Wonderful post, I'm definitely inspired to re-red some old journal entries, but a little apprehensive of the emotions/past events they might bring up...maybe this means I have some work to do yet to resolve some things! On baths...one of the great things about living in SEA is the access to onsens or Japanese public baths, that was one of the highlights for me this week.
I wonder though, I somehow find this "dead week" to be one of the more productive weeks of the year for me. It mirrors how I find it easier to work at night, or even on weekends on the most important tasks because the pressure of "working hours" doesn't exist. Sometimes I fail to be productive during working hours I think because of the pressure to deliver. In a similar way, this week, there is no pressure from the external world (colleagues, timelines, emails, phone calls) and I find this lull a perfect place to progress on my personal projects and work for the sake of working, learn for the sake of learning...I wonder if anyone else feels this way? Regardless, this post help me consider this week more tangibly, thank you Austin!
I've been rereading my 462 typed Morning Pages (I too am up to Spring) and my Commonplace book and logs as well. Being somewhat critical of the year I made a list of 100 good things that happened. (The best part of lists of 100 is in the last 20). I sent it to ChatGPT and was gobsmacked by the instant summary. I then had it give me a plan for 2024 based on my list. Gobsmacked again.
I call it Limbo Week, but I've been working my tail off—brand new, unexpected and sudden promotion, plus husband's emergency surgery and recovery/medical stuff made for the least restful week ever. This is when I'm glad I have a meditation practice. Also cheered that I did your suggested 30-day practice in November, before all hell broke loose, and I have it taped up still so I can look over at all those Xed-off days and remember that every day engaged is a win in some way or other.
I always look forward to your news! But thinking about dead week, I have to change the name to something much more positive, and I must express gratitude for being in a position where I can even have such a week.
First I thought of enchanted week but then came PELICAN week! We are at a beach outside Beaufort SC and yesterday saw 2 pelicans gliding -aa smoothly as skating -over the water. They would flap 2 or 3 times then glide effortlessly, doing only as much as they had to do. It's their daily behavior but for me it is a perfect reminder.
Lively Week I would call it! It is an exiciting week for me looking forward the magic of New Year's Eve. I am Spanish and living in Dublin means that I have 2 New Year's Eve. First I connect via zoom with my family in Madrid and eat the 12 grapes at the time of the 12 strikes of midnight. Laughter, toasting and, one hour later I repeat the 12 grapes with the 12 strikes of Big Ben (I have made a recording of the sound and pictures of Big Ben in a slide show), more toasting until I finish a little bottle of prosecco. My husband doesn't drink. I like to write a letter to the old year and another to the new year. This year I have a 2 days workshop with Marianne Power to write about the old year (31st ) and to write to the new year on the 1st January. Also I have a workshop on the 31st to create a Vision Board. 2023 is the year of my retirement and begining of a new life as full time painter, so it is very special. Dear Austin, you cannot imaging how much inspiration I get from you every week. Marianne Power is following you and she recomends you to her friends and talks about you also on the workshops. A big hug from Dublin and all the best for 2023. Nieves
I’m also eating junk and watching rubbish. Admittedly, not all the watching is rubbish. My mom gifted me a BritBox subscription so it’s all about the British shows right now.
Since a lot of my friends are in higher ed or also set their own schedules, we’ve been enjoying the opportunity to catch up on weekdays instead of a forced choice between boyfriends and friends.
This has been a good time for reading. I finally read The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr (it’s excellent btw) and now I’m reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays. The Cloisters is a totally different speed but it’s excellent vacation reading.
i used to dread this week whereas now i welcome it - i try to see past the desperate consumerism that drives us (particularly in this season) and with attention i am able to see that really, in the grand scheme of things, i have what i need - things to eat, a comfy place to sleep and more art supplies than i will ever use in this lifetime ;)
I've been feeling the in-betweenness of this week and I think this is a good name for it. The holiday is an energy sapper, and I've got some time but not a lot of spark. I've been rewatching The Expanse on Prime Video - I enjoyed it the first go-round but understand it better this time (haha) and it's been a great way to just relax. Plus there are tons of episodes and lots of strong female and decent male characters. I tried reading Pure Color by Sheila Heti but it just went round and round too much for me now. I've got Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead and Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger sitting here next to me, and I've gotten a few pages into Nick Cave's Faith, Hope and Carnage. Best wishes to all!
Great word, I know you will…bloom! Mine for 23 is savor; last year was healthfully. So many meaningful (to the choser) ways to let that word be fully realized. Good luck.
I'm taking lots of walks after eating rubbish, and organizing the studio. My schedule is just a bit different time wise, I'm rolling with it. I loved "She Said"...the power, process and importance of great investigative journalism.
I am getting alot of work done because everyone else is on vacation at work. No meetings! At home I am ripping the cellophane off of unread books and digging in. Also a bit of journaling and watching basketball.
For us it's a combination of reflection, rest, reading and this year some yard work to clear a tree that came down, which is not ideal, but once the chaos is gone, the backyard will be a haven again, which is definitely a good thing
Survivor Christmas part 2 : Dead Week😋 Wondering if the finale will be at the Elephant Room jazz bar on the first night of the year. Will I get Covid there ? Or will there be a shooting? 😬
Wonderful post, I'm definitely inspired to re-red some old journal entries, but a little apprehensive of the emotions/past events they might bring up...maybe this means I have some work to do yet to resolve some things! On baths...one of the great things about living in SEA is the access to onsens or Japanese public baths, that was one of the highlights for me this week.
