Welcome to the latest Ageing Runner Reading (or listening) recommendation. You can see a list of all my recommendations here and sign up for the Ageing Runner newsletter here. Keep upto date with the latest research on running as we get older – Chris.
I listened to this Off the Beaten Path podcast on my way to Parkrun yesterday. It included an interview with Nita Sweeney, author of ‘Depression Hates a Moving Target’ and advocate of writing as a pillar of maintaining positive mental health.
I know that I use writing as a tool to learn new things. I often don’t know what I am going to write until I have written it. It helps sort out the swirling mass in my head. I had not really considered that it was also important for my mental health but looking back I can see that it is. My first post on Ageing Runner was a release. I was emotional after I had written it. It had been bottled up and I needed to express it. To get it out.
Nita uses writing as one of three pillars (meditation, writing and movement) to support her wellbeing. I can relate to that. The three pillars of Ageing Runner are reading, writing and running. I need all three. Nita cites the work of Natalie Goldberg, particularly her book ‘Writing down the bones: Freeing the writer within’. Goldberg advocates using a prompt, setting a timer and free writing. We keep the pencil, pen or fingers moving at all times.
I can see the appeal of that. The release of getting thoughts out and onto paper. I do something similar using John Mason’s principle of ‘noticing’. When something resonates or jars with me during the day, I jot a key word or phrase down. I then take that prompt to capture a brief, vivid description of it later. I guess I am creating own prompts.
Yesterday, I set a timer, used one of my prompts and kept my fingers moving. It was a release. It got the bones down. It gave an outlet to the swirl and helped me let it go…and the freeing knowledge that I come back to at a later date knowing that it is safe and sound. It is captured and no longer smoke between my fingers.
Nita provides a daily writing prompt on most social media platforms and also has a new book (A Daily Dose of Now) coming out soon. In it, she will provide daily primer to mindfully experiencing the world. She gave a great example of noticing which foot you use first when you pass through a doorway. Simple but effective strategies to live life as it is happening.
You can visit Nita’s website for more information. It is well worth a look.
I have also added Nita to our Run Chat Smile connection page.
Run, Chat Smile! – Chris
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