This Thursday I’ve got 3 seemingly random things to share with you. On closer inspection, though, I think you will see that they are all interconnected. Here we go.
- Writing Class Radio. My life coach recently suggested that I should write a book. At first blush I thought she was crazy but ever since she said it, well, I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve got ideas bouncing around in my head with regards to a memoir or maybe a fictional account of some real life stuff that happened to me. The funny thing is, though, even though I’ve worked in libraries my whole life I just don’t know all that much about writing a book and getting published. I decided that some research was in order and that maybe listening to some podcasts on writing would be a good place to start. Enter Writing Class Radio which is, just as the title suggests, a podcast of a writing class. It’s designed for people who want to hear stories and learn how to write their own. I’m halfway through season 2 and I’m finding it interesting and helpful, especially since each episode ends with a writing prompt designed to get you writing on a topic for just 10 minutes. It’s fantastic and if you’re into this thing at all I highly recommend checking this out.
- Yoga With Adriene. I’ll be straight, I tried yoga several years ago (back when I was running) and I hated it. I didn’t like being still. I didn’t like quieting my mind. And I didn’t like that my boobs or belly got in the way of some of those tricky positions. So I decided I didn’t like yoga and I stopped. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when Juliann posted a link on her blog to Home: A 30 Day Yoga Journey with Adriene. I clicked and I read and I signed up. I’m halfway through the program (my schedule makes daily yoga tricky but I’m managing 4-5 times/week right now) and I love it. My boobs and belly still get in the way of some of those positions but I love being still and I love quieting my mind. I think all of that meditation I’ve been doing (I’m currently on a 151 day streak) has really paid off and now yoga is my jam. It’s not too late to sign up for Home and I highly recommend that you try it. It’s free and it’s fun and it’s so good for you and really, you’ve got nothing to lose so just go for it.
- Roman Room Memory Technique. Yesterday I attended an all day workshop on Memory Training. It was sponsored by the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and was based on a program developed by UCLA to improve memory with a 4 week evidence based program. We learned a lot of great techniques, including paying attention (the first and most important rule of remembering), word association, grouping like items and more. For me, the truly eye opening part of the training was when we learned about the Roman Room. The idea is that when you have to remember things you can go through your house and place those things on objects in your rooms. For instance, you need to remember 3 random things you need to do. For me yesterday this include an idea for a future blog post, an email I needed to send to my Town Clerk, and a bill that was due. In using this technique I put the blog post idea on the couch, I put the bill on the coffee table, and I put the Town Clerk on the sideboard in my dining room. (I literally pictured her sitting there, it was great.) And then I dismissed these things from my mind but when I got home and walked into my house there was the Town Clerk sitting on my sideboard, the bill I needed to pay was on the coffee table, and the blog post idea was on the couch. I’m a visual learner and for me I think this technique has the potential to be life changing, particularly for those ideas that come to me when I’m driving the car or in the shower . . . because that’s when I come up with my best ideas! You can read more about it here and hopefully it will make sense.
The connection between those 3 things is that they all represent ways I am improving my life. Ways I am making my life richer, more meaningful, more vulnerable, and more . . . open. I’m excited to be learning and trying new things and that’s a pretty big deal for someone who is used to safe routines and predictable schedules. How ’bout that.
If you wrote a post for today please share it below. Thanks for joining me this week.
The other thing that all three have in common is that they are each very cool and interesting! I don’t see myself writing a book, but I am going to check out Writing Class Radio. My body presents the same problems during yoga, so I’ll also be taking a look at Adriene and her 30 Days of Yoga. And I am a huge fan of anything that will help me improve my memory, so now my town clerk (I have to pay our property taxes) is doing yoga on my dining room table. Thanks for all of these!
I LOVE how you described the Roman Room–what a concept, and the Town Clerk sitting on your sideboard is hiliarious 🙂 I have done lots of Adriene’s youtube videos, and I love her. She creates an accessible and non-judgemental space–an enjoyable space. & congrats on your 151 days! I’d say that’s an incredible feat, given the holidays and your family’s loss in December. Once in the rhythm of meditating, I think, it HELPS during those times versus feeling like ‘one more thing.’ Inspiring post! Thank you!
As a visual learner who also gets her best ideas in the car and shower, I’m intrigued. I’m looking forward to reading about this as it plays off my own cobbled together technique. But I’m going to remember I want to read more by leaving your post in my blog reader. Ha!
I’m glad you found yoga. I’ve been practicing for about 2 years and I love quietness it brings to my mind not to mention the how well I feel physically
I love the Roman Room idea. I’m very visual and can’t wait to give that a try.
I’d definitely benefit from doing yoga but the few times I’ve tried it, I failed miserably at it.
I am intrigued by the Roman Room technique! And, I am with Carolyn – the image of a person on your sideboard is hilarious! Haha! (And go you with Yoga!)
Well done. I have only done about 5 days of yoga – its been one of those moths.
I love ALL OF THIS! My s-i-l is doing the 30 day gig with Adriene and was raving about it the other day. Keep on truckin’ Carole! I want an advanced copy of that book! 🙂
That Roman Room concept is wild! Thanks for sharing that.
The Roman Room technique is great! There is a book that Tom and I have both read – Moodwalking with Einstein (by Joshua Foer) – and it’s all about building “memory palaces” to remember things. It’s fascinating. Love your lists! Three very good things! XO
I think you should definitely think about writing a book — even if you write it for nothing more than having done it and you share it with no one but yourself. We already know you’re a good writer, and I think that, especially if you go the memoir route, writing about your life would be an excellent way to process what happened and how you felt about it.
I signed up for Adriene’s 30-day yoga thing and I’m sorry to say I’ve done nothing other than open the daily emails and put them into a folder in my inbox. The beginning of January is always too crazy to try to start something organized. But I’m determined to go back to them and to go through the whole month of practice!
Fascinating post, Carole. I think timing is everything in life, so I’m glad that you have found the right time for yoga, and Adriene is a great teacher. You may have inspired to me hook up with her again. I encourage you to continue to explore writing if it is for you. You never know! And I love the Roman Room concept. I am going to try that very soon.
Ok I am FASCINATED by the Roman Room and can’t wait to try it. I sometimes literally lay out things I need to remember in the living room so I’ll remember them as I pass through–like a letter to mail, a sweater to wash and something to take along on a job–but I want to see how this works just envisioning things!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying yoga more this time around. I love Yoga with Adriene!!
Love the Roman Room concept; will definitely try. Trust it will help me break the habit of writing every little thought on whatever piece of paper is handy.
From time to time I write memoir-type stories…for practice and to remember my life. I also read memoir and books on the practice of writing; I find both type informative and invitational. I don’t plan to write/publish a book but I do hope to leave my life memories, written down, for my family.
Best to you on your journey!
as always – cheering you on with All The Things … and intrigued to explore The Roman Room (stay tuned!)
Yea you on giving yoga a try. I try for 30 minutes a couple times a week. It’s my way of warming up before my fencing class. Look forward to seeing how the writing journey develops.
Yes, I’m weeks behind but I had to say how much I enjoyed this post and learning about the memory technique as well as the yoga class. I’ve been doing a little yoga as I am very stiff and also need to keep work my knee so it (and the rest of me) doesn’t stiffen up. This class should be just the thing! You’re journey is so exciting and beautiful to watch and I am very happy you’ve decided to share what you learn.