Today has once again proven the theory that impermanence is something we can count on. In case you missed it, Doobster–he of proper grammar, eloquent blogging, Oxford comma insisting, and badge-maker extraordinaire–has gone private. His final post said pretty much nothing except that he’s taking a break and that he may or may not be back. He also said that there are things in his life that need his undivided attention.
I have to say his words hit close to home. I spend an awful lot of time here in front of my screen. The fact that real life demands more of my time on a daily basis is evident in that I have only just enough time to post. I’m behind on my comments, and I have little opportunity to visit the posts that are pinged back to my prompts, let alone all of the other blogs I really want to visit.
And so after the April A-Z challenge is finished I’m considering doing the same, perhaps just for a month. I need to get my novel finished – I haven’t touched it in weeks and before that it was weeks and before that… If I ever want to get it finished, if I ever want to sell my mother’s condo which has been sitting empty for over a year (and I’m still paying the mortgage on it), if I ever want to move forward I need to stop stagnating here. Yes, I realize that I’m keeping in practice – I’ll probably keep my fiction blog going for that purpose. It takes up minutes of my day rather than hours.
I sincerely hope that Doobster returns, but I can understand fully where he’s coming from. WordPress isn’t the be-all and end-all of life. At least it shouldn’t be.
I’ll keep you up to date with my decision. I promise not to just disappear.
April 16, 2015 at 1:57 pm
(elusive)
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April 16, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Recently, I had a moment of revelation about the cost of blogging for me: I teach piano to my son, and I discovered that the date of his last lesson matched up with the day that I plunged into Blogging 101. So, from September to March, no piano lessons. I have sort of disappeared, but it was necessary. Balance, as you say, is key, but, boy, it is elusuve.
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April 16, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Blogging takes up a great amount of time, doesn’t it? Glad you too are able to see it for what it is. Thanks for your comment, Sandi. 🙂
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April 16, 2015 at 12:46 am
I so understand taking a break from blogging. I myself have struggled to keep up with it after moving and starting a new job. like you, Linda, I plan to return and have been enjoying getting caught up in other areas of my life. I enjoy reading the blogs I follow whenever I can, and I’m glad to see you post about this here because I had gone to Doobster’s blog and was surprised that I couldn’t access it. I too hope he’s ok and will be back soon, and the same for you. Good luck with everything! 🙂
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April 16, 2015 at 9:03 am
Thank you, my dear. It’s tough to balance what we need to do and what we want to do sometimes. I hope always to have the wisdom to know when to move in the other direction.
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April 12, 2015 at 11:42 pm
It amazes me how people can blog every day and deal with all this life stuff too. I did it for 8 days and it was quite a challenge. So now I’m back to about twice a week, but still don’t have time to read and comment as much as I’d like to. The most important thing is to put your own oxygen mask on first. I have greatly appreciated your SOC prompts and will continue the SOC Saturday one way or another. Be well, Linda.
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April 16, 2015 at 8:14 pm
“Put your own oxygen mask on first…” great way to think of it, JoAnne. Thanks very much for your support. I’ll continue SoCS when I get back – hopefully we’ll only miss a few weeks of it. 🙂
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April 12, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Do what you need to do, Linda.
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April 16, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Thanks, Joanne. 🙂
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April 12, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Like everyone is saying take you time, you do alot of stuff for other people on this blog maybe sometimes you just need to some help. Guest posts and guests to do SoCS is a good idea in my opinion that could help out somewhat.
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April 16, 2015 at 8:10 pm
I should do that once in a while … good idea, Wes. 🙂 Thanks for your support!
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April 12, 2015 at 11:53 am
Blogging challenges such as A to Z are great and all, but there is a lot of pressure in them and it seems overwhelming. You should only blog when you want to. I participate in a blogging project that is really only once a month. The 1000 Voices Speak For Compassion is every 20th of the month.
I will miss your SoCS because I’ve just recently discovered it and have loved the prompts you pick.
