What to do about my missed blogging targets?

I know, I planned to write here regularly, did so for a few months and then didn’t. That gave rise to an unpleasant cloud of guilt, shame and regret. Naturally, the next step is to shy away, forget about the whole undertaking and ignore the very existence of this blog. However, New Year comes and resolutions pop up and I decide to be all mature about this sourly perceived personal failure. Yes, I lapsed. Yes, I got too busy with other projects last year, lost my momentum, and it all went downhill from there as I started to think „If I write a new entry, it has to be especially great to make up for lost time“ or „If I write or don’t write makes no difference, so why bother?“ or „Why did I ever think to start this cursed blog?“. Enough wailing, more action!

„Time to put on your big girl pants!“

Freshly rested in January 2024, it appears vain and ridiculous. Yes, it is all true, but isn’t this is just life?! You are doing great with one target that you feel really committed to, but then other things take over. No matter if it is eating healthier, exercising more, learning a new language, or calling grandma every day. It is impossible to do it all to the maximum extend while allowing life to change and take you other places.

And who is there to judge? If no one is reading it anyway, I can just go back to writing my little entries and possibly by taking up a new routine regain my enthusiasm. Get the bike out of the garage, pump some air and leisurely circle the surroundings. No pressure to join the Tour de France!

What is there to lose?

That is the question that I should focus on instead. I have no written in months. So, that is already rock bottom for a blog. Anything I put out there is one step out of the pit of silence. The internet is full of people living their best lives, reaching and exceeding all their ambitious personal targets. So, if anyone wants to read about that, it is all out there. Go for it. It’s just not my story.

Recovering Happiness and Optimism

And, most importantly, I am pretty well despite my writing failure. Once I stop my self-flagellation, I realise that I am happy and grateful about so many things in 2023. I was healthy, spent time with family and friends, had interesting work projects, travelled places, and enjoyed many wonderful moments.

Instead of hiding in my cave of shame, I hope to share positive vibes and optimism. I could not reach my writing goals last year and that made me very uncomfortable. It happens all the time, that we do not achieve what we planned in the set timeframe. But that must neither mean that the goal was wrong, or that we are incapable, it just didn’t happen yet! It might be worthwhile to simply try again this year? So, here I am. Blogging my very first post for 2024!

Maybe that makes just one reader feel better about themselves? That would be the best outcome for any of my blog posts!