2011

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."
Zora Neal Hurston

2010 shook everything loose and left plenty of rough edges. There were no answers to be found. As much as I desire a year of clarity, my intention for 2011 is to be open and to create space and silence to listen.

For new year's eve, I attended a meditation service that included a labyrinth walk. As I reached the middle, I heard a voice, "May you be whole in your incompleteness."

The labyrinth also reminded me that I am never far from where I want to be, but the journey may be longer than I had planned. Another quote: "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T.S. Elliot

Soft eyes and an open heart will guide me through the year.

Hola

This year, I want to try to do more writing of any sort. I failed miserably with NANOWRIMO, but to my credit, some uninvited beings set up shop in my lungs and began building their own unsanctioned community. They didn't leave until it was too late. I would have had to write nearly 4k words per day, in addition to getting caught up with everything else in my life after being sick.

So my other goal is to really focus on my health. I'm tired of having how I feel physically affect what I can and can't do, and I don't want all my energy to go to just one part of my life. Running really helps when I can do it. I just need to keep myself at a place where I can.

It wouldn't be a new year without a list, so here's some of what else I'd like to do during the next 12 months:

• Teach a meditation class at a local prision
• Participate in NANOWRIMO
• Take a jewlery making class
• Bake a loaf of bread

It's all out there for the universe to see. I think all my goals from years past still apply, except for running a marathon. Not this year. My motto for this year is shorter and slower.

NaNoWriMo, here I come

This was my October marathon: hiking the Grand Canyon. It was absolutely beautiful beyond words but absofuckinlutely* tough. Due to varying circumstances, I didn't have time to train adequately, and now my body is rebelling and giving me more of the same crud I had last year. Meh. But it was worth it.
On Sunday, I start my next adventure. Succumbing to yet another challenge (or maybe pure insanity), I've decided to write a novel next month. It's part of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. All it requires is writing 50,000 words in 30 days! So, yeah. It should be exciting, or something. I think I'll like the disciple of knowing I have to write 1,667 words per day. They don't even have to be quality. To quote NaNoWrimo, "Make no mistake: You will write a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down." My kind of challenge, and a reminder that writing is not editing. I have a vague outline of the novel, but most of it will be improvised as I go along. I can't wait to see what unfolds.

*Yay for infixes!

I had a cup of chai from a restaurant I tried for the first time tonight and would highly recommend...their garlic and potato soup was perfect.
So, I'm fueled for the rest of the night.
Tomorrow is another training for sandtray. I won't have a day off until Tuesday when I'll be canvassing all day.
Those around me and I seem to be holding our breath about the election. No matter what happens, the work has just begun. I hope that the momentum that has been generated throughout this election can continue for the next for years and beyond.
And speaking of the long road ahead, I've done it. I've committed to a marathon. All 26.2 miles.
Well, I know what I'll be doing with my time now that canvassing is done...
Boa noite.