Saturday, March 17, 2007
Today I actually want to say something, but can't come up with anything. I know that I need to spend some serious time in contemplation this weekend, because I'm feeling totally drained in a spiritual sense, though I'm in a pretty good mood. My plan is to get my stuff done earlier today so that I can do some quiet time later on. I think I'm going out tonight but I don't know when. I want to get my shopping done, a little bit of cleaning, get the dogs to the park, workout, and then down time for whatever time I'm left with before I need to go out. Saturdays really are getting hectic for me.
As far as fear is concerned, I feel like I'm somewhat in control again. I'm starting to see how there are legitimate fears that I can expect to experience. Realizing I'm afraid of something does not somehow brand me incapable, chickenshit, or weak. It just means that I'm human, and I have a choice. There are things about my past and present life that I can't change, but as always, my reaction is entirely my decision. I feel like I'm in a better place, because I've learned how to see through my emotional responses to the fear that's causing them, and I've learned ways of managing them. I don't think there's such a thing as a fearless person. I think people who seem fearless are simply very skilled at controlling their fears, instead of the other way around.
My goal as ever is to grow and find balance. I want to contemplate matters of spirituality, and I want to get in shape, and I want to manage my household, and I want a healthy amount of socialization and entertainment. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find this a very delicate balance to maintain. I don't understand how other people can do it. I want to make excuses, like, they work less, or they have more energy, or they have a spouse to at least help out a bit.... but making excuses doesn't improve my situation. So why do it?
So. I'm going to Portland in May, providing I get my passport in time. Any of y'all live in portland? Near portland? adjacent to portland? Know someone cool in portland? I'll be there for a week, we can have coffee.
Now to go out and get domestic.
As far as fear is concerned, I feel like I'm somewhat in control again. I'm starting to see how there are legitimate fears that I can expect to experience. Realizing I'm afraid of something does not somehow brand me incapable, chickenshit, or weak. It just means that I'm human, and I have a choice. There are things about my past and present life that I can't change, but as always, my reaction is entirely my decision. I feel like I'm in a better place, because I've learned how to see through my emotional responses to the fear that's causing them, and I've learned ways of managing them. I don't think there's such a thing as a fearless person. I think people who seem fearless are simply very skilled at controlling their fears, instead of the other way around.
My goal as ever is to grow and find balance. I want to contemplate matters of spirituality, and I want to get in shape, and I want to manage my household, and I want a healthy amount of socialization and entertainment. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find this a very delicate balance to maintain. I don't understand how other people can do it. I want to make excuses, like, they work less, or they have more energy, or they have a spouse to at least help out a bit.... but making excuses doesn't improve my situation. So why do it?
So. I'm going to Portland in May, providing I get my passport in time. Any of y'all live in portland? Near portland? adjacent to portland? Know someone cool in portland? I'll be there for a week, we can have coffee.
Now to go out and get domestic.
posted by ursa smaller at 10:08 AM |
1 comments
Monday, March 12, 2007
fun on monday
I am very happy with my latest quiz result:
 | You scored as Buffy Summers. You are a very strong individual. You do, however, have some trouble admitting how you truly feel. You've experienced a lot during your life, but you more than manage. Always willing to help, you're a great friend.
Which Buffy The Vampire Slayer Character Are You Most Like!? created with QuizFarm.com |
posted by ursa smaller at 10:32 PM |
0 comments
Sunday, March 11, 2007
fear and dogshit
It's taking a while, but I'm slowly pulling out of the foul disposition I've been in.
I think I've emerged from a rather brutal intersection, somewhat reminiscent of Winnipeg's Confusion Corner. Just too many unpleasantries coming at me all at once from every direction. Today I remembered that wonderful trick for getting stuff out of my system, which only works in winter...... Digging. Or at least, shoveling, ice chipping, whatever. Follow it up with a workout, and then let yourself down with a little meditative breathing.
It would be too easy for someone like me to slip into depression. It's easy because I'm alone in this house, and 6 days of the week I don't see any people, and sometimes not on the 7th day either.... that is, people I like, and trust, and feel safe with. 6 days is plenty of time to let a bad mood disintegrate into a downright pissy frame of mind, and my dogs don't say to me "get the fuck up and do something, you lazy baby." They're happy if we go to the park.
