“I work daily. For me, writing is a nonnegotiable. I do not wait for the right time or the right mood, I simply do it. It is like exercise. There are days when our body craves it and it is a joy. There are other days when the body resists and each step is a challenge. Writing is the act of motion. Progress, even if that progress is in baby steps, is what writing is about. It is a place of transformation. Daily writing doesn’t have to be fancy. It is my belief that any regular practice is a good practice. We can all do it. All that is required is that we show up on the page.” ---Julia Cameron, The Right to Write, “Dailiness” pgs. 149-153Dear Friends,
Over the past few months I’ve been reading a book by Julia Cameron about writing. I’ve been impressed at so many points by how her descriptions of the writing life parallel our Walk with our Father. In the last few days, I’ve been reminded of a concept she describes as “dailiness.” Dailiness for her is showing up, practicing, exercising, progressing, doing, and witnessing life regularly. It’s not about getting every word perfect, or always using beautiful techniques. It’s about applying yourself daily to a task, whether it feels good or not. I like this concept. For me, it aptly describes my Walk. Some days are downright rotten, and some days I feel like it’s effortless. There are dry spells, and there are times of richness and depth. Sometimes I drag through the valley, and other times I enjoy the view from the mountaintop. Yet through it all, I continue walking. Learning. Growing. Transforming.
What follows is a breakdown of our daily activities for the month of October. Please be thinking of us as we daily read and study our Books, think about our students, grow our relationships, and live a life full of “dailiness.” We hope that we may make a habit of applying ourselves to our tasks daily, like a runner training for a marathon, no matter the weather or the mood. We hope to continue the discipline of moving forward to follow our Leader, wherever he leads. Thank you for all of your encouragement and support.
Always,
Jessie
October Update
September 27-October 5: National Holiday Vacation
October 2: Hot Air Balloon Festival & Fruit Picking (Wayne), Motor Cross Demonstration, Big Lunch with Officials
October 3-5: Andy & Daniel Visit, Wil & Courtney Visit, Granola Baking
October 5: Chongwenmen All-IECS Meeting, Birthday Cake for Peter, Pearl Market, Xu Mei English Faculty Dinner
October 7: English Club on the Main Campus (Bubble Boy Skit!)
October 8: Peter’s Birthday (Popcorn Party, Gifts, & Cards)
October 9: Tony & Lily’s daughter Xi Mei is born by C-section
October 10: English Club on the Western Campus, Brought Danielle & Pan, (Bubble Boy Skit!), Taught Business Students about Table Manners using a Table Setting
October 11: Peter’s KTV Party (Allie, Allen, Jonathan, Carol, Forrest)
October 13: Shopping for Paint, Roller, Brushes, etc. with Cassie (3 hours!)
October 14-16: Took Sophomore Students to Yuan Chen Super Market for “Super Market Sweep” Scavenger Hunt for American Foods
October 18: Beijing English Club, All 12 IECS Teachers together, Team Meeting—Shannon Shared Her Story, Overnight in Qianmen Hostel (Allie, Allen)
October 19: Beijing Marathon (Brad & Peter ran and achieved Personal Bests), All 12 IECS Teachers together to run or cheer! (Allie, Allen)
October 24: I gave an Education Lecture to the English Faculty: “IECS Oral English Education”
October 25: Pregnancy Test Positive! Philip Hayden Foundation Orphanage for Special Needs Children (Felix, Laura), Halloween Ball (Dancing, Performances, & Jack-O-Lantern Contest)—Brad Performed a John Denver Song
October 27: English Association Club (Olympic Oscars)
October 29: Haircut & Wal-mart with Lily & Cassie (Shorter Hair Than I Expected!)
October 30: Lunch with Vivian
October 31: Brad tutored a math student in Calculus who needed to know some English Math Vocabulary for acceptance into a Canadian university.
November 1: Jess Shamblee’s Birthday—Dinner, KTV (Sunshine, Victory), & Cherry Cheesecake!
Weekly: Sunday Team Meeting & Lunch, Monday Meeting with Carol & Sunshine, Tuesday Girls’ Lunch, Tuesday Team Dinner with Students (Vivian, Forrest, Lindy), Thursday Team Meeting & Dinner, Friday Lunch/Art with Danielle, Friday Guys’ Lunch with Pan & Forrest, Friday Chinese Chess with Wayne (Brad), Friday Date Night
“Reality happens in daily doses. Writing gives me the chance to see past my first perceptions. We find ourselves witnessing life. We find ourselves learning. In writing about my life I cherish it. I value it. I see it. Writing is the act of opening the eye to the absolute beauty of ordinary things. That is dailiness and dailiness is sanity.” ---Julia Cameron, The Right to Write, “Dailiness” pgs. 149-153
