When this month began, I told you I’d be blogging every day through December with the lovely NaBloPoMo theme of ‘More/Less‘. I started off well and continued using the prompts from the Write Tribe Festival of Words – 2.
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen” said Ralph Waldo Emerson and Paulo Coehlo went on to paraphrase that in his now famous book, The Alchemist, when he said: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” I’m a firm believer in this.
Then?
When I finished with my post for the 14th and started writing out the other posts, the hard disk of my almost new laptop went kaput! The fact that Dell replaced it rather promptly is another story. I realized that my attempts to catch up on the challenge would be quite meaningless. Which makes me wonder how badly I wanted to blog everyday? 🙂
Can I also confess that I so enjoyed my time offline that I wondered why I didn’t do it more often?
I’ve decided instead to catch up on reading the posts from the Festival that I missed and focus on responding to all your lovely comments on my posts from 1st – 14th December. Also, I’ll spend this time focusing on all that I would like to do and be in the year that is almost upon us.
I’m still not sure whether I can retrieve all the data I’ve lost – I’m hoping, but am also very philosophical about it. If it is meant to be of use – I’ll get it back.
The Universe conspired against my plans – or so it seemed. But really, it whispered loudly and I decided to listen.
My top three takeaways from what happened: 1. Don’t undertake monthly blogging challenges again. 2. Backup, backup, backup. 3. Spend more time offline.
How do you respond when your plans go awry?
That’s so wise of you Corinne. Making a pledge to blog every day seems to have an enlightening effect. In July I decided to blog every day on two of my blogs! As I grew more and more frantic I began to question the wisdom of my decision and to wonder what made me make such a pledge. Basically I tend to bite off more than I can chew, and, stuck in the crisis I neglect the things that mean the most to me, just so that I can keep the short term promise full of drama. I took a good look at my long term goals and saw that my short term goals weren’t helping me achieve those long term challenges, just distracting me and keeping me unhappy. Like you, I gave up the everyday blogging, writing blogposts only if I had finished my day’s quota of writing.
Having said which, I’m dawdling again and haven’t written a word of my book for the last two weeks.
I see that you are a professional reader. Could we mail about my book – my work in progress?Would really appreciate a line from you.
Cheers,
When my hard disk crashed over a year ago – after the initial panic, suddenly I felt free. I had a computer, but zero data. That I retrieved it another story. The funny part is, I haven’t really looked at it – except for the photos and home videos. I decided to upgrade my OS and started out with a clean slate. An investment that was well worth it. It was an impromptu digital vacation, one that became a habit.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the time offline. Now make it a habit!
Love, Vidya
Vidya Sury recently posted..Of Gita, Gardening and Gratitude
Ha! I love it! Look at what you’ve gained by keeping an open heart and mind instead of cursing the computer and fighting against the flow. The universe conspired to show you a different path.
I just spend three days without my computer. Oh, I had my phone, which I checked emails and facebook with, but I wasn’t able to do all those other online things that seem to swallow up my life. I really enjoyed the break. We are on the same page with this one Corinne.
Love!
So glad you were able to get your computer back up and running, Corinne! And, I love your three “takeaways” from this lesson learned. I’m absolutely with you on that one, especially backing things up and taking a break from the internet. I have found them both to be invaluable!
Merry Christmas, dear friend!
Martha Orlando recently posted..Happy Birthday!
Corinne, there are things that are meant to be and they often are the ones not part of our ‘master plan’. Perhaps taking that much needed offline break was more important than the blogging challenge. And hence the real master of our lives decided to intervene and provide you that in full swing. As for data, you rightly mentioned, if it was meant to be that useful it will find space back home. Though the post itself has a very simple story to narrate its meaning is widespread. Holding on to one’s own decisions or things can often not help us grow. Letting go is the key to many things being set right in life
Now you have left me with a Sunday full of thoughts…
I am going to take advantage of your takeaways too. I too have realised these this month. I have lost a lot of photos and music before learnt that lesson. Now I back up like crazy. 🙂 I accomplished quite a lot offline the past week. And seriously no more daily blogging for me! Phew! 😀
Jyothi Nair recently posted..Aloofness
I am still trying to get my pace back after my vacation. I know I had planned to participate in the ‘Festival of Words’ but somehow that did not work out as planned. But I guess, its all for the good. I got to spend some quality time with my parents who were there for a few days only this time. So ya, when the universe conspires, its usually for one’s own good.
Nice to know you enjoyed your ‘me (offline)’ time. Hoping to catch up with you soon 🙂
P.S: I have some news for you 🙂 {at least now you’ll give me a date!}
Rainbow Hues recently posted..Blessing In Disguise
Thanks to your post, I remembered that I’ve not taken a back-up for quite some time now. I’ll do it today.
Offline time of any kind is good! When I travel on work in India, I don’t watch TV.
Proactive Indian recently posted..Asaram, Tejpal, Devyani and our attitude to the law
I undertook NaBloPoMo this month as a way of kick starting my blogging…so far I’ve managed to keep up but it is so difficult to post everyday! I’m looking forward to dropping back to a Wednesday and Saturday schedule!
I hope they can retrieve all the data….it’s a horrible feelings when the hard disk goes!
Loki-Lou recently posted..BlogHer NaBloPoMo – The Works Do…
Enjoy your time offline, Corinne & LIVE.
Merry Christmas!
Xx
My Inner Chick recently posted..Blogging, Letters To My Sister, & Christmas
Spend more time off-line. This is a wise decision and good for one’s mental and physical health.
Hi Corinne
I have found that plans are not always in our best interest. Taking time to focus on finishing up what you set in motion is much better than trying to do it all. I have given up on a lot of stuff as my heart was not in it. Just thought I needed to do it, but have since found out when actually taking the time…that I really did not enjoy it that much.
I like to write, but unless it comes from the heart it is just writing and that is never where I wanted to be. I would rather blog less and have meaning behind all that I write and it is never just for the readers, but also for me.
I also think one needs to get out an experience things in order to write and if the commitment becomes to big you get burned out from lack of inspiration.
Mary
Mary Stephenson recently posted..The Christmas Card for 2013
I know this feeling of losing all your data … Has happened with me more than once … But an honest confession I somehow enjoy it ..As it feels I can start afresh … All this unnecessary data sometimes need to just go to make space for new:)
I love the third learning…enjoy your time offiline..I have just indulged in one such phase and it has its charm.
OK what do i do if my plans go awry … well that happens a lot … What I generally do is imagine the worst case scenario and its impact and my way out of that situation..and from thereon anything that happens only makes the end better 🙂 I am a firm believer of planning less doing more..Nothing can be worse that just ruing and mulling over something and not moving ahead…
Shiva recently posted..Blessing In Disguise
Everyday blogging can be pretty challenging. Glad that you enjoyed the Me-Time. Hope you recover all your data back. I have lost it twice! 😛 And thanks for the reminder… I must take back up of my lappy too, it’s been ages since I did that!
Shilpa Garg recently posted..A Blessing in Disguise.
Love all your lessons here Corinne. The universe has a way of telling us or showing us things that we wouldn’ t have known any other way than to experience it. You are indeed being very philosophical about the whole thing instead of being anxious and stressed out about the whole thing. Some things, like the weather and computers, we just have no control over. hahah
Effective bloggers blog daily. Wise bloggers take time off 🙂 Wishing you some wonderful time off and rest this holiday season.
I haven’t taken up a blogging challenge yet – and this post is a reminder to continue not to do that 🙂