[Given t(w)o] Fly (W)right (the ~11-minute “missing” compilation post for Saturday) September 20, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Abhyasa, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Maya Angelou, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Science, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Amos I. Root, anxiety, Contemplation, Jane Hirshfield, Maya Angelou, meditation, mental health, Mindfulness, Orville Wright, Pearl Jam, personal-growth, Pink Floyd, Resilience, self-improvement, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Toni Morrison, Victor Hugo, Wilbur Wright
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone who is given to fly with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” post for Saturday, September 20th is a compilation post featuring content that was previously posted (in a slightly different context). Some contextual (holiday-related) information, links, and formatting have been added/updated. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I’ve started out for God knows where
I guess I’ll know when I get there”
— quoted from the song “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
“We could hardly wait to get up in the morning.”
— Wilbur Wright
Odds are, you can relate to the idea of life beating you down, of having your heart broken, and of feeling disappointed that some great achievement was within your grasp in one moment and then gone in the next moment. Maybe it was just a moment. Maybe it was a series of moments. Similarly, you’ve probably had a moment — hopefully, several moments in your life — when you were so excited that you couldn’t wait to get started. So, the important question isn’t whether you understand the emotions express above. The important question is: How do experience the latter every day?
Just imagine, for a moment, waking up every morning and being excited about the day ahead. Don’t discount the fact that no day is absolutely, 100% perfect and don’t ignore the fact that sometimes we all have to deal with those master teachers and precious jewels that push our buttons. Instead, keep those imperfections and obstacles in mind and envision a day full of things and people that energize you. Actually visualize yourself moving through a day when you not only learn from your mistakes and your obstacles, you’re excited about the implementing the knowledge that comes from your experiences.
What would such a day look like for you? For that matter, what would a whole year of days like that feel like to you?
“There’s no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss”
— quoted from the song “Learning to Fly” from Pink Floyd
Now, what would be the first step in a plan to have such a day, such a year, such a life?
It’s the step I just suggested you take: Envision it.
Personally, I think any time is a good time to “dwell in possibility”. This weekend feels like a particularly auspicious time since next week is the beginning of the High Holidays and Navaratri — which means that, all over the world, there are people making plans for a new year and new beginnings with less obstacles.
So, I invite you to consider what it would be like to wake up as excited, energized, and motivated as the Wright Brothers were back in 1904. Keeping in mind, of course, that they were “given to fly” and, also, planned for their success by learning from what didn’t work, figuring out ways to overcome obstacles, and making adjustments as needed to always (re)turn to their goal.
“And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved”
— quoted from the song “Given to Fly” by Pearl Jam
Versions of the following excerpts were posted during Rosh Hashanah (2020/5781); Sukkot (2021/5782); and the High Holidays (2023/5784).
On September 20, 1904, in a cow pasture known as “Huffman Prairie”, just outside Dayton, Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright completed their 49th flight. They had moved their flights from Kitty Hawk and the Kill Devil Hills of North Caroline, in part because of the windy weather and in part because cutting their (land-based) travel time gave them more opportunities to fly. For the Flyer II, they used white pine instead of spruce and added weight to strengthen the frame. They also added a more powerful engine, shifted the center of gravity forward, and adjusted the plane’s wings configuration to create more pitch stability — all of which made it easier to fly. Finally, because they had less wind than at Kitty Hawk, they devised a catapult to pull the airplane down a wooden track. The catapult dropped a 1,000-pound (544 kilograms) weight from 20 feet (6.1 meters) in order to achieve a greater speed at takeoff.
Wilbur Wright was flying the newsworthy flight, which was remarkable not only because it lasted 1 minute, 36 seconds (covering 4,080 feet), but also because it was the first time they flew in a complete circle. 360 degrees! [In other words, they returned to their original position.] Amos I. Root, a beekeeper, drove 175 miles (from Medina, Ohio) just to see the Wright Brothers fly. He published his eyewitness account of that first circle in his magazine, Gleanings in Bee Culture.
“When it turned that circle, and came near the starting-point, I was right in front of it, and I said then and I believe still, it was . . . the grandest sight of my life. Imagine a locomotive that has left its track, and is climbing right toward you – a locomotive without any wheels . . . but with white wings instead. . . Well, now, imagine that locomotive with wings that spread 20 feet each way, coming right toward you with the tremendous flap of its propellers, and you have something like what I saw.”
