Someone once told me if you want to hear God laugh, make a plan. I am a planner at heart and planned to spend the month of June relaxing on the beach, reading lots of books, completing several home projects and using part of my blog break to re-evaluate my vision and goals for this blog. Some of those things happened, but not the way I had envisioned them and there was no beach involved (insert frown face here).
This seems to happen quite often with my visions. Does anyone else have this problem? I had also planned to get this blog post out sooner, but a few fleas decided to make friends with my dog and I’ve been on a cleaning frenzy all week. You know it’s bad when your vet’s advice is to have a glass of wine and read a book. In other words, quit reading about the lifespan of fleas on the internet and take a chill pill.
Getting back to June, as soon as I quit writing blog posts I got bronchitis which I blame on my daughter. She had a cold the week before, but my cold turned into bronchitis. I was tired, unmotivated and had a persistent cough for at least three weeks. She was sick for a week and still went to school. Being sick forced me to rest. I didn’t have the desire to watch television or even peruse social media. I just wanted to sleep.
Lesson One: I’ve learned it’s important for me to spend part of my day resting and taking breaks even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Resting does not include social media.
Everyone needs a break and sometimes pushing through certain projects or your work isn’t always the right answer. I did get a few books read and one of them was Uncertainty by Jonathan Fields. Jonathan has spent a lot of time researching creativity and productivity. He has found well planned work rituals with planned breaks are more effective than working long hours without a break. Most people start to become less focused and productive after 45 to 90 minutes. Taking a short break will help to recharge your cognitive abilities.
I’m currently reading Make it Happen by Lara Casey which was recommended to me. I was starting to feel off course with my blog and focused on what I thought people wanted and would get repins on Pinterest. I’ve realized I was spending a lot of time chasing perfection (this will be a whole other blog post in the future) and not focusing on my purpose.
Lesson Two: I’ve learned it’s more important to say NO than yes in order to stay in line with what’s right for me.
I have a lot of things I want to share as I journey through life: thoughts, experiences, stories and things. My original intention for this blog was to inspire you to try new things, step out of your comfort zone and find joy in the everyday. Oprah once said, you teach what you need to learn. These are all things I need to learn. I’m not perfect and I’m tired of chasing perfect. I hope you’ll continue to read my joyful scribblings as I evolve, make mistakes and continue to learn and try new things. I will joyfully share what I’ve learned and I hope you feel free to do so on my blog as well.
Amazon affiliate links are provided for the books I mentioned.
I am glad you are back, I am so sorry you didn’t get the break you were hoping for. I am glad, however that you weren’t struggling with bronchitis while pushing yourself to get blog posts published! Since you have been gone, I have started a link party! Come by on Sundays and share whatever you would like. I am still an hour from the beach, but maybe someday your break needs to bring you to Florida! Welcome back, I am glad to see Joyful Scribblings in my inbox again! Hugs! Chloe
HI Chloe, we were actually supposed to go to Destin the beginning of June, but all is not lost. We are going to Cape Cod so I’ll still get to a beach this summer. I hope you are enjoying your new home. Where are you in Florida? My parents live north of Tampa.
Welcome back Dawn. You’re back much earlier than I expected. Sometimes a break is what you need to clear your head, find your focus and listen to God. I follow politics a lot and have learned that the candidate/politician that tries to please and pander to everyone is the least effective and usually the least trustworthy. The most effective are those who stay on point, stay true to their beliefs and know they won’t please everyone. But I bet they sleep a whole lot better knowing they are themselves. Even in your own family, you know you can’t please everyone –
Me – “I made spaghetti for dinner”
Them – “Oh, I wanted lasagne!”
DOH!
Thanks so much for sharing Jeanene. So true! I love the comment about family as well 🙂 It will make you crazy trying to please everyone!
Hi Dawn, I agree…..I have learned to just ” roll with it” at times, otherwise I drive myself crazy! I made a big breakfast for my boys today. I had fruit cups, eggs, maple glazed little sausages and made for the first time, hash browns on my waffle iron ( which BTW turned out great, nice and crispy on the outside) my youngest was the first one down and loving his big breakfast. My oldest came running down and it was “ahhhh well…. I was going to meet some friends at Price Chopper for breakfast”….. I just looked at him and said that’s fine, go have fun! He then added” Thanks Mom, it does look good!” 🙂
You made me hungry just reading your comment Kristin! I’ve seen a pin for hash browns on the waffle iron, but haven’t tried it yet. I’m going to send you an invite for a group pinterest board where you can pin recipes you’ve tried and liked. I wish I loved cooking, but instead I just like eating. I’ve had a similar situation happen with my kids, but with dinner. It would really be a treat if I made breakfast, but my kids aren’t big breakfast eaters.
Lol, i hear you. Its hard not to plan every single thing and have this satisfied feeling. Im in the drivers seat, I get it. And then all of a sudden God has a hearty laugh right?
I am so with you.
The important thing is never stop learning. That’s the comfort in being caught off guard, just remember its a new lesson and you were lucky to have it. Even if it doesn’t feel like.
Glad you back Dawn xoxo
Thanks for sharing Ulyth. I try to find the lesson in everything and God knows I never stop learning 🙂
I missed your blogs. Look forward to readying them again!
Thanks Denise!
Very well said. I find myself needing to slow down and just enjoy. Alex is only home with us for a month and I’ve taken this time to enjoy our family time with him.