When I stepped off the bus this morning, it was pouring down rain.\u00a0 A complete stranger put an umbrella over my head and we chatted easily for the five minutes it took to get to the building.\u00a0 After I thanked him and went on my way, I thought about the nice surprise of spending time in conversation with a good-looking guy first thing this morning.\u00a0 It felt like the universe was telling me to live in the moment.<\/p>\n

During last evening\u2019s religious study class, we talked about how important it is to have a Sabbath so we can refuel.\u00a0 I have been struggling with all the social networking I have to do to communicate about my events\u2014it\u2019s keeping me from getting my writing done.\u00a0 I need balance, not just in my life but also in my writing.<\/p>\n

I journaled this morning.\u00a0 A planned stay at a hermitage at a monastery awaits me in October.\u00a0 I have allocated some blocks of time for social networking and keep my \u201creal\u201d writing time sacred.\u00a0 This morning proved I\u2019m open to possibility and synchronicity, which are important for ideas, and zest for life, and trudging forward.\u00a0 And my walk at lunch time allowed me to let my worries go, a form of meditation.<\/p>\n

Interesting how I can hold the tree pose for ten minutes on each leg and feel totally centered and balanced, but once my day gets going I soon feel like I\u2019m going in a million directions.\u00a0 Julia Cameron had it right in The Artist\u2019s Way <\/em>when she recommended Morning Pages, Artist\u2019s Dates, and attention to synchronicity.\u00a0 In her second book, she added walking.\u00a0 If we add sorting out priorities to her formula, we can achieve balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When life feels out of control, we just need to do tree pose and go for a walk to ruminate on our morning journaling, retreat time, and life\u2019s surprises.\u00a0 Writing then becomes what we dream it should be\u2014a bit of ourselves flowing through the keyboard and out into the world.\u00a0 It happens when we\u2019re in balance.<\/p>\n

Claudia Taller writes about writing, living well, and striving for excellence for a number of publications. In 2008, she launched Igniting Possibilities (http:\/\/www.ignitingpossibilties.blogspot.com\/<\/a>), which seeks to encourage unbounded creativity and personal exploration in others. Her Word Lovers retreats are held twice each year in Lakeside, Ohio, and memoir writing, spiritual quests, and other events are sprinkled throughout the calendar. She published the book Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries (http:\/\/www.ohiolakeeriewineries.blogspot.com\/<\/a>) in June 2011.<\/p>\n

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There are five primary areas of practice to the Writer Wellness plan. Every other week I will post an idea for relaxation (Monday Meditation,) creative play (Tuesday Tickle,) fitness and exercise (Wednesday Workout,) journaling and misc. (Thursday Thought,) and nutrition (Friday Feast.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, remember to look for a digital or print copy of Writer Wellness, A Writer\u2019s Path to Health and Creativity <\/em>at Who Dares Wins Publishing, http:\/\/whodareswinspublishing.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And check out these great blogs for ideas to keep your writing and publishing healthy and prosperous.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/writeitforward.wordpress.com\/<\/a> Bob Mayer<\/p>\n

http:\/\/jenniholbrooktalty.wordpress.com\/<\/a> Jenni Holbrook<\/p>\n

http:\/\/warriorwriters.wordpress.com\/<\/a> Kristen Lamb<\/p>\n

http:\/\/inspiration4writers.blogspot.com\/<\/a> Inspiration for Writers, Inc.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/pentopublish.blogspot.com\/<\/a> Natalie Markey<\/p>\n

http:\/\/amyshojai.com<\/a> Amy Shojai<\/p>\n

Check out my new website Joy E. Held<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you subscribed to this Writer Wellness blog yet? Get email updates when a new post is added. Click \u201csubscribe\u201d and leave your email. That\u2019s it and thanks in advance!<\/p>\n

Be well, write well<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I stepped off the bus this morning, it was pouring down rain.\u00a0 A complete stranger put an umbrella over my head and we chatted easily for the five minutes it took to get to the building.\u00a0 After I thanked him and went on my way, I thought about the nice surprise of spending time Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,31],"tags":[77,87,107,140,141,161,172,206,239,242],"class_list":["post-357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-journaling","category-thursday-thought","tag-claudia-taller","tag-creativity","tag-exercise","tag-journaling","tag-joy-held","tag-living","tag-meditation","tag-relaxation","tag-who-dares-wins-publishing","tag-writer-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\n