Basic Stuff

I woke up today thinking about all the new realizations and progress of the past few weeks, and deciding to laugh rather than wince at the fact that most of these big, important mental-emotional-spiritual transitions are, when I get right down to it, basic stuff:

- Do your Work (your Work, not someone else's)
- Separate/differentiate yourself appropriately from your parents as you grow up
- Get some exercise and fresh air
- Know Thyself -- and then choose and act from that knowledge

The basic principles are pretty much universal.

Unfortunately -- or maybe not -- we each have to figure out how to understand, integrate, and act on this wisdom in our own lives.

And, because life is a spiral journey, we get to re-learn these lessons again and again and again, each time at a higher/deeper level as we progress.

I suspect that I'll be having revelations about these basic principles two decades from now that will feel just as urgent and important as these do now. Goodness knows I've had them before. . .

10 Years Ago Meme

Seen on several LJ's:

( My life ten years ago and now. . .  )

14. What advice would you give your younger self?

That thesis you just wrote? Turn it into a book. Now. If you don’t do it now, it may never get done. If you’re not sure what to do, ask Prof. W for help. And that “twiddle” called Occupation that you’re playing with? Stop asking for the input of others, write from your gut, and finish it. If you don’t do it now, you may never get it done.


15. What would your younger self say to you?

You really think I should? You really think it would work? That anyone would be interested? That I have the right, the credentials, the talent?

And then I would grab Younger Self by her shoulders, shake her, and shout “You are your own worst enemy! Get out of your own way! You are good! For god’s sake, take a few risks! Put yourself out there! You have nothing to lose!”

16. Looking back, is your life in 2008 what you thought it would be in 1998?

Not one little bit.

Long Week

It has been a heck of a long week. Between the two intense weight training workouts, all the processing, and taking care of all my daily responsibilities, I've just about reached my limit.

I feel like I'm about to fall asleep here at my desk.

I need to stick around for at least another 20 minutes or so here at work, then I'm going to bolt.

I'm exhausted.