Jarric's Aramenté - Finding Space with the Druids

[Jarric]

Jarric’s Aramenté – Finding Space with the Druids

 

Hi all, for those of you who don’t know me I’m Jarric. I’ve been doing challenges across the forums for a couple of years now, and this year I came up with a plan to visit all of the guilds to meet new people, learn new perspectives and become a more well-rounded person myself.

 

Two challenges ago I fought alongside the Warriors, not for the first time, and whilst I love hanging out with those guys there was so much going on in my life I felt overwhelmed. I ended up more or less bailing on that challenge, and I didn’t take part in last challenge at all as I just tried to get my head straight.

 

But I don’t want to stay away from here for long, and so what better place to find some balance and learn to better cope with the stresses of life than alongside the Druids.

 

I already have a bit less on this challenge. Snooker season has finished, which means no more matches (I was usually playing two nights per week), and I’ve made the decision to not join any summer competitions or practices to keep those nights generally free. DnD will still be happening, on average once per week, but that’s something booked in well in advance that I can work around. Aside from that I’m going to make a conscious effort to say no to extra commitments, or at least to honestly consider whether I want to do them in the context of whatever else I have going on that week. Just being mindful that I don’t have to take every cool opportunity that comes my way will be key here.

 

So, I have some goals. None of these directly impact my main goals for the year, (running the Obstacle Course Racing World Championship and getting out of debt by the end of the year), they are more about getting my head in order as a foundation for moving forward. I will of course still be running, lifting, climbing and trying to eat good food too, but none of that’s a specific goal this time.

 

 

Check-In Daily – 5XP

A simple one to start, but one that’s great to keep me on track. Check in here daily. It doesn’t have to be much, in fact it can be just a single word if it needs to be, but just post in this thread every day.

 

 

Meditate Daily – 10XP

This is something I have been meaning to commit to for a while, because I’m not very good at meditation, but I really do think it will help to make those few minutes for myself every day. Generally I’m planning to do guided meditations at home, but if that’s not possible then any 5 minutes of mindfulness will do.

 

 

Study – 10XP

I need to make a structured start on my insurance studies so that I can tick along with them at a sensible pace (the alternative, and my usual method of study, is to feel guilty and stressed that I haven’t done anything for a few months, and then to panic and rush everything at the last minute). To that end I will do one Pomodoro of studying each week.

 

 

Research/Project Work – 10XP

In a very similar vein as the previous goal, I need to get on with a work project I’ve been working on – the sooner I start on this the sooner I’ll finish. This is also a group project where other people are relying on me, so that adds to the general stress. Again one Pomodoro of time spent on this each week.

 

 

To-Do List

No XP awarded for this, but I have a to-do list that I want to try and get through this challenge, to unfuck my house and get some shit sorted that’s been hanging over me for too long sorted. At the moment that looks like this:

·         Clear spare room stuff

·         Clear sofas and keep them clear

·         Buy shoe rack

·         Mow front lawn

·         Mow back lawn

·         Clothing cull

·         Clean bedroom stuff

·         Sort computer desk and permanent printer set-up

·         E-mail Steve

·         Start gathering stuff for Irish passport

 

 

And that’s it. 5 weeks of challenge ready and waiting for me. Now to try and get my head in order.

[Jarric]

So I wrote that^ yesterday and posted it to my 2018 battle log, as the new challenges aren't up yet. I plan to spend some time following some old and new friends here with the Druids and elsewhere, but right now I have one of those busy days  . Last snooker match of the season so I'm going to meditate and then rush off to do that!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Following along for your infiltration of visit to all the other guilds.

[Snarkyfishguts]

Hello! Welcome to the Druids....you’ll never escape now! I mean, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.  

 

This is a nice place to regroup, get some shit done, and manage stress. May you find your happy medium. 

[DarK_RaideR]

15 hours ago, Jarric said:

·         E-mail Steve

·         Start gathering stuff for Irish passport

[Jarric]

18 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Following along for your infiltration of visit to all the other guilds.

 

I'll report back with information from my reconnaissance keep you posted on how it goes.

 

15 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Hello! Welcome to the Druids....you’ll never escape now! I mean, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.  

 

This is a nice place to regroup, get some shit done, and manage stress. May you find your happy medium. 

