Ever feel that you’ve been running at full speed for an awfully long time and don’t have much to show for it?
That’s me.
I’m also having some trouble lately writing for the blog. I have five or six posts started in draft form. I get a little way into them and hit the same wall every time: How self-indulgent can you get. Nobody will be interested in reading this about me me me.
I’m tired, I am not sleeping well, and today is not going to be a good day physically. My list is full of Things to Do that don’t have a defined point of closure, like “dye fabric for quilt show” and “work on website for _______.com.” I need to recharge the batteries, but I have no idea of the right way to go about that today. It’s much easier to just keep slogging away at the To-Do List from Hell, head down, instead of trying to write something witty and interesting when I haven’t done anything witty or interesting in quite some time.
Do you ever feel that way? What works for you, if you do?
All right, enough with the self-pity. Time to get up and Get Something Done so I can write an upbeat post tomorrow. :)
[Update] Perception is everything. I wrote out a list of all the things I did do yesterday — it’s after the flip if you are interested; skip if you aren’t.
Tuesday, June 7, 2005:
- Home Stuff:
- Deposited check into credit union (involved a midday trip downtown).
- Filled out and mailed documentation for five prescription purchases to Benefit Elect (involved a run to the pharmacy to obtain a list of purchases for January 2005).
- Mailed R’s book order to Edward R. Hamilton.
- Unpacked and set up new dehumidifier; mailed warranty card.
- Marketing/Promotion:
- Corrected business card layout.
- Ordered cards from Printing for Less.
- CarolLoganNewbill.com:
- Found a substitute for Mistral font; downloaded and installed.
- Revised graphic for an artists’ eye.
- Checked layout in Firefox and IE; considered browser sniffing script and writing two versions of main page (no decision made).
- Birmingham Guild Show:
- Cut 100 (5×7) Decor Bond rectangles for kits.
- Bought new rotary blade and white cotton for dyeing.
- Easels arrived; need to be put together.
Okay, maybe Tuesday wasn’t a total waste. :)
June 8th, 2005 at 7:28 am
I don’t know if this will help, but here’s my attitude about blogging: It IS all about MeMeMe! That’s sort of the point, to me.
It’s my forum to express my thoughts, to talk about what interests me, whether it interests anyone else or not — my own little editorial page. My blog is the place for me to blather on about things I wouldn’t bog down an email list or bulletin board with, but want to talk about for whatever reason. Since people are coming to MY site (my web “home”) rather than me intruding into their space, I feel like I can talk about anything from art to spirituality to my shoes and it’s up to the visitor to read it if it interests them, or move on if it doesn’t.
You might be surprised how many people enjoy reading the YouYouYou stuff. My favorite blogs, by far, are the ones where I feel like I get to know the person writing them, at least a little bit.
June 8th, 2005 at 8:27 am
Carol,
I’m with DebR. A lot of blogs are all about the writer. Mine is. Deb’s is. I really don’t enjoy the more esoteric blogs as much. But heck I will check yours regularly just for the occasional glimpse of the mannequin. And hearing about your TO-DO list and how you are doing on it IS important.
For a lot of us, it’s watching the process of working that we want. That means that the writer must be self-indulgent. If you don’t share “I hate how this project is looking and may just throw it in the garbage”… how do we know that others feel that way too?
My suggestion… for what it’s worth… start posting those self-indulgent posts… Pick a phrase… something simple like RoseAnn RoseannaDana’s famous “NEVER MIND”… and just tag that to the end. And post. Clear these posts out of your draft pile , and from your mind. (To Do: finish these drafts so they are Pulitzer Prize worthy…Screw that! Just make them DONE.)
June 8th, 2005 at 8:47 am
Yep, your blog is about you and I read because you’re interesting to me, even if you’re boring to you. This may be because I’ve only known you a couple of years whereas you’ve known you for all your life and so now may occasionally bore yourself. :)
As to the other – one of two things. Either totally indulge yourself (bed w/a good movie or book, your favorite meal for supper, hot bath, etc.), or pick something you know you can accomplish – even something as small as cleaning out the medicine cabinet. Do that, then survey the wonderful orderly goodness of it, then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
One last thing, but you probably know this: break up large projects into very small do-able parts. Then the day becomes not about “I can’t finish it,” but about “I got another part done.”
Peace.
June 8th, 2005 at 2:57 pm
Hi Carol, I have been enjoying your blog and others for the past five months. What I don’t think you all understand is that you are actually providing a service for those of us who have doubts about our own creativity, talent, etc. I have learned so much about myself through these blogs, especially that even the most talented, amazing, and awe-inspiring quilters have some of the same insecurities and doubts that I have. So please, keep up with your blog and write it for yourself knowing that you are opening doors of insight for others. Thank you to you and the other members of the ring for helping me to grow. Sincerely, Jeannie
June 8th, 2005 at 7:16 pm
Recharging: that’s what QSDS is for. I feed off the incredible creative energy of all the poeple there. There are still class openings in session IV….join us!!
teri
June 8th, 2005 at 7:17 pm
If I didn’t write about ME ME ME on my blog there wouldn’t be any reason to have a blog ’cause I probably won’t discover the cure for Aids or cancer and if I did make that kind of discovery I would hire someone to write a blog about ME ME ME and no one would even question the fact that the blog was about ME ME ME.
I think at times everyone feels that they are stuck in a rut and nothing is being accomplished….. I have checked your blog for the past few days looking for the announcement about Orange Guy……. So tell everyone about Orange Guy and his accomplishments.