Live in Balance: On leave, on veggies, and ongoing stuff

My leave finally got underway before Easter weekend and I have been merrily typing away at both blog posts for the Challenge and a new story I. It is going so well, that I will achieve my word count target for Camp NaNoWriMo at the middle of the month.

Hydroponics Project

Like many of you I love fresh vegetables. I have a vegetable garden, or rather had one, but have not been planting anything for a few years purely because of the time needed to look after a garden like that.

So to ease some of the burden of weeding (and the strain on my back) I have been researching the practicalities of setting up a hydroponics system for growing our own veggies again. I have now reached the point where I am busy buying the pipes and fittings, the planting pots and the water reservoir to get things going.

I have drafted Francois to help with the stands that support the system since my welding skills are way too rusty to attempt to do it myself. We went out shopping this weekend so I can order what I need and have it delivered while I am at home this coming week.

The only thing that I need to research some more is the pump I need. I have a submersible pump, but I think it is too small for the size of my project. While out shopping I saw quite a number of pumps, but I need to know what size I need before I let myself be talked into buying the wrong thing.

My Goals for 2017 are ongoing

A colleague of mine mentioned that she too was going on a diet. After about a week she had lost weight and mentioned that it wasn't easy. I agreed with her because I am on that same journey.

You will of course, understand my trepidation about getting on the scale yesterday morning, if I tell you that I went on a chocolate binge this past Thursday. Putting it off wasn't going to change the outcome, so eventually I got on and nearly fell off - nothing. I gained nothing. This could only mean that I lost some weight during the week, but clearly regained it on Thursday. Really stupid of me, I know. I could have had a chocolate, and still lost some weight if it hadn't been for the bingeing idiocy.

What did bother me more was the stress I put on my pancreas as a result of all that sugar. As someone that has to look after her blood sugar levels, I acted incredibly irresponsibly. While I hope the damage wasn't bad, I am suffering the aftereffects of all that sugar - my sleeping patterns have changed. It will take a few days and a good healthy diet, to get back to normal. And normal is what I need to work on the creative projects I want to do while on leave from work.

Balance is the key, not depriving myself of a sweet. I am losing weight, I shouldn't compromise my health by being stupid.

Reading and moving

About two weeks ago I volunteered to be an advanced reader for a book being released on Tuesday this coming week. I read the book and wrote my review and now it is back to my research books for the blog challenge.

In recent times I often find myself unable to sit still. Sure my back complains if I remain in one position for too long, but this is something else. Then it hit me: Tai Chi. I have been lax in my daily practice, so that too is priority for the week ahead. I love learning the 40 forms, but will have to go back a lesson or so, so refresh my memory before carrying on with the next lesson.

Lots of things to do, but looking forward to the days of relaxing with my art and writing projects.

Until next week!

The A-to-Z Challenge letters for the coming week are as follows:

Monday: Letter N…for Nutrition

Tuesday: Letter O…for Open (prompt)

Wednesday: Letter P…for Physical

Thursday: Letter Q…for Quote (prompt)

Friday: Letter R…for Ramble

Saturday: Letter S…for Share

If you missed any of the previous letters, here is a quick recap (just click the letter!)

A   B   C   D   E   F   G  H  I  J  K  L  M

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - M is for...

M is for...Music

While doing research about happiness and the journey towards that state, I read about the need for silence. You can read more about that in the post on the letter E (click here).

What I did learn though was that many people, mostly the younger generation, wants to drown out the noise around them by playing their music loud. And I mean LOUD!

If you are a parent of a tween or teenager, you are probably nodding your head in exasperation right now. What is frightening though is the high levels of sound pressure these young people are injecting into their ear canals with their iPods and earphones. Be prepared, they will be deaf or hard of hearing, long before you, their parents.

Apparently telling them that, has the exact opposite effect - they just turn the music volume up higher.

On my sound...

Once I read about how our ears function, and the risks we are exposed to, I downloaded an app for my smartphone to measure the sound levels in my own environment. I am happy to report that they were lower than I thought. This also made me aware of the volume of my own music. Yes, I am not that young anymore, but I prefer to have my hearing still intact for years to come, so I toned down the volume of the sounds I can control, including listening to the music that I enjoy.

In my work environment, I sometimes get exposed to the firing of weapons, and on that I have to say we are diligent in wearing our hearing protection. And that is definitely a good thing since I have suffered almost no hearing loss as a result (our medical check-ups include hearing tests) of that.

You might think I don't care for the kind of music with a loud beat when in fact, I am a fan of hard rock, heavy metal, rock, pop, blues, jazz, contemporary and classical music. So yeah, I did need to lower the volume on my enjoyment of music in both my car and my iPod.

