Today I asked a prominent blogger & author (who I admire very much) if she had any advice about transitioning my career from nonprofit to freelance writing. Her reply:
“Go back to philanthropy!! Before you start to like it here!! It doesn’t earn a living, let me tell you …”
This of course sent shivers down my spine because I gave up the security of 9 to 5 job for love and a laptop. Self-love, that is. Self-preservation. Over the last 14 years I had been so focused on making everyone else happy that I didn’t have anything left for myself. I know I am not alone in this feeling. In fact, I believe that I have just described how 85% of all mothers feel. (Another 10% are on medication and don’t feel anything at all.)
These days, instead of getting whatever leftover time there is in the day, I have become fanatical about time for me! me! me! I am addicted to writing. I am now an idea factory. I have so many projects that I want to work on that I don’t have time for them all. My house is a mess. I have no idea where all the spoons went. I am not the least bit curious about that weird odor in my laundry room. My car could use an oil change. And, for all intents and purposes, next month could be a complete financial catastrophe if I don’t start hunkering down.
So yesterday I heard the word “yes” and today I hear the words “go back.” Life is so confusing sometimes I double down in nausea because of the uncertainty. Am I delusional? Is there such a thing as a happy medium? Can we have it all?
Okay, what I really wanted to say is “HOLY SHIT!” but BlogHerAds limits you from using profanity in the title of a blog post. And you know what? I totally respect that – but a big HOLY SHIT anyways.
Today I got an email from a person down in the Los Angeles area who thinks I am kinda funny and emailed me about participating in a blogger panel. (I would talk about it more, but I don’t want to jinx it.) Honestly, irregardless if it goes anywhere I feel sublimely grateful for the compliment. I’ve spent a whole lifetime being someone who is grossly self-defeating, so to accept a compliment is an unbelievably big step in my personal journey. Hopefully, you’ll hear more about this opportunity in the future and if you don’t, please send bottles of Makers Mark my way. Of course, you always have the option of sending over a bottle of MM anytime – no reason necessary.
I have a stack of essays to read as a judge for a middle school essay contest, so tonight I’ll leave you with this new song tormenting me (sent by Jen). It will burn your ears, make you want to do a shot of tequila and then bend over and say 10 Hail Mary’s:
I had my first negative comment yesterday and it generated more traffic and comments on my blog than anything else in the past month. Okay, now I understand why politicians use negative campaign tactics – it gets people’s attention!
I really thought the post was relatively benign but I guess I could kinda sorta maybe see how 46% of America might get offended. But it clearly wasn’t my intention. Here’s a little snippet if you didn’t catch it yesterday:
In response to my post Kelly said (no blog URL left):
How can you talk like that to your daughter. I am and will always be a McCain supporter, when my kids got up this morning(12, 14 & 15) that were sad that Obama became president and started to say negative things about him. I stopped them and said he is now the president of the united state – your UNITED state and you must support him while he is president. Obama would be disappointed in you and your daughter from what I have heard he wants a united america not a divided. Your still divided even though he won. BTW my father is a great man and he loves his grandchildren and cares deeply about that generation and he can’t text either.
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First Negative Comment
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
I’ve arrived.
I had my first negative comment yesterday and it generated more traffic and comments on my blog than anything else in the past month. Okay, now I understand why politicians use negative campaign tactics – it gets people’s attention!
I really thought the post was relatively benign but I guess I could kinda sorta maybe see how 46% of America might get offended. But it clearly wasn’t my intention. Here’s a little snippet if you didn’t catch it yesterday:
In response to my post Kelly said (no blog URL left):
Here was my response: (more…)
Tags: @kelly, annabassham, blogging, dave huston, democrat, negative comment, obama, paige
Posted in Daily | 15 Comments »