— quoted from an article dated a January 1, 1905, in the Gleanings in Bee Culture by Amos I. Root
Amos Root’s words painted a vivid picture of a successful moment. He put the reader right smack dab in the middle of the moment. But what of all the crashes; what about all of the missed take offs and landings? Can we picture a moment some might consider a failure? What keeps someone going in those moments — especially when they are in the process of trying doing something that has never been done? What’s the secret to that kind of tenacity and resilience?
“More and more I have come to admire resilience.
Not the simple resistance of a pillow, where foam returns over and
over to the same shape, but the sinuous
tenacity of a tree: finding the
light newly blocked on one side,
it turns in another.”
— quoted from the poem “Optimism” in Given Sugar, Given Salt by Jane Hirshfield
“Resilience” is defined as “the power or ability to return to the original form or position; to recover readily from; the ability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after; buoyancy.” It comes from a Latin phrase meaning “to spring” or “leaping back” and, as some of friends can attest, it is one of my favorite subjects. I love the beauty and the power of resiliency. I’m also a big fan of stories, especially true stories, about people who fall down and then pick themselves back up — or even of stories, especially true stories, about people who have been pushed down and somehow, almost miraculously, pick themselves back up. Those stories are inspiring because we have all been there.
We have all tried something that didn’t work out the first or second (or even the thousandth time), but we kept going. Like Thomas Edison. Or, maybe like Alfred Nobel, we’ve spent our time working on things we thought would make the world a better place… only to discover that people thought of us as the epitome of evil — and then we have to go back to the drawing board in order to leave a different legacy. We have all battled our personal obstacles and readied ourselves to put our best foot forward… only to find someone else has found their groove before us. Like Ella Fitzgerald. Or, maybe in battling our personal demons, we just fell down… and had to get back up. Then too, we have all been the underdog (like David and Michelangelo) and we have all had to figure out a way to rise from “a past rooted in pain.” Like Maya Angelou.
I could go on. But the point is we all have to find our wings.
“Be like the bird, who
Pausing in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him
Yet sings
Knowing he has wings.”
— “Be like the bird” poem by Victor Hugo
Some people believe resilience is all about attitude and perspective; others believe it is physiological (and genetic). Still others believe it is a combination of the two. Either way, there are keys to mental, emotional, energetic, and physical resilience. You could even call them secrets (although we all know them). These keys (or secrets) can be highlighted by the inspirational stories (like the ones linked above).
For example, a cursory look at the story of the Wright brothers and their quest to fly includes a little note on sleep; being in good company (which is also having a supportive community); being mindful, especially of what works and what doesn’t work; letting go of what doesn’t work; and getting good momentum. The Wright brothers’ story also pays tribute to what happens when you wake up with a little grace and a little faith.
Click on the excerpt title below & scroll down to Wilbur Orville’s quote about “[getting] up in the morning” for a reflection on what energizes you; what inspires you to get up when you fall down; and how you change your inner dialogue.
“The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.”
— Orville Wright
I mentioned before that rest is one of the keys (or secrets) to resilience and to the success of the Wright brothers. Another key (or secret) is to have a plan and, as Orville, implied, to keep going.
So, take a moment to go deeper and make it personal. Make a plan — and invite yourself to be the best version of yourself, fully present in your own life — by turning these questions towards yourself.
- Picture yourself during a moment some might consider a failure. How do you plan to learn from that moment?
- What keeps you “up” (metaphorically speaking)? What keeps you motivated, and focused on (re)turning to your goal again and again?
- With whom do you like to collaborate (and with whom do you make a good team)?
- BONUS QUESTION #1: Who is “Root[ing]” for you? (Besides me; because “I Root” for you!)
- BONUS QUESTION #2: What would a beekeeper write about your moment of success?
“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through.”
— Orville Wright
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09182021 Joe (& Rosie’s) Goal”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
“‘Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can’t nobody fly with all that shit. Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.’”
