Residing on the Writer's Block

(I'd like to use the term 'writer' very loosely to refer to myself here.)

Every writer from Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel Literary Laureates to the likes of amateur bloggers like me have experienced the infamous 'writer's block'. Your mind just goes blank when you've finally some time, and find yourself in front of your laptop or typewriter. I've felt like I was a permanent resident on the writer's block at times, but then, one thought always bails me out. I start thinking about what I want to write and not what I have to write - and then the words start flowing (I want to say, flowing like the Niagara Falls, but I won't take it that far).

I'm fortunate enough not to depend on writing as my sole source of income and I want to use that incentive to feel free to write whatever makes my soul dance. Having any audience is a nice bonus. Afterall, doing-this-because-I-love-it the only reason I even want to do it...

Eat, Pray, Love

I'm a big fan of my local library's online digital service, because it gives me the chance to "read" audio versions of my favorite books, without leaving my home, without giving me a chance to miss due dates. As much as I absolutely enjoy holding a real book, smelling the paper, flipping the pages, re-reading favorite sections, audio books have become a necessity of my lifestyle. I especially love the experience if the book is narrated by the author, because I think it captures the original emotions, intonations and expressions that the author intended to convey.

So, as I was aimlessly browsing my library's catalog, the book "Eat, Pray, Love", started calling out to me and said 'Read me'. Boy, am I glad I listened. Its a very fresh, honest, humorous, original written work the likes of which I havent had a chance to read in a long time. Its about a woman's journey through Italy, India and Indonesia to enjoy her food (Italy), experience spirituality (India) and balance (Indonesia). Since my copy is an audio book, and the book is auto biographical in nature, I'm having an even richer experience to hear the author talk to me. Its like having a conversation with someone you've known all your life. Only, you dont want to interrupt, because, she keeps you captivated with the answer to the unasked question, 'ok, whats next?', in every page. Its also uncannily relatable.
This book has been out there for a while. Since I'm usually the last to get on the bandwagon of anything popular, I didnt feel the urge to read this before, even though I'd lent some cursory glances to reviews a while ago. I havent completed the book, but the book has got me - hook, line and sinker. I can't do anything (except blogging, of course), before I can finish this bad boy.

Good Work! Elizabeth Gilbert.

Breathe!

I listened to Dr.Andrew Weil today talk about the importance of breathing. His tone, delivery of narration and most importantly the content of his audio book 'Breathing:The Master Key to Self-Healing', makes me want to hold on to every word, because, here's a trained medical professional who teaches and practices Integrative Medicine, who keeps away from the toxic effects of pharmacological treatment, who is not for suppressing the body's symptoms, instead focuses on treatment of the cause of the disease. He's penned several books and I have to admit that I'm spellbound by this one.

He says that breathing is the only bodily function that is done both voluntarily and/or involuntarily. We can focus on breathing and do it deeply, or if we forget to do it, the internal mechanism of the body takes care of it. Its literally the way life force moves in the body. It clears blocks, keeps circulation, digestion, and neurological systems in balance. Sanskrit terms the breath as prana and there are two meanings for prana - breath and life force. I believe that the essence of the two meanings is the same.

Dr.Weil claims that most diseases of today can be cured completely by following his breathing exercises. I tend to agree and to the more extreme skeptic, Dr.Weil has scores of patients that have followed his process and seen results. The most basic meditation also focuses of breathing consciously and holding that as the point of attention. Breathing correctly is integral to the practice of yoga. Practicing pranayama in addition to yoga, is, in my opinion, all thats needed in terms of taking care of your mind, body and soul.