Spring has Sprung!

As I prepare to welcome my students back from spring break, I look forward to shaking it up a bit with this: Don't Fear the Paper because we all do at some point... don't we?

This week was chock full of friendship, love and baby registry fun. I'm grateful for yoga in my life, the ability to share my words and all the wonderful people around me.

I've not written here much lately, for several reasons: most importantly treating myself to quality offline time and taking life slower--very much needed and well deserved. I suggest you try the same. Nourish your brains and bodies this season. We all need some Spring Cleaning.

Love and Lotus,
Keri

Memoirs: They shouldn't be so painful...should they?

After a long as hell 10 weeks of read this and summarize, read this and reflect, read this and debate, read this and discuss (and I know you may only be speaking out loud because participation is an actual grade in the class) we finally get to the juicy goodness of the last 2 weeks. This is where everyone writes about themselves. We love it right? I mean we have been reading everyone else's writing for ages (or 10 weeks) and now we get to say more than just a paragraph about what we think.

"I know I'm ready to jump right in...aren't you all? These stories are good stuff!"

Blank stares and nervous jitters are complemented by the inevitable question of "So like what are we supposed to actually write about?"

I used to sigh in exasperation and stare back for a sec. Now, after five consecutive years of this, I smile and say "Who wants to fill us in?" And behold! There are always at least three people who answer through gritted teeth and eye rolls. I always fall in love with whoever says "READ the DIRECTIONS."

So I am looking at stuff to read. Mind you I like variety so I decide to bring in the big guns:

We go right for Junot Diaz's MISS LORA and I explain that it is fiction, but reads like a journal entry so why not look at it first? Then we look at an excerpt of DRY by Augusten Burroughs and of course we hit up Sedaris' ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY which after Diaz and Burroughs seems a little tame, but inevitably someone giggles at his exaggerated lisp when we hear the audio.

Looking at my chosen titles, I love what I see. Wit, humor, sarcasm, blunt honesty and pain. It isn't often that I get the responses I would like to hear. People are still afraid to curse in class (after ten fuckin weeks with me...imagine?!) but I press on.

So this morning we talk about the readings. And it seems nobody has read them except for two painfully shy kids who look like hives are about to bust out of the sheen of sweat glistening on their brows. SO I go for it: "I know you two have read the stories, so tell us what you think." One says he didn't read it, and the other goes, "I don't even know what the fuck to say... I mean, shit...I'm speechless"

BRAVO when they get to the point of at least knowing it's okay to reiterate vocabulary from the text.

That said, I look forward to one more session of this tomorrow where the class will likely share their red faced chagrin and MAYBE one or two will break the pattern and earn those 20 participation points. But I guess that's the beauty of this. Always a different story and always room, for what it depends on the campus, the season and the ballsy factor to start. I can't wait for Summer when our angry inner bitches come out! Man do they have good stories.

Hope the end of your semester is as much fun as mine!

Memoir & Prenatal Massages

K

Taking a minute to OM

I get this email from the Daily Om, as I'm sure many people do and I thought this was the most appropriate quote (as often happens) and wanted to share it:

"Having daily ritual or ceremony in our lives is very important to keep us connected to what really matters."

Today I spent writing all day, and have been trying to catch up on all the stuff that seems not to fit into the days we have each week. I've written four papers, a column and did some editing to my book in progress. And now that it is night, I of course have a second wind that I prayed for all day and tried to lure in with coffee.

All I suggest is taking a second to take care of yourself because you are the most important person you know. As I tell myself every day, just keep practicing.

Namaste,
Keri

February!!

OK OK I know I haven't been blogging, but give me a break I have a lot goin on! ;-)

(Yes that's a baby bookworm and I think he's adorable...don't you?)

 

So what have I been up to that has taken all my time for the past month plus? Well let's see... There 's teaching--which somehow worked it's way into FIVE whole days of my weeks this semester--I KNOW!! WTF?? But I love teaching so it's all good. And there is my short story collection which is getting polished and handeled with love on it's way to fruition. There are also a few projects that popped up and I've enjoyed collaborating on--more on that soon as well.

 

 

In the mean time, check out Alike But Indie: Safe Haven if you enjoy Nicholas Sparks. Valentine's Day is right ahead you know--embrace some romance!

 

 

Writing something? Take a look at 7 Tips to Help you Make Time for Writing if you procrastinate like a champ (aka like me...I'm the champ)

 

 

Here is where I've been at with my own work for a while: 50/50 or Halfway There 

 

 

And check out Pam Olson's fabulous book if you haven't already: Fast Times in Palestine and read my Interview with Pam Olson on Indie Reader.

 

 

I'm collaborating with some wonderful people and beaming about how cool our finished products will eventually be. And of course, all this while remaining calm and remembering to breathe.

 

 

So yeah...2013 is hella-busy! But I'm super glad to have the chance to pop in to say hey to all, hope all is well and wishing you all a Bookish Valentine's Day!

