Wednesday, July 18, 2012

End of the semester (or time to figure out how to stay in shape)

My semester is over and I'm a couple days away from graduation! While this is really exciting, I'm already sad about having to leave school. I really love school and living in Rexburg with only a 9-5 desk job, or sitting at home playing wife is definitely not the life I want to lead, especially after years of spending everyday flying through the air (or crashing into the floor) and filling my head full with lovely, lovely knowledge. But since I'm destined for 6 months of waiting for Todd to graduate I've decided I need goals, and I need them quick before the sitting-around-syndrome takes hold of me.

First I need fitness goals. I find it's difficult for me to live my life fully and honestly without a strong, energetic, deeply-connected body, so to stay that way is one of my first priorities. I will be working, (and trying to log) a combination of cardio, resistance and weight training, somatic work, and, when I can find it, dancing. A friend and I have been thinking about starting some student taught technique classes over the summer break, which will help immensely. :) Cycling, running, and zumba for my cardio, weights and Pilates for my weight training, and yoga for my somatics. I also want to do more research into somatics and start playing around with Alexander technique and Feldenkrais technique.  I've also started using the tracker at dailymile.com to record my workouts.

Can you tell I'm a major body nerd? ;)



Next I need intellectual stimulus, and lots of it. I have lots of things I want to learn about that I haven't had time to study in the past year. I want to understand science and physics. I want to learn more about human physiology. I love philosophy. So, I want to choose a few free online classes from Harvard or MIT and listen to one class period a day (probably while I'm cleaning my kitchen). I also want to read more, especially philosophy and history, specifically I've always wanted to learn more about transcendentalism, dystopianism, and feminist theory. Oh, and I have a paper I need to get edited and cleaned up before December that I'm submitting to BYU Studies. for publication. Anyone know any good editors?


And I guess, maybe, I should try to be, kind of, a little bit, social. It is way too easy for me to spend hours with myself swimming around with the ideas in my head. But I should probably try to spend time with friends. And I should probably try to enjoy church and relief society. And maybe show more love to my neighbors by having a conversation rather than leave baked goods on their door steps. I think I just need to get over the fact that being bluntly honest while using large words creates socially awkward situations.

I think I sometimes hate people as much as I love bodies and stuffing my head.

Those are my goals! Wish me luck!

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4 comments:

  1. Gwen SJuly 19, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    Okay, I'll be bluntly honest. Into that intellectual study, add a good dose of Gospel study - real Gospel study, not other people's oppinions and discussions of the Gospel, and you will gain more than you will in all the other pursuits combined. Just being honest :)
    I hope you don't hate me, but it is important to remember who gave you that strong body and sound mind.

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  2. Bethany HullJuly 19, 2012 at 12:08 PM

    I don't think I'd put that in the intellectual study category, intellectual study of the gospel in any form rarely gives me more than the ability to win gospel doctrine jeopardy, which wins me admiration of teachers and ward members, but not really a deep relationship with God.

    In my somatics practice I'm studying the application of the teachings of Jesus as they're related to the yamas and niyamas (yoga ethics), along with deep meditation. It allows me to apply and understand the gospel as I never have before. I also plan to utilize a prayer journal and candle and want to try liturgical fixed hour prayer. Religious practice is definitely part of my goals- not just the ones I usually publish publicly.

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  3. Gwen SJuly 19, 2012 at 12:33 PM

    Awe, I guess we don't look at Gospel study the same way at all. To me, Christ was the ultimate intelletual and studying and thinking about his teachings and the plan of salvation bogles my mind. I could study it forever and never have the same conversation with myself. In the past year I have spent a lot of time memorizing scripture - not to quote to anyone because that is like the doctrinal jeopardy you mentioned - but to make myself really think hard and dissect the doctrine in that verse. It has become a form of meditation and it has helped me a lot.
    How do you use a candle with a prayer journal? This sounds interesting.

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  4. Bethany HullJuly 19, 2012 at 1:21 PM

    I spent much of my young life and teenage years memorizing scriptures and dissecting doctrine, and while I found it intellectually engaging it didn't give me what I want in terms of engaging with the divine and changing myself. I find that I have a deep need of aesthetic ritual and somatic practice to bring myself to where I want to be spiritually, so I take steps to make that happen.

    As for the candle and journal--they're just different ways of deeply engaging in prayer life. A prayer journal helps me to realize what forms my prayers are taking and a prayer candle allows me to focus on sitting with God without need of words.

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