A Blogger’s Diary 11/29/30: On Writing, Extreme Risk, and Our Head and Heart

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As I reflect back upon this week, it occurs to me that, yes, it too was a busy week, as, at work, we prepared to publish and send out our fourth completely remote digital schedule of classes. Wow.

In some ways, it’s hard to believe that we’ve now been creating and delivering completely remote classes and training for 10 months. Phew.

And, in other ways, not so hard to believe. Because, some days it feels like we’ve been living inside of this pandemic a lot longer. Keep breathing everyone. Really.

Writing? Sure. Here we go.

Writing

More writing this week, which was a blast. Here’s what that looked like in case you haven’t seen them all yet.

Another wow. Lots of writing this week. Fun! And, next week?

Hm. I’m a little more unsure about my writing next week than usual. I know, I know, I actually write that quite often, or something like that, maybe in a different way. Why?

Because I am truly unsure how it will go. Much of that has to do with how much time I’ll have to write. It’s different every week. And?

Well, here’s the plan anyway.

More poetry? Oh, yes, of course! I am having such a great time writing poetry. I am working on several pieces right now! Much fun.

I will also be working on the Leadership Series this week, on installment, well, 2.5, which is the other half of the second installment on developing the self. More fun!

I’m sure I’ll also have a reflection series post this week, though last week that did not occur. We will see. And, you know, for me, that’s part of the fun.

Seeing what comes. What insights happen throughout the week, and how they, sometimes, turn into poetry or another post. The creative process is quite beautiful. Wouldn’t you agree?

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Extreme Risk

In last week’s entry, I wrote a little about the 2-week freeze the Governor put Oregon under, which expires, I think, this coming Wednesday.

Yet, not really. Why?

Well, it turns out the county I live in, and the county I work in have been classified as extreme risk. Meaning?

Continued restrictions. Difficult. And, yet totally understandable.

Last week, my oldest son told me that University sent everyone home over the Thanksgiving break, and told them not to return until winter term, which starts in early January.

Like I’ve written, it is hard right now, for everyone, everywhere. Hang in there.

Photo by Langa Hlatshwayo on Unsplash

Head and Heart

The Monday message I scheduled to go out to the team this week was created specifically because of how hard it is living inside of the pandemic right now. Has been hard, and is still hard. That is our current reality.

And, inside of that reality, it is important for each of us, all of you, yes, and me, to remember to take care of our head and our heart. Really important.

I’ve written a lot about how I take care of my head and heart, so will simply write here that however you do that matters less, than doing it. Taking care of yourself. Being with yourself. Caring for yourself. Important.

When we care for ourselves, we can care for everyone else that much more. It works that way.

Please remember to take care during this terribly stressful time.

And, lastly, I wanted to share a couple of quotes that are also part of the Monday message scheduled for tomorrow. Why?

Well, because I think they are inspirational, just like each of you. Here we go.

“One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong. Only through the bringing together of head and heart-intelligence and goodness-shall man rise to a fulfillment of his true nature.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

AZ Quotes

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” -Nelson Mandela

AZ Quotes

“People with high levels of personal mastery…cannot afford to choose between reason and intuition, or head and heart, any more than they would choose to walk on one leg or see with one eye.” -Peter Senge

AZ Quotes

“Knowledge is a great gift, and the thirst to seek it even greater. Use what you know…Head and heart…You are not made to give greater weight to one than the other.” -Nora Roberts

AZ Quotes

Love is of all passions the strongest, for it attacks simultaneously the head, the heart and the senses. -Laozi

AZ Quotes

Love those. Beautiful. Alright, that’s all for this week.

As I’ve already written, keep breathing, keep moving, keep loving, keep learning, and keep living.

You are needed. You are an inspiration.

Have a great week, and be well, my friends.


#bloggersdiary, #covid-19, #diary, #headandheart, #laozi, #life, #love, #martinlutherkingjr, #nelsonmandela, #noraroberts, #petersenge, #quotes, #writing

A Blogger’s Diary 11/1/20: On the Paradox of Poetry, Writing, and Life

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Well, we are two days away from the election, COVID-19 cases are up in Oregon, we are continuing to deliver classes and training remotely, and I’ve been writing more poetry lately. Hm. Interesting.

Right, so here’s what I was up to this week, in the event you missed it.

There we go. See. More poetry.

Photo by Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash

Poetry

It is interesting to consider. I do like writing poetry, and am having a lot of fun doing so. Funnily enough, as I’ve written before, I haven’t read much poetry, though when I find poetry I like, I go back to it again and again.