— quoted from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
### Be Like The Bird (but not like the Song of Solomon peacock) ###
EXCERPT: “On Being Curious” September 16, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Japa-Ajapa, Life, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Vipassana, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 90 seconds, 988, Curiosity, Gabrielle Roth, H. A. Rey, Health, insight, Kelly Bartlett, Margaret Rey, meditation, mental health, Writing, yoga, Yoga Sutras 1.2 - 1.4
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone curious about how we can have friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“The object of meditation is to still the mind, and the fastest way to do that is to move your body.”
— Gabrielle Roth
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Hans Augusto Reyersbach (better known as H. A. Rey) (b. 1898).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE ABOVE IF YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRACTICE.
“After the day is gone we shall go out, breathe deeply, and look up – and there the stars will be, unchanged, unchangeable.”
— quoted from The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 16th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07112020 An Introduction”]
NOTE: This is an instrumental playlist. Click on the excerpt title above for a puppy-related playlist (with lyrics & ~45 dogs)
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
### BE MINDFULLY CURIOUS ###
EXCERPTS (with picture and links): “Revisiting ‘The Other Plan B’” September 13, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 1 Samuel, 988, Cristian Mihaila, David, faith, Michaelangelo
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May you be safe and protected. May you be healthy and strong. May you be peaceful and happy. May you know what is inside of you.
Photo by Cristian Mihaila on Pexels.com
“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart….’”
— quoted from The First Book of Samuel (or Shmuel I – I Samuel) 17:32 (NIV)
The following excerpt is from a 2022 post:
“Today, I offer you a story about David. It’s actually two stories… about the same David – even though it is simultaneously the same story about two different Davids… with a little side note about two additional Davids….
To clarify today’s offering(s), the first story and the first David is the one from the Bible, specifically the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. You remember that David?
People love the story of that David, because it is the story of the underdog. When faced with the towering figure of Goliath, David used his inner resources. He drew from the experience he had as a shepherd (rather than being preoccupied by the experience he didn’t have as a soldier). He focused on what he could do (not on what he was ‘trying’ to do). His inner strength, courage, and wisdom were what he took into his reign as king. Yes, King David made mistakes – he was human; but his legacy is firmly established by the story of his victory against Goliath, his son Solomon (who is considered the ruler with the wisest heart in the history of the world), and the statue by Michelangelo.
This brings me to the ‘second’ David and the second story: the story of Michelangelo’s David.”
Click on the excerpt title below for the story about how Michelangelo’s commission, today in 1501, was “The Other Plan B.”
Please join me today (Saturday, September 13th) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09132020 What Is Inside, II”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)
### DREAM. BREATHE. DREAM. BREATHE. ###
Another Quick Note & Excerpts About Living (& Knowing) September 10, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Suffering, Vairagya, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, grandmother, Mary Oliver, Molly Malone Cook
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone getting rooted in friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“Today is a day like any other: twenty-four hours, a
little sunshine, a little rain.”
— quoted from the poem “Black Oaks” by Mary Oliver
How do you know you are sitting here (even if you are lying down), breathing here?
This is a variation of a question that keeps coming up in (what I’m calling) continuing education courses on mindfulness. I love this question, because it sharpens your awareness, your attentiveness.
Another thing that keeps popping up in these courses is the eloquence of Mary Oliver, in the form of the following quote:
“Ten times a day something happens to me like this — some strengthening throb of amazement — some good, sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.”
Lovely, right? And, it sounds like Mary Oliver, right?
There’s just one problem: Not a single person (or book) provides a source for this quote!
The lack of a source makes me wonder: Is this Mary Oliver? Or is this Molly Malone Cook?
For Those Who Missed It: A variation of the following was previously posted.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
— quoted from the poem “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver
Born today in 1935, Mary Oliver — along with her love and life partner Molly Malone Cook (b. 01/05/1925) — definitely lived a “wild and precious life.” Around this time last year, my yoga buddy Julie sent me what she described as a “mobster/Mary Oliver parody.”
The text made me smile. What made me giggle was thinking, “ Well, if we’re being honest, Mary Oliver was kinda gangsta; she was all about that life.”
CLICK ON THE FIRST (slightly ironic) EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT MARY OLIVER.
Click on the second excerpt title below for a 2018 eulogy dedicated to one of my other favorite “wild and precious” people born today!
“You do not have to be good
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.”
