I’ve been trying to decide what to say about my experience participating in 21.5.800. (Quick reminder: For 21 days, 5 days of yoga a week and 800 words of writing a day.)
I could tell you about how much more bendy and Zen the yoga made me (I am quite bendy now; I’m actually typing this post in plow position). Or I could assure you that over the course of 24,800 words, surprising and quite amazing things can and do happen.
But the biggest benefit I got from participating in 21.5.800 was… momentum. Not just the very real momentum of regular workouts and regular writing, but the momentum that is inherent to trying something new. I felt challenged. Most days, I felt accomplished and energized. I had committed to doing this thing that I wasn’t sure I could do, and each day I did it, I was propelled forward – and sideways and back – to the edges of 21.5.800 and beyond.
Over the course of the past month, I did some, for me, kind of astounding things. On three separate occasions, I met amazing, vibrant people that I had only known online before. I knew they were wonderful, but they were even more dazzling in person. I started two photography projects, wrote notes for a short video, collaborated with another writer, played hooky to feed my soul (twice!), hiked a new trail, listened to poetry in the stunning Santa Cruz mountains, covered a rodeo, visited a farm, hula hooped for an audience, and signed up for scuba lessons (a life list item, I will scratch off my list in four weeks)!
About half way through 21.5.800, I wrote that there is value in doing what scares you and committing to something you’re not really sure you can do. I think maybe the value lies in the uncertainty, in your willingness to be there in that uncomfortable, slightly (or sometimes wildly) out of control place. No matter how many times I leap into the big unknown, I never become more graceful. It is always, for me, a clumsy affair, not to mention maddening and scary. But each leap does make me more likely to leap again, more likely to decide that the exhilaration of being alive and awake and engaged in my life is worth the (more than occasional) bouts of maddening and scary.
I feel a little like a zealot. I want everyone to find something, one thing that challenges you – maybe even scares you – and do it. Let go of all the reasons not to – you’re too busy, it’s silly, no one will understand. There will always be a million good reasons not to. Accept that they are, indeed, good reasons, and then do the thing anyway.
And , of course, come back here and tell me all about it.
Watching a zealot in plow position spreading the sparkly awesomeness that is j ……great way to start Monday.
*big hugs bendy one*
You are bending over backwards for your fans.
I totally get what you mean. It’s so hard not to jump up and down and shout “Oh my gosh, you have to TRY this!” to everyone I meet. :)
Inspiring!
You put your finger on it – momentum!!
That is what you get from discipline.
It’s funny how discipline gets a bad rap – in order to be creative, you need to to, whatever.
Instead I think discipline allows you to build you skills to the point where you can take fully advantage of those moments of insights.
I remember reading that Hemingway too would count words each day – and he would have a certain number of words as his minimum, no matter how he felt.
I learned the power of discipline in training as a coach; in running, too.
I am impressed, Judy!
And inspired – I will check out a yoga place here in Sac, running is no longer enough to keep me together :))
So happy about your achievements – well, this happiness is slightly colored by a selfish shade ;) but it made me smile to read about you hula-hooping or listening to poetry… embracing life!!
have a wonderful day!! :)
Ciao!
Karen, Ooooo, I sound like quite the wonder in your comment! *big hugs back*
Ralph, Anything for you guys.
Jules, I know. And not just “this” but anything… something. I keep meeting people who I listen to and think, “What you need is a leap, right out of what you know and into what is possible.”
Oops, Paolo. We crossed in the ether. (That was good for me!) You’re right… The secret to writing is to write. I believe it really is that simple (no matter how often I forget). And (related), not buying into your own excuses. There are almost always troubling, valid, perfectly understandable reasons for being stuck, but getting comfortable and complacent, surrounded by all your good reasons… makes me sad.
You are one of my examples of flight, partner.
i love this part…
“Let go of all the reasons not to – you’re too busy, it’s silly, no one will understand. There will always be a million good reasons not to. Accept that they are, indeed, good reasons, and then do the thing anyway.”
i also need to remember — that there are good reasons TO do it, even if i don’t know what they are until after i’ve done it. :-)
thanks for being our leaping leader, j. :-)
Yay, You!!! I doubt that your leaping is clumsy, but I guarantee that you are always graceful, full of grace and gracious here at ZS, j. I’m so proud of you! Thank you for challenging and inspiring me to leap and dance and enjoy and engage. Big Love! *BIG SQUISHY HUGS*
jb, The best reason to do it is that momentum thing. Do it once, and you’re more likely to do it again, and again, and again… Pretty soon you have an amazing, full-throttle sort of life. (Or at least, that’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it.)
Dani, Thank you! If I get you to do all that, than I am a happy blogger!
This is, as usual, an awesome thought train you’re taking us all down. And for the record, I’m typing my response while doing this: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2470
Thank you for this (the words not the pose).
Your leaps inspire me, J! I think I’m ready to make my leap soon. Real soon. Just a little more. And when I do, I can’t wait to share. And it will, I’m sure, be all thanks to you.
Keep it up, super J!
Becky, Ha! I almost used that picture in the post, but I decided to tell the truth instead.
Eman, That’s exciting. I can’t wait for you to share either! xo