A few Measly Steps a Day

Hi Steps Thread. We went to Chinatown and got a roast duck and bok choi. Which lasted several days. We also got the ingredients for tekka and spent Friday making it. We slow cooked ours for 8 hours.

Really enjoying studying how games work. All those years I spent fixing myself I might have been studying psychology through games. A lot more upbeat. They look at "player agency," motivation, memory chunking, storytelling, and even chaos theory.

Learned that George Miller's famous formula for short term memory: The Magic Number 7 ± 2, has been researched down to 4 ± 1. This isn't a good trend so I will pitch a proposal at the next short term memory conference we stop research. I mean where will it end? 2 ± .25?

I also remind myself to watch to more comedy. Which I'm going to do to relax before sleep.

Cornish hens, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy , yams, green beans, egg nog and cranberry/apple tartlets. We had a good Thanksgiving.
I'm going to look up George Miller and his magic number. I know my memory is slipping. it's a funky in-between time for me. I'm done editing, and need to transition into writing and promoting. I'm back on Zoom meetings. So far so good - I'm not getting too many weird emails, and, since everyone else is getting them, I'm thinking they may not be Zoom related.
Our COVID numbers are scary. And, with the holidays, I'm sure they're not going to improve. Bad note to end on.
I'm happy that someone removed the rule of not ending a sentence with a preposition. I'm with Winston Churchill - "up with I shall not put."
Happy Holidays.

Finishing the month in a better place than I started.
I didn't find an astronomical object with a rotation that would match my "daily" steps. Perhaps some wildly tumbling asteroid in an extreme cometary orbit?

Stress eating gradually went down week after election. Lots of bumps ahead, but determinedly hopeful.

I didn't write for Nanowrimo, but did daydream more actively. Looking forward to next year.

Had first optometrist visit in years, and eyes were in reasonable shape. Optometrist liked to explain and liked to laugh.
I will have my first bifocals -- and eyes are in "come back for an annual checkup" condition.

My sweetheart has less flexible coverage, and only available dental work through her clinic was through a monthly "first come first serve" line up. They were full up at 8:05 AM -- so we've set alarms and expect to be in line before sunrise.

To be continued, on a December near us.

Lyndon

Re: ending sentences with prepositions. Up here in Seattle one might hear, "Would you like to go with?" and not adding the final me. I just tried to find a reference via search, no luck.

Steps tomorrow: culling some ideas from a grant; joining a couple of World AIDS Day presentations; and taking a walk to buy bread.

Had a productive few days. Moved two project along a bit. Thinking a lot about my gamification idea. Have plans to watch a live streamed talk tomorrow.
Plans: Developing a list of titles for my Mock Press Release about my concept. Taking a walk. Chill.
Is this not happiness?
R

Some days I want to move an exciting goal and have a duty to move a dutiful goal. One Yes, One Yuck. I set up a walk, or if feeling creative, a walsh.
The Walk is iambic - Yuck-Yes; Yuck-Yes, or Yes - Yuck, Yes - Yuck.

The Walsh is: Yuck - Yes Yes; Yuck - Yes Yes.

Always the big puzzle: do I begin with the Yuck or the Yes?

Hello writers. If you have the Pro Writing Aid app you can sign up for their webinar on self-editing. I don't know if it will be much good. We'll have to find out.
ProWritingAid Online Writing Courses
Scroll down.
Revu2

I want to put the last bag of groceries away. I have been relaxing today and less focused on chores. I do need to give my cat her medicine tonight. And I want to meditate before falling asleep. It would be nice if I cooked something, but I am too tired. Maybe I can make a salad. That would be nice and healthy. I find I struggle a lot with a lack of energy. So I take baby steps all the time. My quote is, "Inch by inch, it's a cinch." I got that from a friend of mine. I am happy that I was successful at relaxing today. I feel calm.

Hi, R.

