Oh, hey there.
Hold on, let me finish climbing out from under the rock I’ve been hiding beneath for the last month.
Yes, I’m still alive. And no, I have no glorious excuse to give for my hibernation. Would you believe me if I told you the holidays were too much? That I got sick—-like, dog sick right after my little brother’s wedding? That looking at anything on the internet made me nauseas and overwhelmed? That it felt really, really good to just unplug for awhile.
That’s the truth really. I could have pushed forward through the sickness, exhaustion, and Christmas hoopla. I could have gotten over my mysterious contempt for the internet and all things social media. But in reality, a break was definitely needed.
Ever since I was a kid writing felt like a treat. Like a secret super-power I could summon whenever I needed a moment to myself. We kind of shared everything in my big family of six kids. But writing? That’s always been mine.
Blogging has opened up so many different avenues to take my writing. And with all the new, wonderful experiences that included making money for my family—well, it has started to feel like a rat race.
When your secret super-power, your “thing that makes you happy,” your contribution to society…when that thing starts to feel like a rat race, it’s definitely time to step back.
I’ve been here before with blogging. Fed up. Tired. Ready to throw in the towel. And this time, I almost did. Truly. At Christmas I thought for sure I should pull the plug.
But here I am again.
Feeling like just maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get my super-power back.
My sweet dad called me yesterday and told me he was sad that I wasn’t blogging. And then he shared this brilliant quote from an ancient philosopher, Epictetus.
“If you wish to be a writer, write.”
I had to laugh. Why It’s so hard to sometimes pick up a pencil, or stare at a blank screen, I’ll never know. But I do know that starting is something.
Thanks, dad, and Epictetus.
Also, this photo has nothing to do with this post, but isn’t it darling? This is my nephew and Chaucer at my brother’s wedding.
Welcome back! I had a really similar experience over the holidays – too many commitments and campaigns made blogging feel like a stressful chore that I didn’t have the energy or time for. I almost pulled the plug, but instead took a step back and decided I didn’t need to pressure myself to update weekly or on any kind of regular schedule. It’s amazing how much pressure that lifted for me, and how I started viewing my time so differently!
Yep! That is exactly what happened with me. Just too many campaigns. So I’m stepping away from the money for a while.
I so get that way sometimes. I look at the cursor on the screen and sit there, frozen. Good for you for acknowledging that you just needed to unplug.
Welcome back. It’s a crazy gig, writing. It owns you as much as you own it. And sometimes you both get sick of each other.
You said it better than I ever could.
So glad you’re back! I love the anticipation of seeing a new blogpost from you. Keep the fun in it! Love you – Mom
Thanks, mama. You are my biggest fan ????
I was THIS CLOSE to checking in on you!!!! (*Puts fingers together*) I am SO GLAD you are BACK!!! And I am also so glad you took a much needed break…. (I feel mine coming….)
Someday we must meet!!! I don’t think I’ll be at any conferences this year though ???? Due to the baby ????
Love the pic! Blogging was meant to be a fun outlet. Now it’s a fun job, only not always fun. Welcome back~
So true! I think that will be my rule for the year. It has to stay fun and interesting, or I won’t do it.
Glad you are back! I totally understand the whole thing that made you happy becoming more chore, less happy. Breaks are good. Happy New Year!
It has to be fun, right? Otherwise, what’s the point?
Dude. We returned on the same day. How’s that for freakin kismet? I understand…so, so understand. I’m not one to race the rats either. That’s when i know it’s time for a little break. Nothing wrong with that. That’s one of the nifty things about blogging: Being our own bosseseseses.
I totally read your post that same day! I read it on my phone and couldn’t comment, but I was like, “Yah. We speak the same language.”
There you are! Write when you feel like writing. We are here, sending you big love.
Thanks, love! I love you gals so much!
I just saw your announcement post and then this post and I thought, well, of course you needed an extra long break to recover! I’m pretty much a sleeping hermit the first trimester. Good luck this year with writing and with adding to your family.
Been there, might still be there, done that. It can seem like a competition when in fact, it’s an art when done well. You write because you want to, because you feel like you can’t NOT write. If you have one reader or 1,000, it’s important that you write for you. It’s simply a bonus you bring us along ????
Well said! I get bogged down by the numbers, and that is a nowhere road.
Hey Hil-
Yeah…I don’t know how you were able to do both for so long!
Your dad Rocks.
Thats so awesome ???? It meant a lot for me to hear that from him.
Love you! Glad you got to take a break! I took a 2 week break myself! But stick with it, you’re hilarious and awesome and I was missing you! I’ll be in Cali for two weeks, we should hang out! Glad you’re back! ????
Hey! OMG we must hang out! I miss you!