2008.11.13 19:00 - The Evolving Journal Purpose

The guardian for this meeting was Sylectra Darwin.
The comments are from Sylectra Darwin's.

The evening was quiet and restful at the new pavilion. Stevenaia and Magdalena were seated when I arrived.

stevenaia Michinaga: Hey Sylectra
Magdalena Colclough: hello
Sylectra Darwin: how is everyone tonight?
Magdalena Colclough: I'm good
Magdalena Colclough: how are you?
Sylectra Darwin: very good!
stevenaia Michinaga: doing good, been an interesting day, feeling good now
stevenaia Michinaga: now
Sylectra Darwin: Enjoying my new home in nj
Magdalena Colclough: oh?
Magdalena Colclough: did you move recently?
stevenaia Michinaga: you may be the only one who can say that
Sylectra Darwin: from Tulsa, yes
Magdalena Colclough: that's quite a change, I'll bet
Sylectra Darwin: looking for a new job market
stevenaia Michinaga: harder to find cowboy bars I bet
Magdalena Colclough: what do you do for a living, Sylectra (if I may ask)?

I was distracted and didn't notice Maggie's question until later, much to my regret. Maggie, if you read this, I am a Web content manager. Sorry for the late response!

stevenaia Michinaga: hmmm, strange... I introduced you both to PaB, an interesting chain, from Dharma to Pema to me to you, we need a "family" tree on the wiki, how we all got here
Sylectra Darwin: All roads lead back to Steven, hee hee
Magdalena Colclough: six degrees of PaB
stevenaia Michinaga: ...smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: what a lovely vortex I lead
Magdalena Colclough: ?
Sylectra Darwin: Magdalena, I don't think we've met.
Magdalena Colclough: I think you're right
Magdalena Colclough: I've just read your stuff on the wiki
Magdalena Colclough: I haven't been to PaB in a while
Magdalena Colclough: until last night
Magdalena Colclough: it's good to meet you
stevenaia Michinaga: oh I should have introduced you
Magdalena Colclough: not a problem, Steven
Magdalena Colclough: I didn't realize we hadn't met either
Sylectra Darwin: Good to meet you too Maggie!
stevenaia Michinaga: so in all your time betwen job interviews, have you had any time to meditate
stevenaia Michinaga: or start a dream book
Magdalena Colclough: I'm sorry--I have to go
Magdalena Colclough: good to meet you
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Maggie
Sylectra Darwin: Maggie, take care
stevenaia Michinaga: what do you know about the coffee maker? it doesn't serve coffee
Sylectra Darwin: I don't know about the coffee maker.
stevenaia Michinaga: can;t say it works there
stevenaia Michinaga: functionally and visually

Steven's question made me realize that in the frantic activity of the move, I had let go of all activities that are of a more contemplative nature, including meditating, reading, and writing. This made me sad.

Sylectra Darwin: Steven, i have not had time to do any writing.
Sylectra Darwin: Unfortunately.
Sylectra Darwin: I've been too worried about finding a job and dealing with boxes.
stevenaia Michinaga: oh don;t worry
Sylectra Darwin: smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: write instead of worrying
Sylectra Darwin: that's a good point my friend
stevenaia Michinaga: nothing to lose, everything to distract
Sylectra Darwin: I need to do some of that. I find that my adult is too active.
stevenaia Michinaga: start my book...smile
stevenaia Michinaga: start your book
stevenaia Michinaga: you have a gift

Shaza had dropped in for a visit but was strangely silent and showed only as a glowing ball.

stevenaia Michinaga: hello Shaza
Sylectra Darwin: Hello Shaza
stevenaia Michinaga: hmm, an away cloud
Sylectra Darwin: Now that's interesting.
Sylectra Darwin: But you bring up a good point, Steven.
stevenaia Michinaga: Shaza, we record our conversations here at this discussion group, may we have your permission to do that..unless you don't say anything, of course
stevenaia Michinaga: aww, it;s your second day here
Sylectra Darwin: Well, perhaps when Shaza returns we can ask again
stevenaia Michinaga: to much pressure, I suppose
Sylectra Darwin: I've had this incredible opportunity to write, with all this free time, and all I can do is think about getting job opportunities started.
Sylectra Darwin: It might be good discipline to do some writing every day.
stevenaia Michinaga: so..write about that between your 9 secs
Sylectra Darwin: I've also stopped reading and watching TV.
Sylectra Darwin: Indeed, good time to do that.
stevenaia Michinaga: have you seen Dharma's Blog?
Sylectra Darwin: Yes, does she have something interesting that is new?
stevenaia Michinaga: no, just a general question, she does have some gem entries
stevenaia Michinaga: but she is consistent
Sylectra Darwin: She's quite good, yes.
Sylectra Darwin: What would you say the general theme is?
stevenaia Michinaga: life, Buddism
stevenaia Michinaga: observatiosn, experiences
Sylectra Darwin: She's got a good theme, then.
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Sylectra Darwin: When we journal, is it better to keep the topic general or specific?
stevenaia Michinaga: I don't know, I don;t journal
Sylectra Darwin: And should we have an intended purpose for journaling?
stevenaia Michinaga: or.. you could just journal
stevenaia Michinaga: like those sketches
stevenaia Michinaga: whatever comes out
Sylectra Darwin: Natalie Goldberg, I think it was, said that you should just write whatever comes up.
stevenaia Michinaga: the theme may evolve with time

I like the idea of jump starting creativity by writing with no initial stated purpose. I'll give this some thought and try it out.

stevenaia Michinaga: don't know of her
Sylectra Darwin: She wrote in her book, Writing Down the Bones, that we should just put pen to paper and not let up for any reason for 10 minutes or so.
Sylectra Darwin: I like that thought - the theme may evolve with time.
Sylectra Darwin: that's good for life too!
Sylectra Darwin: brb
stevenaia Michinaga: ok
Sylectra Darwin: back
Sylectra Darwin: Well I tell you what.
Sylectra Darwin: We have a full house tonight.
stevenaia Michinaga: lol
Sylectra Darwin: hehe
stevenaia Michinaga: shall we call it a night?
Sylectra Darwin: I guess we could. I am sorry that I haven't been more inspiring this evening.
Sylectra Darwin: I'll work on your journaling idea and report back to you.
stevenaia Michinaga: just post them on your (secret) blog
stevenaia Michinaga: certainly don't do them for me
stevenaia Michinaga: now Hannah is a writing critic....hehe
Sylectra Darwin: I understand. :)
Sylectra Darwin: Hello Ultra.
Sylectra Darwin: welcome. :)
stevenaia Michinaga: you know we are adjacent to a welcome center to the south
Sylectra Darwin: aha
stevenaia Michinaga: seems we get quite a few flyovers
stevenaia Michinaga: fly
Sylectra Darwin: I like to think we instill a few good vibes on the way.
stevenaia Michinaga: yes
Sylectra Darwin: Are you with us yet, Ultra?
Sylectra Darwin: well, I guess that sort of finishes out the evening.