Jay and Kyrie Summer 2007
The first rule of fight club is that you don’t talk about fight club. The first rule of blogging is that you don’t blog about why you haven’t been blogging.
I love breaking rules. Don’t you?
With Summer officially here now, I’ve decided to cut back my posting to once a week. At least for now. Next week, I might decide to cut back to once every two weeks. Or maybe once a month.
I know, right? It’s blogging blasphemy! How can you expect to grow your blog if you don’t provide regularly-scheduled updates?!?! You’ll lose subscribers! How do you ever expect to be taken seriously? You’ll lose your page rank in google! People will forget about your blog and you’ll fall back into obscurity! Don’t you want to be read? Don’t you want to be heard? What’s wrong with you?!?!
Oh, blah, blah, blah.
The truth is, when I first started this blog, I really wanted to grow it into something huge. I wanted to find a way to make this my income. I thought that blogging might be a pathway to getting paid for doing what I really love. I wanted to get thousands of subscribers, and write some great information products to sell to them. I thought I might even try to get a syndicated newspaper column out of it, or maybe some paid speaking gigs. Or, you know, if I really wanted to dream…a book deal.
Right now, those things just don’t seem that important to me. Why? Because I’ve been out enjoying life instead of sitting on the computer for hours upon hours. My daughter is here. I’m loving the time with her. Swimming. Playing together. Hanging out in bookstores together. Going to museums. Going to the aquarium. Going to Six-Flags. Enjoying life…enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible. Doing fun stuff. Enjoying the present moment as much as possible. You know…being a dad. That’s what’s important to me.
So, perhaps you’ll forgive me if I don’t post as much. Perhaps you’ll understand if I don’t write as many 1200 word articles. Perhaps you, too, will spend more time with your loved ones. Go ahead. Go outside and play. You’ll thank yourself for it later, I promise.
Love always,
Jay
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Great post! I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying life, having fun, instead of worrying so much about how often you post. Even though your posts will be less frequent, I’ll still be looking forward to them!
Positively Present´s last blog ..blueprints for a life: 10 lessons my dad taught me
The only hard and fast rule about blogging is that there are no rules – only suggestions
And you do it when you feel like it. Period.
It’s YOURS, like a diary. Your life – and your words when you are motivated to share them
Enjoy your moments, days, weeks and months and years – in whatever you choose to do !
Loving Annie´s last blog ..Happy Father’s Day
Love it Jay! Enjoy your daughter and the summer. I’ve been able to pull myself away from the computer a lot more lately. Yesterday I went to the woods and today I’m going to the beach. Have fun!
Stephen – Rat Race Trap´s last blog ..Don’t Be Offended
Hi Jay,
That’s one good thing about blogs. They will wait for us. I totally agree with what you wrote. Life is for living. When we’re on our death bed, I doubt we’ll be saying, “I wish I had spent more time blogging”.
Enjoy the time with your daughter. Making memories is much more important than worrying about subscribers and Google page rank.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Do “They” Have The Right To Know
Jay,
As much as I love to read your blog I’d support you in your decision. Being the dad of a lovely and amazing daughter myself I know exactly what you mean. Enjoy!
Sunny Jamiel´s last blog ..Life, Circles and the Shift
@Dani – Thank you! I always look forward to yours, too.
@Annie – You’re right, of course, but I thought that the Fight Club reference was too good to pass up, so that’s why I phrased it that way.
@Stephen – Lucky! I wish I could go to the beach! I miss the beach sooo much…
@Barbara – You’re right. On my deathbed, it won’t be blogging, or my day job, or any other kind of “work” that I’ll be regretting. It’ll definitely be the time I didn’t spend with the kid, or with friends.
@Sunny – Thank you, Sunny! I’m so glad you’re feeling better! We all missed you!
Hey Jay!!
as long as you’re happy, it’s okay.
so if spending less time blogging will increase your happiness, do it.
ask yourself why you were doing this in the first place? …and then ask yourself whether this actually needs as much work as you’re giving it.
all the best
alex – unleash reality
alex – unleash reality´s last blog ..Sound-Bite Sized Self-Help
“I thought that blogging might be a pathway to getting paid for doing what I really love.” So many of us had that dream, before we LEARNED. Sigh. Real life beats computer life any way. I’ll miss your posts but I’m glad you’re enjoying life.
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on Life and Mad Lib-eration Answers by Ribbon
Haha, this post made me smile
You have to do whatever makes you happy, we only have one life and we don`t know when it`s gonna end, so let`s enjoy it! I`m glad you`re doing just that with your loved ones, I`m sure you won`t regret it. Besides, if you write not wanting too, content won`t be the same.
Rosa´s last blog ..Aceptando mis emociones – Embracing my emotions
Hi, Jay! Sorry I’m so late commenting here but, like you, I’ve been out playing with my kid. We just spent 3 days in Chattanooga doing all sorts of fun things, none of which included the internet.
It’s been weird to be completely unplugged for the whole weekend… but weird in a good way. I’m remembering that feeling of creating all my memories with the people around me, and out in the real world. It’s a bit intoxicating, really.