Enjoy your music, but think ahead a few years to when you still might want to hear the harmonies of your favourite songs float into your ears.

Two of my favourite songs right now (YouTube links): Second-hand heart and Sound of silence.

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - L is for...

L is for...Life

Close up: Tree of life drawing on handmade paper

Today's journal entry has an art element again. Please have a look at the pictures below for you to create your own - no video clips this time, I promise.

Why life? Why not something mundane like lists or leopards or logs? Hey, this is a journal series about the journey to happiness, and life plays a big part in that, don't you agree?

Tree of life

I chose to do a drawing of a tree because they are some, if not the, longest living entities on our planet. The African baobab tree, for example, can grow to be hundreds of years old.

There are tales about trees (see the story here about the spirit of the Knob Thorn Tree) and even more tales, I think, that trees could tell about us. About the things they have observed and been exposed to.

Perhaps it is lucky then, that our communication with these living giants is limited to the appreciation of their beauty. Mainly since I think that their tales would be sad and filled with tragedy and destruction of all they had observed of the human race.

Life of your happiness...in the moment

But our objective is to find happiness, instead of focusing on the negative. For today your challenge is to find the happiness in your life and the life of your happiness.

• Note the date and time of your entry.
• Note the place where you are and the state of your health.
• Then take a few moments to observe your surroundings.
• What in your immediate environment makes you happy to be there? Note your feelings on your observations and your life as it is in this moment.

Our lives are not nearly as long as that of some trees, so we need to make the most of every moment that we have.

• Note your particular feelings on the subject of living in the moment, and how you can make the most of it.
• Think back on what happiness is (http://linzebrandon.blogspot.com/2017/04/atozchallenge2017-H.html) and reflect on how you can apply those principles to live in the moment.

My drawing with ink and Lyra Brush pens on handmade paper. You are welcome to copy my design if you like, or do your own. Size is about 8.5 cm in diameter because it was the size of the container's cap I used to draw the circle.

I tore the paper (using the edge of an old CD since it was a little larger) instead of cutting it out with a pair of scissors. I wanted to keep the rugged edge feel of the handmade paper. Then I glued it into my journal with acid-free glue before writing the words for the entry.

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - K is for...

K is for...Knobs, knuckles, and knitting

Journal writing doesn't always have to be about a serious or painful topic, it can also be about something that makes you happy.

What makes you happy?

In my research for this blog series, I came across many topics, but one that definitely made me smile is all the crafts and hobbies that people indulge in. Indulgence it is, isn't it? Hours of playing with paper, or clay, or wood, or fabrics. They say that giving is supposed to make you happier than receiving. Well, I am not always so sure about that, with one exception: giving something you made yourself for someone specific.

I love that. The making of the gift, the wrapping and then the joy on the person's face when they get something for them alone. Something unique, made by someone who cares enough to understand their personality or desires. A friend, or family member, or even a colleague.

I have noticed that people cherished those gifts more than anything else. I am sure you have received such a gift and no matter how long ago that was, you can still recall the occasion and the person who gave it you with significant detail.

Isn't that a happy memory?

Cross-stitch project by Linzé

Indulge today in the pleasure you receive from the hours you spend with your hobby. Even if it's not the kind of hobby that lends itself to gift giving, you still derive a great amount of happiness from it.

Spend a few minutes with your journal to note your hobby (or pastime) and how you feel while doing what you love. Do you want to spend more time doing it? Where can you pinch a few minutes every day, or an extra hour every week to indulge in creating a few hours of happiness for yourself?

Our topic is about happiness after all. Writing about it will also help you understand the pleasure you derive from a hobby, but also the happiness you feel when a project is complete.

Enjoy your hobby, you might be surprised to learn that it is also good for you!

Some of the articles I found that you might like to read too.

• http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/mind-yourself/good-mental-health/feel-well/creative/
• http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/creative-hobbies-will-make-happier-person/
• http://meetmeatmikes.com/how-to-be-creative-when-daily-life-is-making-you-feel-like-an-old-boot/
• https://www.bustle.com/articles/147085-7-ways-to-inspire-yourself-feel-more-creative

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - J is for...

J is for...Journal

Like most things, journals and the reasons they were kept, have evolved over time. According to Wikipedia¹, the word diary comes from the Latin word diarium, meaning “daily allowance” and journal originated from the same root diurnus, meaning “of the day”.

For the sake of this post, I will use the word 'journal', since most adults refer to their appointment books as diaries and their electronic diaries as calendars. A diary also implies a daily entry, whereas a journal entry does not have to be a daily occurrence.

