The Art of (Not) Writing

How do you not write is the question?  Or rather, how do you step back enough to recharge and refocus in order TO write?  It can become an addictive habit, this writing thing.  Write  for 20 minutes straight, write every morning for an hour, publish a post every day, write, write, write.

But, as James Kirk said, “Too much of anything, Lieutenant, even love, isn’t necessarily a good thing.”  In the same way, even if writing as a career, too much writing can lead to a very unbalanced life.

The past 2 years of my life have been a journey about finding balance in all things:  food, faith, family, friends.  I have come a long way, but I’m certainly not home yet.  This summer has shown me that.  I became part of a small group of women studying The Daniel Plan, and have seen that I still don’t have it all together.  I have been learning about how Faith, Food, Focus, Friends and Fitness all play a part in keeping us healthy, strong and vital.

Focus seems to be my biggest challenge – I tend to get stuck on doing one thing, and it quickly becomes a habit.  You’re probably wondering by now how this all relates to writing, but wait for it!  I chose to take both Blogging 201 and Writing 101 this month.  I should have learned from Blogging 101!  What do you mean, you ask?

Just that, it was so much fun, that I blogged and read blogs to excess!  I was reading blogs, thinking about blog posts, writing blog posts, talking about blog posts!  Yikes.  So, now, taking 2 courses at the same time – my eyes actually were hurting by last week.  I had to stop, not read your lovely articles, not respond to your requests.  I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t see straight!  So, I took the weekend off, read a real book, knit some more, spent time with hubby. No blogging, no reading blogs.

So my advice to all it – TAKE A BREAK!  Now, I plan to follow my own advice, leave the computer, and go watch TV with hubby (unless he still has The Outer Limits on.  In which case, I’m going to play solitaire!)