A sometimes Wednesday happening in which I dissolve posting flummoxia by posting a a jambalaya, a comfort basket, a wiry fankle (a Scottish word that means a tangle or a state of confusion), a bit of this and tad of that.
As you probably know, Freedom from Self-Improvement was last week and I humbly submit it was as blustery of a liberating time as its most excellent inspiration – International Talk like a Pirate Day.
Plus, it spawned a bevvy of freeing blog posts that elucidate most wonderfully how people get free from the tyrants of improvement.
Click on each blog title to read the full post or the last sentence – each post will infuse with enoughness and transport you with love!
Wiry Fankle #1
Polishing what is already smooth and shiny by Cairene MacDonald
It’s Friday. Time for a round-up of the week’s Lessons Learned.
Except, in honor of Jen Louden’s week of Freedom from Self-Improvement, instead of compiling my usual list, I thought I’d clarify what this weekly post is about. And what it’s not about.
[ I'm a bit late to the party in sharing this event with you - today is the last day - but you can still get in on the fun. Jen is giving away fabulous stuff, plus today you could win a whole year at the Comfort Cafe - which, as I've said before, is what stands between me and crazy burnout. ]
I am not flogging myself with a wet noodle (as they say) here.
The phrase “Lessons Learned” has connotations that maybe aren’t so nice.
First, there is perhaps an association with the notion of “teaching someone a lesson” – defined as: to get even with someone for bad behavior; to punish someone so that they will not behave badly again; to show what should not be done.
As though my Lessons Learned are somehow punitive insights into my shortcomings that I beat myself up with. Which is so not the case.
Wiry Fankle #2
Sleep Is More Important Than Self-Improvement by Victoria Brouhard
Prepare to be wowed with some scientific claims of dubious validity. Well, there is some real science, and then some additional thoughts from me. Full disclosure: I am not a scientist.
These thoughts were prompted in part by Jen Louden’s Freedom from Self-Improvement Week.
Last weekend I watched an episode of Nova Science NOW on PBS. There was a segment about sleep, and its connection to memory. (You can watch the full segment here.)
We still don’t know the true purpose of sleep, but nearly all organisms sleep in some form.
Scientists are finding that there is a connection between sleep and memory.
Wiry Fankle #3
Company Girl Coffee by Shawna R. B. Atteberry
This last week was a little rough because I didn’t sleep well. A pattern that finally broke last night, thank goodness. Part of that was my fault: I was staying up too late. I didn’t get a lot of writing done this week, but I did get a lot of thinking done. Thinking about where I want to go, where I want this blog to go, and who in general do I want to be? A lot of this reflection is due to another wonderful blogger and her challenge this week: Jen Louden.
Wiry Fankle #4
I’m OK. You’re OK. We’re All OK. Really. by Chris Zydel
Somewhere along the line…. and maybe it’s just because I’ve gotten old…. I got kind of burned out on trying to fix myself. I had spent most of my 20′s, all of my 30′s and half of my 40′s trying to get better. To heal old wounds and improve myself so that I could have a happier and healthier life. In many ways it’s been a very worthwhile journey and I’ve made some powerful and much needed changes in my overall existence.
But at a certain point I also began to realize…
Wiry Fankle #5
No Self Left Behind . . .by Hiro Boga
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about inner wholeness. What makes us who we are? There are many selves inside me. They encompass every age I’ve ever been, or ever will be. They include my most tender, vulnerable, wounded selves as well as my most powerful, radiant, creative selves, and everything in between. Between them, my selves carry all of my life’s experiences, as well as the experiences of my ancestors, my culture, and my species.
One of my daily practices is to call a circle of selves into my heart…
Wiry Fankle #6
Today I am just enough by Heather Plett
Yesterday afternoon, I spent a little too much time reading blog posts that were mostly about “reaching toward the better version of me”.
Since I’m in a bit of a transition mode, working on building a consulting business, I’ve been reading a lot of books, articles and blog posts about all of the things I should be doing, could be doing, MUST be doing and would be a fool if I’m NOT doing in order to grow a business, be creative, market myself, blah, blah, blah.
At some point, I reached the breaking point.
Wiry Fankle #7
I can’t tell you how delighted, thrilled, grateful and just plain psyched I am to WIN a truly special life-giving gift from you! The Life Organizer has been sitting in my cart on Amazon for months… maybe years. Wow! I am just to thankful. It’s not just a book. It represents a whole lot more to me!
Last week, I had NO cash in any of my accounts. None. Checks outstanding, two kids to feed, bills to pay. Nada. I chose not to be afraid or lose it. But, I was anxious all weekend. I kept affirming that the Universe provides. It is bountiful. I have ALL that I need.
Peachy heart wild insights, gals, thank you for turning your wisdom inside out for us.
If I missed anybody’s posts, tell me and I will wiry fankle you next week.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Pace Sep 16, 2009
These are wonderful, Jen! I’d already read half of them (we seem to run with the same crowd) but the other half were new to me and made me really happy to read. Thanks! (:
2 Shawna R. B. Atteberry Sep 16, 2009
Thank you for including me in the Wiry Frankle! I cannot wait to read the other posts. So that means I am off to read.
3 Lea Howell Sep 17, 2009
WOW…..what a great week we had! I was unable to log in to the BLOG on Mon/Tues. For the first time, my “body” missed it! Not just for the reading, and learning….but for the laughter and relaxation, the “let down” that my body felt all of last week. I love that the desire to turn on the computer was for more that to check my email, and see what is happening in my world…..the shift away from that, to centering myself and knowing what is going on in my world comes from within….AMAZING!
Oh my, reading all of the comments, hearing the audios…..I felt like I had my own personal “Feel Good Conference” going on all week! It didn’t cost anything, I didn’t have to worry about what I was wearing. I had coffee, tea, and water. I had a notebook and any color pen I wanted to write with! When I needed a break…..I took it and didn’t miss a thing! My utmost appreciation to you, Jennifer, for being the coordinator To all the “guest speakers”…ALL of you who participated, I thank you. I learned from each of you! It was a most successful conference!