When to Meditate

I'm having trouble meditating every day--as I've had in the past when I've tried to meditate on a daily basis. I find if I don't meditate fairly early in the day, I just don't do it. Doesn't seem like setting aside 20 minutes would be that hard, but it is. Because it means finding a time when there won't be any disruptions, or other things to do.

So I've been trying to figure out when's the best time to meditate. Turning to the web, I found three related posts--one from '09, '07 and '93. The '93 post, written by Jeffrey Chance, was a short primer on meditation ("Meditation FAQ"). Meditating is supposed to get easier over time, and as he puts it, "over time, the number of random thoughts occurring diminishes". Not so for me thus far--I seem to have more thoughts.

According to Chance, "most people agree that early morning is the best time to meditate". But he, and the others who've written about meditation, point out that it can be done any time during the day. Early morning seems to work best because households usually are more peaceful, and daily obligations haven't yet kicked in. He also says it's best to meditate before, rather than after, a meal--but doesn't say why. Other tips: meditate at the same time every day in a quiet spot reserved for meditation, and with a straight spine.

That's another issue for me--I'm getting better at being able to sit cross-legged for 20 minutes, but often one leg goes to sleep, and/or my neck and/or back starts to hurt. Maybe that also will get better over time.

So I guess I'll try meditating first thing in the morning. I'm usually up around 5am...or 5:30...OK, 6 if I forget to set the alarm...but my routine has been to drink coffee and read the papers (WSJ and WaPo). And then have breakfast. And then decide to meditate. Then there were the handful of days where I decided I was going to walk every day at 6;30 (or 7) am...

So if I can discipline myself enough to meditate right after I get up (will violate the rule of meditating in a separate place, because my husband will be watching TV near by normal yoga/meditation spot), then I could still walk before it gets too hot. Unless I decide not to.

All this self-discipline--hard for me to stick with it. As evidenced by my blog. But see, I'm starting to write on a daily basis--right after lunch seems to be a good time.

Not to mention my vocal exercises, which I'm trying to do each day.

It's so much easier when I had a job and had built in obligations. But they often end up being artificial--one feels like one's accomplishing something when the calendar is full, but that may or may not be the case. Now I have to create my own meaning and purpose. And find my voice.

Yoga Instructor Training

I finally filled out my application for a local yoga teacher training program. I'm interested in focusing on yoga as a tool to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. I'm looking forward to learning more about yoga philosophies and techniques--fits my pattern of always needing to learn something new.

I realized the other day that my areas of focus--yoga, voiceover acting, and singing--all rely on fitness. Not sure whether it's the wisest course of action for someone in her late 50's--with an aging voice and body. i've noticed that I'm feeling more pain and soreness with all the exercise I've been doing, for example. I hope I hold up in my efforts to be gainfully employed in areas that require physical and/or vocal stamina.

So maybe it would have been better if I had pursued these 20 years ago. But then I wouldn't have had the the career (or pension) that I had.

What's with Wheat?

My son's doctor is suggesting that he see a nutritionist--not the first time it's been suggested that diet can affect some of his health issues. The nutritionist is quite expensive--and with a new agey title to her practice (Healing Paths), will we get reimbursed through our health insurance? The doctor suggested that my son stop eating wheat for 7-14 days to see if he feels any different. Not clear what he's supposed to be looking for. And not eating wheat is quite dramatic--no pizza, pasta, quesedillas (guess we can ones made with corn), bread, pancakes...for what? I just read excerpts from a recent study that finds no link between removing gluten from a child's diet at autistic behaviors.

I did make an appointment with the nutritionist, but unless I can determine that we'll get reimbursed, I suspect that we'll bail out...

But I am interested--links well with my interest in yoga, meditation, breathing as natural ways to deal with issues such as depression and anxiety.

Outbreak!

Well, my "natural" anti-aging efforts have been dealt a blow--probably a fatal one. I'd been doing a combination of facial exercises and massages each day. I've been doing the facial exercises (from The Yoga Facelift by Marie-Veronique Nadeau) since May, and the massages (from the Shiseido web site) since June. I focused a lot on my neck and lower jaw area, since it's my lower face that's doing most of the aging (OK, sagging). And in July I went to a new dermatologist and switched to using Azelex cream on my face, as well as CeraVe cleanser and moisturizer.

Starting a few weeks ago, I noticed that patches around my chin were breaking out. So I stopped using the john masters organics pomegranate facial nourishing oil, which I was using as massage oil. I figured it was clogging my pores. But my chin skin continued to break out--so I got out Zeno the zit zapper. After a few days of that, I felt I had too many spots to do one at a time, 2 1/2 minutes each (which is how Zeno works). So a few days ago I bought a Proactiv kit--I'd used Proactiv for a number of years until (I thought) my face stopped breaking out.

