Tomorrow, June 14, 2025, there will be a large-scale military parade in Washington, D.C. Threats have been issued, warning that “any protesters” will be met with “heavy force.” While peaceful protests are protected under the First Amendment, maybe this would be a good time to stay away from the District. How lovely would it be for this attention seeking spectacle to be met with empty streets?
The coordinated No Kings protest seems to have the same idea. While they are hosting events in cities across the United States on June 14, they are not hosting an event in Washington, D.C. Here is an excerpt from their statement about this decision:
Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together in communities across the country to reject strongman politics and corruption.
Those in the D.C. area are encouraged to join the No Kings event in Philadelphia or one of the local events in Virginia or Maryland. You can find an event near you here: No Kings Events.
Intentional Speech and Silence
There are many times in life when it’s important to speak up for yourself, your loved ones, and your values. There are also times when your silence is just as valuable.
Just as the No Kings organizers are strategically planning events away from the D.C. parade, we can choose where to spend our words and our energy. That goes beyond the political realm to all aspects of our lives.
When I’m teaching yoga, I balance instruction with silence, allowing space for students to experience the practice in their own way. When I’m writing, I carefully consider what to describe and what to leave to the readers’ imagination.
We’ve all had times when we’ve regretted rash words and maybe some moments when silence has led to better results. The tricky part is knowing when and where to use your voice.
With age, I’ve learned to listen for my authentic voice, speaking when I’m comfortable and avoiding being goaded into a response. It’s a work in progress. And it’s certainly easier when I’m feeling more secure in myself—a feeling that has gotten stronger with age and experience.
In general, it helps to notice the physical reactions in your body. When your jaw tightens or your stomach clenches, that may be a sign to take a breath and weigh your response. When someone is trying to get a rise out of you, don’t give them that power. Decide when and where you want to share your thoughts. Otherwise, appreciate the value in choosing silence.
Mini Yoga Break
Yoga is a holistic practice including physical, mental, and energetic elements. Within the energetic body, yoga explores energy channels called nadis, as well as centers of energy called chakras. Modern yoga typically focuses on 7 chakras that run from the base of your spine to the crown of your head.
One of these chakras, vishuddha chakra, is centered in your throat and is associated with communication, personal expression, truth, and clarity. To help balance energy in your throat chakra (and in your nervous system), you can practice Bhramari Pranayama, which is also known as Bee Breath.
To practice a simple form of Bee Breath, take a full breath in and hum on the exhale. Use a low tone and feel the vibrations in your throat, chest, and jaw. You can begin with one round and build up to taking a few rounds in a row.
After practicing Bee Breath, allow some time to sit and feel the vibrations that echo in your body. Meditate on the idea of authentic, clear expression, knowing that you control when and where you share your words with others.
Writing and/or Yoga Updates
I had a lovely time meeting new readers at the Williams Gap Book Fair last weekend. If you missed the event, you can still buy my books online in both print and ebook editions. Learn more at SusanQuilty.com/Books. My next in-person event will be in August at Blend Coffee Bar—more info to come!
On the yoga front, I don’t have any upcoming workshops planned, but you can attend my regular classes in-person or virtually at Sthira Sukham Yoga.
Throwback Spotlight
Since I’ve been talking about communication, let’s take a look at one of my podcast stories from last summer titled Condesplaining. Yes, that’s a made-up word. It’s a sort of gender-neutral version of mansplaining.
You can listen to the story here: Condesplaining
You can also find Freely Written wherever you listen to podcasts. Each 10-minute episode (give or take a few minutes) features a story that was written (by me) from a prompt with no planning and very little editing. It’s a fun creative exercise that I hope you will enjoy!
I'm finding that to keep peace with coworkers and family I have to bite my tongue quite a bit about current events. It's hard for me when I know how scary things are. It helps to have safe people to be able to vent to and connect with. Thank you for creating a safe space in such an unsafe world