Author: Christine

Christine http://www.mombie.com I'm a writer/storyteller/director/creativity & lifestory coach with a black belt in ITF Taekwon-do. I read voraciously and I write like my fingers are on fire. I'm the founder and Co-Chair of the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl and I'm the current president of the St. John's Storytelling Festival. I bake a mean chocolate chip cookie.

May 1: Low Key

I want a lot out of this month but I am trying to teach myself to add things slowly instead of trying to do everything all at once.

After all, I know that successful changes, new practices, come from starting small and building up.

BUT

I also know that jumping right into a bunch of new practices all at once feels good. I feel engaged and energetic and accomplished…until I run out of steam.

And despite the fact that I run out of steam EVERY SINGLE TIME, my brain still wants to chase that excited feeling of doing ALL OF THE THINGS.

Without the benefits of medication and experience, I would be planning to do more art, more writing, more exercise, more Taekwon-do, more house organizing, more everything all at once, starting right now, maybe half an hour of each, on top of what I already do each day.

It would be fun today but by the end of the week, I would be out of steam.

So, instead, I am layering all of those things into my life during May.

I will ‘touch’ each habit each day but only really focus on one at a time.

Let’s see how it goes.

?a view of a backyard patio with bare trees in the background
My patio and trees are on the same plan that I am – the basics in place but we’ll add new things a little at a time and let them grow. Image description: The view from one corner of my patio. A lawn chair is directly across from me and beyond that there are trees that don’t have any leaves on them next to my red shed.

Perspective

I was feeling a bit foolish today because I was so delighted that the light is lasting longer into the evenings.

After all, this happens every year.

BUT

Then I realized how wonderful it is that I can be delighted by this over and over again.

Image description: A snowy path with trees at the side, the winter sun is low in the sky ahead and shining toward the camera. Khalee, a light-haired dog in a green sweatshirt in the foreground is looking towards the sun.
Our path today was very well lit. Image description: A snowy path with trees at the side, the winter sun is low in the sky ahead and shining toward the camera. Khalee, a light-haired dog in a green sweatshirt in the foreground is looking towards the sun.

February 23. Hmm!

How do I start posting again after being away for so long?

Just write any old thing and get myself started.

Today, I am writing – working on my a couple of blog posts, a short story, and a section of my novel.

I’m distracted by thoughts of how to organize my plans to prepare for my 4th degree black belt test that I hope to do this year.

I’m drinking a lot of tea.

I want to get back into the habit of writing here and in a few more places. The only way to do that is to start.

Luckily, this blog is about building a brand or attracting customers, it’s just about writing for its own sake.

A cartoon GIF of a pencil writing on a coil-ringed notepad.?
A cartoon GIF of a pencil writing on a coil-ringed notepad.

So, I’ll start here and figure it out as I go.

Birthday!

Once upon a time, I tried to cram AllOfTheFun into my birthday, as if I wasn’t going to have another chance to do fun things all year.

Now, I have picked just a few things and I am doing them without the stress of trying to fit everything into one day.

This post is brought to you by a very relaxed Christine.

A small outdoor fire in a covered fire pit.
A cup of tea while watching a fire in our wee fire pit is an excellent way to celebrate. Image description: a small fire in a covered outdoor fire pit on a dark evening.

A different approach

I had a tangly kind of day. No crises, just a few vaguely unpleasant parts that I couldn’t shake loose from my brain.

My mind’s insistence on reviewing those unpleasantries kept me from work effectively for a chunk of the day. By this evening I was at loose ends and looking for a way to help myself feel better.

My initial plan was to do some journaling and then try to do some work but, frankly, I really didn’t want to do that.

So, instead, I exercised.

I took Khalee for a walk.

I rowed on my rowing machine for 20 minutes.

I did some strength training.

And I did some yoga.

That may sound like a lot but I didn’t overdo it, I paid close attention to how I was feeling and kept my efforts in the enjoyable range.

And when I was done, I felt so much better. The unpleasantries were still there but they had far less real estate in my mind.

I’m calling this method a success – not only is my mind clear but I feel good physically, too.

A light haired dog curled up on a blue yoga mat
Khalee is a fan of my yoga mat. Luckily she moved before I needed to lie on it! Image description: a light haired dog is curled up on a blue yoga mat (with lighter blue patterns on it)