Mira Keras

Gold High Heels and Other Uniquely Personal Ways to Focus Your Mind (Mira Keras)

Former Improvised Life assistant editor-come-star-tattoo-artist Mira Keras wrote this spot-on description of a writer procrastinating. She discovered something essential in the process that unleashed her productivity.

How Trees Can Teach Us What It Means to Be Whole

Why do we humans think we should survive with all parts intact, that only that is wholeness?

How to Signal ‘Angry’ Without Blowing Your Top

Wise woman Mira Keras recently mentioned a unique strategy she came up for dealing with situations when either she, her husband or her young daughter Gogo are angry, inevitable in any close relationship.

Line Drawings and Tattoos on Walls or Floor (Cocteau, Matisse, Keras)

This charming line drawing Madrid artist Angela Leon drew on her wall made me think of Matisse, Jean Cocteau AND Mira Keras’ monochrome tattoo designs.

The Greatest Gift We Can Give or Receive (Gogo, Virginia Satir)

Two-and-three-quarters-years-old Gogo’s wise words echo an essential principle of ground-breaking psychotherapist Virginia Satir…one we could all put to good use.

Create Your Own Crazy Vision (Marc Johns, Emily Dickinson, et al)

The great Marc Johns’ sign NAILS Improvised Life’s essential message and practice. We learn by example…(and poetry).

Mothers Day Special: Moms Rewrite Ivanka’s Clueless Rules

In this video, Mira Keras and four working mothers read from Ivanka Trump’s book Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules of Success, and share their thoughts on Trump’s strategies for succeeding at work without sacrificing family life and well-being. Mira’s strategy trumps Ivanka’s!

How to Practice, Just About Anything (+ Allen Ginzberg)

This cool little video WOKE US UP recently about something we do daily. Practice. We realize now, we don’t always “get” the best way to do it, or the essential piece that we are missing.

every inhalation triggers inspiration (John Franzen)

Artist John Franzen uses an intriguing practice to make his drawings composed of many parallel lines: Each line, one breath. We wondered what would happen if we tried Franzen’s method.

Saying NO to Holiday Gift-Giving Guilt (Mira Keras)

Despite all pressures and temptations, this year I will not be buying any Christmas gifts this year; I’ll use other strategies to show my love.

Gogo’s ‘Focus/Fuck This’ Practice

My daughter is two years old and is learning so much right now. Mostly, we are practicing patience. It’s easy to get frustrated when chubby little hands fumble zippers or shoe Velcro or doll clothes…To bring her down to earth, I say to her “FOCUS”. Then she usually repeats it back to me, sounding a lot like “FUCK THIS”.

Jessamyn Stanley’s Liberation Yoga: ‘Fuck Comparison’

In a short demo session, body-loving yoga master Jessamyn Stanley undid my shame about not being perfect AND set me straight why we NEED yoga. She is a force of nature, who is making yoga accessible.

How to Gratitude, From a Two-Year-Old

With our tumultuous political climate and Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s an especially good time to remember gratitude. Gogo, my spunky two year old, has a cool practice she came to all on her own.

Move Shit Forward Even If You Don’t Quite Know What You’re Doing

‘Move Shit Forward’ can be a great practice if you don’t know what you’re doing or where you need to be.

‘Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Hit’ (Mike Tyson + Mira Keras)

After the clothing line I was designing got derailed by a health crisis, I blamed myself for not getting it done. A conversation with Sally (and Mike Tyson by proxy), gave me a very different perspective.

Instant Costumes for Uncertain Halloween Parties

Arriving at a Halloween party in full costume when no one else is is kind of a drag…as is NOT wearing a costume when everyone else is (downer). How to dress for a Halloween party you aren’t sure if people are going to be in costume or not? Mira Keras found inspiration in member of the…

Morph Your Ancient Laptop (even Macs) into a ChromeBook

After Improvised Life’s part-time editorial assistant Mira Keras had a health challenge that lasted months, causing extended leave from her two steady gigs, her laptop broke. It happened just as she was feeling well enough to return to virtual work at Improvised Life AND when her emergency-slammed finances were at an all-time low. She told me about…

Work Wherever, However You Need

It’s tempting to imagine that writers are creating from glossy white offices, with fresh cut flowers, and lattes in artful cups. It can feel like if that’s not your reality you’re not “doing it right”. That’s bullshit.

Why You Should Do Whatever You Want to Your Hair (Mira Keras + Solonge)

Hair has been both a prison and a means to empowerment for women since the beginning of time. Empowerment is at the fore —going blue proved a deeply expressive statement for me—and Solange’s ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ nails it.

What You Can Do When You Are Too Challenged To Do Anything

Last week I was supposed to write some articles for Improvised Life and couldn’t do it. I am a few weeks post-op from a serious surgery. Healing at am unexpectedly glacial place is wearing away at my normally very high optimism, physical energy and focus. I’ve talked openly on Improvised Life before about “being myself in a…

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