I wonder though, I somehow find this "dead week" to be one of the more productive weeks of the year for me. It mirrors how I find it easier to work at night, or even on weekends on the most important tasks because the pressure of "working hours" doesn't exist. Sometimes I fail to be productive during working hours I think because of the pressure to deliver. In a similar way, this week, there is no pressure from the external world (colleagues, timelines, emails, phone calls) and I find this lull a perfect place to progress on my personal projects and work for the sake of working, learn for the sake of learning...I wonder if anyone else feels this way? Regardless, this post help me consider this week more tangibly, thank you Austin!
I've been rereading my 462 typed Morning Pages (I too am up to Spring) and my Commonplace book and logs as well. Being somewhat critical of the year I made a list of 100 good things that happened. (The best part of lists of 100 is in the last 20). I sent it to ChatGPT and was gobsmacked by the instant summary. I then had it give me a plan for 2024 based on my list. Gobsmacked again.
I have filled notebooks from 1963 and I don't know what to do with them.
I have 10 pages to go in a book but am helplessly distracted by bowl games, newfound EPL obsession and the dead week aura hovering around me
I call it Limbo Week, but I've been working my tail off—brand new, unexpected and sudden promotion, plus husband's emergency surgery and recovery/medical stuff made for the least restful week ever. This is when I'm glad I have a meditation practice. Also cheered that I did your suggested 30-day practice in November, before all hell broke loose, and I have it taped up still so I can look over at all those Xed-off days and remember that every day engaged is a win in some way or other.
Hi Kleon,
I always look forward to your news! But thinking about dead week, I have to change the name to something much more positive, and I must express gratitude for being in a position where I can even have such a week.
First I thought of enchanted week but then came PELICAN week! We are at a beach outside Beaufort SC and yesterday saw 2 pelicans gliding -aa smoothly as skating -over the water. They would flap 2 or 3 times then glide effortlessly, doing only as much as they had to do. It's their daily behavior but for me it is a perfect reminder.
Lively Week I would call it! It is an exiciting week for me looking forward the magic of New Year's Eve. I am Spanish and living in Dublin means that I have 2 New Year's Eve. First I connect via zoom with my family in Madrid and eat the 12 grapes at the time of the 12 strikes of midnight. Laughter, toasting and, one hour later I repeat the 12 grapes with the 12 strikes of Big Ben (I have made a recording of the sound and pictures of Big Ben in a slide show), more toasting until I finish a little bottle of prosecco. My husband doesn't drink. I like to write a letter to the old year and another to the new year. This year I have a 2 days workshop with Marianne Power to write about the old year (31st ) and to write to the new year on the 1st January. Also I have a workshop on the 31st to create a Vision Board. 2023 is the year of my retirement and begining of a new life as full time painter, so it is very special. Dear Austin, you cannot imaging how much inspiration I get from you every week. Marianne Power is following you and she recomends you to her friends and talks about you also on the workshops. A big hug from Dublin and all the best for 2023. Nieves
I’m also eating junk and watching rubbish. Admittedly, not all the watching is rubbish. My mom gifted me a BritBox subscription so it’s all about the British shows right now.
Since a lot of my friends are in higher ed or also set their own schedules, we’ve been enjoying the opportunity to catch up on weekdays instead of a forced choice between boyfriends and friends.
This has been a good time for reading. I finally read The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr (it’s excellent btw) and now I’m reading The Cloisters by Katy Hays. The Cloisters is a totally different speed but it’s excellent vacation reading.
i used to dread this week whereas now i welcome it - i try to see past the desperate consumerism that drives us (particularly in this season) and with attention i am able to see that really, in the grand scheme of things, i have what i need - things to eat, a comfy place to sleep and more art supplies than i will ever use in this lifetime ;)
I've been feeling the in-betweenness of this week and I think this is a good name for it. The holiday is an energy sapper, and I've got some time but not a lot of spark. I've been rewatching The Expanse on Prime Video - I enjoyed it the first go-round but understand it better this time (haha) and it's been a great way to just relax. Plus there are tons of episodes and lots of strong female and decent male characters. I tried reading Pure Color by Sheila Heti but it just went round and round too much for me now. I've got Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead and Cormac McCarthy's The Passenger sitting here next to me, and I've gotten a few pages into Nick Cave's Faith, Hope and Carnage. Best wishes to all!
Great word, I know you will…bloom! Mine for 23 is savor; last year was healthfully. So many meaningful (to the choser) ways to let that word be fully realized. Good luck.
I'm taking lots of walks after eating rubbish, and organizing the studio. My schedule is just a bit different time wise, I'm rolling with it. I loved "She Said"...the power, process and importance of great investigative journalism.
I am getting alot of work done because everyone else is on vacation at work. No meetings! At home I am ripping the cellophane off of unread books and digging in. Also a bit of journaling and watching basketball.
Reading - Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau by Ben Shattuck
Exploring - the trails along Great Bay Estuary
Learning- seeing the exhibits at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine
(and maybe doing some pencil sketching there)
Playing - with some new games we got for Christmas (Qwirkle, Terraforming Mars: Aries Expedition &
Civilization: A New Dawn)
Hiding out from all the people and things that needed my attention during the first 51 weeks of 2022.
Happy New Year! :-)
For us it's a combination of reflection, rest, reading and this year some yard work to clear a tree that came down, which is not ideal, but once the chaos is gone, the backyard will be a haven again, which is definitely a good thing
Survivor Christmas part 2 : Dead Week😋 Wondering if the finale will be at the Elephant Room jazz bar on the first night of the year. Will I get Covid there ? Or will there be a shooting? 😬