Today, my yoga teacher talked to us about beginner’s mind. She encouraged us to treat each yoga pose as if it were the first time we had ever done it. “Start with the basics, build each pose from the foundation up,” she said. She meant it literally, as when we set up for trikonasana (triangle […]
The Yoga of Sleep: Enhancing Creativity Read More »
Today marks the first installment of a new schedule for my blog posts and newsletter. Drafting each post on Tuesday afternoon (cue the Moody Blues) fits better into the flow of my week. Writing and publishing on the weekend was hampering the momentum of writing my memoir. This decision was not entirely intentional. Last Sunday,
Relaxing the Over-Controller Read More »
In a couple of weeks, I will begin a new learning curve in my medical career, even as I am slowing down. I will be working part-time in a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Clinic, offering medication-assisted treatment in an intensive outpatient setting which includes group and individual counseling. In my training for this role, I
Discipline is Overrated: Try Self-Forgiveness Instead Read More »
This week, I found a quote from Toni Morrison that helped me. The quote was in one of the many articles I read in the New York Times after her death. Here’s a snippet from the Op-Ed written by Roxane Gay that includes the quote. In a conversation with Hilton Als for a profile
The Age of Anxiety: Should You Put Down Your Cell Phone? Read More »
Last week, I wrote about the external obstacles to my writing. This week, I hit internal obstacles: resistance and procrastination. These feel worse to me. I feel defeated when I allow myself to be undermined by my anxieties. Yet, I am proud when I am not permanently derailed, when I can get back on track
Blocks to the Flow: Resistance & Procrastination Read More »
I have set a deadline for finishing the first draft of my memoir. I set it by using left-brain planning. I took the total number of words, and I divided it by the number of writing days left in the year. Is that a reasonable number of daily words? Yes? Okay, that’s the deadline. I’m
Take a Step Back: Gaining Perspective Read More »
Greetings from Mono, Ontario. I’m taking time off from my writing retreat to tell you about one of the presentations I attended this week. We are quite a diverse group, yet we have this vital thing in common, that we want to help other people write and heal through their writing. A fellow AWA-trainee talked
How to Be a Clown: Rules for Life Read More »
This weekend, I will be traveling to the Hockley Valley, about 45 minutes north of Toronto, for a reunion. It’s been two years since I became certified in facilitating writing groups through Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA). On Friday, I will be attending an AWA Professional Development and Writing Retreat. Two years ago, I applied
The Experience of Illness: Finding Support in Literature Read More »
Healers write; writers heal and grow. I wouldn’t be who I am today without writing. Writing has given me insight into my most difficult relationships, including the one with myself. There are some people who don’t know what they are thinking until they hear themselves say it. It’s useful for me to know that because
Musings of a Memoirist: Looking at My Former Self Read More »
June 30th is a milestone for me. Three months ago, on the first Friday of April, I set out to write a weekly newsletter for the second quarter of the year. As of today, I’ve reached that goal. It’s time to stop and take stock of what I want to do over the next quarter.
Staying Connected: Writing and Yoga Read More »