So I took break in the action after publishing Temporary Address and Through Unfamiliar Waters. Now I'm working on my marketing strategy (don't laugh) and I'm doing some research for Earth Songs. To that end, I've bought a subscription to the Whitehorse Star. I spent a good chunk of last night and today watching videos - I watched two episodes of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. I'm also researching abandoned mines, the Klondike gold rush, and indigenous tribes of the Yukon. No concrete plot yet, but a few tantalizing ideas. It's such a giant step from ideas buzzing around to a concrete plot. The ideas can't be judged. The concrete plot - maybe an outline - tells you whether you know what you're talking about or not.

There's a gold mine of ideas in gold mining. (please laugh.) I wrote a short story once about gold fever. Unfortunately, I can't find it. I might try to resurrect it from memory. It's one of the best things I've ever written, but I've looked and looked. I think it's gone forever.

Happy stepping.

I like your blog Deilla. You have some good ideas.

I'm creating a website, and I'm getting frustrated. I plan to read from my book on Chuckanut.

Hello. Today's my b'day. Yet another day. Turns out I'm 67 years and going strong. A great thing.

D, can you post the link for Chuckanut? It'd like to see what you're talking about.

Keeping a no profile today ... except I helped to deal with a couple of plugged drains (and created a mossy trail on the carpet I had to clean up); cooked breakfast, and get through my new messages.

Have a call in a couple of hours. Maybe I'll put on some music and sort out my messy desk from my prior high intensity period.

Or maybe not.

Hey all. I'm new here. I did not read the entire thread yet or anyhing, so I would just like to ask, do you have any group somewhere where you all work together on helping keep some check on each other informally for your goals of the few measly steps a day or something like that?



EDIT: I mean, outside this forum. Something more interactive.

Happy Birthday, R. I hope you figured out a way to celebrate in spite of COVID.

I'm posting info on Chuchanut beloiw:

Please submit any questions to: chuckanutsandstone@gmail.com

Date Time: Dec 9, 2020 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the Second Wed, until Apr 14, 2021, 5 occurrence(s)
Dec 9, 2020 06:30 PM
Jan 13, 2021 06:30 PM
Feb 10, 2021 06:30 PM
Mar 10, 2021 06:30 PM
Apr 14, 2021 06:30 PM

We had 33 participants on Zoom, and most of them read poetry. A few of us, including me, read prose. Most of the participants were from Washington State, but we also had people from Canada, California, and we had one person from Australia. It was a loosely organized group of people sharing what they love. Low key. We emailed earlier asking for a certain amount of time - up to seven minutes - to read.

Hi, Alive,

So much to tell you!
The Measly steps are on-line only. They started on Barbara Sher's website - in 2001, I think. When Barbara Sher's website closed down, Revue and I and a couple of other internet friends began posting here. However, there are other Barbara Sher groups around the world, although, with COVID, probably most of them meet on-line as well.

Right now, it's mostly Revue and I posting every few days. There are a few others who pop in once in a while, and of course everyone is welcome.

The idea of the Measly steps is that you commit to performing some steps towards your goal, whatever your goal is, and then you post how you did. And we support each and cheer each other on. As you can see, we don't adhere strictly to that format since quite often life interferes with our goals. For me, reading at Chuckanut was a step towards my goal.

Revue and I have had success with the steps. He started and built up his own business. I wrote and published and sold three books. There were a lot bumps and some spectacular problems and hard times along the way.

There's no magical way to accomplish a goal - for most of us, at least. On television, the hero locks himself in a closet, writes for two weeks, gets five rejections, stumbles across a publisher at a local diner, The publisher loves his work and publishes it. Real life isn't like that.

If you're interested, all of this started with a book by Barbara Sher called "Wishcraft."

Thank you. Yes I'm looking for an online opportunity for help, an online group or something. What I want won't work with just posting on a forum thread, but would like regular active interaction with someone or with a group, that's what's needed for what I want. Here's what I want: https://psychcentralforums.com/6987218-post12.html

PS/DISCLAIMER No, going to therapists does not work for this one. So please do not advise to me to go to therapy again.

