I’ve done a ‘taking stock’ post (devised by Pip from Meet Me At Mike’s) before. It’s a good opportunity to share what you’re up to… and excellent if you’re struggling with what to write.
The lovely Denyse Whelan has set that as today’s ‘Life this week’ blog link-up theme, but naturally I’m offering up a variation of sorts.
It probably won’t surprise regular readers to know I’ve been doing A LOT of navel-gazing recently. I mean… even more than this overthinker usually indulges (in).
It kinda started with this post about quitting vs surrendering, in which I pondered commitments, to-do lists and life in general. #asyoudo.
I also wrote about some arbitrary rules I have and ‘why’ I don’t allow myself more flexibility in my non-working life.
It finally occurred to me I have a lot of freedom at the moment. Although it doesn’t feel like it.
So…
I’m
thinking of having
taking a break from blogging.
I discussed this on a couple of closed Facebook forums last week. I know it’s something we bloggers do from time to time. Sometimes it’s a bit of a cry for help, encouragement or reassurance from others to say we’ll be missed / we’re loved / that the world will end without our wisdom. And it may yet prove to be just that for me.
It’s a huge step as I’ve been blogging for 8yrs and it’s a significant part of my life. Indeed, ‘blogger’ appears on all of my social media profiles AND my LinkedIn account. I’m reminded of my ‘loss of identity’ post written in November 2012 after my seachange… wondering who I was if I wasn’t a: public servant or project manager. I’ve at least been able (to continue to) say I’m a blogger. Or that I blog. As if I DO have a sense of purpose.
I love writing and blogging is the only writing I do. It’s why I started blogging.
But… I’m finding the book blogging to be a bit of a struggle. I love reading, but the reviewing process feels burdensome at times and I feel I have little to offer. And of course, if I’m receiving free books I feel obliged to share my thoughts on them. (Good, or bad.)
And I’m undergoing some sort of crisis of confidence about my personal blogs. I enjoy writing about ‘whatever’s on my mind’ but second guessing myself a lot lately and can’t organise my own thoughts. It’s leading to a feeling of overwhelm and I’m feeling like I HAVE to blog even when I’m not in the mood.
Original pic from 5yrs ago
I don’t know as yet if I’m taking a break or if I’m quitting blogging full-stop.
Having said that, you’ll see book reviews pop up over the next few months as I’ve got requests in with publishers for May and June releases and I feel I need to honour those. But… I’m going to pull back on my blog reading and the like at the moment and I’ll close comments on book reviews so people don’t feel they NEED to stop by and leave a comment or that I need to reciprocate.
I’m hoping to continue the camaraderie on social media and not disappear completely. I love so many of the people I’ve grown close to over the past 8yrs. Some have come and gone but many are still around.
Like I said… this may not be the end. I may be back. I just need to know who I am OTHER than a blogger, or what life is like outside of blogging.
I apologise if I’ve made it sound like the world is ending! I am fairly sure mankind will cope. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/72x72/1f609.png" alt="