I survived my week of reading deprivation and found myself not in any rush to pick up a book yesterday or today. I was 85% successful. I allowed for reading emails, business and class related stuff. My new Humanities Capstone class (my last one!) started on Monday. I couldn't help myself and had to find out what is in store. Discovered - lots of writing! I printed off what I needed so I could work on the questions. Of course, I couldn't do the treadmill without reading my nook otherwise it is a chore (excuses, I know) and I'm trudging through counting steps bored out of my mind. I read a non fiction book about journal -
Write for Life. I can see I'm going to have to buy a hard copy because it begs for note taking.
No fiction. Nada, zip, zilch, no tamales. My brain candy, my serious addiction that is so hard to do without. Or so I thought. Here I was surrounded by all these books and I didn't browse or read nary a one.
When I did slip, it was non fiction and I'm not particularly a fan of non fiction, but learning to appreciate it. The New York Times, which my husband loves to read, left lying on the kitchen counter. I hardly ever read it. A story attracted my attention and I caught myself after a couple minutes. A magazine when eating a snack, a catalog that came in the mail.
What did I do since I wasn't reading books or blogs. I wrote, cleaned, caught up with laundry, decluttered. Finally went through my closet and filled 6 garbage bags with clothes I never wear and haven't worn since my corporate working days. Cleaned out our drawers (which now close easier without having to shove anything down) and filled two more bags. Still need to do hubby's side of the closet. :) Dropped it all off at Good Will.
I straightened out the bookshelves and discovered non fiction books that I'd bought and forgotten about and wanted to read. Set those aside for later. I moved the furniture around in the living room. Made some changes to our homeschool curriculum. Another story in itself.
And I had time to do this:
One amusing side effect. Getting James to bed on time so we had time to read one chapter of Harry Potter. Hee Hee! I got a lot done writing wise and otherwise, but it wasn't all peaches and cream. I did get cranky. (poor James) I'd find myself with nothing to do, standing in the kitchen at a loss. Bored. What do I do when I'm bored. Reach for a book, go online. Get lost in one or the other and the To Do list is forgotten. Friday I tried sketching James face while he worked on math worksheets. He wasn't too impressed.
Was it worth it. I'd say so. I have a tendency to over read, if that's possible. Was I more creative? Maybe. I did finish a couple more chapters of Red Thief. Had some Aha moments. Did I get a lot done. Yes. Will I ever do it again. Possibly. I can see the benefits. Clearer mind, cleaner house, more time to get things done, the desire to learn something new. As I mentioned before, during Lent will be totally unplugging and no reading on Fridays.
Had more time to imagine, to dream. Started Week 5 of the Artist's Way which is Recovering a Sense of Possibility. It's all about not limiting yourself, not limiting what help you'll accept from God and other sources. Saying yes to yourself for a change, instead of putting yourself last.
Cameron says: "What we are talking about seems to be a conscious partnership in which we work along slowly and gradually, clearing away the wreckage of our negative patterning, clarifying the visions of what it is we want, learning to accept small pieces of that vision from whatever source and then, one day, presto!. The vision seems to suddenly be in place. In other words, pray to catch the bus, then run as fast as you can."
Love that. Among the tasks are starting an image file of:
- If had either faith or money, I would try - list 5 desires.
- List five more imaginary lives and add images to your file
- If were twenty and had money - five adventures
- If were sixty-five and had money - five postponed adventures
It's all rather eye opening when you think about it.
So what's in store for this week reading. I'll be starting "Faithful Place" by Tana French. That's it. One book on my mind. Shocking huh!
Goals for the week. Along with everything else will be adding in class stuff. Lots to do each week. Fortunately each module is two weeks long. Module one is due 3/20. The class will also involve writing a research project paper instead of a final.
1) Write every morning at least half an hour/500 words. 85% done with Red Thief
2) Do morning pages every morning during breakfast
3) Come up with K theme for next sunday's 52 books in 52 weeks blog post.
4) Class: Type up Q1 "why study humanities" answer
5) class: Record audio introduction - already written
6) Class: Final project - decide on topic for research paper
7) Class: Write and type answer to Q3 The truth about Poetry
8) Class: Write up and type Self Reflective essay
9) If I have time - review Heatwave by Richard Castle
Check out how everyone else is progressing here.
If you made it this far, thanks for hanging in there. Did you remember to turn your clocks forward an hour. My cats have been preparing me for the last two weeks by getting me up a couple hours earlier. I still feel jet lagged.
See you round the water cooler!
