I’m sorry. I feel I ought to apologize for a post a day after months of a post a week, tops. I don’t know who subscribes to my blog, my nifty analytics tell me things about where you come from—thanks Blog Lovin’ and Networked Blogs, Love you Stumble Upon and Facebook! I have spent all these years really just hoping that the writing would matter to someone. The ins and outs of how and where kind of eluded me. Until NaBloPoMo.
There is a woman who subscribes to my blog and has, through no fault of her own, chosen the first weeks of NaBloPoMo to take her vacation. What this means is that I have gotten an out of office reply from her every day that I have written this month. Theoretically this means that she is going to go back to her office and return to ten emails, maybe eleven or twelve, from me. It makes me hate me. If I knew how to track unsubscribers, my guess is she would be one.
This is why I am apologizing. I have loved these days of writing. I’ve carved out time at the end of my day to write and it has been amazing. Friday night I’ll head to a writing retreat to hone my skills and, more importantly, my focus. I told Sean that I wanted to do this. He heard me and made it possible. Meanwhile people I deeply respect have reached out to me, shared my writing, written things of their own inspired by something I said. Others have invited me to participate in new endeavors.
I said aloud what I wished for and the people I loved leapt to my aid. They have supported me, the universe has revealed new forks in the road, and I have more contentment than guilt, more resolve than fear.
Do what you love.
Open yourself up to it.
Share your dreams with people.
Right now, I believe it all, happily so.
If you are reading this and the frequency hasn’t made you unsubscribe, I just want to say, give it a try. Learn to sew, go to Zumba, lose weight, ask a person out, whatever it is, just launch yourself toward it and see what happens.
It could happen, you could happen.

Tagged: Confidence, life, NaBloPoMo
I’ve been loving your daily musings (even if I don’t comment each time), and so I think maybe that Ms. Vacation will return from her trip, weary at her work desk, and say, “wow, what a treat!” to those bits of gold that await her. And yes, “launch yourself forward” — such wise words.
Thank you, Kristen. It really means a lot. I am staggered by how many private messages I have received about this post, which felt kind of like a a throw away.
I love seeing you pop up in my feed everyday. Enjoy your writing retreat. I hope we get to hear all about it. Or not. Whatever feels right to you.
Thanks, Shannon. xo
I am a newish follower of your blog, but I am delighted that you’re writing so frequently. I always feel a bit let down when a blogger takes a huge break from writing (though I am totally guilty of doing that very thing) … you get me hooked on your story and then leave me dangling? These daily slivers of your life that you’ve been sharing? The ordinary happenings in life. Those are the good stuff. The stuff you probably won’t remember a few years from now but will smile about when you stumble across them again one day. Keep writing!
Thank you, Jennifer. You re so right. Even now, I’ll go back looking for something in the archives and my cheeks burn with the things I read that are already shrouded by cobwebs and deadlines. My grandma used to say to me, “write things down. Little bits, even just words, every day.” I have some of her journals and cherish them, even when they just say, “canapés, peace march, marigolds.”
I love your musings, Amanda. Keep on, keeping on. I will be reading.
And this particular piece resonated in real way. I am moving forward with something I’ve schlepped off for too long. Thank you.
Yay! I hope you’ll share your story. Good luck!
A very wise person once told me we don’t always get to know who and how we impact others, that’s why doing the right thing should be part of our daily existence. I’ve watched and been inspired by you as you’ve make tough decisions, followed your heart, stayed true to yourself and valued your family & relationships. The right things. People follow you for a reason, you may never get to know why, take the compliment of the bounce-back email and hold it close. -D
Read this during a break from our photo shoot. Made me weep the best kind of tears. Thank you so, so much, Debbie.
i’ve loved every post! i almost envy the woman who will come home from vacation to an inbox full of your beautiful work. what a treat!
I’ve been reading, but can’t always comment. I love that you did this. Part of me wanted to but I am insanely (really overly, I think) concerned about exactly what you said– the ten emails from me. 😉 But blogging is writing and writing every day is an exercise that is truly priceless. No class could compare. No teacher like the page. Why don’t I just do it. Maybe next year.
I read daily, so I am glad you are writing daily. I’ve had some unsubscription notices since I started NaBloPoMo, but it doesn’t bother me. They were probably people who stopped reading long ago, and only just realized I was still popping up in their inbox when they received the 9th post in a row.
Your writing retreat sounds amazing!
Funny. Even before I read this, as I was clicking over, I had the thought that I would miss your daily words. My blog post today is, in part, inspired by you. You’ll never know the extent of your reach.
Thank you for the inspiration! Ready to launch!