I have learned about myself that when I am away from home for an extended period of time, there comes a point when I am struck with a bout of homesickness. I’m coming out of that now. I was almost thinking of going home right after Jolene’s visit, but today the feeling started to dissipate. I have turned the corner.
Lois stopped by for a bit today. She invited me to join her and Buzz to attend a fundraiser in town at the BCP. This is the blurb: BCP Fundraiser at TapOut Sports Zone. DJ Mike spins Motown sounds and the Johnson Family performs a Motown dance number. Soul Food Cookout with BBQ pork and chicken, mac’n’cheese, black-eyed peas, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. Dominoes and Spades games. $20 tickets at the door.
So, I think I’d better eat before I go, but it sounds like fun.
Lois is going to come over one day to learn Zentangle. Here’s my latest from today. It’s called Huggins. I love this design. It satisfies the “precision” gene in me. I’ll be making a number of these. Lots of room to grow.
I decided to go out to breakfast tomorrow morning and do movie day with “the gang.” I think it’ll do me good to get out and mingle a bit. I love solitude, but there comes a point when I know I need more human contact. So, looks like this weekend will be a cure.
I have also decided to start writing the book on the Camino. This also may be why I’ve been feeling “off.” Perhaps I’m being prodded. When I decided to do this, I started to feel a bit better. As tough as writing is for me, I have discovered a joy in it that I didn’t know in the past. What I have discovered is that I like writing just for the joy of the process, just like the artwork. I have no agenda, and I really don’t care if it gets published or not. Like the artwork, it has been a practice in releasing myself from judgment – just always returning to the joy of the process and not being concerned with where it goes or how it will be received.
I listened to a great podcast today on Rich Roll. He was interviewing Steven Pressfield. Pressfield has written a number of books, including The Legend of Baggar Vance, which is the only one I read, and I did so because it was recommended by Eckhart Tolle.
I found it interesting that when I came here in January of 2019, and I knew I wanted to write something, but I didn’t know what, I happened to listen to an Ophrah podcast in which she was interviewing Pressfield. He said, “Just start writing!” He says to just write anything, even if it is complete gibberish, and see what happens, and so I did. And so it feels strange that, just as I decided to get back to writing, I find this current podcast. Weird.
My thinking now, however, is that I cannot spend money on this. I spent too much on my first book attempt, and that is now feeling uncomfortable, like a waste of money. But I will continue with this next book, using what I learned from the first experience.
I’m sorry you’ve gone through a rough patch. It sounds like you were able to overcome those pesky thoughts. I think you’ve had a couple of nasty curve balls lately and it clouded how your time as been until then. I’m happy to hear you will write again and will enjoy doing that.
I love your latest Zentangle! I’m still practicing and I enjoy doing that too. Try not to think about judgement and concentrate on how happy and fortunate you are to create . Hey, and if you don’t want to stay as long as you planned on, come home and wear your long underwear,soak in your hot tub and cook . Love you!
Thanks. You are always good for my soul.
Love you 😘 and the new zentangle is very pretty 🙂
Love you too!
“Pain is never permanent”. St Theresa Avila. See: “The Dark Night of the Soul is the Gift in Illuminating Higher Consciousness” At drdarrylpokea.com
Click your Ruby Slippers and say “There is no place like home.”
Feeling so much better today. Thanks.
Good to hear that you are feeling better. You have great support from those that care about you including me.
I know that; it sustains me; and I love you for it.
black eyed peas and mashed potatoes sounds like the start of a meal! How was the event? sounds like a blast. and yes, just start writing about the camino. your blogs were awesome
The party is tomorrow. I was also thinking the potatoes would be a good idea; however, I cannot imagine they would make black-eyed peas or greens without some kind of pork. Thanks for the encouragement on the writing. It goes a long way.
Chrissy, your Zentangle is looking very sophisticated and elegant. I can see calligraphy skills are advantageous. I really enjoy Zentangle as well. Glad you have a close sociaI social network and reach out and socialize. I am having a hard time finding a place to eat out. There is a Japanese restaurant who serves brown rice and steamed veggies. And a fancy farm to table with several options. We are going for Valentine’s Day. Saw Dr. T. Colin Campbell speak today sponsored by the Enrichment Academy. He was very technical. He is a biochemist and has done the studies and actually named it WFPB. Enjoy your new writing project. You had a lot of humor and wisdom in your blogs. Should be fun!
I think I have heard the name T. Colin Campbell, but I’m not sure I’ve seen him yet. I’ll have to look him up. Have you heard of Mora Medical? I found it on YouTube and subscribed. This is a group of physicians and PA’s who practice what is called lifestyle medicine. They will still prescribe conventional medication, but it is not their first choice. They look at the entire patient and their lifestyle. AND…it is covered by insurance in many states. I see this as the way of the future. I have begun seeing a functional medicine physician. She did genetic testing, and that is what began my adventure into the vegan lifestyle. Knowing that I have the heart-attack gene is a game-changer for me. Yes, finding restaurants that cater to the WFPB diet is not easy, but I believe it is also the wave of the future. We just have to ask. I think we are quite lucky that we enjoy cooking and already enjoy vegetables. And, yes, I also believe that the calligraphy skills help with the Zentangle. I remember when I started doing calligraphy, I had to assure my teacher that I did not have a neurological disorder but that my hand was just shaky. He assured me that it would dissipate with time, and it has. These fine motor movements need constant reinforcement as we get older. I hope to always have beautiful penmanship. Right now, the style of calligraphy I do is called Engrosser’s Script. My goal is to become certified in that and then learn Spencerian. Engrosser’s is very slow and methodical. I am thinking, and I could be wrong, that the Spencerian will flow more easily and can be used for correspondence. We’ll see.