Weeknotes #36 - Birthday edition

2 minutes reading time

24 Sep - 30 Sep 2018

Lack of available space has continued to impact on my ability to continue kettlebell training. There hasn’t been a lot of movement with the house renovations, we’ve been waiting for the plaster to dry. The rooms already look better so decoration, etc can begin this week and we can really start to see it coming together.

It was my birthday this week. The “big” 4.0. I was quite happy for it to pass without much fanfare. I certainly don’t feel middle-aged and I think I’m probably fitter now than I’ve ever been in the past. I’m maybe finally beginning to figure myself out a bit more so perhaps it is true that life begins at 40!

5 week journaling challenge

This week I’d set myself the challenge to be more aware and notice things around me. To become find something to be curious or question each day. It was much harder than I expected. Although I meditate daily, I realised that I’m still swept up in the day-to-day. Especially right now as I’m so busy. It’s easy to not really pay attention and gives things the time and attention they deserve. I need to create more space to incorporate that into my days.

Next week is Stoic week so I’ll be paying extra attention to that. I’ve also signed up to the Daily Stoics 30 day challenge which I’ll use my daily journal to try to reflect and action.

Reading Progress

I finished both Secondborn and Notes on a Nervous Planet this week. I really loved Notes on a Nervous Planet. Matt Haig has such a lovely writing style that’s easy to read, yet quite thought-provoking. I like the mix of short notes and longer chapters interspersed with poems and lists, etc. I highly recommend adding it to your reading list. It inspired a great conversation during our book club call on Wednesday about our phone habits.

It took a little while for me to get into Secondborn, but in the end I found I was really enjoying the dystopian world and the characters that Amy Bartol has created. Upon finishing I decided that I’d immediately start the next book in the series.

For October’s book club we chose Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, which I’m looking forward to reading.

A week in Stoicism

Become familiar with those things that cause you to panic. Think through what is overwhelming about them and then learn to overcome them. Panic is nothing helpful, it only creates dangers and prevents us from thinking objectively and functioning well.

”Success comes to the lowly and to the poorly talented, but the special characteristics of a great person is to triumph over the disasters and panics of human life” Seneca

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