August 17, 2007

• Topic: The Mohonk Mountain House, and Elizabeth Gilbert

  I spent the last 5 days up in New Paltz, NY, at a hotel located on Mohonk Preserve.  The Mohonk Mountain House is the name of the place, and it’s well ove 100 years old.  Some of its finest features include rocking chairs on most balconies, a mile-long lake for boating and swimming, ample hikes, rock climbing, at least 100 gazebos in picturesque locations overlooking the lake and Shawangunk mountains, beautiful gardens, and truly an incredible variety of mouth watering food.

  This morning I had the opportunity to sit back and begin reading a new book in one of those fine rocking chairs.  A book about Elizabeth Gilbert, a divorced 30-something who goes traveling to Italy, India, and Indonisia, in search of happiness and something more.  The book is connecting with me on many levels, from her attempts to overcome depression and anxiety, to her desire to see it all and do it all.  She begins with the simple question, “What do I want to do?” 

  I’ve struggled with reading for many years, attempting to digest books that were slow, dry, or above my head.  This one is flowing nicely, in a 1st person narrative that reads much like I write in this blog.  Elizabeth allows readers into her life, her travels, and her mind.

  Well, as my summer vacation winds to an end, one thought has emerged.  I think I’m more focussed now than ever to do the things I need to do to be happy and satisified in my life.  I no longer believe that positive thinking alone will do this for me, or thoughts of escape.  I no longer expect that I can make all the changes I’d like to make overnight.  Rather, I’m focussing on making small changes.  This week away gave me an opportunity to begin exercising again, and I realize that exercising is something I truly love to do, and will continue to do because I love it, not because I have to.  I also have realized that I love reading, when I’m reading things I enjoy, and so I plan to continue to do this.  I’ve discovered that I get bogged down trying to finish books, and so want to spend time reading articles from magazines and blogs. 

  Much of my writing has been about things outside of my own head, and I believe that is because much of my life has been inside my head.  I hope to demonstrate my committment to change by sharing with you those things that I am doing.  Recipes, movies, and move vivid writing will hopefully be seen on this page, as I work to focus myself more on my everyday life.

  ex) It was 7:15am when I woke up, and I had to get myself moving soon.  I threw on my Asics, and hurried downstairs, out of the hotel, and up the path marked, “SkyTop path.”  The path was steeper than I had anticipated, but I maintained a slow, gear 1,1 type pace, shuffling upwards.  It was only 10minutes before I made it up the approximately 1/4 mile accent, but I felt as though I had left my morning drowsiness 20 miles behind.  Bounding with energy, I soaked in the view, and continued down the ridge, experiencing fully each piece of map I was covering, past the lilypad laden pond, past gazebos looking out towards the Mohonk House, and around the gardens where gardeners were up early to prune.  8:15am, I’m back in the room to shower.  A whole day lay ahead of me, but as I sit typing back in my 10×8 room in Park Slope, it is that run that has given today a sense of fulfillment.  Still, as 8pm rolled around, a sense of loneliness overcame me in my apartment, and it was the romantic notion of curling up with a book, and lead me back into my room, sensing comfort in words, rather than making an anonymous walk to the bar.  Tomorrow will be another beautiful day.

  • 10:07 pm
  • 1 Comment