Semantics you might say, but for clarity, I will stick to using the word, journal.

Unless you are an accountant or bookkeeper, then the Journal is something you use to fix other people's mistakes. I am just saying.

At the beginning...

Journal writing actually began way back in the second century AD. People used their journals to record transactions, events or visions. These entries depended on who you were and the significance of these events in your life.

Only later on, about the 11th century, did people's journals start to reflect the styles we associate with our modern times. Personal reflection, inward events or experiences that we perceive as important enough to note.

From the Renaissance onwards, people started to record more than the events of the day. It was also these personal records that researchers found to be valuable about life and times in that era.

Publication of these personal journals was never an option to people in those days, making their observations of particular importance to historians today. Their words were not intended for an audience although they might have ended up that way.

The modern journal

“Frank Smythson made history in 1908 when he created the world's first practical, portable diary. From its stitched spine and supple leather binding to the clean, crisp leaves of Featherweight paper and glint of gold, Frank's original design remains virtually unchanged to this day.”²

If you look at the Smythson website, you will agree that not much has changed since then, with the exception of the advent of the online journal.

Who could then resist recording the events and thoughts of your own? All that was required was the ability to read and write, or maybe draw a picture if the journal was kept by an artist.

While it might not be your or my cup of tea, it became almost fashionable to publish the journals of people of note from the nineteenth century. The most famous of these are the journals of Anne Frank, about her experiences hiding during the German occupation of Amsterdam during the Second World War.

There are many other examples, if you are interested please follow the links on the Wikipedia page for more information.

The digital journal

Online journaling is more what we would be used to or expect to use these days. The first recorded online journal was published in 1994. Since then the recording of personal thoughts and commentaries have become more prevalent on blogs.

Personal journals, for recording of private reflections and thoughts, are typically not for public consumption. The writer could use encryption to guarantee continued privacy.

The online journal has become portable with many of them providing a smartphone app to allow the user anytime access to their online journal.

As with handwritten journals, these online journals could be bequeathed to an heir upon the death of the writer. Check with your online journal supplier if this is something you could do for your children or grandchildren.

Why keep a journal?

Why do people keep a journal? The answer to that can be as varied as the reasons why people write.

History taught us that journals were kept to record financial and other transactions. People noted the events of the day in their environments. World travelers recorded their comments on the places they visited and recommendations on the best food, or route to follow.

Nowadays, journals have expanded their usefulness towards the recording of sleep patterns, diets, life experiences, notes on achievements, personal thoughts and goals. If you can think of a reason to record any and all observations, either internal, external or of any significant value, there will be a person (or ten) out there that does it.

Have you thought about the value you have gained from keeping a journal? Take a minute and note your thoughts in your next entry.

1  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diary

2 http://www.smythson.com/diary

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - I is for...

I is for Inspiration

💜 For today's post, I leave you with a few quotes

- to inspire you. Enjoy! 💜

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
― George Bernard Shaw

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston S. Churchill

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”
― John Lennon

“If you only write when inspired, you may be a fairly decent poet, but you'll never be a novelist.”
― Neil Gaiman

“Disciplined runners consistently clear their heads and focus fully on the journey ahead...because their passion and zeal for the goal supersedes the strain. The goal beckons them onward. Passion doesn't negate weariness; it just resolves to press beyond it.”
― Priscilla Shirer

“When we procrastinate, we also put a hold on happiness.”
― Charles F. Glassman

“If you don't acquire the discipline to push through a personal low point, you will miss the reward that comes with persevering.”
― Jeff Goins

“Discipline allows magic. To be a writer is to be the very best of assassins. You do not sit down and write every day to force the Muse to show up. You get into the habit of writing every day so that when she shows up, you have the maximum chance of catching her, bashing her on the head, and squeezing every last drop out of that bitch.”
― Lili St. Crow

“Every time I hear writers talk about ‘the muse,’ I just want to bitch-slap them. It’s a job. Do your job.”
― Nora Roberts

“Don't wait for the muse. She has a lousy work ethic. Writers just write.”
― Barbara Kingsolver

Live in Balance: A to Z Challenge - H is for...

H is for...Happiness

This whole blog series is aimed at finding your Happiness through a journey of journal writing. So that begs the question: what is happiness? Or should we rather contemplate what happiness means to us as individuals?

I think for each one of us being happy may mean something different, and yet we still have many things in common that we can all nod and say, yes, that would be my happiness too.

In his book, Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, dug deep into the psyche of what happiness truly is. I would say with 20+ years of research, he knew what he was talking about when he wrote - “in the quest for happiness, partial solutions don't work.”

