It’s about starting over . com

Last year, AND the year before, I was having some trouble preparing for tests. I always found myself in somewhat of a panic, felt very nervous, and I had a lot of trouble concentrating. My younger son recommended that I change the name of what I was doing. I said, “well, that’s pretty silly, I’ll still know it’s the same thing, how’s that going to help?” He explained to me that when he “studies for tests,” the concept always brings up the same feeling he had when he was a kid in grammar school–pressured, if he doesn’t do well someone will be mad, he’ll feel embarrassed, and so on. He said he simply began looking at tests like they’re a challenge or a game, somewhat like a crossword puzzle or Scrabble, for which he wanted to prepare. He said it really helped him, and so I thought I’d give it a try. I did, and it really helped. I now look forward to tests, and actually enjoy it when I have a teacher who gives a lot of them!

Oops, I ate a cream puff 

I recently wrote about how I did away with procrastination. But like all good dieters, I began to slip a bit. And like all good dieters, I wasn’t happy about it the next day. After this happened a few times, I began asking myself what else I can do to reinforce what I had already started. I also thought back to what my son had said about tests, and I started thinking about when and where it’s the easiest for me to procrastinate. The answer was, at home, and in the evening. I then asked myself what it was about this combination of home and evening that made me want to put off my studying until later. It was then that I realized what home meant to me. Continue Reading »

When people ask me how I like studying at Rimon, I always tell them it’s like being in Gan Eden (heaven). Some of the reasons are obvious, things like it being my life dream, like it being the first time in my life that I’m doing things for myself, and that the things are those that make me happy. The less obvious reasons have to do with the joy and satisfaction that I feel each time I grock something, or each time that I see evidence of a major accomplishment. But the nature of the thing is that it never ends. Each accomplishment is merely a step to another challenge, and each challenge is, make no mistake, difficult. Continue Reading »

I’m still in the process of organizing my wonderful little apartment. Still going through boxes, setting things up, clearing surfaces. I think I’ll be doing it off and on throughout the year. If all goes well, I’ll probably be finished mid-summer, 2009.

        

Here’s a picture I took of my fruit (!). Sounds funny, but there’s nothing like a pile of juicy, colorful, health-giving bounty in one’s home. I really think it’s really lovely. Choosing something from the pile is a real pleasure.

The sunflowers were buds when I bought them–not only do they open, but they actually grow over a period of two or so weeks.

 Having a contented kitty is not so bad either :-)! This is the Big Guy in one of his new comfort spots.

         

To our health!