Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
Yesterday at the amazing “Rollin Deep” event put on by the Bay Area Roller Group, I got to experience all those life-giving feelings that dancing gives to me that I had almost forgotten: Seeing another dancer going off, locking eyes, and just vibing with them for a moment, a phrase, or whole song. Seeing your…
I was pleased I got to share on KQED’s Bay Curious blog in March a bit of how the pandemic has changed my life: getting back to my Quaker roots. Here’s what I shared: My name is Rik Panganiban and I work for KQED education. Like a lot of people, everything changed in the pandemic,…
I’ve been attending a virtual Quaker Meeting for Worship (what we call our services) for about a year. For those interested in experiencing this unique form of religious gathering, there is no better time, with hundreds of them happening each week. My home church, the Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, holds…
I’ve started casually teaching folks how to do some basic dance moves on skates. It just happened organically. I spend so much time on my own working on different tricks and steps, and then talking to other people about what they are working on. Soon two or three us are practicing Crazy Legs or spins…
One of the skills that I learned from my parents is how to put myself last. I have a strong memory of being in a fancy European restaurant with my family. I was maybe 12. The main course was over, and the server urged me to order the “bread pudding.” I had no idea what…
I’ve been meditation daily for much of my life, and wearing an Apple Watch for many years. Only recently have I started using the Breathe app. It’s pretty great in its simplicity. Just set a time (4 minutes in my case), let it prompt you to slow down your breathing, and then sink into meditation….
“I need to get back to my crew.” Amos, S5E6, “The Expanse.” I have been thinking about this line a lot. Amos, for those that don’t know, is the “tank” of the crew of the Rocinante — the guy you send in to knock heads together (or worse) without hesitation or remorse. So to see…
So this “Life Pro Tip” thread on Reddit has been rattling around my head for the past couple of days. Reading through the thread has moved me to tears a few times. I have definitely been guilty of being that person who asked someone who is grieving or suffering “How can I help?” without offering…
Last week at Brooklyn Quaker Meeting for Worship, Todd Drake shared this beautiful message, which I am sharing with his permission: As an artist, I have often thought of making art as like fishing. It’s like you are throwing out bait and hoping that it catches something. That might mean a sale or some kind…
I have not been able to find the original source for this quote from author Kurt Vonnegut, I’m afraid. But it speaks volumes to me as a eternal beginner at so many things. When I was 15, I spent a month working on an archeological dig. I was talking to one of the archeologists one…