Aug 14 2008
Thinking :: Doing
I have been thinking a lot about the blog lately, but my silence around here shows that I have not followed through with action. The past few weeks have been a challenge: I got pretty sick and had a lot of questions about what was going on and what the future held… luckily, with the help of a good and experienced doctor and her solid treatment plan, I am back on the road to health.
My road to health involves a lot of medicine (fortunately, most of them are vitamins and herbs), daily doses of yoga (which I was uncomfortable doing for two weeks, but now I am back!), amazing fresh foods (with no additives - sugar, dairy, gluten be gone!), quality time with family and friends (Stacey was in town! Quick trip to PA to see family! Jenna is coming tonight!), and copious amounts Olympic television coverage. That last ingredient is very important - if for nothing else than the inspiration factor. You could say I am kind of addicted to the Olympics… I have to force myself to turn it off in order to sleep… so much so that Kris and I are already planning our getaway for Vancouver, British Columbia in 2010 to see the Winter Games!
My knitting has faltered a bit: I had three false starts. Grand plans for new garments, and for some reason, things just weren’t flowing, and all of them ended up getting ripped. I even got 2 inches into a circular project before I noticed that it was twisted. Perfect for a moebius, not-so-perfect for a pullover. (I blame Michael Phelps and the gymnasts for this mistake. I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the TV.) Sooo, nothing much to show. I did start a new project last night while watching the men’s synchonized diving. So far so good on that one.
I have had quite the introspective temperament lately, and I feel the need to embark on a journey of sorts - some sort of personal expression. I am feeling the push in two ways: yoga and writing. I began to research yoga teacher training more seriously. I think that my short sickness made me value my yoga even more. There are several good programs in my area, I just need to choose the one that is right for me. As for the writing, I have been feeling a push in this direction for many months. This blog has served as a creative outlet for my writing and photography for over four years. As I continue to write for the blog, should I also pursue other outlets? How far should I / can I take this? What is the next step? Just a little of my internal dialogue for you.
If you read this far, thank you. I realize that this post is a little disjointed. I felt that a week of blog silence needed to be broken… and since my knitting and weaving are not getting anywhere, you get this stream-of-consciousness with some photos thrown in for good measure.
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Photo 1: The featured asana, Upavistha Konasana (Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend), in September’s issue of Yoga Journal. It’s a great one for the spine and leg muscles.
Photo 2: Summer rainstorm on the way home from family visit in Pennsylvania on Sunday. It rained like crazy for three minutes, and then the sun returned.
Photo 3: Beautiful blue dragonfly in my parents’ flower garden.
{Lolly!}
Glad you are feeling better….hope the journey continues upward! That’s great you are considering training to become a yoga teacher.
lolly, i’m so glad you’re feeling better and that you’re getting back into those things you love so much. hugs!
Beautiful post, Lolly. I have been on a similar pendulum this week too. Thinking too much, feeling too much, trying to accept that creative drive needs to be nutured and let go at the same time. Here’s to having the confidence to take the next step, whatever it may be.
Hi Lolly,
Glad you are beginning to feel better! I know what you mean about writing. It’s what I’ve done for the last three years for different magazines and now I’m in that “now what” mode. I have all sort of ideas running around in my head, but something is holding me back. Ever feel that way? Anyway, glad to see that you are on the road to recovery and wanted to let you know that you are one of my inspirations!
Glad the new specialist and new meds/supplements are working for you! That sounds very scary to me. As if the Lyme infection all by itself is not bad enough.
Glad you are starting to feel better! I’m in a similar mindset at the moment, I’m on my first steroid pulse and thinking whether blogging or writing should be the main focus of the limited energy I have.
Best wishes.
So glad to hear that you are feeling better!
Very glad to see you smiling again!
I love to see you smiling so big in your pic! I definitely think you should carry on with writing for other outlets. I had taken note of your “to read” books on goodreads. You have a talent for non-fiction writing. I live vicariously through your travels, as I am sure many others do. As for yoga, you have the passion and the ability to incite it in others, so I don’t doubt that you’d be a fantastic instructor too.