 

Thank you, pleased to be here! Those sound like all the things I want and need right now.

 

8 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

 

[Jarric]

Daily update - slept in this morning instead of running, work was mega busy and I've got DnD tonight so all in all a hectic day. Really looking forward to DnD though - I think we're wrapping up this arc of the story so I might finally find out what's going on!

 

Need to get in my meditation between DnD and bed tonight. I attempted to meditate yesterday, though I only made it 4 minutes in before I felt weird and gave up.

[NeverThatBored]

Hey Jarric - with all your international guild spy work diplomacy, I keep missing your challenges! I found you this time.

[Jarric]

11 hours ago, NeverThatBored said:

Hey Jarric - with all your international guild spy work diplomacy, I keep missing your challenges! I found you this time.

 

Hey! Glad you found me .

[Jarric]

Early morning update for a change (because I slept in instead of going to the gym and now have a few more minutes of lying about to spare).

 

DnD last night was really good fun, ended up in a tense battle with the final boss of this story arc. WW's cleric character took two brutal hits, having her arm cut off with the first and being killed outright with the second. I had a random special ability that allowed me to bring her back from the dead (which was good, as I think our GM was more stressed about killing her than WW was), but she's still down one arm which will be interesting going forward.

 

I did get in my meditation before bed last night, and it felt much better than on Monday. Tonight I have a free evening so I'm gonna get some research done and then chill with some Critical Role

[jonfirestar]

Ahh found where you're hiding this time round  

[DarK_RaideR]

2 hours ago, Jarric said:

but she's still down one arm which will be interesting going forward.

I remember stories about a fight taking place on top of a moving train in that campaign. If the setting is close to an early industrial revolution, I'm hoping she gets some kind of steampunk-y cybernetic replacement

[Jarric]

2 hours ago, jonfirestar said:

Ahh found where you're hiding this time round  

 

Ah, you got me!

 

1 hour ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I remember stories about a fight taking place on top of a moving train in that campaign. If the setting is close to an early industrial revolution, I'm hoping she gets some kind of steampunk-y cybernetic replacement

 

I'm really hoping that's what our GM goes with, that would be awesome. Somehow much cooler than just magical reattachment.

 

Our necromancer suggested just sewing the arm back on and then casting animate dead on it O.o

[MaD MaLKaV]

Welcome to the Druids!  A guild tour sounds like a fun idea.  Keep us posted on your cleric's arm replacement!

[Jarric]

21 hours ago, MaD MaLKaV said:

Welcome to the Druids!  A guild tour sounds like a fun idea.  Keep us posted on your cleric's arm replacement!

 

Thanks! Will do - apparently she's sorted something out with our GM but she won't tell me what it is yet  

[jonfirestar]

23 hours ago, Jarric said:

Ah, you got me!

 

Woo! I'm not sure you'll be so easy to find at TM next weekend! 

 

[Jarric]

So I failed to get my research done yesterday (I may have spent quite a bit of time researching feats to level up my monk after Tuesday's game. And then a bit of time setting up the printer and printing character sheets for tonight's game) and really should do some now as I'm supposed to be calling my research partner tomorrow to discuss it.

 

Otherwise last night was pretty successful - I did a very short mini-workout of pull-ups, push-ups and climbing hold hangs, cooked some lamb with rice, onion, pepper and apricot, and spent plenty of time relaxing in front of Critical Role.

 

Just remembered to meditate right before bed, and it was actually really nice. I'm doing guided meditations on Insight Timer, and hopefully by the end of the challenge I'll be a bit better at paying attention to them and not drifting off!

 

Tonight is my other DnD game so it's dash home, quickly cook some veg to go with the gammon that's in the slow cooker, go kill some goblins  

[Jarric]

4 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Woo! I'm not sure you'll be so easy to find at TM next weekend! 

 

 

Depends what obstacle I'm on! I'm there from half 6 to half 6 so I'll definitely be about whilst you're running - I'll try and message you whereabouts I am when I know this time!

[jonfirestar]

1 minute ago, Jarric said:

 

Depends what obstacle I'm on! I'm there from half 6 to half 6 so I'll definitely be about whilst you're running - I'll try and message you whereabouts I am when I know this time!

Yeah I'll let you know our wave time whenever we get it. If I wear my Mudstacle Tshirt, I should at least be easy to spot as the great big yellow runner!  

