Heidi: The Way Will Open

[Heidi]

This challenge begins during a time of converging paths, each with their own pressures: PhD classes, interpersonal conflict, editing work, physical challenges, emotional balance, spiritual wholeness. At times it feels like I am navigating under a starless sky, and all I can do is trust the sails and be grateful that the water lifts the boat.

 

I hadn't meant to make an Earthsea challenge, and it's been forever since I read the books, but here we are. Writing often reveals the Way; as Ged found, words have power to restore balance to what has been upset.

 

The way will open.

[Heidi]

Today dawned with cranky muscles, a good conversation with an old friend, well-wishes from a new-again friend, and tea. It's a lovely way to spend Valentine's morning.

 

On Sundays I write letters, and usually I don't ask much more of myself than that.  I like having a retreat day built in to my life. But today I'm looking at all that didn't get done yesterday (because of interpersonal conflict) and all that won't get done tomorrow (because I'll be riding off to fetch my Jeep from the mechanic). And so I have a mountain that I could, and possibly should, be doing that is completely contrary to the statement "On Sundays I write letters."

 

I might ignore it all anyway.

 

The cranky muscles want to become an outright rebellion, complete with headache. I'm propped up on pillows and a warm rice sock at the moment, sipping tea, my head still dancing with echoes from reading @DarK_RaideR's  recent thread, and being pulled toward revisiting Earthsea after nearly three decades away.

 

Also, a new author has come into my life: Chogan Swan. Do any of you know his work? What's the opinion in this?

 

A bath and letters might be all I'm good for today.

[Heidi]

I edited the article that was languishing from yesterday. It shouldn't have taken the better part of the morning, but anyway, it's done. The policy and papers and discussion posts (all due Tuesday) will have to wait for now, and letters too, since my eyes are all stabby. The muscles are settling down a bit, so there's progress.

 

Court is Friday. Family Session with Vivian is Wednesday. A lot of reading and writing due Tuesday.

 

This will be a heck of a Week One, friends.

Thank the Universe for tea and hot baths.

 

 

 

[Renate]

♡ 

 

Lovely weekly habit, to write letters. 

 

PS – I have been wanting to thank you for making me realise I need to do everything I can to have a bath in my next living place. My partner has been made aware of it being a high priority acommodation after "a kitchen where 2 people can cook together" but before "a guest room" (No Amsterdam for us!)

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Your first three posts started with Earth Sea references and ended with a pic of you in the bath. I suspect the way forward will involve Water, either literally or metaphorically. Maybe a starting point for writing is water?

 

I hope your muscles calm down.

[Heidi]

43 minutes ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Your first three posts started with Earth Sea references and ended with a pic of you in the bath. I suspect the way forward will involve Water, either literally or metaphorically. Maybe a starting point for writing is water?

Agreed, especially since the last thread ended with putting swimming back in my life. ❣️

[Heidi]

1 hour ago, Athena said:

Lovely weekly habit, to write letters. 

It is, indeed. I highly recommend it! People don't even need to write back for it to be centering. Feel free to DM me your address if you'd like a note. 🦋

1 hour ago, Athena said:

PS – I have been wanting to thank you for making me realise I need to do everything I can to have a bath in my next living place.

I feel my life's work is now complete. 😊

[DarK_RaideR]

Earthsea, you say? You have my attention. (Not that you wouldn't otherwise, I mean I'd be here anyway). Even better reading I had something to do with inspiring it, I'm honoured and glad you enjoyed my narrative too.

 

Speaking of letters, I've been wondering whether mine from early December ever arrived.

[Heidi]

5 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Speaking of letters, I've been wondering whether mine from early December ever arrived.

Not yet . . . .

[Heidi]

6 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Earthsea, you say? You have my attention

Might have to do a read-along starting next week.

[Heidi]

While I was relaxing, thinking about letters and water and letting my mind wander, a phrase for one of this week's papers came to mind. I opened a document to write it down, and the next thing you know I had completed the whole thing. One paper down. Two forum discussions left to go (probably tomorrow).

[Scaly Freak]

4 hours ago, Heidi said:

Thank the Universe for tea and hot baths.

 

Tea and hot baths sound wonderful. Though perhaps not in combination.

 

I love water. I miss the pool at the gym.

[MezzotheLefty]

Letter writing is an amazing habit! I may need to pick it up. ☺️

 

I hope your week is as smooth as possible!

[Heidi]

13 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

Tea and hot baths sound wonderful. Though perhaps not in combination.

 

I love water. I miss the pool at the gym.

I am so glad that they figured it out well enough at my gym. A year without the pool is too long.

13 hours ago, MezzotheLefty said:

Letter writing is an amazing habit! I may need to pick it up. ☺️

 

I hope your week is as smooth as possible!

Thank you! Your good wishes will help, for certain.

