444 - Movement
Buen Día!
Thank you for tuning into the latest 444. This is a monthly blog honouring the moments when you connect to your heart. Each month find something for me, for you, and for us.
I'm Max. I'm a photographer and writer from Australia. This will drop into your inbox on the fourth at 4:44 from wherever I am in the world.
Today, I’m writing to you from Medellín, Colombia. Two weeks of salsa nights in Cali are catching up to me. I’m having microsleeps cafe hopping between back-to-back overnight buses.
4. me - Expression Through Movement
I’m learning to express myself in different ways. It’s forcing me to lean into things that scare me. I’m becoming comfortable with the non-linear journey and imperfections. It’s opening me up to new experiences and connections.
The latest curiosity is movement. I love how movement uniquely communicates and captures feelings.
In Cali, dancing is its own language. It’s the salsa capital of the world. People connect to themselves and others through the rhythms. The contact high is addictive.
For two weeks I learnt salsa. I was out of my depth and dreadful, but I loved every minute of it.
It was nerve-racking asking incredible dancers to join me after they were spun a thousand times. Learning to push through the anxiety helped me improve and connect.
My shaky, off-beat básicos were met with smiles and small lessons for new sequences. They celebrated all attempts and anything close to the rhythm.
The locals welcoming all levels of dance is rewriting negative thoughts in my mind. A step flattens feelings of comparison. Twirls spin away self-judgement. New confidence greets me at the end of each song.
Two weeks of dance therapy is making me ask the same question in other areas of my life:
‘What is self judgement and comparison holding me back from?’
4. you - Move Playlist
A small selection of songs that make me move.
I’m always taking recommendations.
Dance like no one’s watching
Dance like everyone’s watching.
Dance in line for coffee
Dance on the street
Dance on the beach
Dance in the passenger’s seat.
Dance to music
Dance to nothing
Dance at home
Dance alone.
Dance with friends, family, strangers
Explore the rhythms
Dance out of time
Dance to have a great time.
Who cares?
Pull faces
Give attitude
Move your hands
Tap your feet
Whatever you do,
dance
for you.
4. us - Podcasts with Friends
A friend and I listened to this podcast together on an overnight bus from Mocoa to Cali. We paused it countless times to unpack the discussions. Diving into the topics and hearing what we’re working through was beautiful.
Play this with a loved one!
A personal favourite is the poem reading at the end.
See you next month!
Thank you for being you,
Max
