You may have noticed that several weeks ago, there was a bit of a slow down in posts here at NOH. You may have started to wonder whether or not I had fallen out of love with blogging (the answer is a big resounding “NO!” which you’ve probably noticed by now). But I think there are times in the life of every blogger where they begin to evaluate (and re-evaluate) what their blog really is all about and the direction they want it to take.
In fact, I think it’s actually ESSENTIAL that we assess our lives from time to time to make sure they are on the track we want them to be on, no matter what career path we have chosen or where life has led us.
When I have found myself stepping back a bit from blogging, there are often several reasons. One is that life often gets a bit insane — and try as I might, I rarely manage to get more than a few days of posts written and ready to go at a time. The other is generally something that requires personal reflection, and could have many reasons for taking place. Perhaps I’m wondering if I should keep going in the same direction. Or I’m just not comfortable writing on certain topics anymore (usually because of changes going on) and I just don’t have much to say. Or perhaps I’m finding myself sitting in front of a screen with no words coming out, possibly because I’m not feeling 100% myself or have a sick child at home. Lord knows we’ve all been there.
But really what it all comes down to, regardless of what you are doing with your own life or what decisions you are making, is whether or not you know they are the right ones. And if they are leading you in the direction you want to take.
I’ve talked a bit in the past about how I think it’s important to set goals for yourself and to break them down into bite-site pieces. And I implement that philosophy into my own life on a daily basis. But even with these big and small goals around you, it can still be easy to get off track. You set up the big goals, you write them down, and you set yourself a schedule for the next week or two. You go full speed and you get tons done. And then, after that, you need to follow up on yourself to make sure you’ve got the micro-goals met…but you get distracted by something and before you know it, you’re sitting at your desk and wondering what it was you were supposed to be doing today.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you find yourself feeling lost and wandering in the wilderness, it’s time to make sure you’re still on the right path. When is the last time you mapped out your goals and started doing things that you are truly passionate about?
Just as we saw in Boston this week, we have no idea when tragedy will strike or what life will bring. And this life is too short to not be doing what you love, spending time with people you care about and following your dreams. There is no better time than now to start. Honestly. Don’t let fear hold you back. And don’t EVER let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Because you CAN! And you will if you have your heart set on it.
No goal is too small. And although that starting that goal may require scary things to take place first, or mean that you’ll never live in a mansion, that’s ok, isn’t it? Because if you can live your life every day being happy instead of chasing after someone else and trying to live their life, I think that’s the best reward of all.
Stepping off the soapbox now and opening the floor for discussion.
Where do you want to take your life this year?? What have you been putting off doing because you were scared?
Well, I’m absolutely in a slump when it comes to blogging. Not just writing them, but reading them. I completely agree that life is too short to do things that you don’t have a passion for, especially when they are optional. But I also miss reading posts like this. It’s all about making choices, I supposed. I’ve now arrived at a point where I write when I have something I want to say, but I’ve moved passed the need to post on a regular schedule. It feels freeing. It makes me want to write when the mood strikes.