Have you ever seen a homonculus? Its a whacked out illustration (in this case a human) used to illustrate the functioning of a system. In this example, the size of the body parts are drawn relative to the amount of sensory nerves they contain. Big parts have lots of nerves, etc. I always loved these things in science class, and thinking about my life right now reminds me of homonculi.
I’m having trouble writing journal entries because I have so many projects going on right now. Its not that I don’t have time to write, its just that I don’t quite know how to compartmentalize where my bloggable activities start and end for the purposes of this journal.
I spend several hours a week working on our budding energy bar company, and another handful of hours working on an art project with my friend Ro, both things taking up a great deal of my emotional and mental energy. I’m really not spending much time thinking about running.
Don’t get my wrong, I’m training my butt off, but I’m intentionally keeping my distance emotionally from the sport for a little while. The mind is what overdrafts the account first, at least in my case. I’ve learned over the years that I can handle a great deal of physical training, but I can only spend so many months “all in” emotionally. The rest of the time, I just need to get the work done without analysis. Hence, its tough to write about things when you aren’t thinking deeply about them.
If I made symbols of the various things I do in a day, I could make two homonculi (homo- technically means they have to be human in shape but work with me here) to illustrate the strange disconnect in my athletic life right now between the physical and the emotional.
Symbols
Shoe = Training
TV = TV
Heart = Relationships
Pencil = Design Project
Whisk = Picky Bars
Size with respect to the physical and actual time spent.
Size with respect to emotional emphasis.
In the name of keeping it real with this journal, I’d better follow my passions. It will be interesting for me to look back at old entries and see how and when the emotional tide turns.
Maybe I’ll learn something.
I for one would love to hear about the side projects too. What I love about this blog is it is hugely about running, but it is also about life too. Since I also am a runner that loves to bake and get creative, I may be biased. I do believe though, that many of your readers would enjoy hearing about what you do outside of running.
Let me second Melissa’s opinion that any and all activities be deemed bloggable from here on out. Lauren, if a side project strikes your fancy, hit us up with your thoughts, whatever they may be. We’ll take the wisdom, humor and inspiration any way it comes!!!
Realistically, there are probably not many of us who will approach your accomplishments on the track. But we can all aspire to that be better versions of ourselves in other ways. This blog is the perfect companion to such aspirations.
On a final note, maybe you could do a special guest spot featuring the awesome copy you guys have crafted to tell the story of Picky Bars. I can’t think of a more relevant or appropriate topic. I think your readership would appreciate seeing the actual content here as well. So bring on the side-project blogging!
+1; What those guys said.
I hate to comment twice in a day, but as a medical student, the homonculus made my day.
I second that emotion, too.
Writing a “book” takes up most of my morning. I am assembling a scrapbook in chronological order with old pages ripped out of diaries in between. It helps to put a big
“homonculus” on a bulletin board, as the refridgerator is full of stuff to be filed…
You are inspired and inspiring, coach!
thanks for share
The puahcrses I make are entirely based on these articles.
Pourtant, ils en demandent, des justificatifs. Et souvent plusieurs fois les mêmes.