This is so goddamn great Claire. They are all so, so great: honest, readable, relatable, and (shocker) gorgeously written. The dream version of your morning and getting yanked into reality by the napkin slayed me. Thank you for stepping into this. It's a gift to us all.
Agggh, this means so much coming from you, my Soul Writing guru!! Thank you for reading and encouraging me! And I'll see you tomorrow at the mini-retreat.
Yay! It’s newsletter day! The Plunge is now officially a “habit” read as I anticipate you publishing early each week!!
As for morning practices. I would say I am pretty committed to something each morning, but the what varies. There was a time I judged that I wasn’t doing it right (meditating every day, writing every morning, etc) like there should be a regular ritual. What I have come to embrace is my desire for variety and listening for what I need, which varies each day. Currently it looks like the 3-6-9 projects intention setting practice, and then either reading a poem, listening to Sarah Blondin’s latest Substack offering or 10 minutes of free flow writing.
What I am inspired by is an evening practice, to wind down the day and sink into myself. I am up for the 7 day commitment and saying yes to 10 mins of yoga/stretching each evening before bed. Thanks coach Claire!!
I have never heard of the 3-6-9 practice so I googled that and am very intrigued! Have you done the afternoon/evening practice to go along with the morning one? And I also really like what you said about variety. I think I'm the same way - BUT the only issue is that if I have to decide each morning just the energy tax of making the decision feels like a deterrent. So this makes me wonder about having either a menu of options to easily reference or maybe assigning each day a theme. (ex: every Monday I do jumping jacks followed by headstands, etc.) Someday I hope to be enlightened enough not to need to systematize things, but until then.... LOVE your evening yoga practice commitment too!
I will say I did it a lot more than I have ever done it-- AND I didn't do it all 7 days. When I did it felt great, and I am reminded each night by the fire, that it is time to wind down my body, as well as my mind and heart...
"Buzzing" speaks to me. Just ask Whitney, I'm constantly talking about how that buzz keeps me awake through many nights. Sometimes I know the source and sometimes not, which is grossly more annoying.
"Orange Theory" speaks to me. Aside from basketball, it's satisfies my need for movement, community, and strangely even a bit of consciousness.
I definitely go to bed too late, especially when the Wolves are playing a West Coast game like the past two nights (both wins so totally worth it!). And I always get up before sunrise to perform my dawn prayers. And then, yeah, the buzzing, both internally and from that thing on my nightstand. I know my body and mind could use a bit more sleep... if only I knew how to nap.
Thanks for the plethora of ideas, friend, and for inviting us in on your challenge. I'll be giving it all some thought for sure.
Thanks for being a buzzy buddy with me Zaar. I feel less alone. :) And I'm so happy for you that Orange Theory is a gift to you and not a punishment. I also love the beautiful, devoted ritual of your dawn prayers and your other prayers throughout the day. And...like you, I cannot nap, not even if my life depended on it. There's a honeybee in my ear, keeping me alert. Bzzzzzzzz.
Just wanted to say that I enjoy your writing, and especially the humor and sense of light-heartedness. (Also, I'm excited to meet another fan of Insight Timer! Since I don't think I've ever seen anyone else mention it, are there just two of us...?)
Consider it done. Also, I went to my first Soundbath last night! Made me want to find something similar like that on Insight Timer. Do you just lay still and listen to this track, Bethany? Morning, evening? Are you meditating, letting your mind wander? Just curious how it works. My mind was RACING during the whole Soundbath.
Koshi Chimes are versatile - yoga, sit, lay, refresh, any time of day. My mind often (always?) wanders during meditation and sound bath (until I let myself drift partially asleep, which I'm told is also good!) - don't beat yourself up. I'm glad you tried it!
Haha, thank you for letting me you're enjoying The Diving Board, Sheila! I also am delighted by weird vocab words like 'hurkle durkle'. Hope you get a chance to use it in a sentence soon. ;)
This is so goddamn great Claire. They are all so, so great: honest, readable, relatable, and (shocker) gorgeously written. The dream version of your morning and getting yanked into reality by the napkin slayed me. Thank you for stepping into this. It's a gift to us all.
