Saturday, September 20, 2008

Au Revoir

I do believe I’ve come to the end of this particular road, folks.

And by that, I mean blogging and BooksEtc.

It’s been a pleasure traveling with you all but it’s time I ventured down a different path. You’ve been a fascinating, wonderful, supportive group. I’ve made many friends – both in the real and virtual worlds. In fact, blogging helped me get through a particularly rough patch in my life.

So why stop now?

I started blogging almost two years ago. When I began I was a different sort of person with a different kind of life. My blog reflects this.

Some changes in life are forced upon you - some changes you must force yourself to make. Both provide opportunity for change. I’m about to attempt the latter. I need to do this.

I’m looking both inward and outward – which seems rather contradictory, doesn’t it? I mean that I’m taking stock of my life - who I am right now, what I want to do and who I want to be in the future. The future I once envisioned no longer exists. I must take the necessary steps to create a new one.

I can no longer just let things happen – and cope. I have to make things happen - discover and create a way of life that feels right for me. Not for others. For me.

This entails less time spent at the computer blogging and more time spent writing. I’ve missed my writing. I’ve neglected it. We shall see if I still possess that creative spark. No more excuses. Extenuating circumstances cannot be blamed for my writer’s block. I have allowed myself to become blocked.

I must also become more involved in things outside myself – in the “real” world. What things? I have certain ideas in mind. Will they pan out? Who knows. But I’m optimistic. And I have to try.

I’m not as nice or as strong or as brave as my blog might have led you to believe. But I am smart enough to recognize that it’s time I made changes in my life. (Actually, I should have done so long ago but I’m not about to burden myself with guilt about this.) Perhaps I’ll begin with baby steps, but still…

I will miss you all – the camaraderie, the laughter, the learning, the reaching out to one another. All of it. But sometimes you just know that moving on is the best thing to do.

Having said all this, I don’t plan on deleting BooksEtc. If I’ve learned nothing else these past two years, I’ve learned that the unexpected can occur. I could be back. Not any time soon, but some day. (Perhaps with a new blog?)

Hence, the post title – Au Revoir – which, although it means “good-bye” in French, also (loosely) translates as, “until we see one another again.”

(Dear God, this post is long. In terms of my rusty writing skills, I must at least take a refresher course in editing.)

My thanks and best wishes to you all.

And I’ll simply end with “Au Revoir.”

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck Beth! I wish you all the best...and may be joining you soon..

PG said...

Au revoir? I'll go with a plus tard. It's easier. Good luck with everything Beth. Sad to see you go - but it sounds like you're doing what's best for you and are headed in a good direction.

The Author Of This said...

This bums! I hope you do decide to come back, one way or another, whenever it's right for you.

oreneta said...

Well poop.

I'm going to miss you. That said, I hope you write beautiful stunning words, and form and create yourself and your world in a fantastic and fulfilling way....

Still.

poop.

hugs and love.

e-mail anytime...and if you need more hand cream, or anything.

Attila the Mom said...

aw man....

Travis Erwin said...

You will be missed, but I understand the time demands and the compassion to write other things.

Wish you the best.

Sherry said...

((((muah)))) love you.

Kelly said...

You will be missed!

Mrs. G. said...

I'm rooting for you Beth! You have always been one of my favorite reads-I always stop by and see what's up.

Good call on not deleting. You never know. Never say never.

Best of luck to you my internet friend. If you ever come to Seattle, please don't hesitate to call-I'm not blowing smoke when I tell you that you have a standing dinner invitation at Derfwad Manor.

Beth said...

To All:
Thank you so much for your best wishes and thoughts.
I wish you all the best as well.
Be good, behave and be happy!

The Guy Who Writes This said...

Please check in from time to time.

JR's Thumbprints said...

I wouldn't go to such drastic measures as "deleting." Why not shelve your blog for a while? You never know, you may want to restart it some time in the future. It's interesting, I quit blogging after two years (posting every day), shut it down for public viewing; after five months, I decided to blog two or three times a week or as I saw fit.

Good luck in life and with your writing. You will be missed.

contemporary themes said...

Way to take care of yourself!

You WILL be missed!

Love, Love and more Love to you!

Angel said...

awwww....damn. Good luck to you, dear friend. I will miss you terribly. I hope we can keep in touch.

You go out and kick some ass!!!

NYD said...

Living life over blogging about it, hmmmm.

サヨナラ

Anonymous said...

Beth,
I will miss your blog and you....very much. I understand to need to make yourself a priority in your own life. Good for you, although a sad day for me.

Take care of yourself. I will think about you often and I wish you well.

Love and blessings to you, my friend.

XXXXXXXX

Charlotta-love said...

Beth! I'll miss your writings but like any good friend, when and if you decide to blog again, things will pick up right were you left off. :o)

Best wishes with all your future adventures. and thank you for the website for my fish. I'll have you know I've had a full tank for several months. :o)

Ed & Jeanne said...

Good luck in your pursuits. Blogging has a way of being nothing or everything for some reason. It needn't ought to be. Stop by and leave a comment from time to time...

Lainey-Paney said...

I wish you well with your writing...

sniff*sniff.

Princess Pointful said...

Always sad to see someone disappear, away from their regular words into that mysterious real life. I'll miss your words.

Anonymous said...

Well now, I have mixed feelings about all this! I am sorry to see you go and will miss reading your posts, but I am excited for your push forward - if it's time then it's time.

All the best Beth :)

Anonymous said...

This is so sad... It's like I'm losing an old friend..

Cipriano said...

Very bold of you, Beth.
I want to say, "No... no! Shirley you cannot be serious!"
[Remember the movie "Airplane"? Leslie Nielson? "Don't call me Shirley?"]
What's that?
This is not a time for joking around?
Ooops.
I'm sorry.
But I am always ready for a good chuckle.
This is why I will miss you. And your blogpage.
But I very much... very much, wish you the best, Beth.

Barrie said...

Beth, I think you'll go forward and write beautiful things. Thanks for sharing this blog with us. We'll miss you.

Casdok said...

Good for you! And all the best from me and C. x

Bee said...

I thought that I'd check in again . . . just to see if you had changed your mind.

We barely even know each other, but now you are a real person to me . . . and it makes me feel a bit sad that you are signing off. Sigh.

(I just wanted you to know: My name is Beth, too!)

Unknown said...

Dammit Beth. You're not supposed to stop blogging for 12.5 months yet. That's when I go to Toronto ...

Good luck, kiddo. Enjoy the post-blogging life!!!

Shari said...

Hey Beth, long time no write. :) I"ve been out of the bloggling loop, too. It's a full-time job and I need to slow down, too. I still have a long ways to go on that book I want ot write. Too busy keeping up with the blogs and emails. Ugh. I do know what you mean. Takes up so much time.

Don't be a stranger and email me once in a great while or so. :)

BIG HUGS

Anonymous said...

Beth,
I miss you, but do understand. I wanted you to know I deleted A Life of Triggers and I am now at Wishing and Discovering. My middle name is Eileen, so I am know using my first name Cheryl. If you ever want to e-mail me, I'm at cheryle@twcny.rr.com

Just didn't want to loose you, in case you started blogging again.

XXXXXXXX

Lynda said...

I keep thinking you will come back... and you haven't...

bjkeefe said...

Hey, I go away for a little while, and this is what I find?

Ah, well. I'll keep your feed in my reader and hope to hear from you again someday. I know the feeling of having to quit something all the way rather than just trying to cut down, but I hope this isn't a permanent layoff.

Good luck in the new endeavors.