[Heidi]

So, usually I'm only good for nothing on Wednesdays, given the Extended Zoom Marathon of Classes on Tuesday. But this week is going to be a week. My attorney came into the office this morning to find the epic tonne of contentious email around the missed visit from Saturday, and she's speaking with Vivian's therapist Tuesday afternoon, which means I need to meet with the attorney after that but preferably before the session with Vivian Wednesday afternoon, which leaves Wednesday morning, aka The Hour of Incoherent Drooling. This is fine (read please pray for my poor brain).

 

This morning my friend drove me up the mountain to get my Jeep. The weather is nasty: wet, and chilly, and grey, but not so cold as to have ice. There was fog on the mountain and the whole trip was very Shire-some. I feel really good about having my Jeep back and having had it looked over (the radiator needed flushing, and I had the mechanic do fluid changes etc while he was there). I stopped by to check the post office box on the way home (no letters, no checks, but a book from a Philosopher!) and pick up the milk for the week (I get two gallons, in 4 half-gallon containers, but only half of it was there because it seems there's a thief about. Why are people like this? I pray for them) and dropped a note to the dairyman about what is missing.

 

Today I have readings of the day to catch up on, and the discussion pieces to write. I'm kind of worn out from errands. Part of having a TBI means I don't have very many spoons to start with, and even small tasks use them up pretty quickly; also, large stress events (*points to the neon angry-red flashing "weekend" sign*) put me in a spoon deficit, and just coming back to zero is a slow process in which there isn't anything in the way of objective productivity.

 

I feel centered about the paper I wrote yesterday, and I submitted it. We'll just have to take today as it comes. I have the readings near at hand, and a pot of tea is perking.

 

This is enough. I am enough. All will be as it ought to be.

[DarK_RaideR]

I know Mt. Rainier is on the other coast, but something about your writing brought this song to my head. As a nice little bonus, the video is quite funny so it might brighten you spirits a bit. Hopefully.

 

[Heidi]

2 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I know Mt. Rainier is on the other coast, but something about your writing brought this song to my head. As a nice little bonus, the video is quite funny so it might brighten you spirits a bit. Hopefully.

 

You're grand, really.

Thank you. ❣️

[Heidi]

A Friend speaks my heart this afternoon:

 

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Hugs friend, I hope the universe grants you a Dragon's Hoard worth of spoons.

[Heidi]

3 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said:

Hugs friend, I hope the universe grants you a Dragon's Hoard worth of spoons.

Thank you.

I had (almost) enough spoons to craft, edit, cite, and deliver my policy analysis discussion piece. All that remains is the discussion Question for tomorrow. But that's tomorrow, and I am spent.

 

It was a good day.

🦋

[Heidi]

The grey Morning was well-suited for a hermit's wandering in Philosophy. I crafted my discussion questions and sent them in just after dawn.

 

I am tired.

 

I do not love this apartment.

I do not love this city.

Today, I even question if I have the energy to love my dog (I do, but it's a weary love and not his fault).

I deeply hope class is cancelled this afternoon.

It feels like more weather is on the way.

[Scaly Freak]

25 minutes ago, Heidi said:

I do not love this apartment.

I do not love this city.

 

This makes me hurt. Your home should be a place you enjoy being in, that you love because it is yours. 

 

When there are more spoons to be had, perhaps they can be utilized in part to make your home more yours?

 

26 minutes ago, Heidi said:

Today, I even question if I have the energy to love my dog (I do, but it's a weary love and not his fault).

 

Here's the thing with dogs though... he forgives you and still loves you anyway.

 

I hope the rest of your day is restful and spoon-replenishing, with good food and tea, and perhaps a hot bath as well.

[Heidi]

18 hours ago, Scaly Freak said:

 

This makes me hurt. Your home should be a place you enjoy being in, that you love because it is yours. 

 

When there are more spoons to be had, perhaps they can be utilized in part to make your home more yours?

 

 

Here's the thing with dogs though... he forgives you and still loves you anyway.

 

I hope the rest of your day is restful and spoon-replenishing, with good food and tea, and perhaps a hot bath as well.

Thank you.

 

Classes went well. I'm wiped out this morning, and there's much to do, but in pieces. Really, I'd like to just nap for a month, but when don't I feel that way? During the break I checked the classes for Fall and found two fully online classes that I need and am looking forward to them (registration is in a month or so).

 

I neatened up the bread-making area. Nothing seems to fit well in the kitchen area, so I repurposed the dining room when I moved in. It still doesn't make sense, but it's better.

 

I'm resting and talking with a friend this morning before meeting with the attorney. I might go swimming between dog walks.

 

The Way will open.

[Heidi]

I just found out from Vivian in session that she carries a phone in her fanny pack at our visits and leaves it on so that they can hear what's going on during visits, that's why she thought  I didn't need to call David at the museum when she was done with the visit. She believed he was listening to the whole conversation. 

 

I believe that my visits at least since October have been listened to and possibly recorded. I believe the sessions with Kathleen were recorded with permission. I believe that the sessions with Stacy are recorded despite explicit statements Stacy has against it.

 

Good times.

[Heidi]

Going to take a bath and do astrology now because nothing else makes sense.

❣️