Burning Bright

Image by Susanna Kohonen "The body sometimes knows better than the brain", declares a headline in the Finnish Helsingin Sanomat . Research on the hidden interaction between body and brain is on the increase, HS reports.   Body memory or body-based memory, visceral consciousness, subjectivity and self-awareness in the form of sensory awareness - these would have been called nonsense and laughed at just a little while ago.  Humanity, compassion, empathy - are these concepts that are still not fashionable enough to use? "Too soft"? Let's keep in mind that a while ago, also the concepts of  emotional intelligence ,  highly sensitive persons , as well as   visceral sensory neuroscience , and even  sustainable development , were considered humbug. In the same way, some still laugh at and consider it humbug to include Drama Education and the subject of Drama in the Finnish national core curriculum for basic education . Drama is not just drama, as we drama p...

I went skiing today for the first time this winter.  It's been a while!  I don't think I did any cross-country skiing last winter... Image: Susanna Kohonen My body remembered it, though. All of it. Including the pain in the soles of my feet after not having used the skis for a long time. Every time the same thing, no matter how well you warm up and stretch before skiing. Our bodies are wise. They remember everything, apparently.  I wonder if my body remembers what it feels like to be in the same meeting room with colleagues or in the same classroom with students, once we get there! What it feels like not to have to restrict myself only to what can be done through the screen and online. What it feels like to have lunch together in the cafeteria and to chit-chat with fellow teachers over a cup of tea of coffee, while complaining about the rush hour, long queues, and crowded lobby. I have to say I am so looking forward to that time.  I am getting rather worn out of remo...

This year the Finnish University Seminar will be organised as a two-hour webinar. The focus is on well-being at work: Do we still have energy to develop our work, despite the COVID19 hassle? For me, energy to develop my teaching means a fizzy, bubbly, empowering feeling. In other words: Do I still have that bubbly feeling about my work?   Image by  Prawny  from  Pixabay   Since coronavirus-March I've been trying to make something else bubble, too. I've been trying to make a sourdough starter bubble as a gluten free version. Oh my, what a learning process that has been, and still continues to be so. I opted for a gluten free diet a few years ago, for health reasons. I have found the best gluten-free advice and the best gluten-free recipes online, in the English language sphere of the internet.   Sourdough starters caught my attention last year. At first, I went for any sourdough starter blog and recipes. I thought I could easily just rehash them mys...