Good luck with whatever you do. I’ve enjoyed your blog since finding it.
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April 16, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Thank you so much! I’m sure I won’t be gone long; when I come back I’ll pick up where I left off with SoCS. 🙂
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April 12, 2015 at 9:13 am
Take your time Linda, find yourself and your priorities, do what you need to do and most of all, be honest to yourself.
You will be missed, and if you deside to stop, please keep in contact by email.
I hope you will return with new energy and a vision about, what will be healthy and right for you in your future 😀
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April 16, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Thanks Irene. 🙂 I appreciate your support. I’ll be back, one way or another. 🙂
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April 12, 2015 at 7:00 am
I’m just out of one of my breaks and have to say it is good to do so. Your gut tells you exactly what you need to and even if I’d miss you terribly I know how important these breaks are. Life goes in circles. You never know where it leads you and in my experience: Once you started blogging you will come back one way or the other :-). Take good care for yourself and I’ll light a candle for you.
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April 16, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Thank you, Bee. 🙂 I appreciate your understanding and support. 🙂
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April 19, 2015 at 1:42 am
You are welcome! 🙂
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April 12, 2015 at 1:31 am
I hear ya, Linda! I am exhausted with the A to Z challenge. I may consider a break as well. I am holding on just to finish this challenge. But I completely understand where you are coming from. It hasn’t been easy playing catch up. It’s almost 1:30 am here and I am reading as many blogs as I can. I wish you all the best. You are a wonderful blogger and writer. So thanks!
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April 16, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Thanks so much, Veronica. 🙂 I’m usually good with this stuff, but it’s what’s going on offline that’s really killing me. Hope you’re able to get some rest too!
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April 16, 2015 at 9:43 pm
As the school year nears the end, I may consider taking the summer off. I’m still mulling that over. Maybe I would log in to read up on blogs but not posting anything myself. Thanks, Linda! 😄
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April 11, 2015 at 8:25 pm
I think you do what is good for you Linda. If a break is important for you then go take one. We will still be here when you return. Best wishes…
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April 16, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Thank you, Michael. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 6:24 pm
I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself, Linda, and I’m rooting for Doobster wherever he is. I, too, am making some changes regarding my social media time. Adjustments help keep me sane.
If for some reason you ever choose to go private, I really need you to know how grateful I was, and still am, for your warm welcome and awesome presence. I would miss you. Thanks for everything.
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April 16, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Thanks so much for your support and encouragement, Angie. I think I just need a break. I worry about this place more than is healthy with all the other things I have going on. Once they’re taken care of though, I should be good to go. 🙂
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April 17, 2015 at 10:02 am
Exactly. I’m very happy to hear that you are taking good care of yourself. I’m rooting for you!
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April 17, 2015 at 10:05 am
Meant to add, taking care of ourselves is often the hardest part of the life of care givers. You care. You give. That’s why my cowbell is ringing for you 😀
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April 11, 2015 at 6:17 pm
i’m an expert in disappearance and reappearance. in case you need advise 😉
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April 14, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Upon which horizon do you reside, speaking of disappearances…? Italy is missing from my little map, and by your own admission, you’re not really … there.
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April 14, 2015 at 4:09 pm
i ask myself the same question at wake, and i’ve got a precise answer to that too! as to the sea of WP, i am where i can live tenseasonsinanight ;P
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April 14, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Thank you for the insight. 🙂 I’m glad one of us knows where in the world you are. 😉 hehe
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April 14, 2015 at 4:13 pm
i said i have a precise answer, not the correct one 😉
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April 14, 2015 at 4:19 pm
Aha… okay, I admit, I’m totally confused. My suggestion, reach into your pocket and see whose head is on the money. May narrow it down a bit… In the meantime I think I’ll pass on the disappearing advice. 😉 haha
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April 14, 2015 at 4:21 pm
😛 hehe
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April 11, 2015 at 4:54 pm
I can understand that too. It’s part of why my posts have been fewer and farther between lately. If you do decide to go private, please keep in touch over email!
