Right now, my life is actually so badly out of whack that my family's starting to worry. Or... they're starting to worry out loud. It's a good thing that they do, though, because that brings it to my attention.
Because the thing with my balance issues is that it's rarely ever a big thing that tips me to one side or the other. It starts small, but grows until I look around me, struggling to understand why I've let things go so far.
That's where I am. I mean, my life's good. It's comfortable... I'm in a routine and things are going, even if they don't go as smoothly as expected.
But it took a long conversation last night to realize that I've somehow managed to let all aspects to my life except for the farm and my writing dwindle to next to nothing.
And that just isn't healthy.
In fact, as much as I love the farm and writing, it's not even living.
So I need to get back into the living habit once more.
1) Moving around more (yay exercise to help budge weight)
2) Connecting more with God, family, friends and even new acquaintances.
3) Getting out more, even if it's just to write in a new location.
4) Changing up my activities. I have so many things I love to do, but just don't make time for. Now's when I start making time.
It might sound strange, but life's just not all it could be when we're stuck in ruts. Luckily, changing things up is only as easy as changing up a bit. That's exactly what I'm going to do.
Because I don't just want to write and work on a farm. I want to live.
Anyone else feeling stuck in a rut? What do you need to do to escape yours?
14 comments:
I think the fact that you acknowledge this and are willing to work on fixing things is a great step forward. Yes, I get stuck in a rut many a times. I tell myself all is ok, when it isn't, and many times it takes a family member to point it out and more than once.
Thank you for the honesty in your post. Hang in there, and take small steps and deep breaths.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
I'm deep in a rut, because of little child and I can nothing to do with it until he grows up. I don't like it, of course, as I feel it. I just know it will mostly end up once, but you know, not so soon, as you'd like it to be. I try to find any advantages in such mode of live, some everyday route, that helps me to go ahead step by step. and besides I always look for the possibilities for short getaway. (But they are so rare :) )
Yes! I am right there in the rut with you. I'm all for the steps you listed. Go team, go!
Great post! Balance is such a tricky thing, I feel like I'm always in search of it. You are right, it just takes those few steps. Thanks for the reminder and have a great weekend!
Luckily you've caught yourself though and that speaks volumes! :)
It sounds like you've got a good grip on what you need to do. Getting out and about is definitely the first step :-)
May is going to be the month for renewing. I will have written a poem or more each day for 61 days straight. That was a rut I guess I firmly put myself in. When the last day of April comes around and May hits me softly in the face, I am in a new place... a second grandbaby will be here, and I will be physically and mentally there. So here's to climbing out of the rut and starting a new strut... oh, help! I can see a month of poems has been hard on me.
I have this dilemma too, and I've heard of writers letting everything else go in their life just so they can write in every free moment they have..hoping that at some point they'll reach success. At the end of my life, I don't want to have a pile of writing and nothing else to show for it.
Sometimes I get in isolated ruts and have to make sure I'm getting out enough. I like routine though, so I find it balancing and steady rather than stifling.
I think it's easy as writers to isolate ourselves for days. I try not to do that...get together with family, get out and do things I love occasionally... When I was working full-time, I had that to get me out of the house, but I didn't have much of a "life," so to speak! If you're happy, that's all that matters...but it is important that you spend time with friends and family, too.
Your situation sounds super familiar. Yep, I'm a wee bit stuck in a rut at the moment so that's why I've started exercising more regularly, I've even started a non-writing project. What I'd really like is to go away on a long trip, but that won't be happening in a hurry, so we do what we can. I hope you get out of your rut soon.
This is a great post, Misha! I have a hard time finding that balance between "living" and writing. A part of me would love to write all day every day and ignore family, friends, household chores, and church responsibilities, but as appealing as that is, I know it's not healthy. I have to take moments to enjoy my family, to enjoy time with friends. The writing will always be there, but I don't want to miss the experiences of life along the way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, feelings, and struggles. I love your honesty!!
http://swordsandstilettos.blogspot.com
This is a wonderful post! And I'm so glad I found this blog of yours :) I tend to do the same thing: I start working on something and I get tunnel vision. It's good to get out, get a fresh perspective on the world and on ourselves. Best of luck to you in getting your balance back. It can be tough (just because we're creatures of habit) but you're determined. You'll find a way!
Thank you for being honest with us! It helps us know we're not alone :)
Jen
I like my rut. Let's hear it for the ruts! :)
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