When you sit for a moment and think about that statement, you will come to agree that it is true.

The partial solutions Mihaly mentions are the weight-loss, get rich with this formula, do this to be successful books. And there are many available. Many. While they might be true, you will be thin, rich and successful, but will you be happy as a result?

These books promise you the sun, moon, and stars, but they never tell you what to do once you have reached the promised land. What happens if you are now rich, but the underlying reasons for your unhappiness can't be fixed with having money? Or being successful? Or thin?

So why aren't there many books offering you the 'full solution'? Because nobody can tell you what you need to be happy. Is being overweight making you unhappy, or is it the relationships in your life? Is not having any money the reason for your unhappiness, or is it jealousy about what other people have? Do you really want the same success as your friend, or are you afraid that they will reject you if you do not achieve the same as them?

Can you imagine what such a book will look like if someone were to write it? It would be thousands of pages long, and then it could still not make you happy. Because, it was not written for you as a person, an individual.

Happiness is not about pleasure either, despite what the world tells us in its attempts to sell instant gratification as happiness. Pleasure is a fleeting thing, short-lived and the act or its results has no lasting impact on our inner self as a person.

So what else is there?

Enjoyment, as opposed to pleasure, is an experience rather than a moment's gratification. It is making a choice to do things in a different way.

I wish I could tell you where to find the answer, the solution, the recipe, to being happy, but I cannot. No one can. Only you can do that. Only you can pave the way towards your own happiness.

You can start on that path, using your journal, to explore the following:

1. Challenge yourself with activities that require skill

Mental and physical activities are included. This is not just about your hobbies or personal time. We spent an enormous part of our lives working, and yet people constantly complain about their jobs. How could you possibly find any enjoyment doing a job that doesn't challenge you on some level?

2. Give the task your absolute attention - concentrate

I am sure you are familiar with the saying, 'time flies when you are having fun'. People say that because they are so focused on their task (whatever the task might be) that their awareness of time is different. They are not clock watching because they are concentrating on getting the task completed. Being focused and giving all your concentration on a task, is a choice irrespective of the level of enjoyment of the task. Just remember how good it felt when you finished a task, even if it wasn't something that you enjoyed to do.

Case in point: I hate ironing (I am sure there are more people that feel the same). Since I have a back problem, standing or sitting in one position for any length of time causes my back to ache, a lot. So I have learned to do any standing or sitting activities in 20 to 30 minute periods, without pain.

Since I dislike the chore so much, and cannot dawdle in its execution, I have managed to optimise my technique in such a way that I can iron on average 15 long sleeved shirts in 20 minutes. For most people that may sound odd, but for me, it is a task that I give my full attention to, mostly to get it done and out of my life.

It is still 20 minutes of my life that I would rather spend doing something else, but getting so much done in such a short time, provides me with a sense of accomplishment.

3. Set clear goals for the activity and the achievement is obvious

This is fairly straightforward and even works for an unpleasant task, like my ironing. Some goals are long-term and it can be difficult to keep your eye on the ball. In such a case it would be good to set milestones along the way to help keep you motivated and feeling accomplished as a result. Who wouldn't feel elated when the short-term achievements bring you closer to your long-term goal?

4. Enjoyable activities bring a different kind of enjoyment

Some aspects of our lives can be worrisome and stressful, and we cannot avoid those. Taking part in activities that you enjoy, activities that require focus and concentration, will help in alleviating some of the constant negativity our minds can often fall into.

The same applies when it comes to the setting of goals and the achievement thereof. Again, these activities do not have the physical to provide the focus our minds require.

5. Sense of control

This is more of a physical activity element, in that danger exists in some sports, like rock climbing. The sense of control helps the climber prepare his mental approach towards the climb. The risk is still there, but the goal and the achievement thereof rests with the climber in his ability to control his ascent and the way he approaches the climb.

Personally, I think the same sense of control is prevalent in the practitioners of martial arts, even those styles where full contact can be dangerous. Their ability to focus on the activity and the control they practice to exert themselves, brings about the achievement of the goals set as part of their studies.

Your journey and journal

Your challenge is to identify the activities where focus and concentration can bring about change in the way you do the task. The enjoyment of either the activity itself, or the achievement of the set goal, is the primary objective.

None of these elements of enjoyment will bring you happiness overnight, nor will they do so in isolation. It is a path, a journey, where you can grow into the happiness you see for yourself.

Explore these elements as you set a task for yourself, its goals, and the way you experience the completion thereof. Would it change the way you set the next task? Did the successful completion of an unpleasant task change the way you will approach a similar task in future?