What a treat to read this post — I was getting worried about you. Yoga and writing are definitely things that you should pursue. I just turned 40 (!!!) — one thing I’ve learned is that it’s perfectly okay to adopt brand new hobbies and careers (speaking as a “recovering” lawyer turned journalist and someone who picked up knitting obsessively at age 36!). Can’t wait to see what your future holds.
Wishing you good thoughts for continued improvements in your health, and for inspiration in choosing what comes next in your creative pursuits. I hope you find something that is a perfect fit for you, in all ways! I know that my day would not be as bright if I did not have your beautifully written and illustrated posts and inspiring projects to look forward to.
Expository prose could be a great outlet for you, help you focus on something outside of your health, and provide added excitement. I suspect the same could be said of yoga, of course. Please take good care of yourself.
Glad to hear you are feeling better. Cutting off the gluten did amazing things for me. Unfortunately I let some sneak in the week we were away (I was lazy) and I’m paying for it this week. I should do yoga or tai chi or something. At least I walk a lot.
I’ve been daydreaming of going to vancouver for the winter games. We’ll see if that turns into reality.
Here’s to better health!
This was a very interesting entry, Lolly, so personal. It sounds like you feel you are at a crossroads, but all the paths are worthwhile. Take care and hope your healing continues speedily.
Lolly, I cannot tell you how happy I was to learn that you are feeling better. What a scary thing to have to deal with. How exciting- about teaching yoga and writing! I’m glad that given you had to go through this whole ordeal, that some good is coming out of it, and you have been inspired in new ways. Of course, I still wish that tick never came near you, but you know what I mean…
Take care. xo-S.
I hope to one day after my surgery to learn yoga, it looks so relaxing.
You pictures are amazing…
And as for the writing… go for the GOLD
those are fantastic yoga pictures! great composition.
I’m so glad that you’re sharing your internal dialogue. if it were always perfect and uncomplicated, it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.
thinking of you ~
I hope you are feeling better soon, I know how hard it can be when life throws you a curve ball. Usually this happens to open your eyes to what you have been neglecting & what’s really important. You ARE an inspriation
Best wishes!
So great to hear you are feeling better!
So sorry to hear you’ve been sick - please keep on getting well, Lolly! Thanks for this beautiful and inspirational post. I’m so interested to follow your adventures into yoga teaching - I’ve just signed up for my very first class and it feels like I’m at the beginning of a very exciting journey! The Vancouver trip sounds wonderful - I love BC a lot, and you might find some interesting yoga-related stuff in Vancouver too, it’s super popular there. Take care!
Glad you are feeling better, Lolly! Best wishes in your recovery.
And it does sound like you’re at a crossroads, like others have mentioned. I know the feeling well. But in my experience, the risk is usually worth it, regardless of whether you get the desired reward or not. You will get some sort of welcome reward just for jumping in.
Take care!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lolly. I really enjoy following your journey, and I’m looking forward to seeing in what direction this period of introspection will take you. I hope your health keeps getting better. Take care!
Thank you for a very inspiring post, Lauren. (mercy,,, just the picture of that yoga pose is inspiring!) You know you have a gift for writing, but you also have a gift for knowing how to use your writing and self-searching, and I thank you for sharing.
I wish you ALL the best on your road to recovery - it sounds like you’ve found the right road!
Lolly, I’m so glad you are feeling better/more in control of your health. I usually lurk here, but I wanted to say I enjoy your thoughful and eye-candy-filled posts. =) Take care of yourself!!
PS–Me and the hubby are totally addicted to the Olympics, too. I’m so fatigued!!
I’m sending some good vibes your way Lolly! I go through periods of introspection as well - usually before a good (sometimes unexpected) change in my life.
Don’t stay up too late watching the Olympics! I wish they wouldn’t start the gymnastics so late - 10:30 is way past the bedtime of some of us!
Glad to hear you are feeling better and got back to you yoga. I know how important that is to you! I think you should totally become a yoga teacher! Do what makes you happy.
There’s nothing to stop you!
I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling better! Here’s to continued good health. L, C
i am so glad to see you doing better! i wish you so much good health and sunshine amid those rain clouds
Welcome back, Lolly! Thank you for speaking publicly about your experience with Lyme Disease. I think it’s one of many things that we store away somewhere as a “that could happen, but probably won’t happen to *me*” things…in spite of the high probability of contracting it. Icky ticks. >:( So glad you’re feeling better, and that yoga is one of your support tools.
