Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Body Truisms

A la Jenny Holzer. But with a focus on the body, since that's what I was thinking about when I wrote them. Like with Holzer's Truisms, some of these I believe, some I think are bullshit.

Some appeared in chalk on the bricks in front of Casa Libre with chalk with the teenage grrls writing class I teach. They wrote their own. Pretty kick ass: http://www.grrlsactivism.blogspot.com/

Here are mine:

A simple breath contains all we need to know and remember.

Breasts are either useful, erotic, or a nuisance.

Creating an alternate strategy in the presence of an obstacle is a sign of brilliance.

Dancing is good for one's mental health.

Evenness and symmetry are boring and undesirable.

Fingers are utensils worth washing.

Giving-in can yield pleasant sensations.

Hamstrings are the elevators of our daily lives.

Inspiration begins at the base of the spine.

Jumping will redefine your concept of gravity.

Kinesthetic travel expands one's range and reduces one's carbon footprint.

Laughter is more effective than sit-ups for toning one's abdominal muscles.

Memories are like back flips--you can land wrong and break something.

Never breaking a bone means you didn't try hard enough.

Old-age means nothing.

Pain is an opportunity to try something else.

Quivering muscles indicate the need to relax or pay more attention.

Rotating frequently ensures new perspectives, or a stomach ache.

Skeletons need not come out of the closet if they are carefully hung and preserved there.

Tongues are the see-saws of the soul.

Undulation reminds us that we are mostly water.

Vaginas are fists without fingers.

Walking is also dancing.

the Xiphoid process shouts the body's secrets.

You cannot successfully dwell outside of your body.

Zealousness can strain the scalenes.