Based on the words "blacksmith" and "wordsmith", maybe we should keep a category of tools, resources, projects and ideas labeled "self-smith". That folder would be for shaping ourselves as much as possible to our liking and to current conditions. Reality shows and novels may be interesting but the goings-on right in our own bodies and minds are at least as much so.
We can generally assume that everyone can think of some personal modification that seems desirable. Many people I know suggest they should lose weight. Many, especially older ones, agree that they should drink more water. Some think they should read more and others put more exercise at the top of their list of possible improvements.
It may be easier to think of body changes that seem to be improvements than mind changes. Still, the brain is the HQ of the whole deal and is worth considering for itself and in connection with the body. It may be simpler to think of ourselves as more or less permanent but the fact is that our bodies, minds, lives and conditions are always changing. Just when you fully grasp that you are not a teen any more, you find you have moved into the 40's. Just when you get yourself trained to be a parent, your children morph into adults. I think it is natural to assume that some desired change will be a permanent fix but in truth, any change is more a matter of both going with the flow and modifying its direction somewhat.
Selfsmithy involves several basic tools. Primary among them are meditation and exercise. Sitting quiet and still for 10 minutes a day is not expensive but it is very valuable for improving one's notice of one's thoughts. Once we notice what we are thinking (where are the potato chips?), we can bring the thought into the light of consideration and match it against our current goal or effort. Exercise, whether it's yoga, walking, biking, weights, elliptical strider, swimming, dancing or something else, has been said to be house-cleaning for both the body and mind.
Much of our lives rest on social foundations. Interpersonal relations keep showing up in studies of longevity and happiness as basic. So, giving a thought to how we interact with others can pay off. For most people, a letter (you know, handwriting on paper that is sent thru the mail - remember that?), an email (nice and fast IF your receiver looks at her email), a text message (I'm telling you: give Google Voice a try, even it is seems odd and dumb. It's free and you may be surprised), or a phone call (it is okay to make a heartfelt statement to voicemail - it will still be received, maybe even more so) -- for most people the dollars and sense cost of any such communication is quite bearable. It may seem odd to pay attention to the frequency and tone we use in our writing and speaking with others but it isn't. Human interaction is so basic to our lives that high schools and colleges always start with training and improvement in these skills.
A balanced and modest approach pays off, as usual. We don't need to achieve perfection and probably wouldn't recognize it as such anyhow. Just working a little at small improvements of our own self-gardens is a great way to spend time.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
