Author: susannahmars

Amblin’ into a new year, as one “Practice sharing the fullness of your being, your best self, your enthusiasm, your vitality, your spirit, your trust, your openness, above all, your presence. Share it with yourself, with your family, with the world.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life … Read More

Amblin’ around Boston Toward the end of last month, I found myself in the Boston Central Library in Copley Square with my daughter, who enjoys uninterrupted studying there. I read one of its inscriptions as we walked up to that magnificent building. “THE COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE AS THE SAFEGUARD OF ORDER … Read More

Amblin’ into the holidays? I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus this year for Make the Yuletide Gay at The Newmark Theatre in December with Dru Rutledge. Find tickets here. Nobody does the holidays like the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Amblin’ with the people in your mind The yoga … Read More

These are the people in your neighborhood I’ve hung up my running shoes a bit this last month and have added some exercise that feels … a little slower and stretchier. When I run, I think: “Get it done, get it done.” While working on the fierce Miss Trunchbull at Portland Playhouse, I’ve been holding … Read More

An Amble of any other name, smells My daughter Olivia is an adventurer. Several months ago, she proposed a backpacking trip to Gary and me; approximately twenty-seven miles in three days. I am an athletic human, and although it seemed like a big trip, I thought, “I’m in.” I wanted to give it a shot. … Read More

It takes a village In my July newsletter, I mentioned a production of Gypsy I was in at Portland Center Stage. Above is a photo from the show taken by Owen Carey. PCS’s Chris Coleman, Rose Riordan, and director Bill Fennelly took a chance on me. I was slated to play one of the strippers, … Read More

Money makes the world go round I’m heartbroken to report that cultural funding in our state will stop woefully short of our deep need. Read Bob Hicks’ article here. Bill 2459 would have appropriated the necessary funds to the Oregon Business Development Department to distribute to Oregon cultural organizations in response to the negative impact … Read More

Going deeper than our masks of composure In all about love bell hooks cites M. Scott Peck’s definition of community: The coming together of a group of individuals “who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure, and who have developed some significant commitment to … Read More

Happy anniversary Happy Anniversary to me! I’ve been blogging for one year, where’d the time go? After digging into my calendar, I found that I was rehearsing We Live Here at Hand2Mouth Theatre a year ago. During that process, through my audio description mentor Cheryl Green, I learned about an offering from Curiosity Paradox. It … Read More

I’m late for a very important date. I just watched the Boston Marathon on ESPN. OH. MY. GOSH. I often end up in tears at sporting events, and watching the Boston Marathon this morning was no exception. Five women, after twenty-five miles, battled, yes, battled to win. Watching reminds me to continue showing up fully … Read More