I didn't post a video because ... life jumped up and bit me in the a** last week. Actually over the course of the past two weeks. It was difficult to keep up with my duties to all my different writing organizations and my own writing goals. There came a day last week when I was ready to quit everything. Every online group, every group I belong to and even quit writing the WIP I'm 60K into. Everything was too much. But I thought of my parents. I grew up on a dairy farm. For those of you who don't understand dairy cows, they need a schedule to ensure top production of milk. Every twelve hours, they expect the farmer to be there. No matter what happened, the cows get milked. No illness, family tragedy, or level of exhaustion or frustration can interfere with that schedule. And my parents always did. The cows got milked on time despite weddings, graduations, illness and grief.
So I kicked myself in the a** and here I still am. I apologize to my friends whose blogs I didn't have time to visit last week. I'll do better. I completed paperwork for my publisher related to my newest contract. I gathered all the paperwork together for my upcoming Pennwriters' board meeting and prepared my own reports and sent them. I prepared what I needed for my meeting of my local Chapter of RWA and attended that meeting on Saturday. I cooked meals for the family, mowed the dang grass, and got back to my WIP. Everything is not wonderful and good, but the cows are getting milked on time, to be metaphorical. For a few days, I felt like was letting everyone down. But my parents taught me that sometimes you just have to keep going until you come out the other side.
I told you about my local RWA chapter being awarded the Chapter Excellence Award. They have this banner up at the RWA site. Pretty cool to be part of this dynamic group.
I didn't get to see Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, but I'm hoping my youngest son will take me for Mother's Day. He usually takes me to a movie I want to see that my husband doesn't for gifts. Counting on him.
Did you make a video about why you write? Had any dark days lately? Did you see Guardians? Are you getting your pitch ready for the #IWSGPit yet?
21 comments:
Sometimes life and everything can sure pile on, but much like the milking, we have to push on through. Thanks for the shout too, hope it is enjoyed by you. Staying far far ahead is my secret lol can take a break and no one knows.
Sometimes it's that routine that saves us. I'm sorry to hear that life bit you in the bum last. week.
You did get kicked in the butt. Glad you didn't quit though. And hope you see Guardians 2 next weekend.
You are awesome, pushing through and getting things done! Those "cows" are lucky to have you. :)
Hope you have a happy Mother's Day Movie Day!
The difference between cows and everyday life is that cows need to be milked--something you know way too well. Non life-important obligations can be postponed.
I hope you have better days soon.
If I understand your post correctly, I hope you get back to milking your books soon.
Kidding aside, it's good to be busy, and we're glad you haven't given up. If ever you should reach a point where you won't know what to do with yourself, I think you'll realize just how great it is to have so much good stuff going on.
I did resign a few groups and I cut back on some social media. Sometimes that has to be done, or you're gobbled up right along with any writing time. Glad you found a way to manage better. Your "roots" are your best teacher sometimes.
It's been kind of biting me in the ass lately, too. But sometimes it's best to just do a little rather than nothing at all. I hope you get to go see Guardians.
Sometimes life wants to know if you mean it, that you really want to do what you think you love to do. You've shown it that the answer is yes, you met the challenge and kept going.
I'm so sorry. I've had some serious dark days the last three months and now that I'm feeling better, I posted about a rather grim topic and Netflix show on my blog. Don't ask me how that worked out - except now I'm okay enough to watch something like that without just weeping in the first few minutes.
I hope my family takes me to see Guardians this weekend, too. I told my kids that's what I want, more than anything else. Movie and chocolate.
I hope you get to see the movie and spend some time with your son!
Sorry Susan life hit you hard, hope things will get back to the norm. Life has certainly give me some bad kicks but if it were not for the blogging scene I would not have had such wonderful friends as yourself. Take care.
Yvonne.
Those pesky 'cows' do have a way of needing our attention. I can totally relate!! Good to hear you are back into it again.
Sorry to hear you've felt so overwhelmed lately. (I can relate far too well.) Glad you've found a way to persevere despite that, though!
Plowing onward is a good thing, Susan. It's how we survive the ups and downs of life.
I'm so far behind the times and disconnected. I need to get on the ball with everything that's happening here in Blogdom. I need to plow ahead.
I saw Guardians this weekend. It wasn't as good as the original, a little slow at the beginning. A little too much character development for my taste. But it was still a fun little romp in space.
Interesting cow analogy. Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and concentrate on one thing (udder?) at a time - sounds like you were getting overwhelmed by the amount of groups and everything you've got going on.
Hope things let up for you soon. Until then, keep milking those metaphorical cows.
My dark thoughts come from mismanagement of time. I do have time to write, but other things keep getting in the way. It often feels like an obstacle course that I'm always losing.
I am very interested in participating in the pitch fest and hopefully this deadline will get me to finish the last editing touches on my novel and learn Twitter.
I'm sorry you had a hard week. A few times in December and January I almost quit everything, too. I did step down from one obligation as a moderator for a blog, but I almost stepped down from IWSG, too. I didn't, though...barely. There are still times when I get too overwhelmed and want to quit everything, though. If you ever want to talk, email me. :)
So sorry you had rough time. We all tend to go through this at one time or other.
Post a Comment