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April 13, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I will! I doubt I’ll be gone long anyway though. 🙂 Thanks for your support, Leigh.
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April 11, 2015 at 3:33 pm
I shall miss Doobster too, I shall miss you too! 😦
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April 13, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Aww, it won’t be for too long, in my case at least. Thanks, Willow.
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April 14, 2015 at 6:18 am
😉
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April 11, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Like you, I also fully understand why his decision. However, he will be missed and I do hope that he drops in at least every now and then. But like many others have said, blogging can take over your life if you’re not careful. I know that there have been times in my own life where it has. If you do go, please know that you will also be missed but that your decision will be understood as well. There are many priorities in life that need our attention, and what happens (or doesn’t happen) in the real world is far more important than what happens here.
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April 13, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Thanks for your support. 🙂 I’m not sure if I agree that WordPress is far less important than what goes on outside of it though. I’ve made some very real connections here – actual people who, in some cases, live thousands of miles away. And yes, I communicate with them outside of this platform now, but meeting them has shown me that the relationships I have here are no less real than “real life.” But even our friends, if they’re really our friends, understand that they can’t always come first in our lives. My priorities just happen to be things that don’t involve being online.
WordPress has become a huge part of my real life. Not because of the blog but because of the people. I have two friends in “real life” that I see on a regular basis. Here there are many.
There is only one thing that’s more important than my friends and that must be my family. Having said that, my friends keep me sane enough to look after them. 😛 🙂
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April 14, 2015 at 1:51 pm
I agree with you. Although I believe that the people in our ‘real life’ should come first, that certainly doesn’t mean that the people here are any less important. Like you, I have made many friends here, and more than blogging I come here for them. If I were to just vanish from the blogging world, I would feel like I was leaving my friends behind, and always wonder about them….similar to the way that I feel when they leave. It’s hard when your friends go, no matter where those friendships were made. I love the community here.
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April 16, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Me too. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 2:49 pm
I’ve been feeling it too. Maybe because blogging was encroaching a little too much on my life and then the craziness of A to Z started, which has just exacerbated the problem.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:54 pm
I know, right? It’s a bit overwhelming. I figure as long as I can get through this month I’ll have had my fill for a while and I’ll be able to let go…
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April 13, 2015 at 5:55 pm
My thoughts exactly! 😀
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April 13, 2015 at 5:56 pm
Maybe we’ll end up riding off into the sunset together. Haha!
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April 13, 2015 at 5:59 pm
lol! Riding off into the sunset sounds like a mighty fine plan right now 😉
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April 13, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Does, doesn’t it? 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Sometimes you just have to take some time in order to figure out where you’re going.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Yep, I totally agree. Thanks for the wisdom, Martha. 🙂
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April 18, 2015 at 3:36 pm
(*hugs*)
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April 11, 2015 at 12:56 pm
I just came back from about a month break and do not plan to blog every day after this month. I also cut back a lot on what I read, which some understand and others never will. But I had to, for me.
So I totally get it.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:48 pm
I’m so with you on the cutting back on reading, as much as it pains me. I could spend 24/7 on this site if I let myself.
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April 11, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Part of me is still holding out hope that J is for “Just Kidding.” I hope he is doing okay. And I hope that you are able to take care of whatever you need to take care of. Don’t be a stranger. You can still do the One-Liners.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:45 pm
I was hoping he was joking as well, but that went out the window when I saw that his blog had indeed gone private. I’m not positive yet but I do think this blog will go private as well – keeping it open even for one-liners will be too tempting. A month should be enough though… maybe less but certainly not more.
Thanks muchly for your well-wishes. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 12:25 pm
I fear Doobster may have taken my Blogoholic’s Anonymous post to heart.
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April 11, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Yep, it was a show-stopper.
