I am joining Honoré again this month to share an update on my word.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen Hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. — Mary Anne Radmacher
October taught me that sometimes in order to practice wellness, one must become adept at diligently avoiding some things. Most days the avoidance list included the internet, cable news, and the some topics of conversation!
October refined my ability to be silent and if that was not possible…well I am honing my change the topic of conversation skills!
Sometimes the thing I was trying to avoid was me…Okay, maybe not me so much as avoiding living in my head too much. Too much time over-thinking and worrying are not things to do if you are trying to practice wellness! Thank goodness for meditation which really helps me break the chain of worry. My typical practice has been to meditate in the morning while I sip my coffee but September showed me that once a day was really not enough so I have added more meditation time in my day, which has been tremendously helpful. I am also finding that the process of writing my worries/struggles/heartaches down means I don’t have to dwell on them. It is a learning process and as the month progressed, I found it easier to do. And while it is not perfect, it is helping.
What about you? How did your word show up for you?
You can see all of my Intentional Journey here.
It’s been really hard to let go of the anxiety and the worry this month, especially given where we live and what has been happening in this country. I am writing in my journal every evening, and my daily exercise has become really important in helping me to get to sleep each night, but the anxiety is always there. I’m finding it helpful to step back from a lot of the news when I can and to fill that time with things that bring me joy. And I am trying to remain hopeful!
Those sound like very good ways to live intentionally, Kat.
‘Intentional avoidance’–I love that word combination. Such a wise one, esp. for right now, whether it be politics or COVID or the sounds in our own heads… It’s another way of Choosing Sanity! It sounds like you’ve struck some good chords this month. (I’d love to hear more about your added meditation times, if you’re ever inspired to write about them.)
I think adding more meditation to your day is a great idea.
I have been intentionally avoiding cable news, most social media, and if by “some” topics of conversation, you mean politics, then I have been avoiding that too.
“Intentional avoidance” is perfect right now. I’m so glad you’re finding comfort in it.
I’m with Carolyn – I’d love to learn more about your time with meditation if you have the inclination to share. I think it will be a focus for me in 2021 and would welcome advice from people who have found realist ways to sprinkle it throughout their day.
hugs to you, this has been the hardest year yet for me and I struggle with so many things. I love that knitting gives me peace and a break. I also intentionally unplug for sanity’s sake.
I love the pairing of intentional and avoidance and l love that you have avoided the Internet, news and certain conversations. It is so hard for a Brit, as I am, to watch and listen to what is going on in your country but it must be so much worse living there. You are in my thoughts at this really difficult time. I am glad that you have found a way to make life a little more bearable for you this month.
another thank you for introducing the idea of “intentional avoidance”! and I love the idea of pairing it with more quiet time. I am finally back to ONE 20 minute sit every morning and would love to add in another one later in the day.