Blogging Is Harder Than It Seems

Hmmm...what excuse do I use now about not having been blogging lately???  Work? Illness? Natural disaster?

When I started this blog I thought it would be easy to keep up.  After all, I am writing amazing blog posts in my head all the time. How hard could it be to get them from my head to paper, to the computer, edited, and published?  

Turns out, really hard.

While not always "amazing" (that was sarcasm) I am truly always writing blog posts in my head.  I don't remember a day in the last 10 or so years when I haven't thought "that would make a great story!" at least five times and continued to write it all out in my head. This odd, OCD-like behavior is actually the reason I started blogging.  "Now I can actually get those story ideas out of my head. This is the perfect outlet for me - hooray!"  Of course, when I made this glorious revelation I didn't think about the time it would actually take to get my crazy thought process in to something others might understand, let alone the whole sitting down and doing it thing.  

Still, I thought I could do it because, thanks to another OCD-like behavior of mine. I am an incredibly fast typer.  How have I mastered such a skill you may wonder?  Simple,  I am always - and I mean ALWAYS typing. Or at least my fingers are. If you've ever held hands with me this would come as no surprise to you, but those of you who are not my children, my husband or one of a handful of lucky suitors from my youth, are probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about.

It's simple.  When I was in 7th grade we were required to take "Keyboarding" (yep, I'm old enough to remember electric typewriters!). The teacher - Mr. Solem -  sat us in alphabetical order by last name which placed me the back of the room with Reed Walhof - the perfect spot for slacking off in what I deemed to be an unimportant class (recall that at this point in my life I was going to be scientist, so I didn't need 'silly' skills like typing!).  It didn't take long for Mr. Solem to realize that Reed and I weren't taking his class quite as seriously as he did. One day he proclaimed that everyone in the class would get detention if I didn't type to perfection on our next test.  I've never stopped practicing since.

So, if I'm always thinking of stories and always typing, why am I not posting more consistently? I have no freaking idea! 

I read some really amazing blogs and find myself wondering how these women do it. While my life is busy it certainly isn't busier than theirs - some of them have like a hundred kids, after all. So do they sit at their computers all day long and write? (That sitting still thing doesn't work for me!). Do they have keyboards attached to every chair in their house?  (That would totally ruin the feng shui!). Do they write in their cars, on the treadmill, in the shower? (That's the only time I get peace and quiet!). Do they ever sleep? (Oh God, please don't tell me I have to give up sleep!).

What it comes down to is this - I'm not them, I'm me. This journey to "Find Amy" isn't just about eating better and exercising more, it's about figuring out how to balance the things I need to do with the things I want to do.  Thus, "Finding Amy" continues to be an every day struggle.  I wish I could get all of the stories, anecdotes and insanity out of my head and down on paper on a daily basis, but I'm me and, quite frankly, it just ain't going to happen. 

So my solution is to keep typing away, knowing that sometimes my fingers will actually reach the keyboard. And when they do, I hope you will be there to read it.   

 

Dear Self

I like to read other blogs for many different reasons.  First, as a writer I think it's important to see what others are writing about and how they are writing it.  While the bulk of my favorites are, of course, about weight loss/healthy eating/running/etc  I also love fashion blogs, cooking blogs, parenting blogs and anything to do with Charlottesville.  Secondly, I find a lot of inspiration in reading others stories.  Whether it be about an amazing run they had last week, hurdles they're currently encountering or conquering a few more pounds on the scale, it's therapeutic to realize that your struggles are not necessarily unique.

Yesterday I came across a post from one of the blogs I try to keep up with called Running Through Life.  The post was entitled "Dear Self: Just Go".  It was the exact the words I've been saying to myself for the past few weeks (though much more eloquently stated than what I say to myself) as I've struggled to get back into my training plan.  It reminded me that I'm not that different from so many people out there, working to keep their lives/journeys/health/goals on track. And though it is indeed, work, it's my work to do.  

My favorite lines from the post read:

"You are back in power. You are in control. Just do it.....

The gym in calling your name. Answer it."

I like to think sometimes that there are forces out there plotting against me (like the universe was yesterday) but what it comes down to is that it is up to me and only me.  I have the power to make changes.  I am in control of what happens.  I just have to do it!

Do you have favorite blogs or inspirational writing that you read to help keep you motivated?  I'd love to hear about them.