Breafast at the Morning Glory

Yesterday we had breakfast at the Morning Glory cafe here in Eugene.  When I say "we," I mean I had invited a couple friends.  They  in turn invited a couple more, and we wound up with a lively and lovely group of six: me, George, Rob, Faliesha, Cheri and her daughter Brooklyn (there's gotta be story behind that name, I must remember to ask).

It is so gracious to see this group of interested  and motivated people grow and gather momentum!  Books, ideas, websites and enthusiasm for good food were traded all around. Many of us were strangers to each other, but when we left, we were all "hugging terms."  Fantastic!

I followed it up with a hike up Spencer's Butte, very gratified to making this ascent in better time every time I go.  Also, there is something new to see every time.  There is old growth on this hill, one tree in particular is easily wider than both of my outstretched arms, which would make it more than 18 feet in circumference.  There is Madrone here too, and yesterday I spotted one that has to be forty feet tall.  So thin and stately, so rich in color with their deep red wood and dark green leaves.  At the top, clouds raced overhead only a thousand feet above the summit.  And bright beams of sunlight shone down into Eugene, moving across the neighborhoods, illuminating first West Eugene, Then Friendly Street, and then downtown.

I sat on the summit and watched the show, nibbled some lunch.  And then down the hill to have a beer with Rob and George at the 'Lope.

Intentional Eating

This morning I wake feeling hungry.  But before I decide what to eat, I check in briefly with the sensation of hunger, and ask two questions:

How hungry am I?  What am I hungry for?

These are the two main questions recommended in a practice called Intentional Eating.  It is essentially a minfullness practice connected to eating, and it is very powerful.  How hungry?  Rate it on a scale of 1 to 10.  That might feel silly at first, but stay with it.

Then run down the list of flavors and foods in your head.  What sounds good?  What foods or flavors seem to stand out in bold print in your mind?  Colorful, like fruit?  Savory?  Starchy?  Today, after consideration, I choose two slices of whole wheat toast, with some peanut butter, and it seems just right.

The process of asking the questions and waiting for the answers slows me down, and I enjoy every bite of my small meal, savoring.

Exercise: Ixnay, Redux

What a great day yesterday, back on real rock for the first time since the surgery!  Afterwards, I was charged, feeling so "high" emotionally and physically, for hours.  This morning, I reconsider the long hike I had scheduled for today.  I need a rest day.  So I wind up journaling and walking by the river, stopping every so often to juggle.  The day finds it's own rythm, a more contemplative day than I had planned.

Tomorrow, if it's nice out, I'll meet Mike at the columns.  I was so close on that one route, and there's another I really want to project on.  Now I've had a taste again, I can't get enough of real rock.  If it rains, I'll go for the hike I had planned instead, and I'll have the woods pretty much to myself.  Either way, it'll be a fun day.

And so the concept, the feel of it, is brought back to me again.  Even when I think there is, there is no schedule.  Body, mind and emotions set the schedule.  Of course, progress requires dedication, so it's a fine blance.  But the more I give in to just enjoying, the less it feels like work and the more it feels like play.

Alexander has crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a kayak, in record time.  He is 64.
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Exercise: Ixnay.

Friday is the first day of my weekend these days, because I work four long days Monday through Thursday.  Last night I went to bed feeling very worn out from work stress.  I was contemplating at least one do-nothing day before Monday rolls around.  But this morning I woke rested and refreshed.  There was a text from Zane and Meridy: "how 'bout we climb outside today?" 

Well, yeah.  The weather's been so nice it would be a shame to waste it.  We'll meet at the little sixty foot climbing cliff here in Eugene, called the columns.  I wanted to put the slackline up on Sunday, maybe invite some people out to the park.  But I'm also very excited to get another good long walk in, like last week.  There's a trail just east of Spencer's Butte I haven't tried yet.  The map shows switchbacks, so I know it's steep.  That will have to be Saturday.  I'll throw some weight in the pack, some water, maybe some bread and hummus and an apple, and make a day of it.

And suddenly my do-nothing weekend is full.  Full of fun that just kind of grew on it's own.  There will be sunshine, and good people, some thrills and some meditative, calming walking.  And there wil be not one bit of exercise in the whole scenario.