TobyDeveloped over the past 50 years by female martial artists and violence prevention experts, ESD teaches a compelling mix of physical techniques and verbal strategies for deescalation and boundary setting.
Tag: facing fear
The Sacred Pause: from Dance to Self-Defense
One breath can change everything.
4 Steps to Transform Self-Doubt into Self-BeliefBelieve in Yourself First
No one will ever believe in us as much as we can believe in ourselves.
Remember: This Journey is Just a Walk in the Woods
Uncertainty. How many times must I meet you before I remember your stubborn face? In work, in travel, in body, in love—nothing is truly stable, not […]
It’s Not about Being Good—It’s about Being Bold
“It’s time to be bold, stand up, and share your art OUT LOUD.” Thus reads the event description for the open mic night I’m organizing this […]
On Growing Wings & The Value of Figuring It Out for Yourself
I have the clearest memory of asking my father for help tying my shoes. I was sitting on the bottom step of our unfinished basement—I […]
But Still: A Short Story on the Wisdom of Trust
“Trust no one,” the wise ones said. Deep-lined faces, milk eyes clouded with all the memories of all the misfortunes of all the ages, they hummed […]
How to be an Incorrigible Optimist, or, What I’m Doing in Costa Rica
“We are the crazy ones who choose to believe in peace,” he concluded. One sliver in a blurred progression of notable speakers and presentations that […]
How to Go Out Alone (& Not Hate It)
It’s 2009, and I’m eighteen. Paris is home for the year. It’s a chilly night in early winter. Ten or eleven o’clock. I’ve just gotten […]
7 Hardcore Life Lessons Travel Teaches Faster
Travel is a relentless teacher. There are no bathroom breaks, no question and answer sessions, and no weeks off for study or review. We jump […]