It often happens when I am struggling with something I really love, a pause helps me remember its joy. I didn’t consciously decide to take April off from posting on my blog, but a gut feeling of needing to focus elsewhere decided for me.
Spring has affected me in a funny way this year to the extent I just don’t want to be inside. And though I am reading a lot, I cannot seem to sit down to write up reviews. We had one of the rainiest winters on record and so many days were spent inside that I think I need to remind myself what a trail looks like and what sun on my skin feels like. I have taken lots of day trips, cooked more and visited with people I have missed. It’s been glorious…and shows me how unbalanced the last several months have been if I have let these things I also love, go.
But this morning I wanted to write, so I sat down to write up a blog post for Zola Addiction that will go up Tuesday. I also noticed a new Spin has been announced and even in the pausiest of pauses, who can resist a Classics Club Spin? These may be the only posts to go up this month, though. I am taking the need to step away seriously, but now with each passing day, the love of reading AND writing is building back up.
Anyone else struck with Spring Fever or something else that made you pause?
A few ways I have been spending my time this month:
Relevant Obscurity 
A blog break feels necessary from time to time. I try to announce mine but I think everyone understands when someone just needs some time off and is happy when you come back.
I’m enjoying glorious spring weather in Switzerland, and it’s lovely to be able to walk outside again. I hope to post some pictures soon!
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Thank you, Lory. I think what I didn’t realize when I was fearful of taking a break was the feeling that at some point I would want to come back better than before. 🙂
I’m traveling a bit myself today. Just down the coast to San Diego, but it is a favorite place to take a break and relax. I saw the pix on your other site and they are perfect!
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It sounds like you needed the time to just be with friends and enjoy life in a different way. Go for it! From the pics you posted it looks like your having a great time. Take your time and enjoy. 🙂
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Thanks, BJ. This has been just the break I needed. ❤
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Spring fever around here for sure! We’ve had an extra-long and wet spring and it’s been spectacular. I’ve been working a lot more than usual and dying to get outside, so I’ve been out walking as much as I could. I finally managed to get the whole family up to our local wildflower spot yesterday, woohoo. So yep, I’m right there with you on the total lack of blogging! But hey, the internet is always there, and dogwoods don’t bloom forever.
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Yes! It’s the balance thing I think I need to work on, which doesn’t always mean everything is equal. That’s a hard concept to master. And I think sometimes you can love something to death…or at least love it into disinterest. I didn’t want that to happen.
Glad you got all your Howling Frogs out in nature 🙂 Here, too, the winter rains created some incredible Spring wildflower blooms!
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As for taking a blogging break – I get it. I am just coming back after mine which started around the Winter Solstice. While my posting seems to be regular that is serendipitous, not out of conscience intend and thus I feel a type of freedom to just be…..Enjoy regaining your own balance, Laurie.
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Laura thanks…that’s a good way to put it, “to just be.” Balance is everything.
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I do that (take time off from writing about what I’ve read) sometimes in the summer, as it’s not warm and nice outside where I live until June.
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I think I might consider doing this on a yearly basis. I wanted to take time off in 2018, but I felt guilty and plowed on. Now I realize it’s a ‘thing’ and I need to pay attention to it. Book blogging is supposed to be fun, isn’t it?!!
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I have to be honest, lovely though the weather is this bank holiday weekend, I can’t wait until September! I’m an autumn-winter kinda guy.
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I am def a winter kind of gal, but this winter would not stop. The dark weeks turned into months and that really messed with my head. I lived in Seattle for a year, then Chicago for five and though Chicago was so much colder it was much sunnier. I have to admit, I need the sun 🙂
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I am very glad that it is spring. At times I want to take a break from posting myself. I also feel that it gets in the way of other stuff such as being outside or of reading itself. However, fear that once I stop I will never start up again.
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That fear did cross my mind, Brian. But it’s turning out not to be so. Thankfully!
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Loyal followers here will accept what you can manage, Laurie, always grateful for whatever you offer us. (And of course there’s always Instagram!) You must do what suits you best: I know I’m on a roll with posts at the moment but I know there’ll come a time when I must step off the carousel, for a while, anyway! 🙂
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The writing up was really stressing me out for some reason. I actually didn’t know what was going on. I wondered if I would ever know? So I stopped. Some things are just plain unknowable and you just have to go with your gut.
And yes, Instagram is really wonderful for doing short reviews or comments helping me feel like I haven’t completely disappeared from the planet. Plus I love how international it is 🙂
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