The words aren’t coming this summer. To be fair, I haven’t given them much opportunity. I planned to write at the beach, away from mundane demands and the sef-imposed pressure to post something in this space.
I know I need to prioritize my writing; I need to make an appointment with myself to block out distractions and focus on the words. In retrospect, vacation wasn’t the time to make this resolution.
I planned to write. And then the ocean beckoned to my children, who then called to me.
How can writing compete with bumper cars? When our family fills seven of the nine cars, and scares off the family behind us in line? That family should consider themselves lucky; our clan is ruthless. Unsuspecting uncles are cornered by their niece and big brother.
How can I stay back at the house to write when Matt and the kids go fishing off the pier on our last morning? Teach your child to fish, and they’ll make you do all the work. But they’ll catch a bunch and toss them back in.
It’s tough to write when your quads are burning after trudging up the sand dunes.
or when you’re being goofy on the miniature golf course.
Had I been writing, I would have missed the Just Dance Wii party, when all fifteen of us had our individual moments in the spotlight. Never mind that the spotlight was accompanied by hysterical giggles from the spectators. Laughter, music, and dancing are a spectacular trio.
I was too busy documenting our week in photos to document them in words.
Why write about the sunsets over the sound when I can witness them?
Some bloggers back off a bit during the summer. There is less posting, less reading, more living. For me, there are lazy afternoons, evening walks, and bar mitzvah celebration planning.
The writing will return. The words are in there, swirling around in my brain until I can coax them out. Sometimes I worry that they will stop swirling and wash away before I can catch them. But there will always be more to take their place.
life always should be the priority!
Exactly!
So refreshing – both the pictures and your sentiments. I’m cutting back too. If I write because “I HAVE TO” I find my writing is duller than dishwater, drier that toast. Not exactly conducive to drawing in readers. So I’m hanging about with my two, enjoying the sun and tapping out a post every now and then.
Thanks for the heads up that I’m not alone!
Ok, first of all, Kelly, I accidentally double published a reply to Kim, so you just got an email that said “Neither will I Kim!” Sorry about that. Secondly, you are definitely not alone, and it’s been so nice to hear that other bloggers are in the same summer slide that I am.
Ahh I do the same thing every time we go on vacation. I tell myself how much writing I’ll do, inspired by the salty air and sand in my toes. And then I don’t write a bit. I think we both make the right decision.
I think that you’re making perfect use of your summer! In general, blog readership is down in the summertime because everyone is out LIVING life- chasing kids at the beach and serving ice cream for dinner.
I know that you’ll find your words again. Soon enough, the kids will be back in school, fall will be here, and there will be time to come to the computer and write. We live life and have something to blog about, blogging isn’t life.
Very true, NJ. I just worry a bit that the words won’t come back. I hope you’re right!
I think you’re spending your summer the right way!
I think so too – thanks Kate!
Just remember living the life gives you the words. So live first and write when the kids are back in school. When it is cold and you don’t want to leave the house. Cause well vacations are awesome and shouldn’t be missed by holing up in a room writing for other people.
Plus you have that new Outlander book to read.
Exactly! I haven’t started it yet – I’m afraid that once I do I will not leave the house until I’m finished!
Beautiful photos! I especially liked the bumper cars one 🙂 Sometimes I think posts filled with photos are better than writing. Looks like yall had a great time. Have a great week, Dana!
Thank you Caroline – you too!
I’m so happy that you decided to just be with your family. You won’t be able to get the kids at this age during a summer ever again. And these are definitely the moments that need to be lived in order for our world and perception of it to form the amazing words that can be chronicled in blog posts so live my dear, live! 🙂
Yes, ma’am! 🙂
Dana, I think all of us writers have the same need, desire, and itch to write. And then we feel guilty if we aren’t doing it. But we’re also a passionate bunch who love our families, friends, and life fiercely. And besides, you have to be living life in order to have something to write about, right? Look at what a great material you have here. You’ve found the balance!
I’m trying, Shay, but it’s tough. I’m a perfectionist, and it’s hard to not be all-in. But I can’t do it for everything – something has to give.
What beautiful pictures and words. The words are there. They are appropriate for the time and space and where you’re at right now. I don’t think blogging should ever come before family.
I completely agree, Carla!
It looks like a great trip! I think I am going to be backing off a little next month as we take in some beach time and then a trip to see my brother in law get pinned as a General! Hopefully I will get some good pictures too! I am sure come fall, we’ll all be back in the swing of things.
I hope so, Michelle. This summer is so much harder for me than last summer, and I’m not sure why. Maybe because I’ve been blogging longer and have higher expectations of myself? I don’t know. Your August sounds wonderful – enjoy!
I think putting your writing on the back burner for the summer seems like a pretty good decision to me. I mean, you’re out there living. And enjoying your children. And making memories. As much as I love your words, what’s that line…? A picture’s worth a thousand.
Very true. Maybe not my pictures, but good ones are. 😉
Beautiful! I’m all for living in the moment and enjoying what is happening around you 🙂
That’s not always easy for me, but I’m getting better at it!
Life has to come before writing sometimes. Otherwise, what would we write about?
So true, Shell. Especially for a blogger like me who writes about life in general.
(Also, I am heading to Duck next week!)
You are so right that the words will return—and in the end, you won’t regret a moment of bumper cars, sand dunes, Wii dance parties, or sunsets. So glad you are soaking it up! Beautiful photos!
