What Is Blogging Anyway?

In case you hadn't noticed, I've been a little less verbose on the blog recently. And I've felt all conflicted about it and worried about why I wasn't as excited about blogging as I once was.

It's been nearly two years now of writing Mind, Body & Scroll and it has never ever felt like work. I've never felt like it was something I had to do -- a chore or a task on a to-do list. I suppose that's why it's been bothering me so much that I just haven't been drawn to sit down as often and write.

And it's got me thinking: What is blogging really? And what is my blog to me and to others?

I started Mind, Body & Scroll for a specific reason: to talk about my experience with physiotherapy and to discuss what I've learned about health and life in the process. I've strayed into other areas -- my life as an ex-pat in the U.K., planning my wedding and my self-help book addiction -- but I hope that I've at least kept true to writing about the link between mind and body health.

But is this blog just a one-off project? Or it is a longer-term conversation?

I've mentioned this before, but I started a new role at work at the end of last year and it has been taking up a lot more of my attention and energy than during the last few years. And I think that's just fine, although things like blogging have probably suffered because of it. In addition, I've been mulling other writing projects and thinking about what else I'd like to work on, which has also taken attention away from this blog.

However, I do want to continue communicating with my small, but very loyal, band of readers. I think (and I hope you'll agree with me) that it's alright if maybe posts will appear less frequently when I am busy with life and can't totally focus my energy on this project. Life is cyclical by nature and ebbs and flows. Sometimes we need to have more down time or step away from projects. Not to mention that the blog is by its nature an extension of my thoughts and experiences and sometimes I may need to be more private than in other times or even just less self analytical.

I journaled for much of my younger life but when I was in college I made a decision not to keep a journal or diary. I just wanted to live life and not think about it too much. Sometimes that's a really good thing to do.

Anyway, I guess that this is my way of saying thanks for your support over the past few years as readers and I hope that you'll understand that sometimes I may need to take a step back from blogging, but I won't be away for too long -- I'll be back continuing the conversation again soon.
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Onwards And Upwards

I haven't written much lately about my physio exercises, Super Physio or pain – which is a good thing. I originally started this blog to share my experiences with musculoskeletal pain or RSI, but these days I am so much better that it has become almost a non-issue – some background noise occasionally – but no longer an obstacle to everyday life.

(If you are new to this blog and want the background story, now might be a good time to read The Whole Story or my first post: So You Want To Be A Runner…)

These days I am finally doing 'normal' exercise. I am averaging twice a week – usually two Bikram yoga classes or a Bikram yoga class and a swim. I think it might be nice to exercise three times a week, but I have trouble making that happen. I think that's OK, though, as it's enough to keep me sane, help me continue to get stronger and fitter, but also allows me also live a balanced life: keep my job, see my friends and cook dinner for me and the Hub most nights.

Which brings me to the next step in my recovery: doing fun exercise. I'm still not ready to go skiing (I can't face the idea of falling and breaking something and ending up back in physio) and zumba even seems a little dangerous with all that jumping around. But I'm branching out slowly. The Hub and I are going golfing over the long Easter weekend (with Christianity being the state religion you get two days off work here – it's amazing).

My other new exercise acquisition this year will be sailing! (I think that definitely deserves an exclamation mark.) It was all a little flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants, but I learned how to sail a small sailboat at our family lake house when I was a kid. Since then my love of sailing has been dormant, brought to life in 2009 again when we did a sailing trip to Turkey. We had a professional skipper to sail us from place to place and he dubbed me a 'natural' (see photo to prove it). Then there was a weekend in Cowes last September when I helped our friend sail his boat through a minor squall (see my friend Donna's post on this). The result was an invitation to race with his crew at any time. And I'm signed up for June.




It may seem like a small thing to a 'normal' person, but for someone who has had to sit on the sidelines of so many activities over the past seven years, it's pretty amazing to think I'm finally strong and going to be able to do some really fun exercise this summer. And sailing is one of those things I didn't even realize I wanted to do, which makes it even more of a pleasant surprise that life has thrown it my way.

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