The inevitable discussion of New Year's resolutions came up yesterday, on entering the room I was asked what mine were. It's not something I've put too much thought into as I don't really like making such grand gestures – I prefer my goals to be a bit more organic. Still, I said that I want to get more exercise in 2022.
Which is true.
Whether it's just from walking the dog more often or actually using the equipment we have in the garage, I do want, and need, to get fitter and healthier, especially now that I'm 50.
One should not, however, target physical health and ignore mental health – something I have previously done to my detriment. Yes, exercise is good for mental health but there also needs to be more targeted action.
Brian G Fay wrote in his post "Enlightenment in Ninety-Three Lines?" of his wonder at finishing his morning pages each day: 93 lines, 3 pages of 31 lines each:
"How do I finish writing ninety-three lines each morning?
That led to wondering, how do I finish even one line?
Spiraling, as I do, I asked, how do I complete one word or even one letter?"
How indeed.
His answer? "I just do. I begin through one kind of miracle, continue through another, and arrive at the end almost as a matter of course."
The words just have to be, not be amazing, and that's the mindset I want to get back to. While I have written in the Journal for 380 consecutive days I've hardly ever really written. The Journal is like the blog: micro posts, snippets, done lists. Although each of those is perfectly valid, there is little in depth writing, little exploratory analysis, little true reflection.
If there is one resolution I want to make (and succeed with) from a mental health perspective it is to write in more depth, with more passion and meaning, both in the Journal and on the blog. The former should feed the latter. The Journal should, in parts, be like a rehearsal for the main event, the public show.
This will also, no doubt, entail a lot more reading and note-taking, a slowing down to digest and consider.
I want to rebuild a 'morning pages' habit but digitally, in the Journal. I suppose, in a way, I have been leading up to it for a while, trying to write more overall, but I want to resume the daily habit as one of the first things I do each morning. This will likely mean getting up earlier to fit it in – not such a bad thing – and giving myself more time to ease into the day.
I need to write more of my thoughts rather than an itemised account of activities. That still has a place, of course, I will still be creating a daily 'done list' as it helps me to look back at what I achieved and when – memory triggers – but the morning pages style writing should have a bigger focus.
2022 is now only two days away so I need to get into that frame of mind. It shouldn't be hard but it is, it can be a struggle to sit down and concentrate, letting the words flow when you haven't got anything to say. It is as Brian explores when he questions how he does it: how does he finish the three pages? How does he even start? He just does, and that should be the lesson I learn from his example.
@colinwalker How many of your local trips could you make with a bicycle? I've found that's helped me get in a lot more exercise without “extra” effort.
I don't actually make many 'local' trips, maybe to the supermarket every now and then if we need something specific. Cycling is definitely something I'd like to take up again – I can't believe it's been around 35 years since I've been on a bike!
@colinwalker It was about 20 years for me. Forgot how much fun they are. Now I'm always blabbing about them.