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Writing; Exercise; Reading
Jan. 3rd, 2024 08:31 am448 words yesterday, along with 20 minutes of meditation, a morning walk and chest exercises. The words were slow but I'm being careful. I'm also trying to "write drunk" so I can get practice "editing sober" later. Part of the work for me is learning how to be OK writing terribly while I'm in the moment, even if I desperately want to erase it and start over. Nothing gets finished that way; it's better to just vomit the lump of clay and learn how to work it once I've got the whole chunk.
This also allows me to "feel around" for the vibe of the story by writing large chunks of exposition or internal rumination that will just be cut later. It can take a little bit of time to figure out where a character is actually sitting; even if I outline the entire story, characters very frequently just go "fuck it" and do their own thing. Hopefully, the more I write, the better I can figure out what parts of the story are outline-able and which are best left to surprise.
Regular exercise has really helped, I must say. The morning walks are a perfect way to start the day; gentle activity walking through a beautiful suburban neighborhood with my best friend. :D The "perfect" morning routine is waking up at 6 AM, meditating and working on the Bullet Journal, morning walk, shower, breakfast, work.
It feels good being more connected to my body and the way it moves. Working at the gym forces me to pay attention to my form and breathing; in its own way, it's become a form of meditation. R. is there to guide us through the best workouts and set the pace. He focuses on weight more than anything, pushing himself to beat his personal best. K. is more focused on form so he only goes up in weight when he's sure he can keep the motion controlled the entire time. It's a really good ethos, honestly; it means that the strength I gain feels...honest. Like, now I know I can lift a ten-pound bag of flour without any trouble. I can rise from my seiza bench without leaning against the wall. I'm more flexible, my core has strengthened, and exertion is easier in general. It's a little annoying that everything doctors have been saying about exercise this whole time has been absolutely right.
I did read yesterday, but it was not quite the book I had intended. I'm still unsure what my first book of 2024 should be, so I opted for "Being Black", a Buddhist primer written by a Black American woman. What's interesting is that her writing style is a lot like mine, and I like the way she's filtering Buddhist basics through her specific experience.
Maybe after that, going back to classics like Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind or Encouraging Words by Robert Aitken. For fiction, it's definitely time to crack open All the Pretty Horses from Cormac McCarthy.
This also allows me to "feel around" for the vibe of the story by writing large chunks of exposition or internal rumination that will just be cut later. It can take a little bit of time to figure out where a character is actually sitting; even if I outline the entire story, characters very frequently just go "fuck it" and do their own thing. Hopefully, the more I write, the better I can figure out what parts of the story are outline-able and which are best left to surprise.
Regular exercise has really helped, I must say. The morning walks are a perfect way to start the day; gentle activity walking through a beautiful suburban neighborhood with my best friend. :D The "perfect" morning routine is waking up at 6 AM, meditating and working on the Bullet Journal, morning walk, shower, breakfast, work.
It feels good being more connected to my body and the way it moves. Working at the gym forces me to pay attention to my form and breathing; in its own way, it's become a form of meditation. R. is there to guide us through the best workouts and set the pace. He focuses on weight more than anything, pushing himself to beat his personal best. K. is more focused on form so he only goes up in weight when he's sure he can keep the motion controlled the entire time. It's a really good ethos, honestly; it means that the strength I gain feels...honest. Like, now I know I can lift a ten-pound bag of flour without any trouble. I can rise from my seiza bench without leaning against the wall. I'm more flexible, my core has strengthened, and exertion is easier in general. It's a little annoying that everything doctors have been saying about exercise this whole time has been absolutely right.
I did read yesterday, but it was not quite the book I had intended. I'm still unsure what my first book of 2024 should be, so I opted for "Being Black", a Buddhist primer written by a Black American woman. What's interesting is that her writing style is a lot like mine, and I like the way she's filtering Buddhist basics through her specific experience.
Maybe after that, going back to classics like Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind or Encouraging Words by Robert Aitken. For fiction, it's definitely time to crack open All the Pretty Horses from Cormac McCarthy.
