Stretching...

"Stretching can apply to so many different areas of our lives. Not only should we literally stretch our bodies so that things are less likely to snap off, we should also stretch our minds." ~Ellen DeGeneres

Was walking by the bookstore yesterday and saw this sign: 

Sale!!!

Of course I had planned to go into the bookstore before I saw the sign... as long as I'm near a bookstore I will try to visit. This sign though? Temptation. I tried to resist but... Sale. On books. Oy... I even tweeted about the temptation that is a book sale and got the following tweet in response: 

"girl! You don't pass a book sale straight! WTH. GO IN NOW. BUY BOOKS!"

I had to buy books. Because I love books... and they were on sale! These four came home with me: 

1. When a Girl Is Born - I read it last night... it's extremely interesting and makes me want to research China's history and makes me think of women and our place in the world.
2. Seriously...I'm Kidding - Started reading this today... I love Ellen... She has such a similar worldview I think... reading her book is somewhat like exploring my own mind (though in a funnier, more relaxed way). 
3. The Witch of Portobello: A Novel (P.S.) - Paulo Coelho's writing is interesting. This one is one I've wanted to read since reading Brida: A Novel (P.S.)...
4. The Chalice Project (Island Young Adult Fiction) - picked this up mostly because of the cover art... but was then intrigued by the fact that it's written by a local: Lisa Allen-Agostini (I've not read much local work apart from those books that were on the reading lists at school - shame on me)... am looking forward to finding out what it's about. 

I believe I've said before just how much I love reading. Books are my way of stretching my mind... opening myself up to different thoughts and ideas and perspectives. I also find it fun. 

How do you stretch your mind? Books? Movies? Discussions? Music? Do you need input? Or do you sink into yourself? Stretch through some sort of creative endeavour? 

Stretching is important.

peace,

Ren

Stretching and a Memory..

"Memory is a child walking along a seashore.  You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things."  ~Pierce Harris

My back is aching in an 'I've-been-spending-*way*-too-much-time-doing-desk-work' type way. I'd just like to whine a bit about it. Cuz it hurts. So.. owww. I've tried stretching and bending in the opposite direction .. this works for short periods of time but then I usually have to sit and do work again which starts the cycle all over. Oww. Have I mentioned that it's been aching since Monday? Bleh. And also, Owww. 

In the midst of walking around yesterday trying to work out the kinks in my back, a memory came to me. When I was in Primary School (and therefore this memory is from somewhere between the ages of 8 - 10) there was a metal bar that we used to swing on... sorta like half of a pair of uneven bars. I remember it being very fun, very freeing and also a bit scary. I remember getting calluses on both palms because of the friction caused by swinging on the bar. I remember both the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin. A flash of memory - I had not thought about swinging or bars or even myself at that age in quite some time.

I feel like maybe that's what I need. Stretching out by hanging from a bar. 

Where can I find a bar to swing from? 

peace,

Ren