hollyking: (ahead full)

The new issue Diabetes Health magazine has an article on the benefits of practicing taiji. A 2005 study has shown that blood glucose levels decreased in 58% of participants after seven days of practice. Another study in 1996 found that Type 2 patients were able to control their diabetes with less medication.

I haven't been taking care of my diabetes. In fact since I lost my job at McAfee, and insurance, last August I have been very bad. I wasn't really in control before being fired. I took my pills and went to see the endocrinologist every month. But I didn't exercise or avoid sweets like I should. My failure is starting to take its toll as I think I've started to develop neuropathy in my left foot.

I know I've had plans to take better care of myself before and none of them have been completed. There have been some minor successes. I eat more fresh vegetables and seem to have lost 20 pounds somewhere. So each attempt I make gets me closer to the goal and I'm going to cling to that fact, or delusion, and keep trying again. The Enso Center in Redmond has monthly classes that fit in my schedule. So I'm going to sign up and take them. Go me!

[livejournal.com profile] publius_ovidius posted about a paper by Alistair Cockburn in his use.perl.org journal. He boils the paper down to "People not doing the work come up with Ways Things Should be Done. People actually doing the work ignore the Ways but get their work done anyway," and I agree with that summary.

When I first read [livejournal.com profile] publius_ovidius' post I read his summary as "People who aren't doing the work complain about how Things Should Be Done while those who just Get Things Done are doing the work." That thought rolled around my head and I started to see how I have spent more time trying to do things The One True Way instead of just doing them. I hadn't written letters because I didn't have the right pen or paper. I didn't practice taiji because I hadn't found the right teacher. I haven't been active on the radio because I don't have the perfect setup. The list goes on and on. Now when I notice a thought like, "I can't write a letter because I don't have the right paper," I stop myself and say, "Who cares about the paper. Don't you feel special when you receive a note from a friend?"

I just wrote and mailed three letters even though all I had was a ball-point pen and some notebook paper. I wrote this post even though I didn't have the perfect subject or amazing turn of phrase to make my point. If it's been lost in my rambling my point is that the perfect moment may never come. Get it done now. It doesn't have to be perfect to improve your life.

hollyking: (compass)

Last night was my first taiji lesson with [livejournal.com profile] artspawnchen. I stretched muscles that I didn't know existed. I should get [livejournal.com profile] hollyqueen to take pictures of me in each of the positions so that I can compare my current range of movement with what I'll be able to do in the future. I've taken taiji classes before and I've looked long and hard to find a teacher who taught the practical application along with the forms. [livejournal.com profile] tylik is a one of those teachers and I am looking forward to learning a lot from her.

I spent my lunch today filling out paperwork for joining the Redmond ARES group and finding other ARES/RACES groups in the area. I found ARES/RACES of King County and Washington State ARES/RACES.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about my hobbies and what I want to accomplish with my life. This has allowed me to find the few hobbies and a purpose for my life. My purpose is to help other people and the practical application of that is volunteering my time and skills for public service and emergency communications. The conflict is that the taiji classes are on Monday nights and the ARES montly meetings are on Monday nights.

I am already missing one class a month for a meeting but that would be two each month if keep to my purpose. Missing every other class is unfair to the teacher, other students, and myself. I think I'll need to check out some of the other teachers that [livejournal.com profile] tylik recommended. Someone has to teach a class on other nights.

hollyking: (Default)

...If not unharmed. What a long, long day. If you ever want to move hire people to load and unload the truck. WORTH EVERY DAMN PENNY! A lot of stress and a bit of snapping but we made it through the day without any breakdowns or fist fights. Internet access is on at home but Comcast is having problems recognizing my Linksys WCG200 so only one of us can be on at a time. Hopefully they'll fix that today and we'll have all the WiFi access we need.

Tonight is my first taiji class with [livejournal.com profile] artspawnchen and I'm very excited about it. Somehow during the moving I hurt my right foot in a new way so it will be interesting to see how it feels tonight. I hope I get turned into a permanent employee soon so I could afford to go visit a podiatrist and get some physical therapy.

hollyking: (compass)

Here's a list of things I need to explore/find once I'm in Seattle. In no particular order they are:

  • Balance Point Physical Therapy - I need to fix the issues with my ankles because the pain make me just sit here instead of getting out like I want. [livejournal.com profile] tylik recommended them to someone in the [livejournal.com profile] bphaf community and they sound close so there's a great place to start.
  • Taiji school/classes- I would like to find someone who teaches Taiji as a martial art. I bet [livejournal.com profile] tylik could help me with that too.
  • Daoist Temple - A simple place to go meditate and explore Daoism.
  • Sailing classes - The Center for Wooden Boats has some classes. But why limit myself?
  • Kayaking classes/club - I've found a few on the web but I need to attend a meeting or two to see if I'm a fit.
  • Cigar lounge - I like the occasional Monte Cristo and it's much easier to go somewhere and buy a single than keep my own stock.
  • Tea house - Who doesn't need to visit a tea house from time to time?
  • Pub - By pub I mean a place where friends can go have a few drinks and talk. Loud music an dance floors are not wanted in a pub.

That's all I can think of right now. Back to packing.

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March 2013

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