A NEW BLOG!

Trumpet Fanfare!  I'm writing a new blog for Yoga Circle Studio, called Circling the Mat.  We went "live" today.

I'm pretty psyched about this great opportunity to share my infinite wisdom about all things Yoga.  I realize this is a practice of many thousands of years in the making -- that's why it is so exciting for me to have mastered it in only five years!

It could be, of course, that I was asked to write this new blog based on my many missteps, stumbles, and topple-overs in class and that hearing from one mere mortal plodding along the yoga path may give others encouragement.  "Wow, I'm not as bad at this as she is!"

Whatever…I'm just happy for the gig and for the challenge of writing on basically one topic -- one that I love -- and I still get to tell my own story about it.

So, if you want to check it out, go here:  www.circlingthemat.blogspot.com

Maybe you'll be inspired to join a class.  Maybe you'll learn something about the ancient art and practice of yoga.  Maybe it will just make you laugh.

At least, that's the view from here…. ©

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

Obviously I have a little writer's block.  My son's beautiful wedding and all the prep and hoopla around that last month occupied almost all my time and energy.  Writing, and everything else, took a back seat.

I wonder if that would have been the case if this blog was "about" something?  I took a writing seminar last spring and my instructor took a look at this blog.  She was complementary about the writing, but questioned my purpose.  "What's your blog about?"  She said if I just wanted it to be something for family and friends, it was fine as far as it goes.  But if I wanted a wider audience it should be "about" something.  Like crafts, or cooking, or gardening, or politics or...something!  I felt a little discouraged.  I thought it was about something.

I thought it was a way to connect, to relate, to express what others might also be experiencing or point out what others may have missed or not appreciated about their own lives.  That's what I love -- the connection of, "Wow, me too!" when I write something that others find familiar.  I thought it might be about a woman in her 60's looking back, looking forward, reflecting and anticipating, at a time in life when a little perspective on history can inform a better future.

I don't know...

I guess this exercise really is just about me reflecting on my life. Yet, maybe that's not enough.  Maybe that puts it in the too-close-for-comfort "journal" genre.  Who else really cares about the thoughts in my head or the people and events that I come across everyday that make me pause and reflect?

So, I've tried to come up with a specific topic to write about regularly, but the thought of that makes me claustrophobic.  I don't think there is anything I want to devote my writing to that I can sustain for more than a few posts.  So, what this blog is, and will continue to be, is just a bunch of essays on whatever I feel like writing about.

If you're still with me on this, I'm still here, for now -- puzzling out my life and hoping a few of you are along for the ride.  We're in this human thing together, ya know.

At least, that's the view from here...©

REVEAL OR CONCEAL?

So....it's been over a month since I posted my first entry in this blog.  Truth is, I sort of chickened out.   I checked around with some of the Sues and Jims and most were enthusiastic about me doing this and some were cautious, with concerns about issues of confidentiality in this time of identity thefts, copyright infringements, crazy stalkers...I don't know.  I've decided to go ahead, embracing the encouragement and considering the cautions.

I think it might be generational.  My younger Facebook friends don't seem to have these qualms.  They post where they are every minute of the day, who they are with, who their family members are, where they work or go to school, their ever-changing relationship status, poems and songs they have written,  videos and photos of themselves in various states of drunkenness....either they are extremely naive or my age-mates are very paranoid.

I have conflicting tendencies.  On one hand I have always said I live my life out loud.  I tend to reveal a lot about myself.  I want to connect with others and I see no way of doing this in a meaningful way without being revealing of my own joys and challenges, foibles, and follies.  On the other hand, my inherent introversion and "the bad guys'll get ya!" fears keep me struggling to find a balance between revealing and concealing.  So, I suppose I'll be doing that dance here too.  (Hence, the whole name thing).

So, about Facebook.  I joined in 2009, reluctantly, but curious.  It was at the urging of my niece in Arizona as a fun way to keep in touch.  I am now officially sort of addicted.  (Love that "sort of" qualifier!  Can one be "sort of" an addict?  I think, really, you are or you aren't... I are).  I sign in many, many times throughout the day to see who's posted, who's commented, who's doing what...I have fallen prey to classical operant conditioning...the intermittent reward of a possible update keeps me coming back for more!  I'm one of those chickens pecking at the lever to release a food pellet down the 'ol gullet!  I've lately tried to decide if this addiction is dangerous, and in true addict-think I've decided it's not.  It's enjoyable, not hurting anyone, I still live a full and productive life in the real world, and I can (sort of) tolerate not having internet access on occasion (hmmm...sort of?).   I've re-connected with some old friends, become closer to acquaintances, and found the answer to the introvert's dilemma of wanting/needing social contact without having to carry on long awkward conversations in public places, then coming away exhausted.  What could possibly go wrong????

At least that's the view from here....©

GETTING STARTED...

....indeed!  I do feel as if I am just getting started.  I am afflicted with the gradual awakening to the fact that I really don't know much about the really big stuff.  Like how to be at peace, how to live mindfully,  how to bake a pie.  There are just things I seem to have missed on this life journey and now I see that path before me disappearing into the mists and I'm not sure how much time there is to achieve clarity.  This, the terrifying human condition of contemplating our own death, motivates me to stop screwing around and get to it.  Whatever "it" is.  This is not new, not unique, really sort of a cliche I suppose.  Yet.  Here I am.

So, off we go.  Please read along and hopefully you'll find something of interest, something to laugh about, and maybe shed a tear.  We'll explore the misty path forward together, which will make it that much more enjoyable.

At least that's the view from here...©