Seven Responses

(E) 

1. You are such a good writer. And I don't say that casually.

2. You should eat more than once a day. Like, 6 times a day. Carry Balance bars in your boots like daggers. Carry little ziplocs with 14 almonds. Carry turkey jerky. Really -- it's counter-intuitive, but it's harder to lose weight when you don't eat.

3. Sorry about your boyfriend = ( I'm guessing the getting angry and storming about and being pouty isn't *all* about not seeing instant results. You'd probably be more patient if things were going right in all other areas of your life. Maybe stop using words like "good" and "bad" and be a little more self-loving and less self-punishing? Positive reinforcement works with dogs. Don't rub your nose in it when you poop on the carpet.

4. I love the running-not-walking metaphor and the whole theme of your last entry. I think Jen did have a great year. And Angie's doing well. And frankly my dear, from where I sway, you look pretty damn successful! Truly. That said, I love your passion for pushing your boundaries, self-actualizing, figuring everything out and living with purpose, determination and zest. I've also realized I don't know what I want, and this is the year to figure it out.

5. On a more down-to-earth note, I haven't done much in the way of becoming Linda Hamilton, but I do think I'm less puffy just by virtue of giving up meat (more on that later). I swear, those growth hormones in livestock don't do us any favors! I did manage to make it to the gym today for 30 min of yoga and some light sets on 3 weight machines. Easing back into things after a prolonged laziness.

6. My own resolutions:

A. Give up mass-farmed, land-locked meat, which pretty much translates into eating only plant and marine life + animal by-products.

B. Give up smoking, except that I've given myself the option to smoke when getting head because a) it is the most decadent experience in the world to have a drink and a smoke while someone is performing on you the oral sex, and b) my guy thinks its hot (and you must never tell him I shared that).

C. Spend at least 30 minutes a day, every day, doing one of the following seven things: reading a book, meditating, exercising, practicing guitar, practicing ASL, writing, learning to do something I didn't know how to do in 2008. I call these my "7/30s."

And then there's a fourth category (D-ish) that's loosey goosey -- no quantification -- simply to pay more attention to (attend more to): karma, magic, appreciating something every day, living my values, celebrating the small stuff, noticing beauty, growing (as a person, not in girth), seeing details, loving, patience (I know, some of these are verbs and some nouns -- not my best work), forgiveness ("self-" included), never taking offense, seeing the end in the beginning, seeing people for their souls, living deliberately, attracting what I want, not fomenting negativity, not being stopped by fear, accepting (embracing) change, cultivating peace, being honest, being open, living my taoist affirmations, self-respect, becoming myself.

Whew!

7. I'm happy to say I have kept all of my resolutions to date. And yes, I have had a cigarette in 2009 ;)

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That's it for now. Sending you good vibes. You -- like Jen (yes, you, Jen Wilson!), are heroic, whether you feel it or not. And when you don't feel it, just ask me. I'll tell ya.