I’m so glad you’re feeling better! I’m sending lots of vibes for continued recovery!
Yay for Vancouver 2010! What a fantastic trip that will be. I went to the Atlanta games in 1996, and it was an unforgettable experience.
I´m so glad you are feeling better. I am just starting to explore yoga as a way to better my own health. It is very interesting, but is is a long road.
I didn’t realize until I saw it here, but I’ve missed your smiling face too. I’m just a lurker but I realized seeing this that you really do have a vibrant, infectious energy that we all miss when it’s gone. So, I’m really glad you’re feeling well enough to get back into your yoga practice, and I wish you all the best for a speedy, healthy recovery.
Glad to hear you’re doing better! Lyme’s disease is really sneaky (my mom had it couple of years back) and the symptoms can be down right scary.
Oh jeez, hon. So glad to hear you’re beginning to feel better. You’ve definitely got the right attitude to get you through. Hugs!
Oh, and I heard on the radio the other morning that one of the athletes on Canada’s women’s Olympic soccer team is vegan. And of course she talked about people constantly telling her she can’t be an athlete on a vegan diet. Take that!
So so so glad you’re feeling better! Jealous of your flexibility, as per usual.
I am very thankful you found it fairly early! I was not so lucky. I was about 13 when I contracted Lyme, and 16 when I found out. I basically had to quit my life in order to get well. I was on six rounds of IV antibiotics, for two months each round. My heart was so irregular, I almost had a pacemaker implanted at 17. Took me until I was 25 to really start feeling better, but I got to have fibromyalgia out of the deal. You’re very lucky, it could have been *a lot* worse. Lyme is NO JOKE!
After hearing so many people talk about the wonderful benefits of yoga, I think I am going to start attending the class at my gym when I get home. I would love to be able to stretch like that again!
I understand a lot of what you are saying - as I have gotten older, I’ve found I more easily know what I want to pursue, and I better know myself and what I can handle. Good luck to you as you continue your introspection. Every now and then everyone needs a boost or a change, and teaching yoga and expanding your writing sound like two good ways to challenge your mind (and body, in one case!)
I’m so glad you’re feeling better and that photo definitely shows you are. Love that smile! It’s amazing how yoga can heal, mentally and physically. I often find myself turning to it when I’m stressed out or just not feeling well. I feel ten times better afterwards. Since I have this month off, all I’ve been doing is knitting, yoga and watching the Olympics.
Life is good.
I am glad to hear you are feeling better. You look very happy in your yoga shots.
that was lovely. keep doing what you’re doing - it’s clearly working for you. And I’ll watch where the writing takes you with interest.
So glad that you are better…of course we missed you… and wow you are flexible. My yoga teacher always told me that the answer for to anything was more Yoga. I think your becoming a Teacher is fantastic! Hip Hip Hurray for you!!!
Sorry you’ve been feeling under the weather but glad things are picking up a bit. I’ve been doing the no gluten thing for years now. Once you figure it out, it’s not so bad. Be sure to ask if you have questions.
first, i’m so glad that you’re feeling better now! that yoga photo just proves to me that you are strong and will get through this just fine
i’m glad to hear that you want to continue on with yoga teacher training! all the yoga teachers i know are such grounded and peaceful people.
and i know about the olympics. i have not been getting enough sleep lately due to the late evening events!
I’m glad you have a diagnosis and are on your way to feeling better. I hope recovery goes quickly!
feel better,dear! being so sick sucks, but it’s great that you have a doctor who doesn’t just shove a bunch of chemicals into your body. as for the vegan diet, i can’t recommend enough the Veganomicon. it’s got such a huge veriaty of foods you’re not likely to get bored. and i love the veriaty of vegetables they’re using, making sure you get your veriaty of nutrients from their natural source.
get better soon!
Michal
I love the way you turn any negativity into an opportunity for personal growth of some kind. Hugs and I hope you feel lots better fast.
I am so happy to hear that you’re getting better, and able to use this experience in such a positive way. You’re an inspiration!
Glad to hear you are seeing a good doctor who is treating you holistically. My little four-year old nephew is just getting over Lyme as well, but his parents don’t even think to go the holistic route so I am crossing my fingers there will be no other surprises for him down the road because of that.
