Hilarious, maddening, and entertaining as always! Also, I could so relate to the part about having moved around so much, you’ve learned your real homeland is in your heart. I happen to be living in my original homeland these days (place of my birth and parents’ birth), feeling like an outsider, and I steer clear of all the hipster wannabes I once used to have to hang out with. Life feels more zen now and it’s easier to figure out what makes me authentic without all the noise.
So glad you are finding life feeling more zen and how you’re connecting with what feels authentic to you. What practices or insights do you think have been most influential for you?
Lessening my contact with people who wear heavy masks (or worse, they have no idea they’re masking), spending time in solitude or meditation, playing (which for me is writing or creating black out poems), allowing myself to rest, or watch films or TV series, or read for leisure, without feeling guilty (this one has been surprisingly hard), connecting with people in meaningful ways, telling people I care about that I care about them, making sure my job is infused with a sense of purpose that aligns with my values - these are some of the things that have really helped me. Does any of this resonate for you?
Yes, your approach to finding balance and meaning seems logical. I like blackout poems but have never done any...do you have any completed ones to show off? I’m curious—how do you balance these different aspects in your daily life? Any particular practices that have been especially impactful for you?
Are you on Instagram? If so, check out my account @love_lorn_dot_me for my blackout poems. If not, I can DM you a few. As for daily practices, meditation is one, but sometimes it’s just a kind of restful, lying down meditative state (read: nap) after work😂. I enjoy connecting with people through Substack, too, and my job as a teacher and college counsellor offers space for connections, too. Other things like job alignment and choosing the people I keep in my life have been more long-term decisions, after much thoughtful consideration (like divorce and pitching a new course I want to design). Sorry, I don’t have any nifty tools to suggest; just a whole lot of reflecting and sometimes reading. Anything you could suggest?
As for practices that are impactful, I think you covered it all. For me the gym is a form of meditation, the being present and in the moment. Focusing on something singular and repetitive. It clears out the mental clutter. You’re alone, in your own bubble, breathing, counting reps and nothing else seems to matter for a while..
Hmmm, yes, I’ve heard that from so many people. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a gym-goer, and even when I push myself to go, the only thing that sustains me is music. So I can’t quite relate. But to each his own! Also, you may have inadvertently given away your true identity (thanks to your Insta follow). But then again, God knows how many heteronyms you have!
As a former expat, I'd recommend a neighborhood cafe where most patrons are either obviously working class or seniors more interested in sipping their coffee and reading the newspaper than trying to be "cool."
Another great one. I say you can't take many foreigners especially Americans no where. Lol. I am american! We must just be in the moment when we are in a foreign place especially that doesn't speak English. Just be in the moment people. Experience where you are.
Thank you! I have nothing against Americans in general, just some of them - who get underneath those fingernails that screech across the blackboard....
LOL. When I lived in London when I was breaking my music company I would be in Piccadilly and could spot the Americans a mile away. Also when in berlin. We stand out and can be over the top. Thanks always.
Hilarious, maddening, and entertaining as always! Also, I could so relate to the part about having moved around so much, you’ve learned your real homeland is in your heart. I happen to be living in my original homeland these days (place of my birth and parents’ birth), feeling like an outsider, and I steer clear of all the hipster wannabes I once used to have to hang out with. Life feels more zen now and it’s easier to figure out what makes me authentic without all the noise.
So glad you are finding life feeling more zen and how you’re connecting with what feels authentic to you. What practices or insights do you think have been most influential for you?
Lessening my contact with people who wear heavy masks (or worse, they have no idea they’re masking), spending time in solitude or meditation, playing (which for me is writing or creating black out poems), allowing myself to rest, or watch films or TV series, or read for leisure, without feeling guilty (this one has been surprisingly hard), connecting with people in meaningful ways, telling people I care about that I care about them, making sure my job is infused with a sense of purpose that aligns with my values - these are some of the things that have really helped me. Does any of this resonate for you?
Yes, your approach to finding balance and meaning seems logical. I like blackout poems but have never done any...do you have any completed ones to show off? I’m curious—how do you balance these different aspects in your daily life? Any particular practices that have been especially impactful for you?
Are you on Instagram? If so, check out my account @love_lorn_dot_me for my blackout poems. If not, I can DM you a few. As for daily practices, meditation is one, but sometimes it’s just a kind of restful, lying down meditative state (read: nap) after work😂. I enjoy connecting with people through Substack, too, and my job as a teacher and college counsellor offers space for connections, too. Other things like job alignment and choosing the people I keep in my life have been more long-term decisions, after much thoughtful consideration (like divorce and pitching a new course I want to design). Sorry, I don’t have any nifty tools to suggest; just a whole lot of reflecting and sometimes reading. Anything you could suggest?
Ok I see now on Instagram, cool!
As for practices that are impactful, I think you covered it all. For me the gym is a form of meditation, the being present and in the moment. Focusing on something singular and repetitive. It clears out the mental clutter. You’re alone, in your own bubble, breathing, counting reps and nothing else seems to matter for a while..
Hmmm, yes, I’ve heard that from so many people. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a gym-goer, and even when I push myself to go, the only thing that sustains me is music. So I can’t quite relate. But to each his own! Also, you may have inadvertently given away your true identity (thanks to your Insta follow). But then again, God knows how many heteronyms you have!
As a former expat, I'd recommend a neighborhood cafe where most patrons are either obviously working class or seniors more interested in sipping their coffee and reading the newspaper than trying to be "cool."
yes, agreed!
Another great one. I say you can't take many foreigners especially Americans no where. Lol. I am american! We must just be in the moment when we are in a foreign place especially that doesn't speak English. Just be in the moment people. Experience where you are.
Thank you! I have nothing against Americans in general, just some of them - who get underneath those fingernails that screech across the blackboard....
LOL. When I lived in London when I was breaking my music company I would be in Piccadilly and could spot the Americans a mile away. Also when in berlin. We stand out and can be over the top. Thanks always.
Exactly why I could never figure out why they wanted to leave Gilligan’s island.
fair enough but being cooped up the same island as Lovey Howell might have negated the positive effects of so much space for solitude...
Valid point.