The next phase

After every blog entry that I publish, WordPress (the online platform/system that so generously and graciously hosts this space and makes my blogging possible {truly}) gives me a confirmation message with a few brief statistics, as well as a small note of encouragement (which is really quite kind).  Here is a screen shot of the message I received last night:

It’s been one full year since I began my blogging adventure.  One full year of posting a smile-worthy moment every day.  Some days the writing was fluid and easy; other days it was more of a struggle to extract a smile from the day, much less type it up and publish it for others to read.  And yet day in, day out, it was done – and I am genuinely a better person because of it.  Yes, my writing skills have improved pretty dramatically over the past 12 months; but more importantly, my life has improved.  I’m quicker to laugh, faster to forgive, and genuinely lighter in spirit.  It astounds me.

While this blog has been a very enjoyable hobby for me, it does take time to do.  And some days, I found that I was spending more time at the computer than I might like, more time typing than was probably ‘healthy’ for me.  I’m an introvert by nature, and a semi-extreme one at that – so I can happily spend days at home alone (literally), sitting and writing and creating.  And while creative expression absolutely has a valid place in my life, I don’t want it to overtake my life.  I want to live in the ‘real world’, among ‘real people’, too.

Over the past month or two, I’ve found myself facing a bit of a dilemma: How do I continue down this healthy road of self-expression and personal growth, while also living – really living – in the world?  Perhaps more importantly, how do I do both of these things without sacrificing time spent with my husband, sleep, outings with friends, etc.?  (All of which have been slipping in the recent past.)

And, how do I also help ensure that my time – my life – doesn’t get carried away in a stream of computer code and keyboard clicks?  How do I help ensure that I’m not only living a creative life via words on a screen, but also with my actual physical self in the actual physical world around me?

After some contemplation and reflection, I think I have come upon a few different ‘solutions’ that I think I’d like to implement.  Three of them, actually.  (Of course three.)  😉  Here they are:

1)     I want this blog to remain a source of joy in my life, and not begin to regard it as an obligation.  I also want to have some time to try some new things, too (see item #2 below).  So, I think it’s in my best interest if I reduce my posting schedule for the year ahead.  I loved posting every single day in 2010-2011; but at this point, I think I need to scale things back a bit.  As such, solution #1 is that I’ll now be posting every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday or Sunday (depending on the items on my schedule each weekend).  Three posts a week instead of seven.  Still good opportunities for me to focus on daily delights in life; but also a chance for me to invest in some new things, too.

2)     While I ‘like’ open time in my schedule, I don’t do very well with complete laxity.  As much as I sometimes resist structure, I really do need an amount of it in my life in order to remain healthy and grounded.  The ‘trick’ for me is learning how to balance my desire to be open and flexible with my simultaneous want for order and discipline.  How do I find a gentle middle path between these two potential extremes?  After more internal examination (and external inquiry), I think I found a framework that can support me.  The Day Zero Project (aka, 101 in 1001) is a semi-popular configuration that seems to help individuals maximize their time (indeed, their lives) – but in a relaxed, moderate way.  Adhering to a commitment to complete 101 tasks in 1001 days (roughly 2.5 years) seems like a terrific way to give me structure-yet-flexibility, and also to hold me accountable to living out in the big World vs. staying secluded in my private little domain.

For my 101 tasks, I chose to focus on things I have been ‘wanting’ to do for some time now, but have just never made the effort to actually experience.  In the spirit of keeping the list balanced, I chose to document some ‘easy’ tasks (i.e., #80) as well as some more challenging ones (#99, for example). The only universal ‘rules’ I applied to every task is that each one has to be new to me (so, something I have never experienced before), and I have to really want to do it (no items born out of a sense of responsibility or obligation; only authentic desire).  Now, if any of you would like to do any of these items with me (be it in-person or virtually), I would love the company!  Just let me know which one(s) spark your interest(s), and I am confident we can work out a plan to experience them together.  Also, if you can support me in achieving any of these items (or if you know someone who can), I would genuinely appreciate the help.  (For example, do you have a terrific success-guaranteed scone recipe for me to try?  [#88 – and please don’t make me ‘cut butter into’ anything.]  Please send it my way!  Do you know a golf pro that could give me a lesson?  [#68] I’d love for you to facilitate an introduction.  Does a friend-of-a-friend have a gentle horse I might ride? [#16]  I’d deeply appreciate an opportunity to ride it.  And so on.)  I have absolutely no idea how I’m going to complete several of these items on my list [#13, #29, #94…]; and yet, I know in my heart that once I state the intention, somehow, someway, they will all work out.  I have faith in the process, and in my peeps all around me.  😉

3)     Finally, the third facet of my three-step solution: If you have high attention to detail, you may have noticed that item #101 on my list is a bit of a doozy.  I’ve been ‘thinking about’ writing a book for literally five years (maybe more); and I have lots and lots of ideas; but now I need to actually commit to one of them, and just see it through…

In order to complete this item reasonably and rationally, (and again, not become a slave to my computer), I have created a two-year word count writing schedule.  If you have amazing attention to detail, you may have noticed a new box on the right side of this blog titled “WOW” (which stands for “Word Offering Widget”).  Each week, I will update that little counter with the current number of words I have written towards my book objective, as well as the week’s word count goal (for an easy compare-and-contrast).  My hope is that doing this will provide me with accountability to stay on track, and not to quit when I get stuck or feel insecure.  (All of which will occur, I am certain.)  Despite the semi-intense fear I’m feeling over this one, I sense tickles of excitement and joy inside me, too; so I ‘know’ that this is an item worthy of pursuit.  Now I just need to do it.  (Gulp.)

So, there you go.  A BIG, lengthy post, with some semi-big news (as it relates to me, anyway).  To recap:

1. This blog will move to a Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday [or Sunday] publishing schedule, starting…. now.  😉
2. Some of the coming posts will likely be connected to my 101 in 1001 project – but progress on all of the 101 tasks will be kept current here.
3. “WOW” will be updated once a week.  (Yikes. Gulp. Smile.)

Alrighty, I think that’s more than enough for today… If you’ve read to the bottom of this post, I’m proud of you!  Here’s a little reward.

(I felt a little nervous driving behind this vehicle…)

[And if you have no idea what this license plate is referencing, you can get some insight into it here.]

Until Thursday, my friends.

Stef