Hope you feel better soon!
I’m so sorry you have been ill. I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog and seeing the pictures you add. I would love to be able to write like you its a great talent you have, so please do continue using your writting skills.
I have also been watching the swimming and I have to tell you my little two year old grandson loves it and won’t let us change the channel even if its just the news talking about it.
Oh, no, I had no idea you were sick (I’m not good at checking Flickr). So glad you’re on the road to recovery. I admire your discipline to do what you need to get better. No dairy/sugar/gluten? I’m not sure I could pull that off!
It sounds like this time has had some positive effects from a personal development standpoint. I’m sure that whatever path you take, yoga, writing etc.. you will do it beautifully!
So sorry to hear about the illness wreaking havoc on your system. Sometimes it takes a serious illness for us to look inwards. I’ve also had to do the no dairy/sugar thing for other health reasons and I’ve come out better for it. To help with the sweet cravings, a piece of advice is to drink lemon water. Since our bodies aren’t really craving something sweet, they’re just lacking in the fulfillment of the sour flavor in our diets.
I’m also an Olympics addict! I haven’t gone to bed at a decent hour since they started.
i am so glad you are starting to feel better! and i must say, when you write about yoga, it makes me want to try it as well. especially now, as i get older, i think i would be more open to something like that, where you become more grounded both physically and emotionally through exercise. i gotta look into that.
the dragonfly is lovely, by the way. i took about 40 pictures of one in my friend jennifer’s driveway the other day, too!
It’s not disjointed at all, in fact it’s quite a beautiful and inspiring post. I know that I need to continue to looking at my health and wellness choices. Must do more yoga. I think that will be my fall commitment.
No apologies necessary. I understand where you are coming from, having survived a drug resistant infection this spring (hospital, drugs “of last resort”, whole 9 yards). Like you, my prescription was rest, walking, yoga, being nice to myself, lowering my expectations for myself (drop the being driven already), eating healthier, and reiki. I am pushing 50, so formulating a plan to help me live better — and liking that plan — has been such a gift!
Your blog is wonderful, and I am an avid reader, but I sure don’t expect you to blog it at the expense of your well-being! Personally, I welcome whatever you do (for what that’s worth) or write or knit.
Glad you are on the mend. Best wishes. Anne
glad to hear that you are doing better. isn’t it interesting how sickness (or any kind of hick-up in our daily live) gives us a chance for reflecting on where we are, what defines us. and that is a good thing….
I didn’t realize how rampant Lyme disease is, but I’m glad to hear that it sounds like you’re doing much better. Here’s to a continued upswing
Lyme disease really sucks! I do hope you are back to your normal soon. I don’t know how you feel about deet, but if it isn’t something that worries you, Watkins has a great bug spray/lotion that works on ticks too. People around here use it while blueberry picking and no one I’ve talked to has gotten either wood ticks or deer ticks on them.
Knitting isn’t the only thing interesting about you. If you want to write something else, go for it. If you never publish it, you’ll always have it to read when you are at a different phase in your life. If you do publish it, others will read it.
Beautiful post. Take your time and breathe!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better - sorry that you weren’t feeling well. Sounds like you are on a regimen that will bring you back into balance! I’m with you on the Olympics and the false-starts. I had to rip back on a cardigan because I re-started it on the wrong size needles for Ravelympics. But the Olympics have been a lot of fun to watch! Best of luck with the yoga programs!
Lolly, I am so sorry to hear that you have been so poorly. I hope all is improving. I wish I was as flexible as you, maybe I really need to start yoga and not just occasionally thionk about it! Take care. xxxx
I’m so glad you’re okay!!!! Sorry you had to go throught that.
i’m glad that you are feeling better. : )
i hear ya, its hard to stop watching the olympics! the gymnasts where amazing last night. wow!
Glad to hear you are feeling better. Lyme disease can be a nasty thing.
I am so, so glad you are feeling better! Your post really struck a chord in me (as your posts usually do). I am at a crossroad of sorts as well and totally understand how you’re feeling. I think it would be so wonderful if you branched out into other forms of writing - like I said, your blog is the only one I always read all the way through. You make everything sound fascinating. You have a very special spirit, and finding other ways to express it would be a wonderful thing.
