Wow. It’s been some time since I’ve posted. To be frank, I just haven’t had the desire to write. I’ve been down at the beach now for over 3 weeks, mostly on my own.

This time alone has given me the opportunity to focus on my physical and spiritual health. I successfully kicked my sugar habit, (huge accomplishment) and am working out 6 days a week. Due to these efforts and cutting out gluten and dairy, I’ve lost 26 pounds since January 9th.  I’ve been spinning 3 to 4 times a week, doing yoga, and strength training twice a week with my trainer.

I’ve also read several books and have been working on my fourth step in “The Blueprint for Progress”. My sponsor gently reminded me that when I am obsessing about someone else,  (i.e., my son), it’s a good time to take a look at myself. Doing my inventory helps keep the focus on myself.

For the last week I’ve been really lonely, D had to delay his trip down here by several days because of work.  He is flying down in two days and I cannot wait to see him. Soon I will have someone else to talk to other than my dog. This solitary time has been valuable and helps me to appreciate the relationships I have. I miss my family and friends up north, it’s time to go home.

I just finished reading “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green. I was compelled to read it as John Green attended the same college as me and I’ll do anything to support my fellow alums. It’s categorized as a YA (young adult) novel but is smarter and better-written than any adult fiction I’ve read lately. This book asks the big questions, Why do we suffer, why must we die, and what meaning can be found in any of it? It’s a tragic love story about two 16 year olds who meet at a cancer support group. (The meeting is in a church basement and it’s not unlike many meetings I attend although with a different theme, cancer.) Here’s a quote I love.

“I’m in love with you,” he said quietly.

“Augustus,” I said.

“I am,” he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

I highly recommend this book. I’m looking forward to reading it a second time. It’s that good.