Seasons and Cycles

My blogging consistency has slipped as summer rapidly approaches. I recently took stock of my writing progress, and noted that for me, creativity and publication seem to run in seasons and cycles. In February, I only logged twenty hours creative writing time, while in April, I logged over fifty hours. But I haven't been able to maintain the pace.

I am not a fan of excuses, but I had to consider, what are the events that drag me away from my laptop?

1. Women’s Fit Team – My husband and our elder daughter became inspired to run a half marathon, which we successfully completed Sunday. I choose to make time for running because it is my exercise of choice, and it keeps me sane. Now that the half marathon is over, I might cut down on the intensity of my training, but I plan to continue my running fitness program.
2. Day job – Although we are planning for retirement, it is still several years away. Writing does not come close to replacing my job income, and let’s not even discuss the health insurance plan I enjoy as a result of being employed. Nope, quitting the day job is not yet an option.
3. Family – I am happy the grandkids still like to spend time with us. On the other end of the spectrum, our parents are experiencing health issues, and need assistance with their care. Being involved with our children, grandchildren, and parents is important, but it all breaks down if my husband and I don’t take care of each other. Family is a good problem to have. Trimming down on family time is not in my future.

So those are the things I refuse to give up. Here's what I can give up to spend more time writing:

1. Television – collapsing mindlessly in front of the TV after a day of work and other errands and chores, is not serving me well. We probably watch a lot less TV than most folks, but I could just as easily read a book or short story, or writing how-to books, blogs, and magazines, if I can’t muster the energy to work on writing.
2. Home repair and improvement – The project that started small, and ended in a complete kitchen remodeling, is finally completed. The wood floors are in. We have a few more must-do projects, but the most disruptive ones are done. No more washing dishes in the bathtub! Home projects promise to taper off soon.
3. Blogging and social media – I plan to continue posting to my blog, but not at the expense of my writing time. Likewise with Facebook. I’ll pop in from time to time, but I need to cut back.
4. Gardening – I am reducing the size of my garden this year. I’m sticking to things that I either can’t find in the stores (unusual varieties and colors), or are prohibitively expensive (heirloom tomatoes). I’m not filling every square inch of my garden space.

Five years ago, I became a published author. I imagined that by now, I would be in a position to write full time. Someday soon, I will have plenty of time to write. And then I will miss these hectic days of struggling to find balance. Since I can't cram more hours into a day, I need to have patience, slow down, and let things proceed at a survivable pace. This is a season of life I intend to savor.

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