Moomin Light: Throwing myself into things

Waving loopily at everyone...

Linkfest: July 14, 2008

Oh, I'm sure there's some better way to put it - "being fully engaged" or something like that. But I think of it as throwing myself into things, using all my energy, not holding back, being totally absorbed... Being fully engaged is part of it, but it misses the energy so I'll stick to "throwing myself into things."

It's what I do best and what I enjoy most. It's part of all my favorite things - aerobics, intense dinner conversations, hiking, Broadway dance, singing, gardening playing flute, reading, debating, etc. It doesn't have to be loud or active - being totally absorbed in a good book or an interesting hike can be the same thing.

It's also part of why I took the most bizarre step of my entire life (no, not getting married at the age of 19. That's only the second most bizarre step (grin)). No, the most bizarre step was transferring from MIT to the NC School of the Arts.

Hmmm... let me back up a bit. I was bored through high school. There were very few classes, beyond band, orchestra, and choir, that I could really throw myself into. School was mostly about holding myself back, not taking any ideas a step further, not being challenged, not challenging, not making waves... I wanted something more challenging, and MIT fit the bill.

Intellectually.

I do like to throw myself into things intellectual, but I need another outlet too, otherwise, it's just me, the book, and the library desk. If I had been in the orchestra at MIT*, that might have helped. I hadn't gotten into dance, aerobics or jogging at that point. And I missed being heavily involved in music.

Music is wonderful for throwing myself into - it's intellectual, physical, emotional, and (of course) musical. Aerobics is less musical but more physical, and I love it. Broadway dance? Singing and dancing? It's one of the high points of my week.

I was thinking about this while taking a walk this morning.** Part of why I feel that I'm not a "churchy person" (previous post here) is that the sorts of things I can throw myself into (and feel fully alive in) are not usually churchy sorts of things. At churches, I usually end up feeling like I always have to hold back, like in high school. There have been times when I could throw myself into things - intense small group discussions or music - but those have been the exception rather than the rule at churches.

I realized today that I've been in another of those exceptions, however, this year. I love being in choir, even if I can't hit all the notes, because I can throw myself into the singing.

It's wonderful!

* They didn't need any new flutists that year.

** Right now I'm writing this while waiting for younger son to wake up.*** He came down with a respiratory virus two nights ago, poor guy. He's mostly slept or listened to books on tape.

*** Okay, now he's awake. His fever is gone and he's eaten a small breakfast. Hurrah!

[Photography has become another thing I can throw myself into. These photos are from Duke Gardens in June.]

Posted at 11:50 AM in Duke Gardens, Little My - Strong Opinions | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

I do like to throw myself into things intellectual, but I need another outlet too, otherwise, it's just me, the book, and the library desk.

This is why at once I love and hate book club. Its under the guise of "intellectual" discussion, but because the group can be so varied, you can get some pretty crazy - um - theology & beliefs bantered about.

Posted by: DebD | July 11, 2008 at 06:56 PM