— quoted from the poem “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Please join me today (Wednesday, September 10th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09012024 Deep Listening”]
NOTE: Check the first excerpt for the playlist used in prior to 2024.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
### LISTEN TO YOUR BREATH: SO HUM, HAM SA ###
EXCERPT: “Magic? No. Magical? Yes, yes!” September 2, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Life, Movies, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Christa McAuliffe, David Blaine, Guy Laliberté, Romare Bearden, Salma Hayek
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May you be safe, peaceful, happy, healthy, and hydrated.
“‘Have fun.’ ‘Act tall.’ ‘Reach for the stars!’ ‘Behold… and life will triumph’”
— quotes from Guy Laliberté (b. 1959), Salma Hayek (b. 1966), S. Christa McAuliffe (b. 1948), and Romare Bearden (b. 1911)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 2nd) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09022020 Magical/Birthday Inspiration”]
NOTE: The practice music is the same, but the YouTube playlist includes David Blaine’s “Ascension” (which is also linked in the post excerpted above). Both playlists now include Romare Bearden’s “Sea Breeze” during the practice time.)
It can be hard to believe in yourself and your dreams (or magic) when you’re uncomfortable. Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
### LET YOUR HEART SOAR! ###
EXCERPT: “More Than Love from Althea & Arthur” (the post-practice Monday post) August 25, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Life, Love, One Hoop, Philosophy, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, Ed Fitzgerald, Love, Neil Amdur, Racism, sports, tennis, Webster's 1828
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast; and/or working to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
The following excerpt is related to Monday, August 25th. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is a sport or physical activity about which you are passionate?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“I always wanted to be somebody. If I made it, it’s half because I was game enough to take a lot of punishment along the way and half because there were a lot of people who cared enough to help me.”
— quoted I Always Wanted to Be Somebody by Althea Gibson, edited by Ed Fitzgerald
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Althea Gibson (b. 1927) and the day, in 1968, when Arthur Ashe won the US Amateur Championships.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about their love of the game.
More Than Love from Althea & Arthur (the “missing” Sunday post) *w/an extra 2025 note*
“You can’t compare tennis with baseball, basketball, or football. When Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, dozens of good baseball players in the Negro leagues were waiting to follow. When Althea Gibson, the first prominent black in tennis, won national grass-court titles at Forest Hills in 1957 and 1958, there was no reservoir of black talent waiting to walk in if the door ever opened. Blacks had no identification the sport — on or off the court.”
— quoted from “3. The Passage” in Off the Court by Arthur Ashe with Neil Amdur
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: If you are interested, you can click on the excerpt above for a related playlist.
Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
(### • ###)
2 EXCERPTS: “Re-Introducing SOPHIE” & “How Do You Love Ye?” August 24, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Art, avidya, Books, Goth, Intolerance, music, Paulo Coelho, Sophie Lancaster, Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Sylvia Lancaster, Writing, yoga, yoga philosophy
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast; and/or working to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside) — on the International Day Against Intolerance, Discrimination, & Violence Based on Musical Preference.
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
“. . . the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it. But in order to do that, we need the other person.”
— quoted from Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho (b. 1947)
Click on the first excerpt title below to “meet” Sophie Lancaster and the second excerpt title for a mini-post about Paulo Coelho.
“During the long hours at hospital, Sylvia decided that when Sophie was better, they would go into schools and talk to young people about difference, and how it is ok to be who you are and express yourself in your own way. Sadly, Sylvia never got a chance to do this with Sophie.”
— quoted from the “Welcome” page for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation
Please join me today (Sunday, August 24th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08242021 A Day for SOPHIE”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist contains this video with a graphic depiction of violence.
Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
### “Love is looking at the same mountains from different angles.” ~ Paulo Coelho ###
AN EXCERPT: “All These Easter Eggs Are About Hope… Not Blind Optimism” August 23, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Abhyasa, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Music, Pain, Philosophy, Poetry, Suffering, Tragedy, Vairagya, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: Adrienne Wilkinson, Books, Captain lexxa Singh, Fitness, mental health, Philosophy, Stoicism, William Ernest Henley, Writing
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Many blessings to you all. Make sure to rest, relax, hydrate, and smile (when you can) — especially if you are observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast.
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.”
