My friend Jeffrey posted this little gem of advice:
“Don’t make blogging your life. First, go out and live.”
It resonated with me because, well, blogging is a big part of my life right now. I love it, but the truth is, sometimes, my life misses me.
Its the beautiful question of balance. Where does this fit in?
The same can be said for any hobby or passion.
You can swap “blogging” out for all the things taking up your life. Like this:
Don’t make outer beauty your life. First, go out and live.
First: Be beautiful.
Don’t make video games your life. First, go out and live.
First: Play.
Don’t make cleaning your life. First, go out and live.
First: Get dirty.
Because without living, I don’t have much to write about. Without Mr. Right and the kids, I don’t have much to say about blended families. Without all my responsibilities, I don’t have much to celebrate.
Ask yourself: How do I define living?
Do more of that. Start today.
Here are some of the best parts of living:
Sleeping in.
Snuggling.
Slow Sunday mornings at home.
A bath.
My sisters and brother, in any form.
Nieces and nephews running from room to room.
A husband trying to get lucky.
Kisses.
Homemade bread.
A nap with the dog.
White chocolate.
Watching a really good movie.
Playing Rockband.
Tea sweetened with honey.
Anytime the kids take my hand.
Getting the guest room ready.
Playing piano.
Reading.
Remembering what life’s really about.
“Life is full of beauty. Notice it.” -Ashley Smith
If my writing helps or inspires you, please share it with other people. This is the number one way you can support my writing.
xoxo Melissa
Note: I originally posted this in January 2010. I’m republishing today because blogging has come second this week to spending time with my kids. And – it’s my last week at my day job. Have you heard? 
Photo by Gabriela Camerotti
{ 1 trackback }
{ 18 comments }
great points going out and doing is a must for a balanced life. revel in the small things for they are what keep us grounded.
@ Quinn – Revel in the small stuff – and don’t sweat the small stuff at the same time!
Great post, definitely worth being reposted!
Thanks, love!
Melissa,
You’ve read my mind. I feel that since I started blogging it’s consumed me and my time to point where I feel that I’m on overload.
I keep telling myself to get a life!
Thanks for the nudge Melissa.
Anytime! Pass it on … It was a good time to remind myself, too.
Oh, Melissa! You make me yearn to sleep in or take a bath…when was the last time that happened for mommy me of two toddlers?! LOL. Great post. And what the heck is Rockband??
Wait for it… sleeping in happens again. Then there is the day they don’t want to get up – at Noon!
Wow, so true. Blogging can consume life. But I, too, wouldn’t have anything to write about if I didn’t get out into my little world, have brunch with the hubbie, dip my toes in the pool (which I haven’t done in a while), go running or make a great soba noodle salad.
So, you like getting your guest room ready? … good to know.
LOVE having guests. If I could fill my house with my sisters, brother, nieces and nephews all the time, that would be heaven.
Soba noodle salad? I will have to Google that now.
Just read a similar post which finished with this quote -
“Your blog is about your life, not your life about blogging”
So true!
Hi Tony – Good quote. Thanks for sharing here.
Thank you for this post, I needed it! Blogging can definitely consume me, I sometimes have to remember myself to go out and live the life I want.
Hi Lynn – I know the feeling. Cheers to living!
This is the absolutly perfect post for me right now! I have four small children, yet blogging has seemed to slowly overtake my time…of which I hardly have any to begin with!!!
Maybe I should consider a day or two each week to simply “go dark” on my blogs!!!!
Thank you for the advice!!!
Take a vacation from your blogs … set up a post or two for while you’re away. Then, enjoy your life. Thanks for stopping by!
There is life outside of blogging ??? really? That is something I seem to have forgotten also. The hubby and I are planning a little get away here in the next few weeks because I have seem to forgotten that there is still life out there. But I will probably spend my time finding things that I can blog about when I get back home…ugh…
Hi,
Nice post!
It’s so easy to get caught up in our obligations, worries and even in what’s going on in other people’s lives that we temporarily forget the things which make us happy. We should all make a list for the times we forget.
“Remember this – very little is needed to make a happy life.”
~Marcus Aurelius
All the best,
Jenn
Comments on this entry are closed.