Work Makes One Free

I am working like hell to get myself out of this slump.  It is exhausting.  But I keep on persevering.  It is all I can do.  I keep on forcing myself to keep struggling out of the pit.  I will figure out a way to extract myself from this. 

PipeTobacco

Hopefulness of Spring

With it being late March, it is now possible in my region to anticipate an eventual end to winter.  I think it is *likely* that within the next 4-5 weeks, we may get some buds showing on the trees, and we may anticipate that in 4-5 weeks any snow we get will be minor and will not stick around more than a day or two.

It will be so nice to have Spring, and eventually above freezing temperatures all the time again.

PipeTobacco

Consistency

I have maintained the following consistent patterns, even during my downturn:

1.  I have ran each day, no matter how much I did not want to.

2.  I have refrained from smoking my pipes, no matter how much I did want to.

Big deal (sarcasm).  It did, however, require most of my limited energy to go against what my mind was coaxing me to do or not do.

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Rough Patch

I have unfortunately been experiencing a very rough patch emotionally, hence my lack of posting.  I am still feeling quite horrific in that regard at the moment, but I am hoping that forcing myself to do more of my normal day-to-day activities will help pull me out of the abyss. 

PipeTobacco

COLD

I am once again officially tired of the extreme cold.  I want Spring to begin.  Probably only another 6 weeks of cold before it is nicer.  By mid-April, there is a reasonably strong likelihood that daytime temperatures may actually reach the mid to high 40s occasionally!

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The Pipe Shop

Last Friday, I was attending a State meeting on education and presenting some of the findings I had been able to gather in regards to STEM Majors.  It was a generally productive meeting as far as those sorts of meetings go. 

One thing that was different from usual though, is on my way back home (I travel across the state to get to the meeting.) I have usually had as my "reward" so-to-speak, for having been to and having accomplished this meeting, a stop at a wonderfully traditional, full-fledged pipe & cigar shop that is along the route I take to home. 

Even though I am not smoking a pipe now, I thought I might meander in and look around at the beautiful pipes and lighters, pipe tobacco humidors/pipe racks, etc.  But, at the end of the day, I ended up not taking the 3-4 minute detour off the highway to go to that very beautiful establishment.  Part of me wanted to, but another part of me thought, "What is the point?"  Looking around is enjoyable, but sampling pipe tobaccos, and other shopping is really what the store is about.  And, I was not planning to indulge in a pipe, so it felt, unfortunately, rather superfluous to go. 

So, I drove straight home instead.  I am a bit disappointed in not having gone, but that is what it was.

PipeTobacco

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday.  It is roughly three weeks later than last year.  Last year, Lent started on February 14th and that was the day I started to refrain from my pipes. 

Even though I have not made a firm plan yet, here at the contenders of what I am considering and will decide upon as Lenten vows this Lenten season:

1.  Consistent, daily upper body strength training.
2.  Work on being more forgiving (this is specifically in reference to three people at the U with whom I have had a great deal of anger about due to their rigid, unkind behaviors).
3.  Possibly a reduction or fasting from coffee, and/or pop (soda) to replace either or both with water.
4.  Possibly refraining from curse words (I may or may not allow "hell" and "damn" still.).
5.  More consistent volunteering for various agencies in my region.

Those are what I have been contemplating as things I potentially need to try to become a better person. I know there are other things I should work on as well, but those five have been the ones that I have most often found my thoughts turning to when I am trying to evaluate my many failings. Perhaps I will have more clarity of what I should do after I finish praying the rosary during my run this morning.

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Bit of Low Feelings

I have had a few days of subdued, melancholy feelings. However, I have been trying to force myself through them.  I just have to keep persevering. 

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