Falling Behind

I've been falling behind as of late in everything it seems but not excepting my blogging. Life has been happening despite the updates so look forward to too many posts about my trip to DC to visit Lyndsey and thoughts on life in general and various other topics. Since I have abstained from writing as of late expect too much writing in pursuit of balance. It is, after all, time to make up for lost time.

Cleanliness has fallen by the wayside. By virtue of being in a city where I hiked miles each day, I kept up with exercising. I even woke up early this morning to work out but when I got to the gym someone was on my beloved elliptical machine. With a heavy heart, I took a walk around my apartment complex instead, knowing it wasn't really enough. Perhaps I'll try again tonight. Time to climb back on the horse for the millionth time. At least I've done it enough times to know that not trying is ultimately unsatisfying.

I gained more than a little insight while on my trip. The entire thing was brought to life by Lyndsey's realization that Elizabeth Gilbert was speaking at the National Cathedral at the end of March (author of Eat, Pray, Love, among other novels). Our many conversations on the book and the topics covered and our love of the author meant only one thing: we must go. And go we did!

So much more to write on the experience, but one thing that hit home for me was during the Q&A after her talk. The audience was handed out index cards with the programs and encouraged to write questions down during the talk to be answered later. One question about writing and organization prompted an answer by Ms. Gilbert that you have to choose one person and write for them. You can't write to please everybody. So, if you're writing to your sister or husband or Aristotle or whoever, write to them as our audience. Then, when you are stuck or floundering or trying to decide between two ideas, ask yourself what that person would do or want or think was appropriate -- and there is your answer. Always go back to that one person.

I was much better at this on livejournal. I approached writing like I was writing for myself instead of writing for anyone else. I need to pick an audience for my blog or at least a specific person for each entry. Then if someone else wouldn't understand or wouldn't like it, who cares? It was never intended to be the thing for them....