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Tzippi Tastes the Vinegar If you've read the Tao of Pooh (and if you haven't, consider it!), you might remember the allegorical image referenced at the beginning of the Vinegar Tasters, in which three men taste from the same vat of vinegar, one tasting sourness, one bitterness, and one sweetness. These three are representations of the three major religions/philosophies of China, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The vinegar is life, and the men each taste it differently. Tai Chi, which I have begun studying and is a hugely positive practice in my life, is largely based on Taoist philosophy. I'm not going to get very deep into Confucianism, Buddhism, or Taoism, as I am at best a tourist and at worst completely ignorant of them. Instead, I am going to use my battered copy of The Tao of Pooh to look at what I want to do in my life, as I get a little deeper into my goals, study of Tai Chi, and continue to grow and refine. The "theme" of this challenge is halfway between using the three vinegar tasters as my models and metaphor, and using the characters from the Hundred-Acre Woods as the same. Taking my inspiration from the inimitable @sarakingdom and @Mistr, I am building on last challenge's success by adding tiny incremental goals to enhance my new habits, rather than adding a million new ones. “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” Body and mind - * Continue to support my Tai Chi practice with daily work, whether class, Tai Chi practice, or some other exercise. * Once per week, one weight workout or long walk/hike. Could be body weight, or a hammer. Poetry and Hums - * Continue with daily (more often nightly) five-minute+ meditation. Got Calm subscription, starting with the Pooh meditations. * Using my MyOmer App, count the omer every evening. * Once per week, one longer meditation. Try different stuff, report and review here. I may start with metta meditation: Rumbly in my Tumbly - * Three servings of vegetables a day. * Plant more stuff in the garden. Herbs? Will it get warm enough for cukes, zucchs, and tomatoes?

Wow, guys, this is my eighth challenge! This is a placeholder for when I actually have time to finish writing up this challenge. Ugh. This year is getting away from me already! Main Quest: Enjoy Every Day of 2015. Current Quest: Build the ultimate daily routine. One. Stretch 2x per day.Morning Sequence: MindBodyGreen Morning Yoga SequenceAfter work / Before Bed Sequence: MindBodyGreen 10 Minute Relaxation Sequence Need to start up exercising again, but I'm working a lot at the moment so I need to do something that won't totally wear me out. Working over the holiday season is doing that well enough. Also yoga is nice. Once school holidays are over and the other girl comes back from holidays I'll have a few days during the week to be able to spend some excess energy on actual exercise. Two. Food journal - every day.bonus for putting it into MFP.bonus bonus for no dairy in a day. Put on weight between christmas and new years, so I need to start logging what I'm eating again so I'm more aware of how much I eat. I also need to find something satiating that I can eat so I'm full but not overfull during work - otherwise I want to eat everything in sight. xD Also dairy (in the form of milk, cream, ice-cream, and most cheese) seems to be giving me issues. Whether it's always been that way and I never realised, or its a recent occurrence, who knows, but I just need to not from now on. xD Butter seems to not bother me (yay!) and small amounts of nice cheese (like feta) seem to be fine as well. So for my sanity butter and feta are exempt from the no dairy rule. Three. Clean one room of the house a week; thoroughly!bedroom / bathroom / kitchen & dining / lounge room / laundry & toilet / patio.bonus for putting it into Chore Wars Yeah. House is getting pretty wild and untamed, and I can do something about it. I just need to build some motivation. Four.gratitude diary - every day.Because I see other nerds do this and it's always so nice. And I know I should be grateful for my life, because it's pretty awesome. Lego Blocks:I have scrapped the gratitude daily because I don't feel like I'm getting anything out of it. I'm instead going to write a list daily of what I achieved that has gone towards crafting my epic life. Inspired by Steve's recent article on Lego and Minecraft. Bonuses:Go to Yoga Class, damnit!Have that catch up with a friend I’ve been meaning to.Grow a new vegetable (preferably a leafy green one but anything that grows)Swim at the beach. It’s summer for pete’s sake!Ask sister about soccer tryouts. Walk the dog. Cycle to work. Meditate. Be crafty. Draw / write / paint / sculpty.No computer or XBox before work / 9am. I'll suss out some sort of scoring system in a bit. xD