I’m so glad you’re on the mend and getting back into a routine that makes you feel good. Your photos are amazing as always; you have so many talents! Explore those and see where it all goes!
Sorry to hear you got sick, but very happy to hear you’re getting better.
I linked to your blog from my blog, hope that’s okay. I love reading your blog, and it has wonderful photos, very inspiring!
Continue on your road to wellness,
Dagný
Get better Lolly! I love the dragonfly.
Lolly - so sorry to hear of all you have been going through. A friend of mine recently contracted Lyme disease so I second your statement that it IS a public health threat. The word MUST get out of the importance of educating people of this disease. Take care, will be thinking of you!
I am so glad you are feeling better! i’m sure the yoga will only help the healing process. Forest and I had such a good time when we were there. We have to do it again!
I’m so glad you found good treatment and are feeling better! Lyme disease is such a scary thing. I believe I may have contracted it as a child (raising sheep and camping/hiking in northern Idaho), but the unreliable blood test I was given this year came back negative and no health professional will believe me when I try to tell them that chronic/advanced Lyme disease would explain ALL of my “unexplainable” symptoms. I just get referred to a psychiatrist.
I’m happy you decided to share some of your thoughts about yoga, writing, and where you are going - it’s nice when a blog reflects that we are not static, project-producing machines, but are constantly changing.
What a clear open window to your heart and feelings. I greatly enjoyed this post. Your writing is so prolific and I have confidence that you can pursue it at a higher level. Through your camera, your crafting, travels and just life, I personally enjoy every bit of it!
Get well completely soon!
So glad you’re finding your way back to health. I look forward to hearing about where your thoughts on new paths take you.
Thank you for the public service announcement. I’m sorry it had to come from personal experience.
Your smile definitely gives off energy, looks like you are feeling better.
I’m glad you’re feeling better!
You can always tell who the dedicated bloggers are, since I never feel guilty about going months without posting and yet you felt guilty after a week. Yours is a blog I would miss. Mine - not so much!
Vancouver Olympics eh? I’m about 45 minutes away, and my daughter and her boyfriend live 5 minutes from downtown Vancouver. They are seriously thinking of moving to our place for the duration of the Olympics and leasing their place out. I just don’t know that I’m ready to have the two of them and their cats invade our space for that long!
Btwm I love the smiling photo of you - it really does look like you are feeling pretty darn good.
Hi Lolly,
Sorry you were struggling with your health. Have you heard about green smoothies? I started drinking those a few months ago and have been amazed at how my body feels.
A couple books you might want to check out if you haven’t already:
Green For Life
The China Study
Awesome photo of you sprawled out. I wish I was that limber.
I, too, have been staying up late nights catching the Olympics. It’s been a fun watch.
You will find your way to new and exciting things!! And we will all enjoy reading about your adventures.
Lolly your photos are so gorgeous! and I absolutely think you should pursue writing further. You are such a talented writer. I love reading your very thoughtful and thought provoking blog posts
And I’m glad you are on the road to recovery!
lolly, i am so glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery! i am sending thoughts and hugs your way.
your writing about your yoga practice has been so inspiring to me. today i went and signed up at the studio down the street, a 10 class card… i am really excited to start! i have been feeling the same need for introversion, for considering, quietly + thoughtfully, and i think and hope that this will really help.
xo
Do what you have to do to take care of your health. If you have to put your knitting aside for a while, it is okay! We all understand that health comes first. If you have a plan, that is the first step to wellness. You have the support of your internet knitting community!
Catching up on some blogs from when I was out of town/sick…
I really envy your ability to write how you feel. I have a hard time ever putting my disjointed thoughts into words. I have been feeling very introverted these days, tryin to figure out what to do, about everything in life. I feel like its a turning point for me these days…but I can’t seem to figure out what to do. So, I patiently wait, hoping the answer will find me.
Your blog, it’s writing and photography always calm me and I thank you for that.
I got Lyme in 2004 and it took me 2 years to get a proper diagnosis, and then another 2 years to get it under control. Herbs, vitamins and antibiotics helped. My 2 specialists (CT. and NYC) were terrific. Good luck and if you ever want to chat about it send me an email.