WolfDreamer

Worth it! 😆 I'm kidding. I struggle to keep track of where everyone is from. 🤦‍♂️ I'm sorry.

Come to West Virginia, to the New River Gorge National Park around mid October. It's perfect.

This is roughly what it looks like here in my part of WV, as well. That is a beautiful view! This is honestly one of the reasons I have not moved out of WV in spite of our struggling economy and... less than ideal political atmosphere. I am convinced my body would operate very dysfunctionally if I had to live somewhere that lacked distinct seasonal changes. I am really happy that you finally get to enjoy it. May I ask where you lived before?

This is one of the best bits of advice I was ever given about not hitting snooze. It's tricky because I get up an hour before my wife, so I'm always worried that if my alarm goes off for too long it will wake her up. Regardless, this is the best way to keep from hitting snooze. Ditto. I keep a couple of resistance bands next to my desk, and when I don't feel like doing a full workout I grab one of these and do some stretches and exercises with them. I don't have a kettlebell (yet), so it's a good way to get a quick pump without much fuss. Woo!

I'm all for unsolicited cat pics! Sometimes the best thing we can do is allow ourselves to rest.

That sounds amazing. Looks good, too!

To Rebels in the Northern Hemisphere, how is Autumn looking in your area? Leaves are about finished changing around here. Still some bright reds and yellows hanging on. And evening sunsets have been spectacular! Southern friends, how is Spring looking for you? Lots of green and sunshine?

Week 1, Day 1 (Sunday): Sunday is a restful day for me. I slept in until around 7:30 am. Then I took the dogs outside and enjoyed the cool morning air soon to be broken by warm sunrise. I read some poetry, really enjoying the imagery of a poem by Steve Kowit titled "What Cord Did She Pluck." I'll include it in the spoiler below if you'd like to read it. Sat in contemplative silence and watched the morning sun light up my stretch of the neighborhood. still listening to Clear Mind, Wild Heart from David Whyte. completed the Daily Dare no full workout since it's a rest day took my son to a birthday party at Sky Zone. I did not jump, but I enjoyed a 15 minute massage in one of the massage chairs Day 2 (Monday): woke up before my alarm at 4:13 am guided contemplative prayer was about the story of Jesus healing a crippled woman, and the meditation asked me to consider what the woman's experience of the world would be like being constantly "bowed over," and to reflect on the burdens that are weighing me down ("bowing" me over). Then to have Christ "see" me the way he "sees" the woman and to consider what he would call me: friend? brother? I'm still wrestling with that one. read some poetry; the poem "Cremation" by Robinson Jeffers really struck me, since cremation is something I am considering for my own end-of-life plans. I will post the poem in a spoiler below (and I highly recommend you read it): completed the Daily Dare 15 minute workout using my 25 lb. aqua bag and 8 lb. medicine ball took the dogs outside while barefoot and shirtless and stood still, feeling the cool earth beneath my feet continuing to listen to Clear Mind, Wild Heart; I also joined a book club at work, and the selected book is Hail Mary by Andy Weir. my neighbor and close friend received a Schwinn Admiral bicycle from an old man he delivered to, but since he is on the road all the time for work, my friend generously donated the bike to me. I love it. It's isn't old but is a classic Schwinn cruiser design, with a basket on the front and a rack on the back. Yesterday, I took my son on a bike ride across the river to my home town, pedaling up the bridge until we had to walk, and then we mounted and rode down the other side at near full-speed. Then I took him across the railroad tracks and found myself compelled, then, to ride old back streets I haven't traveled since childhood, streets I have no desire to revisit in a car, but on the seat of a bike it was a thrilling, nostalgic experience that soothed my soul. I was reminded why I love riding a bike so much: the brushing of wind on my face, going fast enough to feel the thrill but slow enough to experience the surrounding environment.

Woke up on my own this morning. When I checked the time, I was surprised to see that it was 4:14 am, which means my body just sort of knew it was time. Sat outside on the front porch (in spite of the 34F temperature) and noticed the glint of the streetlights on the frosty grass. I spent some time in contemplative prayer and read the poem "Adult" by Linda Gregg: I’ve come back to the country where I was happy changed. Passion puts no terrible strain on me now. I wonder what will take the place of desire. I could be the ghost of my own life returning to the places I lived best. Walking here and there, nodding when I see something I cared for deeply. Now I’m in my house listening to the owls calling and wondering if slowly I will take on flesh again. ~ from A Book of Luminous Things, edited by Czeslaw Milosz (Harcourt Brace and Company, 1996) worked out with resistance bands for 15 minutes made plans today to read some of my poems during Open Mic Night next Thursday at my favorite coffee shop, Coal River Coffee.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful videos on Youtube:

