Fortitude - Week 13

This year, I will reflect on the four cardinal virtues through daily practice and meditation, intentionally focusing on one per season. After starting the year with prudence, temperance, and justice – I now reflect on fortitude, or the deliberate exercise of strength and courage in the face of evil.On the last week, I reflected on the transformational effects of daily practice.As I enter the lat week, I refocus on the execution of each exercise, acknowledging how narrow my focus has become - but also, how transformational it has been. Through the days, all I can feel is a sense of growing relief, as I anticipate the reps of the final days, and see the total amount diminish. Beside, there is a sense of physical well-being - and a touch of vanity - to feel lighter, and more toned than I've ever been.I do not pick up on my meditation - but reading, I do. I finish Adults in the Room by Varoufakis, and a book on China's one Child policy that I started halfway through last month - leaving only the second volume of The Man Without Qualities to complete by the end of the year. Even here, I have just about 10 hours of reading left, the final posthumous section. Before November ends, I can return to choosing my books. My papers are not in a state of perfect order, but I know that there is no large backlog - and I can confidently return to prudence, for the five final weeks of the year.I wonder, as the week closes on a high: had my goal been, all along, to finally embrace fitness - and prepare myself for action?Exercise tallyOver the season, I will systematically train mind and body. For this, I will do a daily set of 6 physical exercises, with particular focus on core muscles, adding 1 rep/day for each, execute a daily qi-gong routine based on the 5 elements, adding 1 rep/element every week, and practice meditation, adding 1 session of 30’ every week. Exercise tallyPush-ups: 453Sit-ups:453Squats:453Dog-cows:453Bird-dogs:453Back twists:453Qi-gong – 5-elements: 5 x 13 reps for each elementMeditation: 1 session