The other day I did a full hour of yoga—on my own. And I felt great afterwards! My hips felt loose, my shoulders unknotted, my brain less busy. So why why why don’t I do this more often is the obvious question. Back in the day when I could go to in-person classes, I kept myself on track that way. I mean, I did the occasional home practice, but I let the class be my motivator.
It’s the same with writing blogs. In the past, I’d written because I was committed to the third Wednesday of the month on Women and Words, another blog site, and I reposted them here. But now they’re shutting it down. Not that I blame Jove and Andi, the creators of the site. Keeping all those writers in line had to be so much work. Besides, they have their own publishing company, Dirt Road Books. My point being, I take my promises to other people seriously. As for the promises I make to myself… that’s another story. Now that’s it’s up to just me… will I ever blog again?
I mean, no one is counting on me to do it. I guess I could commit to you here, that I will continue to write on the third Wednesday of the Month. The problem is you’re kind of abstract in my mind, and continue to be—unless you comment on my blog, or happen to run into me and mention it. Then you shine like a comet in the great dark sky of the internet! And I get such satisfaction from this small interaction. So why is it so hard to do things for myself that I know will make me happy? Or be good for me? Why? And is it just me that struggles with this? Say it isn’t so! Let me know that you’ve struggled with this too. Maybe it will encourage me to keep on blogging.
That’s it for today. Remember to Live the Love! It matters!
Please keep blogging 🙂 I don’t comment often but I stead your posts.
Read, not stead. Autocorrect is a mess.
Thanks, Jude! And yeah, autocorrect is evil!!!
Hey Cliffy. So you know I read all your blog posts here in Hawaii. I especially connected with reading about your road trip and your experience. Stop if you must but I will miss your posts. The world is better for them.
Oh, thanks for saying so. I’m going to see if I can keep up with once a month. Nice to hear from you, Patricia. Hope you are still loving Hawaii.
Hi There. Yes loving much about Hawaii and planning to spend more time in Aptos starting next year.
Here I come a shining comet in your bright sky 🙂
I love your blogs… I love you!
Please keep writing and bring on a great new book one of these fine days…sending love and inspiration!
Now as far as promises to myself… and speaking of yoga
Sometimes, I just want a quiet morning no zoom or zoom yoga
I promise to do yoga later on my own.
Then, before I know it, I am out the door on to something else
Later, I think why can’t I keep my promise to myself?
Right now with covid and a sort of loneliness, I seem to need to get out of my cottage as sweet as it is…
Okay, I will attempt to keep my promises to myself and I hope you will keep writing and sharing!
I won’t even get into how I promise not to eat so many chips and guacamole…but then that’s another fallen promise :o)
Love you Cliffi
Tara
Chips and salsa! What? Don’t stop that! Thanks for checking in, Tara. And yeah, Getting out and seeing the world is good. Keep doing it!
💛
🌶🌶🥑
Oh please PALLLEEEEEEZZZZ keep on blogging. I read them all! As far as those promises to myself, I did promise myself I’d respond to this right after breakfast. And well…. it’s after lunch, does that count? Big hugs from Deo
It counts. It counts. Thanks for checking in. Hope you are well, Deo!
Dear Sister Cliffi – My rule is … “Follow your heat and passion – and Let it lead your actions” – If you need to take a break – Do it. If you want to express your attitudes and beautiful insights through another creative venue. Great. I think you know that many of us LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your quirky, bur wise and insightful blogs. (Personally, it can become a meditation or reflection for myself and my life – and that of many others.) It is refreshing to occasionally see a flash of light come my way from Santa Cruz – and you never really know how that light will reflect from one of your readers to … who knows where. So … Whatever you do – if you decide not to blog … find another way to shine your light and inspire us – But don’t stop … Because you TRUELY ARE a Delightful Brightness to our world. Love ya bunches – Bro James
You are more than a comet in the dark sky. You are a dreamboat floating through it. I’m going to try to stick with the monthly blog. This year has left me feeling a little gobsmacked. Like I have nothing to say. But words eventually find their way back to me. Then sentences. Then stories. I adore you, brother James. Adore You! And I always love your comments.
I love your blogs… your perspective, insights, questions, humor. I always read them so I am happy to hear that you are planning to continue! As for follow-through on what is good for me… I definitely go through cycles. I try to be ok with that. What I have come to realize is that I am always doing something that is good for me but what I do changes. I think it is a pretty healthy way to live, mostly. There are a couple of things that would benefit my well being to do ALWAYS so if you figure out how, let me know!!! Xoxo
I tried to respond 3X on Word Press. It doesn’t show up. So I’ll skip everything I tried to say except my bottom line. I’ve been doing my monthly column/blog for 35+ years and it’s a struggle every single month. You are not alone. I’m proud to share a publisher with you.
Thank you, Lee.
I swear, I always feel like I have nothing to say!
And I’m proud to share a publisher with you too!
This year, for me, has been a rough one in terms of writing.
So many friends who’ve never written are gushing out tomes! Me? I feel gobsmacked. Without words.
Anyway. Enough about me. Thanks for checking in.
Hope you are well—and writing!
C
Dear Cliffi,
Yep, I don’t know anyone who always does what is intended, and I know many people – myself included – who are likelier to do things for others than for ourselves. It was Dixie, in fact, who recommended that I “walk my inner dog” after I commented that I’ll always get up early to walk a dog I’m taking care of, but never for myself. So, yeah. I’ve found that people need different degrees of external structure, and I recognize myself as finding an outside structure very helpful! This COVID year has demanded more internal structure, which is part of why I choose to go into the office every day instead of working from home. I don’t know about you, but my refrigerator has a very loud voice, as does the bed. And my email. Movies oftentimes. I recently returned to the gym one day/week and that is fantastic for me because I know why I’ve gone there and then I enjoy being there. Even though I enjoy walking alone, I’m likelier to take a hike if I’ve set up a plan to do it with someone else. When I took an improvised RAP class, I wrote RAPs. When I took an improvised Shakespeare class, I wrote sonnets. So many layers to this question!
Here are some questions from Gabor Mate that I found very helpful to journal about:
Saying No and Yes
1. Where in my life is there a “no” that I am not saying? Where in my personal relationships? Where in my work environment?
2. Where this week didn’t I say “no” when I felt like saying “no”?
3. What is the belief I have that stops me from saying “no”?
4. Who would I be If I didn’t believe that?
5. Where do I need to establish clear boundaries in my life and what will it take to do this?
6. What is the impact on me when I do not say “no”?
7. Where in my life do I need to be saying “yes”?
8. What actions can I take to say “yes” to my life?
I love you
Well, I journal irradically too and I don’t even share it in a blog. But Iove reading your blog. Thanks for sharing, Clifford.
I think self-discipline is like the space between our teeth where food bits get stuck for all creative people, maybe most people in general, creative or not. Yes, it is always easier when we get recognition for our efforts that’s why they give out silly awards to most elementary students at the end of the school year. However, then the competitive nature of the human condition comes along and if you’re averse to that, like me, it just comes back to self recognition is the best motivator.