Just Say “Yes”!

A few months ago, friend and women’s empowerment activist living in Baja,
Mary Contreras, invited me to present at the second annual BAJA WOMEN’S CONFERENCE on September 21, 2024.

I thought of many reasons to hesitate, like the fact that I’d not driven alone
(egads) or lived in Baja for five years or I was out of practice being a presenter,
on and on. Then I remembered the advice of an elder mentor, “Just say ‘yes’,
take the next step. One thing leads to another.”

My mentor was the age I am now and “Just say ‘yes’” had served her well
during a long and fruitful career as an expressive arts/movement therapist and
teacher.

When Mary offered to put me up as her guest in her lovely home close to the
Pacific Ocean, my “YES”! became enthusiastic.

The Baja Women’s Conference opened with keynote speaker, Gloria Snyder,
and she followed her talk by forming a circle of wisdom.

Participants in wisdom circle outside the Rosarito Center for the Arts, Baja California

Gloria smudged each participant as a reminder of all the women who have come

before and dedicated themselves to our well-being.

In one of the many breakout sessions, I offered an expressive arts group
dynamic where the ten participants could experience sound and movement,
artmaking and poetry. Personal sharing was a key element.

First, I handed each participant a percussion instrument and a scarf.

Then I demonstrated how we could each make a sound with an instrument and
movement with our scarves. I added repetition of my name three times. Each
one followed by introducing herself in her own unique way. We got to know
one another a bit. I put on lively music to bring our energy up and invited
everyone to move and dance.

At the table, I offered an art adventure with rectangular paper and colored
pencils. Each of us drew a figure or simply interesting lines and passed the
paper in front of us to the right. We repeated the process until the original
came back to each person. We shared a title for the piece and what we noticed
in the final drawing. Mine contained mountains, a tree, the sun, clouds and
some flowers. This spoke to me of all the aspects of nature. It was as if they all
knew what a nature lover I am. The drawings were a gift to take home,
something special that had been touched by each person.

Our final creative venture was an acrostic poem, using each person’s name
written from the top to bottom of a page of paper. We added words across the
page that incorporated each letter of our name. For instance, mine read: SUSAN

Each participant read her poem aloud and what inspired her to write it.
Throughout the 1 ½ -hour session, we learned a bit more about each member
of the group through the processes of creative expression. A warm bonding
happened naturally.

When it was time to leave and attend the next session, the light in each
person’s eyes, the smiles on their faces and the warm “thank you’s” were my
greatest rewards for just saying “yes”.