:
Moms 4 Housing: A Dramatic Eviction Revisited - The New York Review of Books