Where did July go? #writemotivation and #writemehealthy updates.
Like I said in the title . . . where did July go? I can’t believe that it’s already passed, and that we’ve been in our new house for a month now! I also can’t believe the shambles the house is still in >_<.
I have not made the progress I hoped for in any of my goals this month, and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking because of it.
When I started this blog, it was because I had a personal blog (that has since fallen by the wayside) but I had so many writing things I wanted to talk about! And I still do – I mean, seriously, I’ve been blogging for a little over a year here and I’ve done over 400 posts. That’s almost a post per day. Most of them writing related.
My pitfall is this – I talk a lot about writing. So much so, that i actually forget to write a lot.
Of course, there are other things going on – I also got caught up in the platform building side of things, and I would set writing aside to do that instead. And reading. I’ve done so little reading compared to what I used to do all the time . . .
And then there’s . . . the family stuff.
I can’t go into a lot, to respect the privacy that they’ve requested, so I’ll just say this – there is someone in the family who has not been a very supportive (or even nice) person who is facing a life and death situation, and is not willing to do what needs to be done to live a good-quality life. This person is also in a position to make the lives of people I love dearly miserable, and is placing the family in a financially straining situation.
There’s another person who isn’t facing the health-situation, but is only making the situation worse by trying to be controlling and manipulative.
I am the one holding people together when everything falls apart – which has been happening on at least a weekly, sometimes daily, basis.
The clincher?
I am an introvert. A severe introvert. When we had a blizzard (yes, an actual blizzard – as in 3 ft of snow in 24 hours) a few years back and were snowed in for 4 days because the city of Tulsa couldn’t figure out that no, the construction crews couldn’t keep fixing the actual pavement, but they could be moving snow, I was HAPPY. I loved the fact that I didn’t have to leave the house for 4 days! I had my husband, my cat, plenty of food, internet access, and a snow shovel if I really needed to get anywhere. It was like a vacation!
So when I have to reach inside and find the strength to hold my family together, it leaves me exhausted.
It’s very hard for me to write when I’m exhausted. I can write during any other time (just ask my Wrimo’s – during our six-hour marathon write-in last November, I was juggling rude and hurtful phone calls from one of the said problem people above and STILL managed to write 10,000 words through some very intense frustration and anger) – angry, sad, bored. But complete and utter exhaustion . . .
And complete and utter exhaustion is what I’m living in right now. I’m getting done what I have to for survival and the minimum of sanity.
That said, I’m realizing that I have to make some changes. Somehow, I have to be able to do my writing and still be there for my family.
I’ve completed a year of my Sunday Devotionals now. And I’m going to take a break from them. Between writing the devotionals, and my Sunday responsibilities at church (I am a pastor, too, for those of you who don’t know that yet), I’ve been wearing myself thin on the spiritual side too. I need some time to recharge. So, there will be no more devotionals through at least November, and only at Christmas time if I feel like it, because I absolutely love Christmas. After that, I’ll re-evaluate and see where I feel God is leading in that area.
So, there’s a few steps I’m going to take:
1. Less blogging, including putting the devotionals on hiatus, and go through my list to see who I’m following blogs for, because I’m overwhelmed on that front. I’m going to try for 2-3 blog posts a week, rather than 4-5. I’m also going to get rid of blogs that I find myself skipping over repeatedly.
2. Get a writing schedule in place – where I sit down at the computer and write. Not read fanfiction (yes, it’s my guilty pleasure) instead of writing, not blog instead of writing, and not talk on the phone instead of writing. Just an hour or two a day where I turn off my phone, put on headphones, and WRITE. There’s another Camp NaNoWriMo session in August, and my goal is to remember why writing is fun.
3. Take time to read – both my Bible, and FUN reading. I love reading as much as I love writing, and it helps me stay excited about writing, so it’s no wonder I’ve been burned out. And fun reading means ones I’m not being pressured to review, unless it’s a book that I really want to read anyway.
I’m still going to keep up with #writemehealthy, because that’s good for me. We’ll see how I’m doing when the next round of #writemotivation is up. It’s not that I don’t want to do it . . . but I think I just need a break.
So, on to my #writemotivation goal wrap-up for July . . .
1 Get devotional book drafted, start polishing.
Still pretty much at the same point that I was before, except I did find a public-domain Bible translation in modern-day English that I can use for commercial purposes. So we’re one step closer!
2. Work on Blood of Trees, to be ready to pitch in October.
hm, yeah. This is why I need a schedule.
3. Write at least 500 words a day on Undoing.
I’ve just decided to save this for NaNo this year.
Now, for my own #writemehealthy goals:
Spirit
1. To help my grandmother get a good back-up supply of the foods she needs to stay healthy (she’s on a pretty strict diet), since grandpa is proving unreliable in keeping up with it.
Getting this one under control!
Soul
1. To get at least one massage before the end of this round.
I need to call my friend Sarah and see if she’s still willing to come to my house and give me a massage.
2. To read at least one book about time management.
Any one have any good recommendations?
Body
1. Get in the habit of drinking 8 glasses of water a day (again). I was very good about this, until a couple of months ago.
Yeah, still working on this. Thank you to everyone for your helpful comments last time! I will be attempting to implement some as soon as I find my coupon for a free box of True Lemon. And as long as walmart has one of the other flavors. Because I don’t like lemon in my water.
2. Do a full body cleanse at some point in this experience.
3. Get in the habit of working out at least twice a week.
but . . . . but . . . it’s so stinkin’ HOT! I don’ wanna workout . . .