Agggh, this means so much coming from you, my Soul Writing guru!! Thank you for reading and encouraging me! And I'll see you tomorrow at the mini-retreat.
Yay! It’s newsletter day! The Plunge is now officially a “habit” read as I anticipate you publishing early each week!!
As for morning practices. I would say I am pretty committed to something each morning, but the what varies. There was a time I judged that I wasn’t doing it right (meditating every day, writing every morning, etc) like there should be a regular ritual. What I have come to embrace is my desire for variety and listening for what I need, which varies each day. Currently it looks like the 3-6-9 projects intention setting practice, and then either reading a poem, listening to Sarah Blondin’s latest Substack offering or 10 minutes of free flow writing.
What I am inspired by is an evening practice, to wind down the day and sink into myself. I am up for the 7 day commitment and saying yes to 10 mins of yoga/stretching each evening before bed. Thanks coach Claire!!
I have never heard of the 3-6-9 practice so I googled that and am very intrigued! Have you done the afternoon/evening practice to go along with the morning one? And I also really like what you said about variety. I think I'm the same way - BUT the only issue is that if I have to decide each morning just the energy tax of making the decision feels like a deterrent. So this makes me wonder about having either a menu of options to easily reference or maybe assigning each day a theme. (ex: every Monday I do jumping jacks followed by headstands, etc.) Someday I hope to be enlightened enough not to need to systematize things, but until then.... LOVE your evening yoga practice commitment too!
I will say I did it a lot more than I have ever done it-- AND I didn't do it all 7 days. When I did it felt great, and I am reminded each night by the fire, that it is time to wind down my body, as well as my mind and heart...
"Buzzing" speaks to me. Just ask Whitney, I'm constantly talking about how that buzz keeps me awake through many nights. Sometimes I know the source and sometimes not, which is grossly more annoying.
"Orange Theory" speaks to me. Aside from basketball, it's satisfies my need for movement, community, and strangely even a bit of consciousness.
I definitely go to bed too late, especially when the Wolves are playing a West Coast game like the past two nights (both wins so totally worth it!). And I always get up before sunrise to perform my dawn prayers. And then, yeah, the buzzing, both internally and from that thing on my nightstand. I know my body and mind could use a bit more sleep... if only I knew how to nap.
Thanks for the plethora of ideas, friend, and for inviting us in on your challenge. I'll be giving it all some thought for sure.
Thanks for being a buzzy buddy with me Zaar. I feel less alone. :) And I'm so happy for you that Orange Theory is a gift to you and not a punishment. I also love the beautiful, devoted ritual of your dawn prayers and your other prayers throughout the day. And...like you, I cannot nap, not even if my life depended on it. There's a honeybee in my ear, keeping me alert. Bzzzzzzzz.
Even when there's literally NOTHING going on, I have way too much FOMO to nap.
Just wanted to say that I enjoy your writing, and especially the humor and sense of light-heartedness. (Also, I'm excited to meet another fan of Insight Timer! Since I don't think I've ever seen anyone else mention it, are there just two of us...?)
I insist that you both check out Koshi Chimes with Nature Sounds by Dante Baker 🙌🏻
Consider it done. Also, I went to my first Soundbath last night! Made me want to find something similar like that on Insight Timer. Do you just lay still and listen to this track, Bethany? Morning, evening? Are you meditating, letting your mind wander? Just curious how it works. My mind was RACING during the whole Soundbath.
Koshi Chimes are versatile - yoga, sit, lay, refresh, any time of day. My mind often (always?) wanders during meditation and sound bath (until I let myself drift partially asleep, which I'm told is also good!) - don't beat yourself up. I'm glad you tried it!
Hi Kathy! Thank you so much for letting me know you're enjoying The Diving Board! Insight Timer is a goldmine! I'll see you on there. :)
Love your authenticity and sincerity!
It means so much to me to have you as a reader, Spring!!! Thanks for the encouragement!
Oh Claire, you speak to me! And today I have a new term: hurkle durkle. Thank you for writing, suggestions, and 7-day challenge.
Haha, thank you for letting me you're enjoying The Diving Board, Sheila! I also am delighted by weird vocab words like 'hurkle durkle'. Hope you get a chance to use it in a sentence soon. ;)