I've been hammering away at fear. The fear of remaining alone until I'm the laughable crazy dog lady with the white flyaway hair whose house smells like dogshit. The fear of failing at everything I try. The fear of living a mediocre existence.
It's funny that I never feel afraid, though I can name fears that affect every area of my life. I guess fear is sneaky that way, it communicates itself as tension, irritation, anxiety, but never fear. Most days, all I know is that certain things make me unhappy. Does my birthday make me unhappy because there's something inherently bad about it, or is it because deep down I'm terrified that one day I'll wake up and find that I'm an old invalid who's done nothing with her life? I think it's an important distinction.
As I work through "the spiritual practices of the ninja" the main point is about fear. Fear as a counselor, but not a controller. Learning to isolate fears and then confront them. It's been a long time since I've given much thought to fear, what my fears are and how they affect me, even though they've clearly been informing my moods. I'm really glad that it's all unfolding, but it's been work, and the hardest work is forcing myself to be present and vulnerable and aware. I've been fighting the impulse to escape into fantasy, most days losing the fight. This is a main reason I haven't had anything to write here..... I haven't been present, I haven't been thinking. I've been escaping, avoiding the work that I know I need to do, the work that is so much harder than housework or yardwork or even work-work.
I think it's getting better. I hope a day will come when I can honestly say that I don't allow legitimate fears to control my decisions.
The funny thing is that I left the house midway through this post, and when I came home, my house actually smelled like dogshit. Apparently Puja wasn't feeling well. I've got candles and febreeze and the air purifier all going strong, yet all I can smell is dogshit. As though my fears were busy manifesting while I was out having fun. Strange.
I think I've emerged from a rather brutal intersection, somewhat reminiscent of Winnipeg's Confusion Corner. Just too many unpleasantries coming at me all at once from every direction. Today I remembered that wonderful trick for getting stuff out of my system, which only works in winter...... Digging. Or at least, shoveling, ice chipping, whatever. Follow it up with a workout, and then let yourself down with a little meditative breathing.
It would be too easy for someone like me to slip into depression. It's easy because I'm alone in this house, and 6 days of the week I don't see any people, and sometimes not on the 7th day either.... that is, people I like, and trust, and feel safe with. 6 days is plenty of time to let a bad mood disintegrate into a downright pissy frame of mind, and my dogs don't say to me "get the fuck up and do something, you lazy baby." They're happy if we go to the park.
I've been hammering away at fear. The fear of remaining alone until I'm the laughable crazy dog lady with the white flyaway hair whose house smells like dogshit. The fear of failing at everything I try. The fear of living a mediocre existence.
It's funny that I never feel afraid, though I can name fears that affect every area of my life. I guess fear is sneaky that way, it communicates itself as tension, irritation, anxiety, but never fear. Most days, all I know is that certain things make me unhappy. Does my birthday make me unhappy because there's something inherently bad about it, or is it because deep down I'm terrified that one day I'll wake up and find that I'm an old invalid who's done nothing with her life? I think it's an important distinction.
As I work through "the spiritual practices of the ninja" the main point is about fear. Fear as a counselor, but not a controller. Learning to isolate fears and then confront them. It's been a long time since I've given much thought to fear, what my fears are and how they affect me, even though they've clearly been informing my moods. I'm really glad that it's all unfolding, but it's been work, and the hardest work is forcing myself to be present and vulnerable and aware. I've been fighting the impulse to escape into fantasy, most days losing the fight. This is a main reason I haven't had anything to write here..... I haven't been present, I haven't been thinking. I've been escaping, avoiding the work that I know I need to do, the work that is so much harder than housework or yardwork or even work-work.
I think it's getting better. I hope a day will come when I can honestly say that I don't allow legitimate fears to control my decisions.
The funny thing is that I left the house midway through this post, and when I came home, my house actually smelled like dogshit. Apparently Puja wasn't feeling well. I've got candles and febreeze and the air purifier all going strong, yet all I can smell is dogshit. As though my fears were busy manifesting while I was out having fun. Strange.
posted by ursa smaller at 1:40 AM |
0 comments