— quoted from the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley
Click on the excerpt title below for more about William Ernest Henley (b. 1849) and how his life and work continues to inspire billions.
FTWMI: All These Easter Eggs Are About Hope… Not Blind Optimism
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
— quoted from “The Sermon on the Mount,” in The Gospel According to Matthew (7:14)
“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”
— quoted from “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley
Please join me today (Saturday, August 23rd) at 12:00 PM for a “spirited” yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08232020 Henley’s Invictus Day”]
(NOTE: The playlists have slightly different before/after practice content. Both include the poem, but the YouTube playlist has a little more!)
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.)
### YES! I WILL LEAVE A LIGHT ON!! ###
FTWMI: Holchaj yIjatlh. (“Speak in their language.”) August 19, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Life, Movies, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Science, TV, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alexander Courage, American Sign Language, ASL, BSL British Sign Language, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Dorothy Miles, Dot Miles, French Sign Language, Gene Rodenberry, Google Doodle, Gwenda (wanda) Squire, Howie Seago, Jonathan Frakes, Klingon, Leo Damian, Liz Deverill, LSF, Marnie Mosiman, music, Passion/Warrior, peace, Philo T. Farnsworth, Placiau Porffor, Purple Plaque, Riva, Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Science Fiction, sign language, sign languages, Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek, Television, Thomas Oglesby, universal translator, Vedas, William T. Riker, Woman/That Which Binds Them, Writing, yoga philosophy, Youmee Lee
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast (and the Second “Feast of the Saviour” in August) and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2024. Class details, theme-related details, and some links have been updated/added. This post contains spoilers (in the last paragraph before the excerpts) related to a 1989 television show.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. We are holding position pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel from Starfleet Research. Commander Data is completing his final neural transfers to the android he has named Lal which I have learned, in the language Hindi, means beloved.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “The Offspring” – (season 3, episode 16, aired March 12, 1990), voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart (OBE) as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
As noted in the posts excerpted at the end of this post, August 19th is the anniversary of the birth of birth Philo T. Farnsworth (b. 1906) and Gene Roddenberry (b. 1901). The former was an American inventor who revolutionized television; the latter revolutionized what we watch on television. In previous years, a couple of obvious thematic elements from the August 18th practice extended into the August 19th practice: the idea of exploring space(s) and the benefits of exploring and encountering different cultures. However, there was an underlying element that I never really emphasized (in either class): languages.
Sure, I often reference the fact that our minds and bodies communicate in the language of sensation and I have been known to joke that, in the absence of a universal translator, we have to study that language of sensation. But, I never really got into the fact that people can’t really “have their say” if they are speaking in a language that is not understood. Nor did I really get into the fact that television exposed more people to more languages and that certain television shows and movies (like those in the Star Trek franchise) exposed more people to the importance of speaking other languages — specifically, the respect that is communicated when we literally and figuratively/physically “Holchaj yIjatlh. (Speak in their language).”
This oversight is super ironic when you consider how much I love languages and how often I talk about shabda (“word”), which is the power “to give a form to sound, assign meaning to each segment of sound, and to store both sound and meaning in memory….[and] the capacity to communicate both sound and its meaning to others. We also have the capacity to give a visual form to each segment of sound and the meaning associated with it.” Furthermore, I often point out that shabda is also the power related to visual words, i. e., written words, symbols, and sign language. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Google Doodle dedicated to Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) that I started to think about the limitations of universal translators in the Star Trek franchise… and, since we’re being real, in their current day iterations.1
“Her sister Gwenda (Wendy) wrote about her birth…, ‘I remember the day Dorothy was born and I knew exactly how she got there! The Irwin’s van brought her along with the groceries….’”
— quoted from “A Word from the Miles Estate” – provided to the Google site by the Dorothy Miles Estate, written by Liz Deverill (Dorothy’s niece)
Born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales on August 19, 1931, Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the Deaf community. She contracted meningococcal (also known as cerebrospinal) meningitis and lost her hearing when she was 8 years old. Even though she was the youngest of five (surviving children), born in a small market town in Wales, she was able to attend the Royal School for the Deaf (now known as Seashell Trust) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, and the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, England. When she was 25, a British non-profit’s scholarship enabled her to attend Gallaudet College in Washington, D. C. — and it was there that her early love of music, theatre, and words really shined.