I'll add. It's kind of like... if I see someone (or more than one person, I don't know) takes the obligation on that they check in for me/check on me then I am able to do the same for them and do what I need done. I don't know, that's just how I'd feel they do care and then I'd feel I do exist in the actual world. This is really actually hazy for me beyond this but I think it's something like this. What I want is this, not have to do it all alone. What the obstacle is, I have not found anyone willing to take that obligation on for me or whatever it is, if not an obligation, I don't "need" them to feel all this crazy never-ending love for me or be my "sole supporter" or blah blah blah. I know people do not like to feel like that they "need" to provide that. I'd just like to get a basic life going for now and then I can focus on relationships too. Thanks.

Edit: and I'm also fine with it if they need some help too from me in turn. I can also try and work together with someone who has the same goal of establishing a basic life. Get up in the morning, dress up and then do some job for a living (not full time for me for now) and then do whatever else one may fancy if not too tired and there is still time left in the day before sleeping at night. That's it for now.

I think the best thing I can tell you, Alive, is that I understand. Humans need each other for support. They don't do well if they are alone. I feel the same things you wrote about, although I think I feel them less than you do. When I get to that bad place in my head, I do three things - go outside, get some exercise, and talk to someone. Usually that works for me. Or at least it helps a bit.
Revue and I can't solve all your problems, but we could be a part of the solution. If you post here, we will answer and encourage you.
According to your bio, you are from Hungary. If Hungarians are like Russians (that's my heritage) your parents love you but they don't understand. They can give you a little support, but not everything that you need. My parents would tell me to "just pull myself up and get over it." They wouldn't understand.
Friends - both Internet friends and in-person friends can give you a little help, but no one person can give you everything you need. You need several friends. If you ask too much of one person, that person will not want to help you anymore.
In the United States, COVID is bad, and I can't visit with friends because of it. So I'm always challenged to find ways to stay out of the bad places in my head. I talk to people on the phone, I talk to my neighbors, - but from 6 feet away. I go for walks, and I work in my garden. I talk to my Internet friends. Every little bit helps. No one thing magically fixes everything and turns my life around, but every time I do something - take one step - I'm glad I did it.
Writing, music, drawing are also things I do to feel better.
You said you want to get up, dress up and do some part-time job. That doesn't just happen all at once. You take small steps. First step is to get up and get dressed. Then you take a step or two each day. Look for job postings. I don't know how you find jobs in Hungary. Maybe that's the first step - find out where to look for jobs. Learn how to look for jobs. Then learn what to do next. Maybe you write your CV or write an email, or make a phone call, or answer a "Help Wanted" ad. And know that each step is a victory. You did something. You exist. If you emailed a company, and they said, "No thank you," you did something. Be happy about it. This can be hard. A friend of mine has spent over a year working hard to find a job. She got one and then lost it because of health issues. So she kept looking. The same thing happened again, and she kept looking.
This is what I think, but I don't know you. If what I say doesn't help at all, ignore it. If something I wrote helps you, I'm happy.

My steps for today:

Zoom meeting with writers.
send Christmas cards.
Find present for husband.
write something. Done

Welcome Alive.

Where you are sucks. Getting out is tedious. Your first goal is to be seen and heard. To have your existence reflected back to you.

There are a pair of resources I'll share. Ignore or use as you wish.

#1. The Awareness, Courage, and Love Meetup in Seattle is a secular support group for adults. Anyone can take part. The facilitator has researched this for years and wants it to get known around the world. Online--Bridging the Family Divide During the Holidays | Meetup
#2. I also suggest you look into WRAP. I learned about it on PC, so try a search here for people with direct experience of using it.
"WRAP is . . . The Wellness Recovery Action Plan® or WRAP®, is a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be. It was developed in 1997 by a group of people who were searching for ways to overcome their own mental health issues and move on to fulfilling their life dreams and goals. It is now used extensively by people in all kinds of circumstances, and by health care and mental health systems all over the world to address all kinds of physical, mental health and life issues."
And keep posting your daily goals here. We'll see them/you.
Revu2