Dear Blog,

Wow – it is August already!  How are ya’?  Did you miss me?  I know, I know… I have not been the most loyal to you this summer, but I can explain…

First of all, let me say that you are making me feel like a child in this moment, writing my return-to-class entry in Elementary School, explaining “What I Did This Summer” to my fellow students.  Yes, I understand that you have felt all alone here in cyberspace, with no recent entries, no comments, not even much in the way of spam?!  (well, that has been a bonus of a surprise…)  But, let me just say that it has not been you, it’s me…

I’ve honestly been busy!  This summer has flown by! 

Vacations to exotic places:

Road trips:

Carnivals:

Mountain biking:

And, you know, even got to hang out with Sir Elton for an evening:

Not to make you feel bad, my dear blog, but boy oh boy, has it ever been fun!

To help plead my case, I can say that I HAVE been writing.  I even took a 4 day course in poetry this July at a great Summer Arts School and learned so much about it.  I met some amazing people, including the instructor, who share in my love of writing.  I was able to hear countless pieces of their poetry, from their own unique perspectives, and was able to contribute some of my own.  Yes, dear blog, I am hearing you when you tell me that poetry has not been our strongest forte, but let me tell you – I think if we work together on this, we can pull it off!  We may even be able to “show” others’ our poetic creations!

But, as I see we are making up here, I do have one faux pas to mention.  I mean, if we are being completely honest here…  I, um, have started seeing someone else…  I just want you to know that you are still my number one, and although this other blog has qualities that I admire, and I am able to write there in a “different” way, please do not think that I am in any way turning you in for someone new!

I may not be able to promise you forever, dear blog, but I can promise you right WRITE now.

Inspiration has come to me lately in a number of different forms.

Firstly, the 21.5.800 Project has been very good for me and my creativity thus far.  I have not followed it “perfectly” but am embracing the imperfections of my habits, and moving forward and trying to incorporate as much writing and yoga as I can into my daily life.

Along with the new writers I have come across through the 21.5.800 Project, specifically those catalogued on the 21.5.800 list on Twitter, there are so many great blogs out there that I have found recently!  Watch out blogroll – you are about to be filled to the brim shortly…  

One amazing blog I have recently stumbled upon is one by 16 year old Abby Sunderland.  She was recently in the news after being rescued from the Indian Ocean after coming into some storm trouble and having to abandon her solo round the world sailing trip.  Her blog is filled with her trip happenings since it began on January 23^rd of this year, in addition to many anticipatory pre-trip entries and those since her trip has been unfortunately stopped.  I am completely in awe of this young girl’s talent and drive to take on such a feat and find her writing intriguing.  I only wish that she was given more media attention while her trip was going along smoothly, as opposed to just getting consideration while she was being found and rescued.  I hope she attempts this trip again and I look forward to following along in her efforts.

Inspiration in my immediate world has literally taken on a new art form.   Through the daily yoga, writing, and reading about others’ adventures, I have been inspired to express my writing in a new way.  Today I purchased my first paint and brushes, and plan on making some colorful strokes of my own.  This is huge for me as my previous attempts at art have only produced stick men to say the least…  So stay tuned – you never know what may transpire out of this latest whim of mine…

I could go on and on about what has been inspiring me lately, but I will leave you with these few today.  Sometimes it seems that when we just throw our hands up in the air, “give up” in a figurative surrender and let what may come, come – the most interesting things transpire.  New projects and ideas arise, and new friends are met along the way that collaborate and support our efforts.

What or whom inspires you in your endeavours?

photo credits: tiarescott, karindalziel

I have decided to take the plunge and participate in the 21.5.800 Writing / Yoga Project! 

The discovery of this creative endeavour came to me through Juliana over at Write Play Repeat.  Challenge creator Bindu Wiles, along with Marianne Elliott, have put together a 21 day program to boost creativity and the art of writing in conjunction with yoga.  Basically, the participants are to write 800 words a day and participate in a yoga-esque activity for 5 out of the 7 days per week.  For more detailed information about this, see here.

Since this started, oh, um, 3 days ago… I will be 3 days behind in this, but that is OK.  As Bindu Wiles quoted Pema Chodron in her post:  “Start Where You Are”.

This challenge could not have come along at a more perfect time.  Seeing as how yoga has not been in my vocabulary the past few months, and my writing has been more hit-and-miss than daily, I hope this project will give me a boost and propel me forward in my creativity. 

Also, I am assuming a majority of my 800 words per day may be laced with dribble… so… I do not plan on posting it here every day – but I will check in every now and then over the course of the 21 days to report my misery progress.

So here is to a renewed daily writing practice, a sense of here and now that only yoga can provide, and some help in this trodden climb out of the depths of writer’s block.

Since I signed up “late”, there is still time – so if anyone out there wants to join in…