In addition to being a member of the Gallaudet’s honor society (as a junior) and being listed in the 1961 edition of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities,” Dot Miles edited student magazines, wrote prize-winning poetry and prose, won prizes for her acting, and got married (and separated). She also wrote Gallaudet’s “Bison Song” and a poem called “Language for the Eye” — which inspired the 2024 Google Doodle illustrated by Korean American storyteller Youmee Lee (who is also deaf). After graduating with her bachelor’s degree and working as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults, Ms. Miles joined the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in 1967, where she worked in wardrobe and as a script translator. She also wrote poetry (for deaf and hearing audiences) and worked with NTD’s Little Theatre of the Deaf, which produced shows for children and teenagers. She eventually attended Connecticut College — where she wrote her Master’s thesis about deaf theatre in the United States — and then (briefly) moved to Los Angeles.
When she returned to the UK, in 1977, Dot Miles started working in television. She worked with Open Door, which was produced by the BBC’s Community Programme Unit, and performed her poem “Language for the Eye” on the May 10, 1979, episode presented by National Union of the Deaf. She also helped develop the BBC’s See Hear series and, along with Terry Ruane (who also lost his hearing due to a childhood bout of some form of meningitis) wrote specials for the series. In addition to her work in the arts, Dot Miles worked with the British Deaf Association (BDA), helped establish the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) and compiled teaching manuals and a BDA dictionary.
After her death, people near and dear to her formed the Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre, now known as Dot Sign Language, which “continues to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the hearing world…. [and] is dedicated to raising both Deaf awareness and the profile of BSL as a language in its own right.” In honor of Dot Miles and her work, the seaside resort town of Rhyl (in Flintshire) placed a Purple Plaque (Welsh: Placiau Porffor) on the poet’s childhood home (in April 2024), declaring her one of the “Menywod Nodedig Yng Nghymru / Remarkable Women of Wales.”
“…people meet and part.
The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
As far as I can tell, Dot Miles was a polyglot who knew four languages: Welsh, English, British Sign Language (BSL), and American Sign Language (ASL). Since she was interested in languages and theatre — and in sharing her poetry with people who used different languages — it would not surprise me to learn that she knew about the hundreds of other sign languages and dialects (even if she didn’t know them). There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages2; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
And, getting back to my earlier point, the universal translators in Star Trek do not translate sign language.
“WOMAN: Precisely. Our way of communicating has developed over the centuries and its one that I find quite harmonious.
PICARD: Then Riva the mediator —
WOMAN: Is deaf.
PICARD: Deaf?
WOMAN: Born, and hope to die.
PICARD: And the three of you speak for him?
CHORUS: Yes.
SCHOLAR: We serve as translators. We convey not only his thoughts, but his emotional intent as well. I am the Scholar. I represent the intellect, and speak in matters of judgement, philosophy, logic. Also, I am the dreamer, the part that longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art. I am the poet who —
ADONIS: Artists, they tend to ramble, neglect the moment. I am passion, the libido. I am the anarchy of lust, the romantic and the lover. I am also the warrior, the perfect line which never wavers.
WOMAN: I am that which binds all the others together. I am harmony, wisdom, balance.
PICARD: Remarkable. And so these —
(Riva steps forward, angry)
SCHOLAR: Speak to me!
PICARD: What?
SCHOLAR: Speak directly to me.
PICARD: The uniqueness of this presentation provoked this inadvertent breach in protocol. No insult was intended.
SCHOLAR: Then none is perceived.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
While the universal translators in Star Trek only translate spoken languages — and, even then, only “known” languages — a sign language is a very important plot element in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled, “Loud as a Whisper.” The episode features Riva, a peace negotiator/ambassador who is deaf and so good at his job that (prior to this episode) the Klingons added a new word to their vocabulary: peacemaker. Riva knows a sign language, however, he travels with his own personal Greek chorus who are connected to him telepathically. They are known as “the scholar, the warrior, and that which binds them [woman].” SPOILER ALERT: When something happens to the Riva’s chorus, someone has to step in to learn the sign language — because, again, the universal translators only work with spoken words.
More importantly, communication needs to be as seamless as possible in order to negotiate peace.