But I overdid it--I used the Proactiv cleanser, astringent, and repair lotion, and my lower face felt like it was on fire--and really itched. I couldn't sleep the first night, but figured it was a temporary inconvenience. But after 2 days, I had to stop the Proactiv--my lower face looked red and (more) shriveled. Plus I read (after the fact, of course) that Azelex is used to treat acne, and I had applied that in addition to the Proactiv. And Proactiv says not to combine with any other anti-acne meds. As for how well Azelex fights acne: "the exact mechanism of action of azelaic acid is not known," according to Allergan, the manufacturer.

So...now my chin has chunks of skin peeling off--but I think the blemishes are drying up (burning up?). So I'll go back to using the Azelex, and foregoing of the exercises or massages that involve touching the jawline. How do those Japanese women do it?

Or French women, for that matter. They supposedly have facials once a month, and I was planning to budget for that. But now I have to be concerned that facials also will make my skin break out.

Sigh.

LibriVox

Well, I mailed my materials (head shots, resume, cover letter) to a talent agency; no idea what my changes are but worth a shot. After a bit of hunting to find volunteer opportunities, I discovered LibriVox.org. LibriVox' goal is to provide audiobook access for free, for all books in the public domain (i.e., where their copyright has expired). The organization relies on volunteer readers who record chapters at home, and has provides step by step instructions on how to record. The website says that many, maybe most, of the volunteers have never done their own recordings, so it seems like a good place for me to learn. Seems like many voiceover auditions, and even nonpaying gigs, require people to record and send in audio files. So my next steps will be to practice taping, editing and saving voiceover exercises; and to find and sign up for specific LibriVox opportunities.

I looked into recording for the blind, but would have to physically go to a studio that's not easy to get to, and the local opportunities focused on technical textbooks. I thought about it carefully, and thought I would want to bail out after a few weeks. So I was excited when I found LibriVox--I can choose the books I want to read (we'll see how extensive the selection is), and I can record at home. Much more sustainable, I think.

voice over auditions

Guess I should have figured the world of voice over auditions would be complicated. Especially since I have no knowledge of recordings, sound systems, etc. But I've regrouped and plan to focus on getting voiceover work for at least an hour each day. All of this is so new--I had "head shots" taken so I can apply to a local talent agency. But I also need to send them a resume; acting resumes look totally different than business resumes. And I have hardly anything I can legitimately include--chorus work in a few musicals from years ago; choirs and some solo singing work. I saw a copy of a resume for a beginning actor--that's how mine will need to look. I do plan to talk about what I think are some relevant experiences (such as public speaking, testfying before Congress). It's worth a shot.

When I took the voiceover course, they said we wouldn't need paper resumes; that our demo disks would serve as our resumes. With the paper resume, the lack of experience will be obvious. But I have to try. Besides, the head shots weren't cheap. I haven't done the resume yet; still thinking about it.

At the same time, I'm looking into online voice acting (no pay, but provides experience). Darker Projects was complicated--I didn't even understand what I needed to send them to verify that my sound equipment (OK, my laptop) is good enough for auditions. They required that I submit a sample audio file via YouSendIt before I can audition. So I don't know how to make an audio file, and YouSendIt costs money. I then checked Pendant Productions, which seems more accessible. Sounds like my PC mike might be acceptable--I want to try that first, before I start buying equipment. And Pendant's web site referred me to Audacity, a free web-based recording program, for recording auditions. So I've downloaded that and actually figured out how to record and play back. The vocal quality sounded good, I thought. Then they say I need to record the auditions in MP3 files. I'm hoping my son can help me with that--will be good experience for him, also.

But Pendant didn't have any auditions at this time; I'll have to develop a schedule for checking auditions. Too bad they don't send automatic emails to members.

One could spend hours each day navigating these voice sites--there are several. I need to figure out a way to focus on a few and not get overwhelmed.

I also will hunt again for volunteer reading opportunities--I looked at that earlier, and didn't come up with any local options. (Examples: recording books for the blind).

My Less Than Brilliant Voiceover Career...

OK, so I haven't gotten into a daily blog pattern. And I haven't done anything to advance my "voiceover" career. I'm weighing how much to invest, vs likely payoff. Bottom line: I can't see how mailing demo CDs to places (if I can even figure out where to send them). And it seems like everyone who does voiceovers has their own home studio--something they only touched on in the class I took. I've felt all along like I paid a lot of money for a dream that's much tougher to have come true than Voices.Com would have one believe. But they were clear that they wouldn't help people get jobs; I think a lot of us wanted to believe their line that perseverance will pay off.

But I haven't given up. I tell myself I'm strengthening my voice so I'll be in good shape when I do get a job--my speaking and singing voices were wearing out quickly. We'll see if my (singing) vocal exercises will help. And I do need to figure out where to mail these CDs--no use having 40 CDs sitting around. I just feel at this point that buying equipment could be a waste of money (in addition to what I spent for the lessons and recording session). I know these sound like excuses....