Stuckiness

Wednesday October 30, 2019
This morning, I completed the Bikram yoga sequence at home, followed by Khapalabhati and Nadi Shodanham breath-work, and finished with a 5-minute guided Lovingkindness meditation.
Later, after some reading- and writing-related work, I took Thea for a short walk and then rode my bike to the market.  It is a 6km round trip. 
I've been trying to move beyond this Month of False Starts and No Starts, so I followed my own past instructions given to students and wrote down my intentions for the day, as well as those which "I will do my best at...". 

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Thursday October 31, 2019
Halloween! All hail the Witches!
I subscribed to The New Yorker online today so that I can read more of Malcolm Gladwell's work.  Last night, I had begun some research into M.F.A. writing programs offered by Unis with strong reputations; that was information was overwhelming in the sense that it's near impossible to get in (based on applicant to acceptance ratios in top programs), but that many of the best offer full-scholarships and stipends to the students who matriculate!  In other words, if you are accepted, you attend tuition-free, receive living allowance stipends, and normally come out with a book deal.   The applicant numbers are in the hundreds and thousands, and those accepted number 5-10.  
I am trying, trying, trying to discipline myself with a set daily schedule for writing, applying for freelance work as a remote copy editor/proofreader or tutor, and exercise.  I've slowly been moving out of vacation sloth mode and into work mode, although I expected that transition to happen weeks ago and instantly.  POOF! Gina writes/works 6-8 hours each day and is a Published Writer. Ha! 
On the other hand, I'm trying not to be too hard on myself for sitting on my a** all day and watching movies while eating Nutella for the past 4 weeks, rather than following through with my daily intentions of attending Bikram classes, riding my bike, meditating, running, writing 4 hours each morning, working remotely a few hours each day, and otherwise being "productive".  I'm getting there, I hope. ​
Now that I have finished publicly flogging myself, I can state that I started doing some calisthenics and strength exercises to add to my yoga training and cycling.  It includes a series of sit-ups, push-ups, squates, jumping jacks, plank holds, leg lifts, and more.  I set a timer so that I work for 50 minutes then take a movement break incorporating yoga or calisthenics/strength exercises.
Time to walk the doggie!

Image Credit: World Religions and Spirituality https://wrldrels.org/2016/10/08/bikram-yoga/ in an online article authored by David G. Bromley and Caitlin St. Clair.

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