 

 

Hearts and Pages,

Keri



Something to Read

As I sit on a lazy Sunday reading This is How it Ends by Kathleen Macmahon, I am thinking that it has been a year of good reads for sure: both mainstream and indie. I think I will make a list this week of all the books I loved in 2012. Until then...here are a couple of pieces that I enjoyed writing at the end of this year. (Click the titles to read)

 

WORLD GONE MAD

 

 

 

 

FILL UP YOUR KINDLE!

Looking forward to a year of good things. Stay tuned for some more suggested reading and lots of surprises in 2013!

2013

Since it's 2013 and all, I figure I should pop over here to say hey and Happy New Year! As everyone is winding down from the fear of all that Mayan forboding, it's good to be able to do so from Earth indeed. This year, so much exciting stuff will happen... I can feel it quite literally. I have some well thought out plans for several crazy but long awaited projects to happen. More on those as the year unfolds, but for right now I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and thought provoking New Year. May you all find peace and calm in everything you endavor to do this year, and may happiness seek you out and wrap you up in warm blankies.

Beginning another semester, another chapter and another life in some ways, I think this year is going to be one of the best ever. It's as if we have a fresh start, a new place to begin and brand spanking new colored pencils. They are sharpened and paused eagerly over the sheaf of crisp white paper that 2013 hovers within--ready to be written, drawn and sculpted to life. Make sure you have every color you need (and doubles of your favorites) It's going to be an interesting year!

Peace and Pages in 2013
Keri

Slowing Down

In a yoga class this past week, I set my intention for practice as usual, but chose something new: slowing down. As my eyes floated closed and I thought about what that means, I smiled in spite of the desperate plea that hung behind those words. What began as a thought of "Mental exhaustion is just awful" turned to a delightful realization over the next 90 minutes.

I think what mattered most was that I had time to prepare for the holiday onslaught this year. I don't mean buying retail stuff and carving meat (which is a whole 'nother hilarious story) round a table. I mean, this year we had some forced down time with a hurricane followed by snow, friends in need and the drive to do something. As terrible as Sandy was, and although people will be rebuilding for long into the future, there has been an air of compassion that has taken away some of the harshness this year. Less short tempers and snapping at each other I think. People watching in NYC this season saw more random acts of kindness and less eye rolling overall. Seems like more people are taking steps to stop and look at what's right in front of them. It's a refreshing change.

 

In September, I began a yoga teacher training program in a beautiful studio and have been practicing all of the new and exciting things I am learning both on and off the mat. What do I think about the process? Well, it is anything but easy. I don't like to examine my flaws and tendencies on an intimate level...do you? In addition, I tend to pack my schedule so full with other stuff that just isn't as important and get overloaded with nonsense. And then I get sick and run down and well...it's a cycle.

 

Enough already.

 

I've made some really tough decisions this year. Life decisions, work decisions, relationship choices, family choices, self looking moves. There is a huge amount of stuff milling about my brain that feels somewhat like yet another storm brewing. But I hear that everyone goes through this in some form when deepening their practice...so I press on.

 

 

 

During my newly enhanced yogic journey, I have been working on my short stories which will eventually be in a collection (shooting for within 2013) which has been postponed way too long. In order to devote more time to my own work--because it is time and there is nothing short of physical death that will prevent me from writing the rest of this book right now--I have made many choices and have discussed, debated and reflected till my deep breathing self was thrown down. By thrown down I mean I'm typing this in PJs at noon, two days after Christmas with a wicked sinus cold (even the neti pot hurts) sipping tea and staying still.

 

Forced to slow down. Ironic.

 

When I began to ponder how I got sick: aside from spending a night in rainy snowy NYC, followed by a long day in an overheated house with not a crack in any window, surrounded by coughing people (I know it hurts my brain too) I smiled again. This time, I thought about how I didn't complain and open the windows in an angry manner. I went outside and got some fresh air repeatedly instead. I took my time eating and nobody even noticed I brought raw vegetables and subbed them for the butter drenched ones. I for one had a healthy Christmas dinner. In the flurried night on Christmas Eve, I enjoyed time with friends and walked twenty or so blocks laughing and chatting with holiday abandon. When you take the time to slow down--and leave your watches at home, you see a lot more.

 

 



And I don't just mean with your eyes--though this is certainly true too. I feel much more sensitive and pick up easily on others' emotions and surrounding energies. I've learned how important to health is can be to stay away from the baddies and embrace the goodies. If that doesn't make sense...just keep thinking. Eventually a light bulb will come on.

Since I have been sitting still all I can think about is getting outside and moving, but my body is threatening to call the doctor, so I'm resting and drinking juice and tea for another day. Grateful to have all of this time for myself and happily not checking work emails at all, I think it's funny that my biggest dilemma thus far has been divided into two questions:

Am I in the mood for Sencha or Kava? 

Do I feel like writing in this moment or should I just keep reading?

I hope that many of you are having relaxing work-free holidays this year. If I didn't have this in-between time to take care of me, I don't think I could live the life I do. Who knows, I may just start taking people's advice and stop over doing it. I mean really I keep getting forced to slow down. Might as well go with the flow.

 

Happy Holidays you crazy maniacs, I love you all.

K