04.09.16 – End of Day Notes

What I did today: Very little, actually. It has been a bitterly cold day, my allergies have kicked me in the arse, and I’ve mostly been in bed all day. Somehow, I managed to write my science fiction story titled Hatched Plans, a senryu series as my small stones for the day, and a poem that combined both the NaPoWriMo and the April PAD Challenge. I haven’t read a single blog for the A2Z today, nor participated in any other regular challenges that I usually do. Since tomorrow is a day off for the A2Z, I plan on spending the day catching up on other participants’ blogs. I may even write some flash fiction for other challenges if my allergies aren’t too severe. Or, I may just spend another day in bed. Time will tell.

What I learned today: For some reason, I am exhausted. I don’t know if it is from the allergy meds, the cold, or from too many late nights/early mornings with very little sleep. Whatever the cause, I have learned to listen to my body and not push myself.

What I am most proud of today: Honestly, just that I was able to get anything accomplished today.

What did you do today, dear readers? Learn any lessons? Have a reason to be proud? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!

10 Daily Currents – 04.09.16

It is Saturday at 1:25 pm and I am currently…

1. listening: a friend chattering on the phone

2. eating: scrambled eggs with salsa, sausage links, 1/2 an avocado

3. drinking: Pepsi Max

4. wearing: big bulky black sweater, black sweats, purple fuzzy slippers

5. feeling: drained and cold

6. weather: cold, cloudy, extremely windy (had snow flurries early this morning) about 40 degrees

7. wanting: to snuggle up in bed

8. needing: I don’t know… seriously, just… don’t… know

9. thinking: to sleep or not to sleep… to write or not to write… or just f’it and watch a movie

10. enjoying: a nice chat

I had a thought, dear readers… if you’d like to grab these 10 Daily Currents and write your own, link back to my post so I can share along with you!

#atozchallenge – Thích Nhất Hạnh Inspires Me

In my late thirties, I was having a real crisis of faith. I was searching for meaning in life, living in my past and dreading the future. Mental Illness had a fierce grip on me. And then I read about Thích Nhất Hạnh in one of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s books and looked him up online. I became enchanted by this simple Vietnamese Buddhist monk and ordered many of his books. I learned about his exile from Vietnam for helping the Buddhist there fight for their freedom through nonviolence. I read about his visit with Martin Luther King, Jr. during which time he encouraged King to denounce the Vietnam War, which King did. I read everything he wrote with great interest and began practicing many of his teachings. I now consider Thay, as his friends call him, my spiritual teacher. It would be my wish to some day visit his monastery called Plum Village, situated in the Dordogne region of southern France. His health has been bad for a while since he had a stroke in 2014, but he appears to be improving. I say a little prayer each day for his health just before my morning mediation. Here are some of my favorite quotes by Thay:

 

And the quote that taught me the importance of Silence:

Interesting Fact: After decades in exile, Thay was finally allowed back into Vietnam in 2005, though his visit swarmed with controversy.

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Thank you for joining me for the A-to-Z Challenge. If you’d like to see who else is participating, check them out here.

Each day, I will be posting about People Who Inspire Me.