I took the summer off.
Yes, I did.
A full three months.
This blog sat without an update all summer long. Well, except for that one day when I apologized to all of you for just disappearing. It wasn’t that I forgot or anything… it was on purpose. I had my reasons. They were good ones, too. No regrets and lots of takeaways.
Here are just a few of my summer takeaways:
A good family is to be cherished.
It was my son’s last summer at home before college. It was a season of transition for Debbie and I – a trial run for learning to be “empty nesters,” or as we fondly call it, “second honeymooners.” The bottom line: I wouldn’t have traded the family time this summer for anything. It served as a great reminder that it’s always better to make good choices than live with regret. Especially about family.
Live what you preach.
I can’t tell you how many times I blogged about following your dreams, taking risks and overcoming your fears. During the summer I got quiet and reflective enough to realize that those posts were probably more for me than you. This blog was safe for me – a way of expressing without much risk. I found out I was hiding. The bottom line: I have known for years that I was supposed to record a solo project, but hadn’t done it yet. Well, this summer we finished my studio at home and I officially started recording my solo worship project. I’m following that dream, taking risks and overcame the fear. It will be really good, too. I’m thrilled with the songs and the production so far. The first few have set the bar really high for the rest of it.
You can’t sprint forever.
It’s all about the pace. Well, sustainability is all about the pace. I made the jump from blogging weekly to blogging daily without blinking or counting the cost. It came so easily at first that I thought “why not?” Then it started to drive me and I felt the pressure of it. Sure, I still enjoyed it, but I couldn’t sustain it with everything else on my plate. The bottom line: Counting the cost would have helped me to make a better decision regarding pacing and progression. Weekly to semi-weekly. Semi weekly to daily. Lesson learned. I will re-pace myself to become a sustainable semi-weekly blogger.
I’m baaaaack!!! In more ways than one. I’m stronger, wiser, and better for the summer break.
How about you?
Hope you missed our little talks…
