Still trying to stop, pause and listen

Well, my first official week of this new approach to self exploration has now passed. And how has it gone you may ask. Well, first off I realize that I am destined to be as much of a Type A "spiritual, self-aware" person as I was an executive.

In the past week I have done the following:
1. Physical - Signed up for the Carlsbad half-marathon and had my first long run of 1:15 (hr:min) for 7.15 miles. Not bad considering I hadn't run longer than 4 miles in the past 6 months.
2. Spiritual - (Being of service) - as part of my training and running the Carlsbad Half, I have committed to fund-raising on behalf of the North County Food Bank. I need to raise $750 by December 15th or I am on the hook for the balance. No pressure there. I chose this charity because as they say, charity begins at home - and North County is my home. It has taken me 8 years to come to terms with that, but now it is my truth.
3. Mental - I actually dusted off the books that I had bought earlier this year that were recommended to me by my brother-in-law Joe Smith, who is one of the most spiritually grounded people I know, by Thích Nhất Hạnh, and read one of them. I found myself having to force myself to read very slowly as the words were simple, but profound. You could not read them at record pace and absorb anything. It was very telling at how hard it was for me to slow down and actually take in the profundity of the words in front of me. The other learning I found was that often I seem to find the purchasing of a book the equivalent of possessing the knowledge within. As if by merely possessing a book, all of its pearls of wisdom are already gleaned without having to open its pages and do the real work. Kind of like the feeling that having it at your disposable is enough. Weak.

And last, but not least, starting up this blog again. Not sure where it fits in the glorious triumvirate of physical, spiritual and mental, but a move in the right direction of disciplining myself on keeping the journey in mind, and frankly documenting the journey. I have always kept journals on any of my travels and I guess this is just like another travel - it is just more one from within than without.

So - I have my homework for this week laid out. Did I mention the type A thing?
1. Craft my personal elevator pitch (essentially, what the hell am I going to tell people what I am doing over the next few months and not sound like I am two steps away from the loony farm)
2. Set a schedule for the activities that I am going to do everyday to maintain my discipline on ensuring that this time is a productive and proactive approach to allowing myself permission to step out of the comfortable and find what is available to me. Frankly, I have had the nagging feeling that what I was meant to do, to be is out there waving its hands frantically trying to get my attention - I have just never had the listening for it. Hence my new mantra - "stop, pause and listen".
3. Investigate where my passions lie and the possibilities available there. So, where my passions lie is the easy one. Women's rights, wildlife conservation, adventure travel and photography. Job done. Now - how can I make something out of them? Ideas, anyone?

OK - well, that is quite a litany for one week so chew on that and if you have any ideas or feedback - good, bad or ugly - let me know.

Signing off for now. I need to get a signature sign-off line....

H