Thursday, November 17, 2011

Getting Back on the Horse of Discipline

Two things threw me off my practices. A better rider than me might have kept her seat, but alas alack, I did not. One was my back attack - the fact that I was away at the time might have made it even more so but I lost my daily sitting practice. And then my trip to Ontario finished the job the back had started. It is hard to sit in places without my usual routine - my shrine and books and candles and the view from my window down through the trees to the shining glimpse of the bay. My  coffee and the time I have set for it.
On top of that being set off - it is physically hard to sit with a tetchy back. But enough of the whinging and whining - I'm back sitting and will make it my discipline again to sit daily for however short or long a time.
My writing has also suffered these disturbances. Probably for different reasons, although I'm not as handy at writing away from my office as say - Elizabeth Spann Craig. I think the reason was more of this gigantic relief at hitting a deadline - the picky edit and the switch to third person - that I finished two weeks ago. I did revise on Tuesday with Gwen but I'm not back at doing it daily.
That is going to change. I'm picking up my self from the soft duff I fell onto, dusting off my dungarees and getting back on that glorious horse called Discipline.
The danger, of anyone falling off any wagon or horse or habit or discipline or virtue or resolution - is to abandon all desire to get back up again. Why should we? We will just fall off again and it is so pleasant down here on the ground. Granted it is dusty and boring, but we can't fall off the ground can we?
And I can distract myself with knitting hats and lace and so on, or watching West Wing episodes every night with my dear guy, or inviting folks for dinner so I have to clean and cook.
How do I overcome my lassitude? By telling you lovely people of course!
Now I  must go out for a walk with Hoagy who gives me no end of grief if I try to get out of that good discipline...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jan - I think that's the key to the whole thing - getting back on the wagon when we fall off, so to speak. I've had the experience, too, of being in a nicely disciplined routine, only to have it scuttled by visitors, illness, or something else. I figure as long as one gets back up and starts over, that's what's key.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Ha! I hear you on wouldn't it be nice to sit and watch a movie or whatever. But I know that wouldn't last long before I'd need to write something, so I may as well stick my foot in the stirrup and get back in the saddle--meaning that today I'm going to write at least two more chapters so I can finish this book soon. Love having friends like you in the internets. :)

Miriam Forster said...

You can do it! *cheers Jan on*

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The past two weeks have thrown my life into a blender. Working on my book has been the last thing on my mind.

Anonymous said...

Walking is great, isn't it? I can relate to you, Jan. I had a spell of back strain too when I did something stupid, but it's okay now and I just walked on my treadmill and came back to blogging to find this post that beautifully speaks for me, and I suspect to a lot of other writers also!
Ann Best, Memoir Author of In the Mirror & Imprisoned

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I hate that about myself, that any little thing can throw me off. But back pain from what I understand can be very distracting! So let's get back on our horses and gallop into the sunset of new horizons (was that enough cliches for one sentence?)

Denise Covey said...

Jan, great that you're dusting off the duff and getting back on the horse. Take it easy and walking will help. Changing a whole book to third person, that must have been a big task. I wonder why that was? Do you think it reads better?

I'm on the NaNo horse. Great for discipline. To have little breaks I read blogs then I get back on the horse.

Denise

H. L. Banks said...

Discipline, a word I admire, a word that makes me cringe, and yes, even can dissolve me into a guilty child. Does it play games with us or we with it? I don't know but one thing I take comfort in is that we all shy away from (her!) now and again. Thanks, enjoyed your post, as usual.

Carol Kilgore said...

If need a structured routine, or I don't accomplish nearly as much. Wish I were different, but I'm like Popeye - I am what I am.

Anonymous said...

Developing the virtue of bouncebackilibilty? Is that a virtue? I think with continual discipline and application you will be able to make a habit of adapting to change while maintaining your interior will to stay faithful to you're self. Peace!