And, I’ve been reading a lot more poetry lately from the blogs of some of the most outstanding poets and writers. Lovely.

I also love the challenge of writing poetry. It is an interesting paradox. In some ways it is easier than the other topics I choose to write about, and yet, in many ways much more difficult. Hm.

I enjoy sitting with a peice, pondering it, reflecting upon it, until the right words show up. Fun. I also like being out on a walk or hike, and find that inspiration stirring me to stop on the path, and make notes in my phone.

That is exactly how the road poem showed up today.

Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash

Writing

I have some ideas for next week, yet, if you read my last installment, A Blogger’s Diary 10/24/20: On Writing, Reading, and 200+ Followers, you will note that my writing plan changed as this week progressed.

Is it like that for you? It is often that way for me.

Anyway, at this time, I have planned another installment on sensitivity, a piece on sociology, and, hm, ah yes, a post on wonder. That’s what I have for now anyway. The poetry, you ask? Good question.

You know that works a little differently than the other things I choose to write about. Well, sort of.

With poetry, I usually see something that inspires me, and then from that derive a concept and then write. So, in a way the process is similar to my other writing, and yet feels a little different.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

Life

Lastly, I wanted to acknowledge just how hard this year has been for everyone. Really. It has been.

Yet, I also want to acknowledge the resiliency of the human spirit. Very resilient. Much more resilient than people imagine. And, it is beautiful to be a part of and to witness.

I have found and read so many inspirational stories this year. Please know that you are all inspirational to me. All of you.

Though life has been extraordinarily hard this year, and, well, looks like it will continue to be, at least from a pandemic perspective, for some time; know that you are bringing people hope and joy each and every day by writing as you do. Just as you are and as you do. Wonderful.

I’ve laughed and teared more at my computer screen these past few months than at any other time in my life. And, I’m not young. Ha!

Right. Well, it is about time to wrap up this installment. Yet, before I do, let me leave you with two quotes I adore from two very inspirational people. Here you go.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
― Helen Keller

Driven

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
― Maya Angelou

Driven

Lovely.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

#poetry, #blogger, #bloggersdiary, #blogging, #covid-19, #diary, #elections, #helenkeller, #life, #quotes, #resilience, #writing

A Blogger’s Diary 9/3/20: On the Need for Adequate Sleep and Other Meanderings

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I feel like each week I write the words, phew, what a busy week. Well, this week was no different than the previous. Phew, busy, busy, busy.

Open registration began this past week, and our enrollments are up from the past two terms, which is exciting. As I’ve written about in previous posts, COVID-19 has made creating and delivering experiential classes, workshops, and training, precarious.

Yet, we’ve persisted, and not resisted; and have over 150 remote classes on offer this fall term. Pretty cool.

This past week, I’ve been reflecting upon the need for adequate sleep. Yes, sleep. Really. I’ve spent the past 20 years being a, well, not very good sleeper. Yet, I’m getting better.

And, adequate sleep is needed more now than ever. More than ever.

How do you sleep?

One insight into sleeping adequately I’ve had the past two weeks is this: when you’re sleepy, sleep. Often, I think we resist. I did, for many years. Not helpful. Sleep when you are tired.

Photo by Tony Tran on Unsplash

Last Saturday, I opened up my medium account, and an article of mine had been curated. 100 submissions, and a first curation. Pretty cool.

In The Social Construction Series Part 1: 7 Reasons Why Understanding Social Constructions Is Important, I write about how important it is to understand that the whole world, and everything in it is a social construction. All of it.

Then, I got a message that curious, which is a subsidiary of medium wanted to publish it. Exciting. Of course you can find the article on my site, or you can check it out on curious.

I am now working on the social construction of knowledge. Fun. I will have it completed sometime this weekend.

Alright, that’s it for this submission.

Remember, sleep when you are tired. Really. When we resist, which I did for a long time, it does not help. In fact, it makes us more tired, less productive, and easily agitated.

Here are a couple quotes I like on sleep.

“The minute anyone’s getting anxious I say, you must eat and you must sleep. They’re the two vital elements for a healthy life.” Francesca Annis

Awaken the Greatness Within

“Sleep is the best meditation.” Dalai Lama

Awaken the Greatness Within

Be well. Sleep well.

#blogger, #blogging, #blogs, #covid-19, #diary, #persistwithoutresistance, #quotes, #sleep, #sleepisimportant, #sleepisneeded, #sleepwhentired, #socialconstruct, #socialconstruction, #socialconstructionism, #theneedforsleep