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It’s been several weeks since I’ve written anything – I find myself retrospective and quiet when I’m not traveling.  It’s not that my brain quits working or anything.  In fact, just the opposite.  But the “working” is an internal one, reviewing stuff in my head, going over the “plans,” (whatever those things are!), checking out the bank balance to see what I can do to make my little trailer more livable (like solar panels – still on the wish list – or a memory foam mattress topper – love it!), and plugging in the sewing machine to do a year’s worth of mending, sewing on missing buttons, hemming up those temporarily hand-stitched hems, etc.  As I reflect back on the last few weeks, I see that I’ve gotten a lot accomplished but not much written.  Remembering where I'm parkedIn fact, that would be a big, fat zero in the “written” department.  Interesting to me that I don’t write about the mundane little things that creep up in my life (even though I read lots of blogs posts of others who’ve done just that).  Hmmm.

I love that I’m at the place in my life where my plans can be so flexible that if I decide to stay some place today, I can.  Or if I want to drive 400 miles today to a cool area and then spend the night there, I can.  What happens when I decide to stay some place for a longer period of time, though, is fascinating to me: My brain goes into some weird kind of reflection mode… and I quit writing my blog posts.  That’s what’s happening right now, as we speak.  I aim to change that – right now.

I’ve been here in North San Diego County for a month now (house-sitting for two weeks of that time), and I’ve accepted a house-sitting opportunity to stay here for another month.  Another four weeks of not traveling, of being in the same place every night.  When I contemplated what that meant in terms of my blog and that I wasn’t writing while I wasn’t traveling, I decided that I would write anyway, even iPalm trees on a gorgeous San Diego dayf nothing seems to jump out at me – it’s often in those no-jumping-out-at-me places that I discover some tidbit of information that colors whatever plans I might make for next week, next month, or even tomorrow.  I’m not one to dredge up old blog posts and post them again because I can’t think of something “new” to write about (although I did do that once when I updated a post about free camping places).  I also don’t “borrow” someone else’s post, add a few lines to it, thereby making it “mine,” and then publish it on this blog. (I do that on FaceBook, though – all the time – so follow me there if you want to see other people’s stuff.)  And I also don’t write about other people or their websites without checking with them first to see if they even want to be written about (not everyone does!), and then, if I do write about someone else, I do everything possible to make it accurate, even to the point of asking them to review what I’ve written to see if I’ve inadvertently made an error somewhere.  Of course, if you’re a “public figure,” I’ll write about you all I want, even without checking first.  Just call me the writing paparazzi on that one.  You’re public.  You’re fair game.  (…and I’ll still do my best to be accurate – I’m a stickler for details that way.)  But if you’re a friend or a family member, I’ll be asking for your permission first.  Just common courtesy, in my book.  And in my blog.

Those “I’m not one to…” things I mentioned mean I don’t really have things in my mind to “write” about that fill up space without adding what I consider to be “content.”  Just one person’s opinion here (mine!), and I might change my mind if some compelling information comes along that makes me decide otherwise, but for now, I’m all about a stream of consciousness, which doesn’t seem to repeat itself, and not about copying someone else’s stream, even if the “copy” is just an old blog post of my own.  So bear with me, folks, we’re off on a new adventure here!  I’ve been told that I’m “detail-oriented” – by bosses, and by an ex-husband or two. Make mine a double! In a work environment, that means I’m a stickler for details, which can be a very good thing if you’re a machinist or a building inspector, both of which I’ve been at times in my past lives.  In a marriage environment, it can mean I’m picky, and it’s not always (if ever!) a good thing in a relationship.  It can mean the answer as to why there’s an “s” at the end of this word: ex-husbands.  Wow.  I’m not really sure where all this came from or where it’s going but there you have it.  Me.  Uncovered.  Bare.  Right out there for all of you to see.  I guess I really have nothing to hide and nothing to make up.  It’s just me, folks.

How was that for a stream of consciousness?  Are we having fun yet?  I know I am!!  Whee!  Bring your stream along with me and mine, and let’s jump on that roller coaster ride called life.  Sometimes it goes straight, and sometimes it makes an unexpected left turn that leaves our hearts in our throats! That’s where the fun is!

On that note, this here’s my ice-breaker blog post, and along with it, a promise that I’ll write more, more often.  Thank you to those of you who’ve contacted me, asking where I am, what I’m doing, what my plans are.  In a nutshell, the above is it.  Every day life is still amazing, still spectacular, still adventurous, and I vow to pass on to you whatever words pop into my head and out onto the paper, well, okay, onto the laptop screen.  Thank you for hanging in there with me… thank you for doing what you do today to make your own life awesome and serendipitous… thank you for being you!

Until we meet again, happy trails!  Create some adventure in your day – and enjoy this flashback video!

Breaking through the Writing Slump
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4 thoughts on “Breaking through the Writing Slump

  • March 31, 2014 at 4:24 pm
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    Thanks Lois for writing. I love reading whatever you have to share! I have to say, you are one of the main reasons I check into FB once in awhile.

    I love the movie clip! Enjoyed the movie, back then.

    I know it is getting time for another “road trip”.

    • March 31, 2014 at 7:33 pm
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      Hi Lorna! I appreciate your words of confidence! It’s so weird being in one place for awhile… I think being on the road is what I was born to do 🙂

  • March 31, 2014 at 5:13 pm
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    ive got the same helmet…..

    • March 31, 2014 at 7:31 pm
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      Cool, Oakley… now you need to get one for Happy 🙂

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