Page 2 - MidWeek - Dec 15, 2021

2 MIDWEEK DECEMBER 15, 2021
A Choice Beyond Stagnation
Age is not the enemy. Stagnation is the enemy. — Twyla Tharp
ISanta’s Songs
Medals at a funeral? It was a perfect way to celebrate my daddy’s 20 years of Se- nior Olympics competition. (He once held the record for pole vaulting in the di- vision of age 85 and over!) Everyone at his memorial took home one of his Senior Olympics prizes as a token of his zest for life.
t’s that holly, jolly time of year, so let’s take classic Christmas song titles and inaptly apply them with tongue firmly planted in cheek to the world we live in
as they could helped them co-create a healthy journey.
today, as we nosh on cinnamon babka and eggnog!
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Well, they were ac- tually standing 6 feet apart, with masks on, and it was just
I hope to show the same grace when facing such a transition someday. Until then, I choose to stay as ac- tive as possible — loving, healing, walking, dancing, teaching, and flying in the aerial hammock — wor- thy, I hope, of a medal for a choice beyond stagnation.
The Rev. Katharine Harts, a retired minister, owns soull- ovesthebody.com. She teaches aerial yoga, aerial dance for children, the MELT Method for pain reduction, and com- passionate movement at Ho- nolulu’s Still & Moving Center.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
an air kiss ... but whatevah!
Happy Xmas (War Is Over). Ding, dong, the witch is (rela-
No less active, my moth- er started tap dancing when my parents retired. Being a dancer myself, I delighted in purchasing costumes for her and watching her routines — small payback for the years she made my costumes, drove me to rehearsals and attended my performances.
Through activities like aerial yoga, the author helps people claim their wholeness, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
tively) dead! We finally beat the evil virus. Oh wait, a phone call. Hello? Oh, my goodness ... omicron!
inside loomed as great as the emptiness ahead. Then I came across one of those medals — and a flood of memories.
ened, movement stirred, then hesitancy, small steps, finally buoyant enthusiasm.
Do You Hear What I Hear? Hear? Maybe, but millions don’t really listen anymore.
All I Want for Christmas Is You. You see, I just want you! I’m not materialistic or status-conscious for something to showcase on Facebook, but what did you get me?
My parents had barely paused before embracing new opportunities beckoning them into the future. Could I follow that pattern? Why not return fully committed to my earlier training and profes- sion of teaching dance, fit- ness and wellness, but now with the added dimension of spirituality fully integrated? Something had been awak-
Today, I have rediscovered joy and fulfillment in helping people claim their wholeness, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. It is, indeed. It’s also the end of yet another year that Energizer Bunnied. It just went on and on and on.
Two years ago, after 20 years as a Congregational minister, I moved back to Hawai‘i and found myself staring into a disorienting
It was two decades before arthritis began to thwart my mother’s dancing. Graceful- ly my parents transitioned to the quieter activity of con- templating Kansas sunsets together. But, I believe that doing what they loved as long
Last Christmas. Please, don’t even remind me. But, hey, we made the best of it.
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town. Have you been naughty? Nice? Tough to tell these days in the minds of far too many. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Great news: Rudolph finally checked into that rehab after far too long, so all is well. Santa Shark. Please, parents, make it go away. It’s had
void. I had loved ministry, but with that gone, how could I serve? Everything was at a standstill, and the emptiness
over 33 million hits on YouTube.
Joy to the World. Well, if we all try really, really hard, this
KELLEY
one might actually come true.
Silent Night. Congress is in recess! Hosanna, Heysanna,
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
sanna sanna ho!! (lyrics courtesy Jesus Christ Superstar) O Come, All Ye Faithful. For that’s what we’ll need to attain a renewed sense of sanity, calm and empathy in the
years ahead.
The Twelve Days Of Christmas. Or, the long version, if
you prefer: Retail’s 60 Days of Christmas.
Christmas Time Is Here. The heartwarming sight of
Charlie Brown’s diminutive, but decorated Christmas tree reminds even the cynics among us of the true spirit of the season. You rock, Linus!
Feliz Navidad. A Rorschach test to see if you’re still hu- man after the past two years. If this one doesn’t make you smile, audition to play the role of Scrooge. Próspero año y felicidad!
Winter Wonderland. You’re living in it, or on it! So cele- brate the season here, year round. Ho ho, oh.
Think about it ...
with the Rev. Katharine Harts
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com