I’m so sorry to hear about the family issues. Those things can be so draining in spirit and they sap you will and energy. Of course, creativity goes out the window in those situations. In spite of all that, you are still doing a lot and getting things done, but I do agree that you need to cut back on some of it or your brain will implode. 😀
Even if you don’t do #writemotivation next round, we’ll still root for you and cheer you on. 😀
I think I’m in pre-implosion status currently >_<.
Thanks, Andrew! I really can't wait to come and hang out with you all next month :D. I think that's going to go a long way toward "refreshing" too.
*hugs* Sometimes, being emotionally drained is far worse than anything else life can throw at us. Family drama to me always seems like it saps not only the time you have to spend dealing with it, but a lot of other mental energy between, waiting on the next piece of it. (And then my extended family wonders why I keep them at arms length) Hope things smooth out for you soon!
Thanks, Leigh! I feel guilty that I’m going to have to sit my family down and put up a few boundaries . . . but I also need to remember that with THEM breaking down all the time, I can’t break down too. I can’t take care of them if I’m not sane myself.
It’s not easy, but it’s the best option. They’ll respect you more in the long run, I think. Don’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself too!
*hugs you* That is a lot to carry all on your shoulders and a lot being taken from your emotional bucket. I say kudos to you for taking a step back and reevaluating what you need during a period as trying as this. I’ll keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.
I don’t have any good time management books, but if you haven’t read The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, I highly recommend it. I found it very uplifting reading when I was in a rough place and having trouble keeping my spirits up.
Thanks, Becks! Thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. I’ll look up the book, I need encouraging things right now!
Oh, the blizzard! Never have I been so happy that I decided to do a grocery run on a Monday night. (Also, never have I been so happy that our electricity didn’t go out. I was terrified of a repeat of the ice storm from ’00, when we had no electricity and no water for three days.)
*HUGS* I am so, so sorry you’re having to deal with crazy family stuff. That is never ever fun, and it’s even less fun being the one that everybody dumps on. I’ll be praying for you.
And seriously, when it’s 100+ degrees outside as long as the sun is up, I think you can be forgiven for not working out on a regular basis. In fact, it might actually be dangerous to do so unless you were drinking enough water to rehydrate.
On the major plus side? We’re planned for NaNo this year. All that remains is the execution. And we’ve planned that! 😀
I love you. That is all.
😀
I think you’ve managed quite nicely despite the trials you are going through. I totally feel your pain there. My life is full of “keeping it together for everyone else” and I falter sometimes. It never helps when those around us want to make things worse by complaining or being bitter. But we manage to get through. As my husband says, “Everything happens for a reason.” AND “Everything works out in the end.” So, hugs and cookies for you! If you need to vent, I’m here. I know all about being an introvert too. But it’s nice to be able to talk to someone (even if they are over the internet) that may have a similar situation, or at least can help you work though it because they have their own troubles and the support helps).
Good to see you making some changes. No need to stress yourself any further. And I hope we can continue to see you on the #writemotivation hash tag! The dino will miss you if not!
*Virtual hug* It sounds like you are doing what you need to keep control of your life. Balance is what its all about. I wish you all the best for your goals!
The life of a writer is often so much more than sitting down and writing words. There is life. As in Living Individuals Futilely Existing. The getting by. Day to day. Can I get a moment’s peace-life. Yeah. Life. But you’re doing something. Setting goals. Re-evaluating them and adjusting as needed. You may not have managed perfect goal accomplishment, but this has given you a chance to see the chaos at work and to work at doing better.
That’s what’s important. May each day bring more learning and love and blessings! Big hugs to you and yours!
You’ve definitely been having to deal with a lot on your plate, and wow, you’re a pastor! It sounds like you’re doing really well in the midst of all these things happening, though. Family issues can take over. In my case, they often make me feel like I should be spending ALL my time thinking about them, but in reality, sometimes those issues make me want to dive further into things I can do something about, because sometimes you can only do so much to help others and then have to step back. But I imagine it’s especially difficult when you’re in the middle of it all. I hope things work out for you and you find yourself with more clear time to write.
As for a good book on time management, I wish I knew one! A great book that’s helped me through some tough times (that I need to read again) talks about time management, but has a wider scope: Dale Carnegie’s “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.” But I could totally use some good time management tips myself. If I hear of one I’ll let you know!
Hope to continue seeing you around on the hashtag! 🙂
i can so relate to some of what you have been going through. finding a good balance is difficult when it feels like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. during a recent therapy session, it was pointed out that if my husband and i didn’t take care of ourselves and our needs – putting them first occasionally – then we wouldn’t be up to the challenge of taking care of our son and his demanding needs. we rarely get a break – i can count on one hand the number of nights out together we’ve had in the past five years – and that time away is so re-energizing. we are calmer parents, less stressed, etc. taking some time to reflect on what you need, setting boundaries with others, and scaling back in some areas will hopefully take some of that weight off of you. and writing. writing is the thing, isn’t it? that always helps me feel better. *big hugs* hope you find some balance and inner peace soon! we’re all here for you!
You are an astounding person, and even though I try to tell you that in person often, I want to repeat it here. Sometimes reading is different than hearing. =)
I can understand the first pitfall you talked about. We both got so caught up in talking ABOUT writing and doing platform-building, and following tons and tons of blogs and twitter accounts, that we forgot to do what we set out to do in the first place. Write. As many wonderful things that the internet has done for writing, it’s been such a detriment to it as well.
I love you and admire you as a dear sister who just happened to show up in my life a bit later than normal. You have the strength to endure and overcome everything being placed upon your shoulders right now, but when you feel that strength crumbling just remember that you have me and others who will stand by you and listen.
Deep breaths. You’ve got this.
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