Click on the excerpt titles below for the 2020 post and the 2023 note related to Philo T. Farnsworth and Gene Roddenberry.
“RIKER: So none of the background which we have provided would be helpful in understanding why they continue to fight?
SCHOLAR: The portfolio will indicate that the conflict is over a piece of land, or wealth, or some other tangible asset. But we both know that is not the case.
RIKER: They’ve been at war for so long, it has become personal.
SCHOLAR: Exactly. The basis for peace must also be personal….”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between First Officer William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
Please join me today (Tuesday, August 19th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s “Courage filled” playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08192020 To Boldly Go with Courage”]
PLAYLIST NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes an interview with Gene Roddenberry and the Dorothy Miles poem “Language for the Eye” (which is also below).
NOTES:
1 Google Translate and related apps are the closest things we (currently) have to a universal translator. Obviously, they do not allow us to hear someone else’s words as if they are speaking in the language of our choice; however, they can be voice activated and can play a recording of words typed (or pasted) into the app. There are apps that translate (into and out of) a variety of sign languages — however, they are not standard to (i.e., built into) cell phones like Google Translate and the iPhone’s Translate.
2 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
Dorothy Miles struggled with her mental health. Sadly, she was not able to receive help when she needed it most. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
2024 CORRECTION & 2025 UPDATE: There are currently twelve Star Trek television series, thirteen feature films (with additional ones already in development or production), a made-for-television film, an extensive collection of books, games, and toys — not to mention college curriculum and language courses.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
### roj vay’ ###
A Quick Note & (2) EXCERPTS RE: “The Roots of Your Story” and “Exploring & Having Our Say” (a 2-for-1 post-practice Monday post) August 18, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, First Nations, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 19th Amendment, 988, adventure, Alex Haley, Andre Dubus II, chakras, exploration, Febb Burn, Harry Burn, Harry T. Burn, Healing Stories, Mardy Murie, Margaret Murie, Matthew Sanford, Meriwether Lewis, Phoebe Burn, travel, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast, and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
The 2-for-1 post practice post contains excerpts related to Monday, August 11th and Monday, August 18th. The August 11, 2025, prompt question was, “How many generations back can you trace your family and have you shared any stories of the previous generations with younger family members?”
The August 18, 2025, prompt question was, “If you have had the chance to travel, do you like to travel (and if so, why)?”
You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Healing stories guide us through good times and bad times; they can be constructive and destructive, and are often in need of change. They come together to create our own personal mythology, the system of beliefs that guide how we interpret our experience. Quite often, they bridge the silence that we carry within us and are essential to how we live.”
— from Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford
Every person, every group of people, and everything in the universe, has a story. Actually, we all have multiple stories — and some of those stories overlap and/or run parallel to each other in oddly specific ways.
Telling one of your stories can be just as important as listening (or reading) someone else’s story; because the telling — as well as the listening — takes us all a little deeper into ourselves and into the world.
“When you start talking about family, about lineage and ancestry, you are talking about every person on earth.”
— Alex Haley
Click on the excerpt title below to discover the stories of two storytellers born on August 11th: Alex Haley (b. 1921) and Andre Julian Dubus II (b. 1936).
“I love short stories because I believe they are the way we live. They are what our friends tell us, in their pain and joy, their passion and rage, their yearning and their cry against injustice. We can sit all night with our friend while he talks about the end of his marriage, and what we finally get is a collection of stories about passion, tenderness, misunderstanding, sorrow, money….”
— quoted from the essay “Marketing” in Part III of Broken Vessels: Essays by Andre Dubus
The more you travel, the more you explore, the more stories you will discover.
Click on the excerpt title below to explore a story about how (some) women were able to tell their stories and the stories of explorers born on August 18th: Captain Meriwether Lewis (b. 1774) and Margaret “Mardy” Murie (b. 1902).
“If we allow ourselves to be discouraged, we lose our power and momentum. That’s what I would say to you of these difficult times. If you are going to that place of intent to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the wild lands in Utah, you have to know how to dance.”
— quoted from Two In the Far North by Margaret “Mardy” Murie
There are no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: If you are interested, you can click on the excerpts above for the playlists related to each date.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).
A Joyful Practice 