As an example to how my plans often derail... story time. Last night before bed, I set my alarm for my usual 4:15 am wakeup. Yes, I know that's pretty early, but it gives me just over an hour of quiet solitude. However, around 3:00 am my wife woke me up, and I could hear the concern in her voice. "Come here," she said from the hallway. She led me to the bathroom and said, "I can hear water dripping." The sound was coming from near the toilet. I had to lean close to listen. The floor was dry, but there was a hollow dripping sound. I realized it seemed to be coming from beneath the floor, so I had to go through the access door to the crawl space under our house to make sure there wasn't a water leak. Fortunately, it was just the sound of water dripping in the sewer line, likely from where one of our kids had used the bathroom before my wife. Unfortunately, it took some time not get back to sleep after this. I ended up resetting my alarm and didn't wake up until 5:15, which did not give me much quiet time alone. I did take a cold shower, however. I started listening to a series of lectures by my favorite poet, David Whyte, called Clear Mind, Wild Heart: Finding Courage and Clarity Through Poetry. I finished the first lecture, and it is really inspiring and... reassuring. I am moved by both David's words and the words of the poets he shares in his lectures. Expect to see a lot of David's poetry during this challenge, as well. Sometimes by David Whyte Sometimes if you move carefully through the forest breathing like the ones in the old stories who could cross a shimmering bed of dry leaves without a sound, you come to a place whose only task is to trouble you with tiny but frightening requests conceived out of nowhere but in this place beginning to lead everywhere. Requests to stop what you are doing right now, and to stop what you are becoming while you do it, questions that can make or unmake a life, questions that have patiently waited for you, questions that have no right to go away.

Having dropped off the forum for a while during the last challenge, I think I am ready to start this challenge strong. My goal for this challenge is to clear my mind of clutter and to nurture my wild heart. Below are some tasks I plan to complete in order to do that. 1. Wake up before everyone else -- The quietest moments in my house are before everyone else gets up. Essentially, I need to wake up early enough for quiet time to do the following: scripture/poetry/philosophy reading meditation/prayer breath work 2. Consume content that clears my mind -- Read, listen to, and watch anything that lifts my spirits and helps cleanse my mind. books podcasts, lectures, guided meditations videos 3. Exercise as Therapy -- I plan to also use my fitness practice as a way to clear my mind. Darebee Daily Dare functional movements/workouts trail running Yoga And that about covers it. Short, simple, but also direct and targeted.

Thank you. It's a combination of impatiently recovering from my longest race ever, being sick, and some life changes (which are really what I'm not quite ready to talk about just yet).

Thank you. Being barefoot is one "childhood habit" that I never want to outgrow. Apologies (again) for the lack of updates. Life has been... unsettling. May share more when I feel I'm emotionally ready. W1Ds5, 6, & 7: 0445 wakeup all three days contemplative scripture reading and prayer using the Lectio365 app; also read a few pages of The Four Agreements sat in contemplative silence while breathing deeply for 10 minutes all three days took a cold shower all three days stood outside barefoot while taking the dogs out all three days Saturday I tried running again on trails with my buddy Rick. I felt good during the run but took it slow. Later, however, my hip started hurting and took two days to feel better. Too much too soon maybe? foods were mostly simple with the exception of a few sweet treats and some snacks water intake improving; no sodas but I did have a can of Zoa, which I guess is a "healthier" energy drink and lower in caffeine than most I'll post an update for the past few days later and see if I have the emotional energy to share what's going on that has me so down.

Just Thinking by William Stafford Got up on a cool morning. Leaned out a window. No cloud, no wind. Air that flowers held for awhile. Some dove somewhere. Been on probation most of my life. And the rest of my life been condemned. So these moments count for a lot—peace, you know. Let the bucket of memory down into the well, bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No one stirring, no plans. Just being there. This is what the whole thing is about. W1D2,3, & 4: slept in until 0515 all three days because I haven't been sleeping well read scripture using the YouVersion app sat in contemplative silence while breathing deeply for 5 minutes took a cold shower stood outside barefoot while taking the dogs out walked 30 minutes all three days, did some light Yoga on day 2; my back is getting better but still not ready for intense exercise other than a birthday cake, a slushy from Dairy Queen, and some Warheads cubes that my daughter gave me, all foods were "simple" foods. still not drinking enough water, but no sodas and no energy drinks, just water, coffee, tea, and juice

*grins victoriously* Release the leopards!

Ugh. That sucks. Sounds like a question I ask daily about most of my neighbors and many, many members of my family. Along with the horrid realization that all of them vote.

Blast! They've joined my enemy! Perhaps I shall recant my statement... or perhaps not.

*grumbles* Bread from a pumpkin? Bah! The only thing pumpkins are good for is lighting on fire and hurling at our enemies on the battlefield! Barkeep! Another mead, please.

Looks like things are going really well! Your challenge goals remind me of some I've set in the past, especially your Creed goals. I'm sorry to hear your hubs isn't feeling well. Hope he gets better soon! Let me know if I can help with your challenge in any way.

I love these "eating skills" as you call them. Your challenge looks great! And I am really glad to hear you are still working through the GMB programs. If I can help with your challenge in any way, please let me know.

Obligatory musical connection:

Mead for me!

So great to see you again, and I can't believe the little one is starting primary school! And I'm sorry to hear he's not feeling well. Hope he gets well soon. Anything I can do to help with your challenge, just let me know!

Welcome back, and awesome that you hired a coach! I also kept my goals simple this challenge in hopes that I will stay consistent. I'm glad to see you here again.