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April 11, 2015 at 12:23 pm
From one who just arrived back from a 3 month hiatus, I can fully report – amazing community and wonderful to be here, but very supportive and understanding – We’ll wave and shout, “Bon Voyage” and throw a “Welcome Home” party when you return – 🙂
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April 13, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Thanks very much, Tamrah! 🙂 I appreciate the support!
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April 11, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Blogging can really take over one’s life. It is easy to get so into it when you enjoy it and probably want to avoid some of those not so enjoyable tasks. I know I am good at avoiding the things I do not like to do but probably need to pay more attention to. I want to get over to your fiction blog to read more. So I am glad you are not leaving completely. You have been so great to host the bi-weekly community events. Especially SOCS. I am still assessing how much I want to blog. I want my life to be balanced with my energy and temperament.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Ah yes… balance is something I struggle with constantly. Which is why I think I need to balance this ALL blogging period with a NO blogging period. Hopefully when I come back I’ll be able to see the benefits of staying away. 🙂 Thanks for your support, Deborah.
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April 14, 2015 at 1:04 pm
I felt the way you do after NoPoBloMo or whatever that was. When I was blogging every day and reading other blogs much more. I am still working on finding my balance. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Take your time Linda… we will be here waiting. I didn’t get a chance to catch Doobster’s post – sad. I always enjoyed his wry takes and his BATZAP! I hope he comes back soon. And I hope you try to take a midway instead of going quite.
I still consider myself a newbie (8 months into this blogging thing). I realized very quickly how addictive it can be and made a rule not to post daily. Maximum ten posts a month. Even this makes me feel like it is too much.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:23 pm
I found blogging very addictive right from the start as well. I certainly won’t leave for good – I have a couple of weeks still to figure out exactly what I’ll do. Thanks very much for your support, Prajakta. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 11:35 am
Linda, make time for yourself. That is all that matters. I finally had to take Friday and Saturday to work on my book. Stay in touch. ❤
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April 13, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Yep, it seems if we don’t make time, time never appears to do the things we really need to do.
Thanks very much for your support, Colleen. 🙂
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April 13, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Stay in touch Linda. 💖
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April 13, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Of course. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 10:58 am
I think it’s wise to consider your priorities.
One addiction ( if you’re doing something to the exclusion of other priorities) is the same as another. You have to consider what is and what’s not. And be honest with yourself. It appears you are going to be doing just that and you are smart enough to do it and make the best decision for you! I will be thinking ( and praying) about your time of consideration. And, you’re right, it doesn’t have to be forever. There’s a season for everything.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:16 pm
You’re right about that – and I’m coming up to the season where I need to get stuff done! Call it spring cleaning I suppose. Once it’s done I’ll be able to relax and go back to the things I enjoy, like blogging.
Thanks so much for your support and good wishes, Leigh. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 10:57 am
It is a shame that you will be taking a break, but I totally understand that life has to be given priority! It is so easy to become wrapped up in blogging to the exclusion of almost everything else! I will miss your post though 🙂
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April 13, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Thanks very much for your support, Edwina. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 10:54 am
Why do good bloggers always contemplate leaving..
Thanks for sharing this post.
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April 13, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Thank you for your comment – you inspired my “K” post. 😀
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April 11, 2015 at 10:52 am
Doobster’s post hit me hard, especially on the heels of Oliver Damon’s announcement a short time ago that he was shutting down his blog for personal reasons. It seems like all my new friends are disappearing. I will miss them both.
While I understand your need to take a break, too, I hope it won’t be a forever break.
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April 13, 2015 at 4:55 pm
I don’t think I could possibly stay away forever. I just need to spend a little time on the rest of my life. Thanks for your support, CM. 🙂
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April 11, 2015 at 10:41 am
Sad but true
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April 11, 2015 at 10:42 am
Yep.
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April 11, 2015 at 10:39 am
I was shocked by Doobster’s announcement. I hope he’s okay. We became friends and commented regularly.
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April 11, 2015 at 10:42 am
I hope so too – I’m no more enlightened on what’s going on than anyone. I consider him a friend too, as much as one can be online.
It was a shock – still is.
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