Dr. Delilah!

Today everything changed.

I should have written this blog post this morning, when I was bouncing off the walls and spastically hugging my coworkers who had no idea what was going on with me. I was WAY too excited then, and unfortunately all I had for breakfast was coffee. But I will no longer let the suspense linger! I have wonderful, fantastical, magical news!

In July, I will be going to Israel for two weeks to participate in a Medical Clowning Summer Seminar! For those of you who are wondering what exactly medical clowning entails, just think Patch Adams. The seminar will take place in Haifa, and is modeled after a three year BA program that the University of Haifa offers. As far as I know, this is the only degree program of it's kind, and it was created in part to help legitimize medical clowning as a therapeutic tool and practice in hospitals. I heard about the seminar from a family friend, and after a couple nights of wondering whether I was actually good enough to even consider applying, I leapt... and got accepted.

I am still reeling! Medical clowning is something I have been intrigued by ever since I started reading about it a few months ago, but I always thought that if I ever did pursue it, it would be some time in the future when I had a few more years experience as a clown under my belt. It takes such an amazing amount of strength, I still wonder whether I have that strength.

Anyone who has gotten me talking about circus knows that I am a huge advocate for the incredible healing powers circus arts and clowning can bring. I love teaching it because the smile that kids get on their faces when they finally spin a plate or ride a unicycle. The JOY and excitement when their parents see them perform a feat of incredible skill! It takes so much patience of the self, acceptance, confidence,  these are the real lessons we are teaching. I remember when I first met one of my very dear clown friends, I asked him why he got into circus work. He told me, "Because it's magic", and I laughed. But he was totally serious. Seriously, serious, magic. Fast forward to today, and I find myself saying the same thing when people ask me why I do it. It really is a kind of magic, to look at a kid and say hey, I am going to teach you this skill that looks physically impossible, and if you trust me and trust yourself, you can do anything!

Gosh I am turning into such a hippie...

Participating in this seminar does mean however, that I will have to cancel my plans to go to Austria and participate in the World Body Painting Festival. They start on the same weekend, and it's sad because I was looking forward to that... but in the end I know this is the right decision to make.

This is one of those times when I know I am going FAR outside of my comfort zone, doing something that is bound to be full of experiences that will be taxing on my heart and body, but also incredibly rewarding. I'll be meeting lots of other clowns, some of whom have worked in hospitals, some who haven't. More updates and musings to come! The flight is booked!