Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day
Journal Entry:
When it comes to being ready for the battles of life and developing the skills I need as warrior of life, it is the Self Virtues that do this most. Discipline has obvious implications but there is also the perseverance and fidelity virtues that teach me that continuing to strengthen my resolve and relationships leads to being a stronger and more skillful warrior of life as well.
These also are the ones that help with The Grey the most. This had been a bad week as far as how I personally feel, probably triggered by some bad memories and a bad dream I had Tuesday night. No, I don’t feel sad. That’s not what depression does for me. It just makes me feel numb. I found this on the internet this week that describes it perfectly.
It is this feeling that is The Grey. But I am the Grey Wayfarer – I keep up the Discipline of walking through it. I Persevere and I close ranks with my Circle in Fidelity. It is the only ways I have found to combat The Grey and numbness that goes with it.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
I do struggle with the discipline of life when I get like this. The temptation is to just stop and exist. But I keep getting up and doing my routines and sticking to my plan because eventually it is the thing that gets me out of it. It is the thing that develop’s the skills I need to fight it.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Keep walking. I guess I can say about this week when it comes to Perseverance. I keep walking.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
Close ranks, stay loyal to family and philosophy and keep moving. These are the strengths of fidelity in The Grey.
Higher Virtue – Wisdom:
Keeping Balance in times like these is difficult. Love is hard because you feel nothing and Justice is hard because you are self-absorbed in times like this. Wisdom however at items has fertile ground in these times of depression for me. You have to be careful and keep it in context becasue as I have said before The Grey makes it hard to see clearly at times, but it is the coming out of the grey clouds of depression, that usually I have a moment of insight. A minor epiphany does happen and things get better. Balance returns and wisdom grows.
Weekly Routine:
- Weightlifting – 4 days per week.
- Cleaning – 3 days a week.
- Walking – 4 days a week
- Writing – 4 times a week
- Cheat Meal Count – Currently 1
The dropping of the cheat meal to one has really been a challenge here. I do however think I have a plan for weightlifting as I may simply purchase a few dumbbells to at least keep my muscles toned at home, until some final decisions regarding a gym can be made. This might also be helpful in times when life gets busy.
Evening Routine:
- Take supplements and medications.
- Brush and Floss Teeth
- Out the Door Preparation
- Reading – 15 min.
- Go to Bed
Still a challenge, I need to simply get in my head that supper time is the trigger to working through it and I will be OK I think.
Nutrition:
This time of special nutrition has been in many ways a really good thing. I haven’t been able to lift or walk and so it is keeping me from blowing up like a balloon. Of course there is the thing of the stress level in my life being lower because I no longer carry the burdens of a lot of other people now that I am out of the ministry. That has had a good effect on my health as well.
Weekly Recap:
Foundational – The Foundational Virtues have been good this week. Courage is more than a warriors virtue, it is a life virtue and having the courage this week to just get up and function has been the difference maker.
Business – I focus on what needs to be done here. I need an overall career plan at this point and then I need to start executing it.
Self – I can’t tell you how many times the Discipline of the Routines and just my dogged determinism to not quit kept me going this week. I am glad I established these things because it is they that help me the most when depression hits.
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
The Grey Wayfarer 