progress report august 2009
To start with, the July report was a couple of weeks late and now this one is more than a week overdue. Which means? Things have been busy, busy, busy. On all fronts. I’ve had new website clients, extra yoga classes to teach and plenty of wheels to build. Which is all good but doesn’t allow time to just sit back and think. What do I need to think about? Not much really, just what I’m doing with the rest of my life. You know, about on par with what to cook for dinner tonight. But I can only ponder about it for so long because I’ll end up getting hungry and then I will just grab whatever is at hand. Doesn’t it work the same way with the bigger picture? One can go on pondering ad infinitum with any decision but at the end of the day the decision itself doesn’t matter too much, what matters is that a decision is made because until then no action can be taken. Whether it’s dinner tonight or what I’m doing with the rest of my life. That is just how it is.
So there you go: writing this report has given me enough of a respite from my various projects to take a look at the bigger picture and it’s much the same as it was before. Whether I grab the next thing that comes along or think it through a bit and then grab something doesn’t matter. What matters is that I grab something. There’s no sense in waiting.
Riding a minimum of a 100 miles a week
I think that last week I was actually below the hundred which is strange for this year. But then I did just go over the eighteen thousand mark so it’s swings and roundabouts you know. I need to do a Richmond Park.
Meditation
Every morning after my morning pages without fail. For ten minutes. Well apart from those days when I’ve had 7am classes and had to get up at 5am. But even then I did it on one occasion after the pages.
My own yoga practice
This has been a bit patchy the past month. Mainly due to the extra work even though I have had time to do it. But I’m not too worried. I don’t think I’m losing my practice or anything like that.
Keeping in touch with friends
I have been in a bit of social vacuum and I have noticed how disconnected I feel. All those little niggles that can usually be discussed keep rattling around the brain and in general I feel like I’m carrying a bigger load. I miss my friend and I will catch up again soon.
The wheel log
I’m a few wheels behind in the log but I’m not too bothered. It doesn’t take long to catch up. The orders have quietened down toward the end of August but they’re still rolling in. I’m still surprised at just how many people want me to build their wheels.
De-cluttering my life
I think I’m doing the opposite – cluttering. I mean it’s all very organized and tidy but there is quite a bit more stuff than there was a few months ago and I’m convinced that I need it all. Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. I need someone to come round and chuck it out for me. It’s hard.
Relaxing & goalless activities
I think I sometimes forget what relaxing and goalless activities are all about. You know what I mean. At some point a goal tends to come into the picture. I have been playing Halo on the xbox. The original Combat Evolved and not Halo 3. And I play the same level over and over again. That is goalless I suppose and does take me away from all my various projects. But somehow I don’t consider it be very wholesome. I have also been playing the guitar again and learning to play some Beck covers from the Sea Change album. No pressure. Fun and relaxing.
I’m still playing Evony which is actually quite addictive and I do have to ration myself as it can encroach upon my work and commitments. But I am enjoying it so that’s ok I guess. Haven’t had my walks by the canal and I miss them. I do consider those to be wholesome. Actually I did have one where I went blackberry picking. That was lovely. I need to think of more things like that. Perhaps I should become a dog walker.
IT Training
This has just ground to a halt because I just don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going or whether my investment in time and effort will yield any financial results. So we’re back to what I was saying at the start: ponder for too long and no decision is made. This means doubt and inaction. Better to act even if it’s the wrong one. At least you’re doing something. But fish and chips or kebab?