Chilling Out

Before I got married and had a child I was a neat freak. I mean freaky neat! You wouldn't find a crumb on my floor. All my bills and receipts were organized. There was never a dirty dish in the sink. Water spots on the counter? Unheard of!

My life is the complete opposite of that now. Getting married started the drastic change as..well...the hubs is....the opposite of me....to put it nicely. :)



I am slowly coming to grips with it, but the hubs knows that I can only take it for so long and then look out. He stays out of my way on those days as I plow through the house, throwing things away, (You best hide your keepsakes or they will most likely be tossed) organizing, cleaning, just basically making my house liveable enough that I can stand it.

Though I have a spontaneous side to me, I am also a creature of habit. Baby girl and I have pretty much the same schedule each week with alternating activities and I don't always handle hiccups in it very well, depending on what that hiccup is. I have a hard time picking a day to plan things with friends, because I like to stick to my schedule. Weird, I know.



I am the same way with my blog. I won't participate in certain challenges that I have to dedicate a post to, because it doesn't fit in with my weekly posts. Completing my 365 project was a total relief but it has now affected my OCD tendencies.



Writing this very post is not  part of my blogging ways. I post pictures. I host a contest. I write about my interviews with strangers. I write tutorials. I feature guest bloggers on my Sunday series. If only it were that simple. I feel like if I am going to write a tutorial, I need to write a tutorial every week and it needs to be on a Tuesday. If I am going to do my Sunday series, I don't like having gaps between the weeks, so I feel like I need to have all the posts lined up before I even post one. If I am going to post another "What's Your Story?" I don't post it when I meet these people, I feel the need to post one weekly on a Monday, not whenever it blows my hair back to do so.



I don't even know why I am writing all this. I guess basically I am just trying to tell myself to just chill out and blog when I want to blog. Post when I want to post, not when it falls in line with my self-restraining schedule.

I need to blog for me and not just for my followers. Being me and being real will attract followers who follow my blog because of who I am and not what I think people want to see.

So this year my goal is to strive to blog for enjoyment without the pressures I put on myself last year. To let this blog just be a creative outlet for whatever brings me happiness. So you may see some randomness here and there outside of my normal posting schedule but that's okay. It's just me chilling out...

13 comments:

Lisa said...

Thanks for sharing your heart. I love randomness! : )

Unknown said...

That is a great goal to strive for! Routine has its place, but it is good to step outside the box also. Looking forward to seeing more non-planned posts from you!

Oh, and great photos of your little girl! She looks like she's having fun!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Sounds like you are on the right track. Be yourself and post when you want. I do love seeing the pictures of your precious little girl.

Wendy said...

I am new to this whole blogging thing in fact yesterday was my one week anniversary. I told myself I would not post every day, however, I did post every day until Thursday when I didn't have time. I wasn't able to post last night and I was having a stress attack, however, today I am totally at ease with posting whenever I feel like it! Great pictures, love the feeling of childhood in your pictures.

Anonymous said...

Re. being neat...I go into cleaning frenzies on occasion. They are very dangerous - LOL! And posting everyday...in the beginning, I felt guilt and pressure but now, whenever it happens, it happens. Horray for randomness. And BTW, wonderful photos!

Amber said...

I love this real post!! I can totally relate to the OCD cleaning tendencies and to be honest that has been one of the hardest things about having a child. My dirty floor. I clean it and it is dirty less than 1 hour later. Like you, my husband just stays out of my way when I start feeling crazy and go on my cleaning frenzy, but I have gotten much better. Some days I look around and can't believe how I can now tolerate dirt and junk.

I was not as scheduled as you with your blog, but I can def. relate. I have really been uninspired and it was hard to let it go, but I had to. I just had to stop forcing myself to post every day or every other day or care if I missed a Journey of Faith Friday. It was hard, but it is reality.

Thanks for sharing your heart with us!!!

Daenel T. said...

I know I already have a real life twin but, perhaps, we're triplets? I'm the same way about everything. I'm trying to loosen up and blog at will but it's hard.

I am a creature of habit it many ways...

Anonymous said...

I am the exact same way about scheduling time with friends, I hate interrupting our schedule! I'm trying to get better at that too, because after all... when our schedule's interrupted it never affects anything for longer than like an hour. Maybe a day in extreme circumstances. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's like that!

Tracy said...

Loved this post!! And oh my....I was just on one of those organizing frenzies as we speak. This is kinda scarey actually! You sound a lot like me in the neat department and always on a schedule. All that has been put aside after having children and homeschooling. This was such a great post to read at this very moment!!! Thanks! And thanks for stopping by. I am still in the process of completing my 365 because I don't like to leave things unfinished. I just may need to let go of that and move on from this day forward :)

Unknown said...

I went through this very thing you are describing. I'm a bit OCD myself. :) But I'm so much happier with the more laid back approach to blogging. I love all your regular posts, but I'm looking forward to the randomness! :)

ju-north said...

Follow your heart! Take time out to wander and meander! Your work is so lovely

Sara said...

I think many of us who blog feel this pressure to live up to others expectations. In the end you can't because it goes on 24/7 and no one can keep up with that.
I think do what feels right for you and your family. They are who are most important.
By the way I totally know how you feel, I get to a certain point when the messiness drives me crazy. You certainly change you standards with husbands and kids!

Jennifer Officer said...

Can I just say, me too?