Muay Thai training, Lamphun, 2007
Muay Thai training, Lamphun, 2007

I have to admit. I’m not in the best form. And what I mean by this is I’m overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done.

My mom’s here and I have to plan a wonderful vacation somewhere and it’s not easy. There are visa requirements, considerations regarding what she wants to do versus what I want to do and, of course, costs. She’s an easygoing traveller, but I’m still struggling, trying to figure out where to go.

It’s also the end of the term for the school I teach at and there are tests – and students that test the limits of my sanity that need to be dealt with through some sort of magic, I fear I don’t possess. These discipline and learning problems really bring me down and splinter my mind when I’m at home.

And then there is the book, the missing teacher, my first book and getting everything ready for print, Kindle and audio. It’s a lot of work and I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be able to do everything before I go on holiday with my mom.

Look, I’m old enough to know that everything will be fine and that cotton candy. But these things, along with others (I won’t subject you to the minutia that is currently assaulting my life), are making me feel like I’m going a little crazy. But not in a running-around-like-a-child-avoiding-bathwater kind of way, but like in a Zen kind of way.

Huh?

You know, like when you are “dissecting how your mind works”. Which reminds me of one of my favorite blogs, One Time, One Meeting: The Practice of Zen Meditation by Ben Howard. I love his stories and observations tied in with references to Zen masters and practitioners. I think his was the first WordPress blog I ever followed.

The best article I saw for the American Thanksgiving holiday was 10 National Geographic Photographers Give Thanks for the Photos That Changed Them.

First, I thought the idea was brilliant and secondly, it is just the kind of thing I like, a behind the scenes story. It was also educational and turned me into an even bigger fan of National Geographic.

But it was really this video interview with Terry Crews on Manhood, Feminism & the Mindset that Leads to Rape, that took the day filled with computer problems and set the world right again. It’s beautiful, intelligent and touching. It is true feminism and real masculinity. Elamin Abdelmahmoud conducts the interview well, too. Massive hugs to Terry for being real, personal and revealing the power of choosing the right words. xxoo

 

17 replies on “Things I’m liking (sharing the love) #2”

  1. At first glance, I thought you were going to talk about Muay Thai, he he. Wish I could go back to that but time and budget did not permit me, please I think I need to be careful from now on.

    “But these things, along with others (I won’t subject you to the minutia that is currently assaulting my life), are making me feel like I’m going a little crazy.”

    My own current frame of mind, too….Well, good luck with all of those things you need to do. Go, go go, Lani!!!! *cheerleder-mode*

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      1. Yes, I did/do, but nothing professional or anything. I’ve been doing it on and off, depending on my time and budget. I’m no expert but I know the basics and do them at times at home. I do have a mean punch, I think, and that developed even before Muay Thai.

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  2. Right now my life is a bit more simple then few weeks and even months ago. Sure I am busy with work and all kinds of stuff at home however it is not so chatpotic anymore to get everything done which resulted sometimes in a very anxious feeling for me as even splitting into several persons wouldn’t had been enough. Now I am through it and just happy that I did some magic, or at least it appears that I did some magic as everything worked out 🙂

    Right now I just need to get everything organized more so that I will have also time at some point to sit down and continue writing again

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  3. Yes, Lani. Deep down you know that everything will be right. It can be hard to plan a holiday with our elders because they usually are from a totally different generation than us. Not only do they have different tastes in things but they have different physical capabilities too. But I’m sure you’ll come out on top. Good luck with the book. No rush with it; creativity takes time.

    It’s been a bit of an overwhelming few weeks for me too. Job hunting, blogging, writing, blog designing, how to work the new camera…yeah, Lani, high five 🙂

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    1. You totally get it. Yeah, deep breaths. But, wow, you’ve got big news. Looking for a new job, eh? Good luck and have fun with your new toy! xxoo

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      1. Deep breaths keep us calm. Calm down, is what I tell myself if I find myself frazzled.

        Thanks, Lani. Over the last few years I’ve worked on short-term contracts…it’s an unstable life but I get time off now and then. Living dangerously 🙂 ❤

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  5. That last link tho! Solid.
    And haha, I get how you feel. Having family over is always more stressful than enjoyable. And you never get a moment to yourself!

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  6. I’m sure trip and time with mother will work out memorably and well. I went on only 1 trip with my mother and I am the only child of her 6. That was to visit her sisters in California..unfortunately 1 of her sisters died 3 days before we were set to fly down from Ontario.

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  7. I’m struggling to keep up as well so feeling glad it isn’t just me.

    Good luck having your mum over. Family visits are great but exhausting. My folks are over in Jan.

    Good luck with the book 🙂

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