By Kimine Mayuzumi “How are you?” “How are you doing?” When someone asks you these questions, what do you usually say? And when you ask someone else, do you really pause to notice what they say — or how they express how they are? Sometimes, “How are you?” is simply another way of saying hello. Someone asks you in the hallway, keeps walking, and neither of you expects a real answer. The question becomes a…
By Kimine Mayuzumi In the Tai Chi class that I lead regularly, we always begin with a walking exercise — what I call Tai Chi walking. We walk slowly — probably slower than you might imagine. It feels almost like moving in slow motion. I learn so much from this experience, and I invite you to try this kind of slow, mindful walking one day. I’ve attached a video clip so you can get a…
By Kimine Mayuzumi Ten years ago, I wrote a short post called “5 Ways to Slow Down NOW.” At the time, I didn’t know whether anyone would read it. I simply felt pulled to explore gentler ways of living and working — especially in environments organized around speed, output, and performance. I kept writing, not because I had a grand vision for what Being Lazy and Slowing Down (BLSD) would become, but because each piece…
By Kimine Mayuzumi I sit here at my desk, reflecting on my time in a Ph.D. program. I remember sitting at the desk in the corner of my Toronto apartment, writing a poem about how my period affected me physically and mentally. I had to express it – not just out of frustration but also as a way to ritualize my acceptance of the challenge, particularly the severe cramps that kept me from doing anything…
By Riyad A. Shahjahan For the past two years, I had the privilege of teaching an online graduate summer course on professional development and wellness. I had designed the content to integrate insights from Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) wellness literature. I also encouraged students, including health professionals, HR practitioners, educators, and administrators, to reflect on and practice self-care throughout the course. Many expressed deep concerns about burnout, impostor syndrome, shame,…
