Wednesday, May 14, 2014

May 14 2014: We writers tend to be a sedentary lot—but the truth is that you write better if you are fitter. Besides, we now know that sitting all day is, in itself, bad for your health. Is thinking?

That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.

Steve Jobs


WHEN WORK ISN’T WORK. I love to write so much that I’ll happily spend twelve hours a day working (except that it is not work to me—it is sheer pleasure). However, I have become increasingly concerned about the adverse health effects—so have been giving a great deal of thought as to how to counter them.

EXERCISE MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. Apparently, exercising alone is not enough—or it’s not enough if you do it in one burst. However, reportedly what does help is getting up and moving around at regular intervals—so I have been successful in building that into my regular routine. Next is to exercise—albeit for short periods—multiple times a day. Will I be able to that?

I’m increasingly beginning to think that I will be able to. Where writing is concerned, I’m becoming increasingly disciplined—and the downside is dire.

THE ALTERNATIVE. Which reminds me: I recently commented that I was freaking out at the prospect of being 70 in just over a week’s time (May 23 2014).  Actually, I’m not freaking out—or even close—but it does make me think. Anyway, my friend, Tim—in his normal witty way—commented: “Think of the alternative.”

He has a point. In fact, given the number of siblings and friends who have died before their time, he has a very good point.

Still, I had to laugh.


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