While upgrading a software application this morning I began thinking how I use such a small portion of its total functionality. What I use is value added, but how much more could I gain with the investment of a little more time and effort?
Reflecting, sadly this is true about most things in my life–be it software applications, hardware devices, training/self-help books, my own abilities and to some extent my relationships with others.
Recently I find I often invest the minimum. I flit from one to the next new thing, picking up enough along the way to “get by.”
It’s my doings, but it’s also the times we live in. We spread ourselves thin with unlimited friends (small letters) via online social interactions. Even our ability to communicate in coherent thoughts, sentences and paragraphs is under pressure to be 140 characters or less (Twitter).
I’m beginning the process of refocusing, eliminating less important things, being selective in what I keep and learning to do certain things well.
I’m honestly not sure where this blog, Meandering Passage, will fall out in this process. I’ve kept it going for over three years but lately I’ve felt like I’ve got nothing to say.
Earl,
What you say resonates with me. I think I write my blog for myself mostly, as writing about one’s own processes, thoughts and directions helps clarify them. And it certainly seems that with the rise of the blogs, the ability to tap into a virtual community of people who are going through their own journey and writing about it is marvelous. I know it continues to inspire me.
Yet there are times when there is not much to say, or you feel like getting off the highway. I think there is an unnatural pressure to feel like the blog has to be updated often or you will lose your readers. There is a trade off there. With RSS, most readers will visit when there is content and don’t care much when there is not. One may lose some subscribers when they “spring clean” their feeds, but I think that’s ok. If one starts writing again subscribers will eventually find their way back to the site. It would be totally different, of course, if you are trying to monetize a site, or become famous through it, and need to retain a huge base of readers in our current attention-deficit world.
I think it’s healthy to take a break now and then. Another blogger I like, Colin Jago over at Auspicious Dragon is taking a self imposed break from blogging. And I’ll happily read a post out my RSS reader whenever he comes back.
@Eric, I think I write for myself mostly too but I still sometimes feel I should have something to say on a somewhat regular basis.
I understand I’m the ONE putting pressure on myself about posting and it’s certainly not about any huge number of readers! ;-)
In all honesty if I walked away from this blog I think I’d be missing it in a few weeks.
Maybe I just needed to say it!
Excellent post, Earl. I must admit to feeling the same way and, more often, that I’m repeating myself and not having anything new to say. I’ve stopped pressuring myself to have something to say every day. If I have something to say, I’ll say it, if not … I’ll just go dormant for a few days. Invariably, something sparks my interest and I’ll write about it.
I’m pretty sure that you’d miss it, though, but eventually, you’d find something else to do and probably not miss it at all.
@Paul: I know I’d miss blogging but I don’t want to do it unless I feel I’m getting something out of it. It may be a temporary period of frustration but I think it’s good to pause and reevaluate every once in a while.
On your blog you’re a natural story teller. Your post link current events to experiences of your past or to what’s happening in your personal development. You tell stories people enjoy reading and relating to.
Earl, I’m always about a half day away from deleting my blog and completely walking away from the blogosphere, but even when I think I’m done, I keep coming back. You and your blog are one of the few blogging constants I rely on. I hope you keep blogging, so maybe I’ll keep blogging :)
@Kent: Thanks for the kind words! Perhaps we all experience those “take this job and shove it” moments–even with blogging.
That’s one of the dangers, letting something you voluntarily do, such as this blog, begin to feel like a job.
I’m happy you’re blogging regularly again.