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April Musing from Rebecca Crichton: One NO a Day!

I grew up believing that French women were the most elegant in the world. They were always put together, scarves draped over their shoulders, classic and stylish clothes, carefully applied make up.

There was a ‘rule’ about how that was achieved: One would dress with all the accessories you were tempted to wear: scarf, earrings, brooch, necklace, anything else one displayed to the world. Then, regarding oneself in the mirror, a single thing would be removed.

That was probably followed by stepping through the cloud of expensive perfume sprayed in front of you so the scent barely landed.

Consider the concept aspirational. That image was from the 1950s, a time famously constricting in its expectations for women. In 2025, few women aim at that kind of perfection, although most of us make some effort in how we show up.

The idea of eliminating something, of subtracting an element instead of adding one more thing, appeals to me. My essay, Enough, ruminates on what that idea might mean in our daily lives.

As a society, we like yes answers. We like being right, often engaging in non-winnable debates. Jonathan Kozol, an important educator from the 1960s, wrote about how children learn. He bemoaned the emphasis on the right answer. He noted that when we receive a no, it is an opportunity to learn something we didn’t know before. It invites us to dig deeper for understanding or information.

As I consider my familiar style of wanting and doing more (I am a former FOMO addict), I am trying a new approach I’m calling One NO a Day. In the past week, I have canceled appointments that had me too tightly booked. I declined an invitation to something I felt I should go to but didn’t have the energy for. The relief I felt when I did it surprised me.

 
For our April collaboration with Town Hall, I will be interviewing Cedron Sterling, a longtime practitioner of massage, Myofascial Release, and other healing strategies. Cedron’s story highlights the many ways we can seek support for increased health and wholeness.
 
This month’s addition to our What We Learned feature is by Ken Bedell, PhD. Dr. Bedell is a longtime activist for social justice and racial equality. He is board president of Ending Racism USA.
 
As always, we are happy to share with you the many opportunities that can keep you engaged and connected.
 
April is the month that contains both Passover and Easter. The themes are renewal, rebirth, and liberation from what oppresses us, whether internally or externally. May this month provide opportunities for true liberation.  
Rebecca

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NWCCA’s Collaboration with Town Hall

Monday, April 14, 7:30 PM
The Medhi Reading Room, Town Hall Seattle
1119 8th Avenue, Seattle

The Healing Arts and the Path of Service
Cedron Sterling with Rebecca Crichton

Cedron Sterling, LMT has shared his mastery of the healing arts of massage and Myofascial Release for more than three decades with clients and other healing practitioners. He will discuss his serendipitous and pre-ordained journey into the wide field of energy and body healing. His work has benefited clients confronting chronic pain, emotional distress, and end-of-life concerns.