Maybe you’ve noticed I’m posting a lot more than usual. I’m participating in NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month. I’ll be sharing a post every single day this month. Today, the beginning of week two, I had a realization about the challenge of NaBloPoMo. I don’t enjoy living my life online. I am craving authenticity, contact with real people. Is this the craziest thing you’ve ever heard an introvert say?
Today I needed to be with people, not writing in search of “likes” on a photo or a seven-word comment on a recipe I spent a week creating and testing to get it just right. I don’t mean to sound like I am unappreciative of my readers, just that posting every single day has left me craving more contact with the world beyond my computer screen. While writing a post each day and then sharing it via social media, I have become more ingrained in my work as a blogger and less content with where I stand in the blogosphere, counting “likes,” studying statistics, trying to figure out how to grow numbers instead of growing relationships. I don’t think this is helpful to me or to you.
So today, I took a step back and spent time with real people in the real world.
I went on a drive in the country with friends.
Then we had lunch out. We sang happy birthday to one of my favorite littles who isn’t so little anymore.
And after that, I came home and sat in the sunshine on our deck with my sweet chicken Genevieve on my lap. Geni told me all sorts of things about being an old hen, how it feels to not have all of your feathers anymore, how her feet are stiff and her wings ache. After she had her fill of me, she hopped off, showing me that after a good rest even an old bird can find her way back into the yard and on to the next great adventure. Goodness, I enjoy time with that chicken!
I’ll share a new recipe tomorrow and plug on with NaBloPoMo, but am also going to balance that with time beyond the computer.
Anything fun on your schedule this weekend beyond the computer? I’d love to hear from you!
Love this, Johnna. I’m struggling with posting everyday, but for a different reason. I’m so glad you honored yourself today by doing what fills your soul with happy. Love you. xo
It’s much harder than I expected, Lisa. I’ve currently got a post-it stuck on my computer to remind me of my purpose in writing. I hope you are taking a break for some soul-soothing happiness, too. We’re gonna need it this month. Lots of love to you, too!
You know, most of my author friends are doing NaNoWriMo right now. It’s insane watching them strive to reach daily word counts and beat themselves up for it if they don’t. After trying to do it last year, I realized it wasn’t for me. I had this discussion with one of the friends doing it this year because so many people are for NaNoWriMo, while others think it muddies the waters. Me, I think if it works for the writer to motivate them, great. If it doesn’t work for someone like me (who will focus more on numbers rather than what I’m really writing) then that’s okay too. Good for you for doing this though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another blogger do it before. You’re the first! 😀
I’m going to stick it out, but it’s creating focus in the wrong places. I need to be mindful of my purpose here and focus on that, not the numbers. 🙂
I think so many people get caught up in numbers that the purpose gets lost one the wayside. Good luck, my friend. 😀
I’m trying so hard to prevent this from happening, Debi! And so far, there aren’t enough numbers for me to even worry about. I’ll just keep writing for the act of writing…
I’ve set out to post once day for a full month several times before. Twice I made it because the event I was hosting required it. Another time, I did 30 posts during that time vs one post daily. Both experiences had their ups and downs and I’m glad I did them, but also am glad that I made them work for me. Love the photo of the rearview mirror! Always do what feels right over what you feel like you have to do. 😉
Shirley
Ha… you are a champion!
I could never do a post a day, hell I have sloughed off to maybe once a month and thinking od dumping the whole thing.
Love the talking to the chicken stuff, I’m thinking a novel should be forthcoming. My Talks with Genevieve.
I prefer a schedule similar to yours but am giving this a good effort. I hope I can make it, but it takes a lot to write every single day. I wasn’t prepared for how challenging it would be to feel required to harness my writing creativity each day. I hope I find it gets easier. Right now, it’s harder.
Genevieve is really starting to show her age. Last night was our first really cold Winter night and I threatened to bring her inside. Of all our chickens, she is going to be the hardest one to see pass. I was surprised she made it through the Summer, but she is such a dedicated mama that I think she sticks it out to tend her flock.