Winging It Episode 16: The Responsibility of Opinions vs Facts Winging It

We start by encouraging Amy on her final classes in Yoga Teacher Training over the next few weeks and discussing the feeling of knowing what we're doing versus learning more over time. Then we discuss our responsibility as teachers and workshop leaders for making sure our clients don't get hurt. Responsibility is a hard thing to carry. We have to trust our clients know how to work through things and handle their own bodies and the work they are doing. We just help create the healing space and give direction, but we have to trust you know what to do with your body as you work through the healing work.

Then we dive into discussing Fact and Opinion, especially around the current pandemic and wearing masks and trying to keep ourselves and others around us safe. Where is the guidance and leadership to actually lead the way? Many people are arguing their own opinions as truth. And this ties to Responsibility, too! We are Responsible for ourselves and for those around us - so how do you move in this world in a caring, compassionate, smart manner?

We argue that the people who are choosing to not wear a mask right now need to really look at their reasons - who are they really angry at? What is the point of yelling at or mocking others for taking care of themselves? Heather shares a moment from the grocery store where someone laughed at her while wearing a mask. (Heather does not care, Heather grew up in theatre.) But it still hit - why did this person choose to laugh? Amy shares her fears of interactions like these. Neither of us understand why others won't take the safety of others seriously.

Does this point to a bigger conversation, a bigger gap, a bigger divide between people? We hope not. We hope that this is just part of the conversation that people will have and that science and facts will take a stronger lead. We do chat about Faith and Facts for a bit as well. History has shown us that there are risks if we don't listen to science. Listening to each other needs to be part of the conversation, too.

We believe that we are stronger in community and when we focus on taking care of others and the earth. We acknowledge it's hard, but that it's also the responsibility of taking care of the planet and others in our lives. Compassion is stronger than fear. Leadership needs to be better guide and help remind us to do no harm and to help our neighbors.

We acknowledge it's hard, to go face our fears and be aware of being out with others right now. Amy references Dr. Seuss' Star Bellied Sneeches when it comes to masks. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories) Heather reminds us that we don't know what others are going through, and that we need to pay attention and be helpful to others.

How do we mitigate our own risks for ourselves and take care of those working hard right now? Yes, we get ranty about people who are being loud and obnoxious about health and safety. Amy talks about being brave and venturing out for a few errands. Her awareness of the people around her and taking care of her and her families’ Mental Health and Physical Health does take so much energy right now.

Amy offers mini-meditations, used in Yoga to transtion from pose to pose, now used to transition from location to location. These moments of re-centering and breathing means we have to check in more often and can't run on auto-pilot, but it takes more energy to navigate the world this way. It's baby steps to be in the world in a safe way again.

Winging It The Podcast is going to take a break for a couple of weeks to take care of some of our own family and home needs, and we'll start recording and scheduling new episodes again soon. Until then, take care of your Mental Health and be aware that many people around you may need help taking care of theirs as well. Be...