A month ago, I decided on a whim that I would attempt to put up a daily post for the next month, just to see what would happen. Every day, without fail. Oh, it’s been a long month. There have been days when I almost didn’t make it. Days, like today, where I am still editing my piece as the clock hands mark a new day. Still, on other days, the posts just wrote themselves. My muse is a little blurry sometimes and I’m not precisely sure when she’s going to arrive. She’s flaky like that. Always late to the party and typically drunk.
In this month I’ve tried hard not to bore you all with my words—my mama always did say I liked the sound of my own voice and I’m cognizant of that fact that my obsession probably isn’t shared by everybody who reads this blog. I’ve tried to be honest even though honesty isn’t exactly tangible online, any more than it is in the mirror. Do we really ever tell the truth? I’ve attempted to be more open than I am in real life. People usually say that I’m easy to like and hard to know. So, being “knowable†has been a high priority. Authentic? Real? ME? Get in line for the definition. We are all enigmas. And we are all much less complicated than we think.
I’m not sure what I expected to happen.
What I do know is that this month of blogging has been, in a small way, a spiritual exercise of sorts. Oh, there have been moments when I knew I needed to put something up, anything up, where it felt like drudgery. That’s the discipline end of it, eh? But for the most part, I have found myself watching my day with a keener eye. Paying closer attention to the grace that quietly reaches out for me through the day. It’s easy to not notice that embrace, to be blindsided by busyness. This month has emphasized the need to see the world with fresh eyes, to slow down and pay attention. Somewhere along the month I stopped asking myself, “What am I going to blog today†and started noticing all the little moments, all the beauty that surrounds me.
I’ve not shared it all. I haven’t needed to—you know that “loving the sound of my own voice†thing. Yet, I’ve found enough, more than enough to write something daily.
While I began this little experiment at the end of December, the actual month of January ends tomorrow. Can you believe that Thursday marks the beginning of February? That beautiful month of flowers and chocolate and hearts and sentiments most mushy. I don’t know what February will hold for my writing. I don’t know if I will continue to find a post every day or if I will scale back to an easy 5 day work week. Or find some balance in between. That’s for February to decide.
Until then, I take with me a newly found appreciation for the discipline of writing daily. Something, anything daily. Not just for the sake of my writing, which benefits, but also for the beauty I am discovering in the process of finding the words. On a wing and a prayer we write forward. That you write and read with me has been the true gift.
Well, I for one have really enjoyed walking along with you this month. Your discipline has benefited me along the way, so thank you! That said, I wouldn’t blame you if you decided a post a day is too much to maintain for the long term. It’s not everyone that can write, write well, and do it *daily* — but you have. (Have I said thank you?) Of course, I won’t complain if the posts continue to flow at this rate… 😉
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Thank you! I don’t think I have what it takes to do it daily…at least not well. And there are people who prepopulate their posts (write 3 or 4 on a day and then space them) but that feels weird to me. So, I’m guessing I will slow down a bit. I think my goal is to write on the M-F…and maybe get a workout on those days too! 😀 ~W
Great job! You have more discipline than I do. I’m THAT person. Ya’know.. the one who is constantly and consistently starting things and never finishing them.
Keep writing. You inspire me!
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Fits and starts. This is the nature of life, eh? Thanks for the kind words… keep at it! 😀 ~W
How terrible am I? I didn’t notice the change in the pattern when you started writing every day – but I bet I’ll complain when it stops 😉 I want to know how to break a paragraph in the comments. I’ve tried everything. I feel like a run-on sentence with no end in sight, that just keeps going and going like the energizer bunny and you want to shoot me but that would be murder, so you don’t, because you’d miss Iz and Boy Wonder and Sophie and the cat even though I think the cat might be just in your imagination but I was talking about run-on sentences when this is really about you. I forgot what I was going to say. 🙂
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The paragraph breaking drives me nutty in the comments. I don’t know what to tell you. You can try doubling the break, that sometimes sticks… although it will look odd too. I don’t know if the <  p> < / p > tags work if you type them in. Worth a shot, I suppose. I’ve gone back and fixed the paragraphing for IZ before–half the time it sticks, the other half it doesn’t.Â
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But no worries, my whole life is run on sentence. :DÂ ~W
My muse is with me in fits and starts so daily writing is a challenge- and sometimes there are other parts of life that need to take precedence. But this past month I made an effort to get more active in writing and reading and it has been good for me, almost entirely from the standpoint that I have found some new writers, new friends, new kindred spirits. And that is always a good thing. I love coming over here to see what’s up with you.
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I see I’m not the only one who uses that phrase, “fits and starts”. Would be a good blog name, eh? :D I’m ever so glad to have you reading. I enjoy your thoughtful comments more than you might imagine. ~W
I noticed and loved the daily posting. Loved loved loved it. So, thusly, you must keep it up. Just don’t count my posts, mmmkay?
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I see, do as you say not as you do, eh? YES MOTHER! 😀 ~W
I’m just so damn bossy, aren’t I?
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As you are the mother of three girls, I do believe you are entitled to be bossy. :DÂ LOVING their new photos, btw! ~W
I agree with cap. I didn’t really notice either.
I’ve not shared it all.
Get crackin! We want it all! 🙂
BTW the comments don’t seem to work on your next post…..that or I’ve been banned and this one won’t post either……
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Oh, I don’t think the world needs to hear much more of me than it already does!
As for the comments, I think they are working now. ~W