Introducing Inspired Belonging: Note From Dan & Reflection Questions
Listen Introducing Inspired Belonging
“I have, in the past many years, been using the L word in my classroom and that is love, and I think with a total acceptance that I can say to my students, and I can really say it from a heart space, that I love you, and I want you to do well, and I want you to know me, and I want you to know each other, and I want you to build community together, and understand the depths of who you are and understand the depths of what is possible in your life.”
-Stephanie Renée Payne
When Stephanie Renée Payne and I began our work creating the Inspired Belonging workshops and ethos, we'd already been having long conversations about the role of love in our teaching, our writing, and in our scholarship. bell hooks was and still is like this everlasting voice echoing in the room whenever we come together, and so it wasn't out of the ordinary to lean into developing a pedagogy of love, which became Inspired Belonging.
In this first episode of the Inspired Belonging series, we want to invite everyone who listens to come on this lifelong journey with us, to learn with us, to build love-centered communities. We need to hear loving words so much more, say loving words, feel loving feelings and emotions, we need to be wrapped in layers of love, and this comes with cultivating a practice of love.
Love is a practice.
Love takes practice.
Love can be learned.
Writing is such a strong way to cultivate this love practice, both of self and others. Writing builds bridges, it nourishes the spirit, and it allows us to focus on what we have in common instead of what divides us; writing moves us closer to one another.
“It’s also learning to walk with ourselves fully, to fully accept all the aspects of who we are and when we do that we’re better at opening ourselves up to others.”
-Stephanie Renée Payne
When I returned to my writing practice after many years of abandonment, workaholism, and shame, it was like turning on a light in a dark room. Colors that were sucked from my view of the world started to come back, my body felt like it was being excavated from being buried alive, and I enjoyed again, just enjoyed waking up, breathing, and walking around in my body.
When I returned to writing, I returned to love.
When I returned to writing, I reopened my heart.
This is just the beginning for Inspired Belonging on Writing Remix, and we can't wait to engage with you all. Please send your thoughts, your questions, and your ideas for future episodes. And if you're interested in booking us on your podcast, or to run a workshop, email writingremixpodcast@gmail.com.
Inspired Belonging Reflective Questions
This week's Reflective Questions ask us to consider what we bring to assessing?
Sit with yourself for 5 minutes and breathe. After 5 minutes, reflect on all the sensations you felt and/or are feeling. Sensations can be mind, body, and spirit sensations.
Reflect on the word Inspire, and all the sensations that come to you when you see, hear, and say this word.
Reflect on the word Belong(ing), and all the sensations that come to you when you see, hear, and say this word.
Share your writing with us at writingremixpodcast@gmail.com, or post your thoughts on Instagram and tag the podcast @WritingRemixPod #InspiredBelonging and we'd love to read them on the next Inspired Belonging episode!
Introducing Inspired Belonging
Dan & Stephanie Renée Payne start a series of podcast episodes called “Inspired Belonging” on Writing Remix. On this inaugural episode, Dan & Stephanie explore their thoughts and understandings of belonging, it’s connection to writing, and how the late great bell hooks plays such a deep role in their cultivating of Inspired Belonging workshops, presenta…