My meditation streak count is now at 8

Email originally sent on Monday, March 3, 2025

Hi Luvs!

Want to hear something that just shows how busy I've been?

I have a number of "trackers" for items I do everyday that count up the "streaks" I have going.

I count how many days in a row I meditate.

I count how many days in a row I complete a wordle.

I count how many days in a row I practice Spanish on Duolingo.

The weekend of February 21st, I ended every single one of my streaks - including my meditation streak. I lost over 800 days of meditating in a row. I lost over 80 days of learning Spanish. I also didn't Wordle - but my streak there is sketchy to start.

What happened?

Besides a trip to New York City?

I added exercise into the mix.

Let me give you some family background on exercise.

I found my father's letters home when he was in the army. There was a lot of talk about running, about the expectation that he run the mile in a certain amount of time, and that he would force himself to just do what he had to do. But it was clear there was little joy in endeavor.

Years later when I was in my early 20s, my sister gave my dad a Camelback so that he could go out hiking and exercising and not have to worry about water on the adventures. To her (and my) dismay, he only used it when he rode the riding lawnmower around the yard. - No actual exercise was getting done here with the Camelback - nor did it.

And my mom when I was little? She hated to sweat. Absolutely hated it. She would sometimes get on an exercise bike, but we all knew she hated every moment of it. She loved to sail and she did get some exercise doing that, but it wasn't like she trained for these sailing adventures.

When it became clear that walking a little less than a mile with a 20 pound bag three times a week to work wasn't enough, I did two things. I went to a local gym. (See my insta post @IamKimBeam this week for the judgy moment at PlantFitness as I found my way to a gym I really like.) Now I meet with a very kind trainer who helps me break out of my comfort zone and not feel stupid as I try new things repeatedly in this space. In fact, I described my new gym as a playground for adults.

I also signed up with BetterMe (no I'm not being paid to say this. Believe me, they don't even know who I am). I ordered their Pilates kit and I set everything up in my extra bedroom. Since the gym and the exercise equipment have arrived, I have only missed one day of exercise.

So, on Sunday morning of that weekend trip to NYC, instead of racking up another 30 minutes on my meditation app (yes, I built a meditation app...), I decided to move my body, and move energy around inside my body. I spent 30 minutes doing Pilates in my hotel room. I then was a part of the premiere for Recipe for Wellness. Then I had a lovely walk into Greenwich Village with one of the other attendees that weekend, saw the Stonewall Bar, stuck my head in some shops, and ate some very "American" nachos as she called them in her lovely British accent.

As the day turned to night, I traveled home via train and reflected on the weekend as the windows showed me sights I knew when I was younger. But I did not meditate. I got home, made dinner, got on the phone with a man who is capturing my heart, but I did not meditate. I went to bed at 1am, having spent four hours on the phone with him. I did not meditate. I woke up on Monday morning last week to thoughts of letting myself down.

But did I? Did I really? I showed up for my body. I showed up for myself. I showed up for those around me. I showed up for my heart.

I might have broken an over 800 day meditation streak, but I made choices that day. Every one of them I do not regret. For that reason alone, it's fine that the 800 days in a row now say 8 successive days. I made other choices, consciously, mindfully, and with a heart to be present with those around me.

My body and my mind are at this party together and we want to be dancing and living it up for some time yet.

I will make time for both - body (and its exercise) and mind (and its meditation). Both are a priority and as I found in NYC, sometimes one needs to be prioritized over the other. I have been making my mind the priority for a very long time. It's time my body gets a little attention.

This email was originally sent on March 3, 2025. Visit my website where you can sign up for these emails in direct time, join a reading event via Zoom, or find out where I will be live. I look forward to finding out how I can support you on your journey.

Big Love xxx,