Moving Past Friction
Photograph used with permission by Phoebe Taylor, Okay Shoe, 2022.
by Guest Contributor, Phoebe Taylor: Creative Director of Okay Shoe, Artist, Mindful Mover, Community Maker
When I speak of boundaries I see the uncomfortable squirm in some people. The dance we do with ourselves and small permissions we break in order to meet someone else’s deadline, comfort or standards of “perfect”, “done”, or “success”.
When I dream of boundaries I feel the expanse that is waiting on the other side, and I still feel that hot sticky pull of “don’t do this” that pulls me back. Embodying our values feels like such a ~no~ brainer in theory but in practice the feelings of “should I” or “can I” pop up. Am I allowed to craft this life that feels regenerative to me but pushes against the grain?
Yes
Are there systems of oppressions entangled in my nervous system that profit from me breaking those boundaries with self?
Also yes.
It's hard when you’re trying to build a life and business and practice that goes against the grain.
Against patriarchy.
Against capitalism.
Against white supremacy.
Against a whole lotta “shoulds”.
Does it feel hard?
Yes.
Is it worth it?
Yes.
The lesson I learn over and over and OVER again is that it all comes back to the body. That I cannot sacrifice my nervous system for profit, other people’s “expectations” or even what *I think I should* do. That drawing a boundary around myself or practise or work or relationships isn’t restrictive, but liberating. The expanse, passion and oh my gosh call it synchronicity, magic, spirit, but every time I leap in commitment to self – the mystery and unknown is so much better than I could have imagined.
But all of the above is a practise. An over and over and over again of showing up and trying and recommitment to the embodiment of the change and world we wish to create. Listening to myself means moving beyond the binary. Listening to myself means discerning between the shoulds and into the spirit of my creativity, my business, my collaborators and the liberation I dream of. Listening means embodying the things I SPEND ALL DAY TALKING about. And it doesn’t make it any less scary but I know jumping always leads to my biggest lessons and jumping together makes a greater impact.
I created Boundaries The Binary not because I know best, but because I have experience in pushing against the grain in a way that doesn’t feel sticky all the time – and want to go deeper into protecting those pieces of myself, with others. This panel of artists reflects multiple industries, theatre, fine art, design, coaching and the multitudes of ripples beyond it, because I do not think this work is singular. It is togetherness that creates the strength for change.
Join us with Stylo Starr, Noelle Diane Johnson and Jacqueline Wills on March 15, 2022 at 4PM PST/7PM EST in realtime for Beyond The Binary: Boundaries for crafting a human centric practise 🍊 (Replays are included! Check The Rally email for March for your special promo code!)
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