Wednesday, April 27, 2011

CAUTION !!



Caution: In the future don't mess with A - Z challenges. It could be hazardous to your mind.


This challenge has had it moments but now that I am approaching the dreaded "X" I realize that my life has enough difficulties without adding the last 3 letters into the mix. I never wanted this to be a situation where I had to put something up every day whether I had a good contribution or not. Sadly that is the point have approached with this challenge. Therefore, I will go back to just being "Odie".


I am enjoying just being a part of this big blog family that includes people who are happy, hurting, confused, inspirational, lovely, encouraging, generous, depressed and entertaining. I see these as people who either are helping me or need my help in whatever little way I can. That is a pretty good combination and I know for a fact I have been helped along the way and I appreciate it so much.


Quitting is not a good thing but to be honest I have had "lots" of practice over the years so it really doesn't make me feel that bad as I probably saw it coming from the start. The good part is that in the whole picture I see Odie as being much better that I was when I started this adventure June of last year, even though I feel I am so very far from where I feel I should be spiritually & emotionally. So my friends, if you are saying your prayers, remember this old NC boy who could use all he can get.

11 comments:

  1. You are in my prayers Odie! I completely understand how you feel with this challenge.
    It seems so ingenuine sometimes to have to post when you really don't feel inspired to. I didn't realize that would happen when I started this thing either.

    Have a great day! Just being Odie is the best thing because that's when you're at your best and we love you that way! :)

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  2. I know that is how I would feel if I felt that I had to post something. It puts too much pressure on you and feels more like a hard slog. Just being Odie is fantastic, that's what keeps me here :)

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  3. What a delightful, honest and heartwarming post this is, Odie! I don't know about everyone else, but in my opinion you're perfect just the way you are, so don't knock yourself or feel you've let anyone down by not completing the very final hurdle of this challenge. I'm certain it was intended to be something fun and inspiring. If that has ended for you, then you've done what's right for yourself and you certainly do not owe anyone an explanation :)

    You're a wonderful man with the kindest heart. We all have our hardships, trials and tribulations in this life but, equally, we all have our many, many blessings and joyful moments, so you're no different than anyone else. We're all in this together and, as my Mum always used to tell us when we were children...we're not here to see through each other...we're here to see each other through!

    Big hug,
    Des xoxo

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  4. Odie - I couldn't agree more with all the other comments. We love you just as you are - for your kindness, support, encouragement, prayers and humour. I think you have done tremendously well with this Challenge. You certainly don't want to do anything that is going to be a chore to you. You will know that I have struggled at times to get inspiration for blog posts. That's not what this should be about. If we only post two or three times a week, all our friends will still be there with us on the journey. I don't see this as you quitting at all. Take care dear friend.

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  5. Blogging can become an addiction, Odie, and the race to gain more friends and followers can lead to burn out. I recently downshifted and scaled back the rate at which I publish my blog from every three days to twice a week. Yet, I still feel overwhelmed most of the time. I regularly read and comment on about two dozen other blogs and many of our friends are hitting the wall lately and finding it necessary to slow down or even abandon their blogs for a while. Let's remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. Blogging isn't a sprint, it's a long distance run and we all need to pace ourselves.

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  6. Hi Odie! I've just discovered your blog, and I will return to read your other posts. I believe I will attempt my own alphabet challenge,making it my own, until I no longer need it to inspire something to write about. Sometimes I get stuck for something to scribble with a keyboard, but the challenge might give me a good kick start on those days. Bring your coffee and set a spell with me. I enjoy new friends and neighbors. (SC is neighbor to NC!)

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  7. Sometimes when it gets to be too much, it's a good time to take a break. just a complete stay away for a few days break. It gives new perspective and usually I come back refreshed and ready to blog.

    It is a fine line to figure out why you blog. Do you do it for others or for yourself? Probably both, but you need to do what is best for you not others.

    My first year of blogging, I got obsessed with comments and people reading my blog that it's all I thought about. I started reading too many blogs and following lives of other people instead of living my own life.

    Taking a break, made me think about which blogs I really benefitted (sp?) from. I kept the blogs that I loved and the blogs that I felt helped me spiritually, the ones that I used like craft blogs and cooking blogs and of course personal friends' blogs. (that's still quite a few)

    Somewhere in there I found balance. balance that still needs to be kept in check every once in a while.

    That's my advice, for what it's worth.

    It's easy to get caught up in number of comments and number of followers. I think half of my followers don't even follow anymore anyway. I just have it on my blog for convenience.

    It seems when I get caught up in what others want and posting for others and not for me and what I want to post, I end up getting overwhelmed and feel people expect more out of me than I can give.

    I say this after I started "Tuesday Tea Talk"!
    I hope I havent gotten myself into trouble....


    Just be yourself.
    It's the Odie we all love.
    God bless you Odie!

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  8. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Don't say it!
    Don't think it!

    Odie, you are in my prayers!

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  9. Hey, you made it this far and that's a pretty darn good accomplishment. You gotta do what you feel best about. We all blog for different reasons and some like me just feel compelled to finish--I guess I'd better be finishing. And others have different blogging goals and that's not bad either.
    Thanks for being such a mighty part of this epic event. You didn't quit-- you just stopped early cause you had more important things to do.
    God bless you for being Odie!


    Hope you join us in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post on Monday May 2nd.
    Lee

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  10. I think you might already know my thoughts on blogging/quitting/daily p0sting based on my personal experiences so you would then know that I would say "good on you" for making this decision!

    You are indeed a wonderful bloggy friend-thank you for the support and friendship you have always shown me!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  11. I also feel far from what I should be spiritually and emotionally, but in a way that is a good thing. There is always more to hope for and work for. Remember what Paul said, "I forget those things that are behind and press onward..." He said he didn't count himself perfect. I don't think any human is perfect and God probably leaves it that way to keep us humble.

    My sister Liz doesn't think she has changed for the better, but I see it each year when I visit. She is kinder, softer, less angry, more patient. When God works in us the change comes slowly but surely. He is living in you and me, Odie. What a wonderful thought!

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