Thank you for this beautiful post, because now I feel better about the fact that it felt so good to step away from my blog. I’m trying not to read too much into that right now… but I’ve definitely made a mental note of it. Life, out there with my kid, is pretty sweet.
Lisis´s last blog ..Adventure: From the Heartland to the Front Lines
Jay,
Very smart move! I’m thinking about doing something similar.
Roger | A Content Life´s last blog ..8 Thinking Traps
@Alex – Thanks! Blogging (as you know) definitely takes a LOT of work. It’s almost like having a second full-time job that I don’t get paid for. I think having a Summer vacation is just what the doctor ordered.
@Dot – Thanks. It is funny how much there is to learn about blogging, isn’t there? When you first start out, it seems so easy. But like most things that seem easy, it really takes a lot of hard work to make it seem so.
@Rosa – That’s a good point. If you’re not writing from the heart, then your content suffers. That’s another good reason for me to take this “mini break”. I take pride in the quality of my content, and wouldn’t want to sacrifice that.
@Lisis – Indeed, life “out there” is pretty sweet. Enjoy the play time!
@Roger – I highly encourage it! Takes a lot of the pressure off, and helps return blogging to a fun, creative outlet instead of something that I *have* to do.
Hi Jay,
The great thing about life is that there is no set rules. The same is true for blogging. Enjoy your time with your daughter. The quantity of posts is not as important as the quality and your happiness. Like Dani said, we will all look forward to your future posts…whenever they become available!
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Vacation State of Mind All the Time
Aww! And I just discovered you! Oh well, spending time with your daughter and enjoying the summer is definitely more important. Have fun!
Christine´s last blog ..First Pedicure
Hey Jay! You go for it. Spend as much precious time doing things that bring you joy. I for one won’t be unsubscribing just because you’re having more fun doing other stuff!
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..Heart of business
@Nadia – Thanks. It’s good to know that people will hang around, even if my posts aren’t so frequent.
@Christine – I’m not going away…just slowing down a bit. I’m glad you found your way over here, and look forward to getting to know you better.
@Ian – I’m glad, my friend!
Thank you for your support!
Pretty cool post. I just found your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Any way
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!
You look like you’re having a lot of fun there Jay — I’m glad you’re getting more opportunities to have moments like that.
Enjoy life Jay! Have a blast being a dad and share great memories with your daughter.
Will still look forward to your future posts because I’m sure they’re gonna be even more awesome.
Grace´s last blog ..Do your goals come with excess baggage?
[...] recently read my friend Jay’s post on Lazy Summer Days in which he reduced his posting schedule for the summer. He explains why: Because I’ve been out [...]
She – and you, will only be this age once. Seize it – the internet will be around awhile – as will your friends
Enjoy.
@Chris – Thanks! Moments like that one are what life is all about.
@Grace – Thanks! I sure hope they’ll be even more awesome. I’m going to keep trying, anyway!
@Dawn – Thank you. Carpe Diem is the name of the game, right?
Hi Jay,
I thought many of the same things as you when I started blogging. I can totally relate. I haven’t made a dime from blogging. Instead, I’ve evolved, grown, and started to find my own voice.
I’m glad that you are spending more time living life =)
Vi | Maximizing Utility´s last blog ..On relationships: Mindfulness
So funny to mention this…I just added a link on my blog from the site “Blogging without obligation” check out this link. http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233
I think you will agree with this! Enjoy the summer and don’t worry about keeping up… We’ll all be here when you pop in and out!
Caroline´s last blog ..Favorite “Foto” Friday – It’s summer!
Jay, it’s great to hear you are out having fun, and enjoying quality time with your daughter! We will miss the posts, but as readers we understand you have your priorities too. We’ll be here waiting whenever you get back
You are so very wise. Everyone who wants or wanted to go the route of money and fame who sits in front of their computer with family and fun they’re ignoring are paying a big price.
You are walking your talk and many will follow.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Magic Monday Freebie with Steve Pavlina
@Vi – You’ve evolved, grown, and started to find your own voice. Me too.
I think that’s much better than money, don’t you?
@Caroline – I like the “Blogging Without Obligation” page. If we’re not careful, we can find ourselves treating our blogs as something we “should” do or “have” to do…they can become work.
@Celes -Thanks! I hope you’re right…that I won’t lose any readers, but even if I do, it’s a small price to pay for the time with my kid.
@Tess – LOL, I’m not sure if anyone else would agree when you call me “wise”, but I appreciate the compliment! But what you say is true: I’m leading a Summer revolution of laziness!
I understand. I am a professor and do not work summers. However, that doesn’t mean I stop researching, writing, etc. I limit the time I spend blogging and I plan my posts so my audiences don’t expect me to post all the time.
Bakari´s last blog ..Success as an Unconscious Process: Level 2 and Revisiting “Blink”
I’m brand new at this blogging thing, so thanks for setting a good example for me to follow.
Lori | Spiritual Tidbits´s last blog ..A Committee of One
Hi Lori,
I’m not sure how good of an example I’m being right now…taking all this time away. But thanks for stopping by, and leaving a comment! Your blog is awesome!
[...] first I was ashamed of that fact, but then I read Jay’s post, Lazy Summer Days, and realized I shouldn’t have to feel guilty about being out, enjoying a good time away from [...]