[Jarric]

19 minutes ago, jonfirestar said:

Yeah I'll let you know our wave time whenever we get it. If I wear my Mudstacle Tshirt, I should at least be easy to spot as the great big yellow runner!  

 

Not so big any more mate  . If I'm near the end you might be more brown than yellow too!

[MaD MaLKaV]

1 hour ago, Jarric said:

Just remembered to meditate right before bed, and it was actually really nice. I'm doing guided meditations on Insight Timer, and hopefully by the end of the challenge I'll be a bit better at paying attention to them and not drifting off!

 

I use Insight Timer too.  It's handy.  I normally do shikantaza ("just sitting" meditation), so I haven't experimented with their guided meditations much, other than doing the occasional metta meditation when I make time in my day for a second session.  Let me know if you find a guided meditation that really stands out and is worth sharing.

[starpuck]

Heeey yaaaay!  Jarric!  

Ooooh with the druids.... I wonder which of the Ashari you are staying with right now.

 

This plan to hit the druids as a a regroup challenge is so amazing!  I might do that after my trip!      

 

[Jarric]

22 hours ago, MaD MaLKaV said:

I use Insight Timer too.  It's handy.  I normally do shikantaza ("just sitting" meditation), so I haven't experimented with their guided meditations much, other than doing the occasional metta meditation when I make time in my day for a second session.  Let me know if you find a guided meditation that really stands out and is worth sharing.

 

Yeah, I will do. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for in meditation yet so it's hard to say what's good. For the last few days I've been doing short sessions from Peter Fernando, but that's as much because I find his voice relaxing as it is actually about the content.

 

 

21 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Heeey yaaaay!  Jarric!  

Ooooh with the druids.... I wonder which of the Ashari you are staying with right now.

 

This plan to hit the druids as a a regroup challenge is so amazing!  I might do that after my trip!      

 

 

Heeey! I'm definitely staying in Pyrah - I'd always choose Fire Ashari given the option.

 

It's going wellish so far, I think it's a good plan  

[Jarric]

My game yesterday was excellent. DnD stuff (and maybe mild spoilers for Rise of the Runelords, though I feel like our GM changes the setting a lot):

 

Spoiler

We've been recruiting help to tackle a goblin stronghold on an island near town, and ended up with 2 acolytes from the local temple, 4 of the town guard and 2 local criminals. Our GM had mentioned that we might get to control a secondary character as a bit of fun for part of the assault. What I didn't realise was that he was going to spec up all of them properly and give us two new characters each!

 

I'm now switching between my lvl 3 sorcerer, and two of the guards who are a lvl 2 magus and a lvl 2 slayer respectively. It's a bit challenging trying to keep them straight in my head, but really fun to branch out into other players and see everyone else round the table take on new accents and new mannerisms that they've come up with on the spot from a basic stat block.

 

Did my meditation before bed, again it felt pretty good and I got through it nicely.

 

This morning I over slept again. I don't know how to combat this at the moment, but I need more gym time and I need more running in my life so somehow I need to sort this out. Next week I have no plans after work, so we'll see if a series of early nights re-sets me into getting up to go to the gym.

 

Edit: Just had an idea that I might do a reward for myself if I do well this challenge. I've never done that before, but I really want some of these:

 

[Jarric]

After posting yesterday I realised that I would be going straight from work to the pub and wouldn't have a chance to meditate, so I took the last 15 minutes of my lunch break to leave the office and sit in the local park to meditate. Felt really nice, even with the noise from the road, so I may well do that again next time the weather's nice. I usually take my whole lunch break at my desk, but I think it did me good to get out of the office, even for just a few minutes.

 

Last night was a leaving do for a couple of people I work with that are leaving for Canada. Many drinks were had, and a few cigarettes, and no food. Karaoke was sung and toot was talked. All in all a really great night. Ok, it's not good for me fitness wise and getting back after 5am meant I lost some of my morning being in bed, but it was great fun and I have no regrets.

 

No workout on today, but I'm helping The Captain rip out his garden so that'll keep me plenty active. Don't know how I'm going to find time to meditate as I'm staying here - may have to be in bed tonight. Tomorrow is bouldering, Critical Role and taking care of some of the todo list.