Thanks Katie – and have a great time in Duck! If you’ve never had Duck Donuts, try them. I’m not even a donut fan, but they were awesome.
This is one of my favorite posts ever. It perfectly captures the push/pull of blogging about our lives vs living our lives. To borrow from the cliche, on our deathbed none of us will say, “Gee, I wish I had blogged more.” We certainly don’t EVER want to say, “I wish I had closed my computer more and actually lived my life.”
Excellent insight, Dana!
You know, I think about that cliche a lot – especially when I’m trying to decide whether something is worth doing. It usually helps me put things in perspective.
This is beautiful and your pictures speak a thousand words! What a great time with your family! Wii dance offs are one of my favorite silly family things to do 😉
Oh, it was so much fun! It was my brother-in-law’s game, so we don’t get to do that regularly. They were really good at it; I was barely passable. But it was a blast!
One of the best things about blogging is that it gives you the space to “not write” or to write, depending on your mood. I think this was a beautiful way to capture your vacation. It shows just how much you were actually enjoying your vacation instead of waving everyone off to spend time online. And for that, I tip my virtual hat to you.
Thank you Leslie! I appreciate that. It was really nice to have the week “free.”
Awww, love your gorgeous beach pics! I’ve definitely been posting MUCH less this summer. I’m home with the kids all day, so there’s not near as much uninterrupted time. Plus, like you said, I’d rather be enjoying their company, present, and experiencing the summer. It’s hard enough to keep up with blogs and/or writing commitments during the summer! Writing just has to take a backseat sometimes. Enjoy your time, Dana. 🙂
Thank you Beth. Let’s just hope absence makes the heart grow fonder and I lose all my readers come September…but you’ll be here, right?
always, always, always, always. I might be late, but I’ll be a Dana stalker forevah! xoxo
Hooray for living and enjoying all the moments of summer and family – so much better than anything else!!!
Amen!
Glad to see you are having so much fun this summer!
I’ve been spending my time hiding indoors and not doing too much but I can’t complain. Well, I can and have but then I step outside in the wicked Vegas heat and say “Screw this. I’m going back inside.” LOL
I don’t blame you, Kim – I could not handle that heat! We’ve had a pretty mild summer by our standards, but I still prefer the A/C inside. Then I don’t need sunscreen!
I Completely AGREE.
When we leave town, I shut down the social media completely.
It is quite liberating, actually.
Happy Weekend! x
See, I shut down enough that the weekend is almost over by the time I responded to you! I’m learning, Kim…
This summer is the same for me. I’m writing a lot in my head, planning, plotting but not posting. It’s been good to cut back and let the words build up. I never want my craft to become mechanical or a chore. Thus, I’m embracing the whole vacation concept with vigor.
That’s an excellent idea, Jenny. I was starting to feel like it was a chore, so I’m backing off until I can approach it with positive energy.
what beautiful photos and words! inspiring to me.
Thank you so much Tammie!
Summertime bliss! Glad you are taking a beat to enjoy it all. xoxo
Thanks, Patti! Sorry I couldn’t add book club beach trip to the summer memories 🙁
I have missed your words this summer, but I completely understand. I have had a hard time finding moments to writes this summer, too, and family time is definitely more important. So glad you had fun at the beach and I am certain the words will come again.
I hope so, Lisa!
Those are great pictures! I am on vacation myself right now… as hard as I fight the urge to stay away from the computer, I am always drawn back. But, I am also getting plenty of down time and family time, so it’s all good!
Glad to hear that. Alexa – have a great trip!
Right there will you and I too have backed off a bit from writing, because how can I not want to enjoy every moment of this time of the year, which just so happens to be my favorite season. You are so right the words will be there always and can save it for a colder, drearier time of the year if anything now, too 😉
I hope the words are still there, Janine!
Words will come back at just the right moment. Until then treasure the moments with your family and make the most of it!
Thanks, Ana Lynn – I will!
Truth Dana! I think there comes a time when we have to ask ourselves are we living our life? Or are we living our blog? There was this whole life I had before the blog and there is a part of me that would like it back.
I can relate to that, Tara. I don’t like the blog-related stress I feel, particularly because I’m not making money and it’s supposed to be something I do for enjoyment.
I wrote almost the exact same thing about finding time to write and read and not really wanting to either. I think enjoying the time is what gives us that inspiration to write…when we feel like it. Those are the best ones. Ones that your heart is fully into and if you don’t see it, I feel that in this post you wrote.
Enjoy each minute 🙂
You’re right, Kimberly – if my heart’s not in it, it’s not worth writing. I’m going to go back to relaxing now…
Soak it all in because it will only be memories in pictures in a month or two and we’ll all be back to posting and commenting and reading like mad. I’ve backed off this summer to, with zero guilt. Summer is fleeting here, as is time with our families. We’ll never regret posting something but you would certainly regret missing out on ANY of the times you described.
Gorgeous pictures by the way!! Now go relax!!
Yes ma’am!
The words come back, and often they become more refined when they’re finally written.
Those are the coolest bumper cars!
The sand dunes. Ouch. The cape cod ones are nearly vertical.
The photo of the sunglasses reflection is so awesome!
Gwen encouraged me to get “artsy.” I wasn’t really thrilled with my photos this trip – I tried to shoot in Av or Tv mode and I had trouble getting the settings right. You should see how many pics of James I have with his tongue out – he was always my test shot!
Family should always take priority!! Glad you’re having an awesome summer!
Thanks Roshni!