I usually write my post on Saturday night – usually late at night – and publish it shortly before I nod off to sleep. These days, I schedule it to post at 12:01am eastern time. Technically, it’s still Saturday for my West Coast friends but it’s already halfway through Sunday for my South Pacific friends (hi guys! I love you!).
Tonight, I have to admit, my brain was empty. I’m fried. Totally. Between packing and all the paperwork that comes with buying and selling houses, keeping up with this blog, and launching a new business and website, I’m pretty lacking on sleep and it’s showing. So that’s what I ended up writing about in a roundabout way.
Today’s (optional) Writing Prompt: What is success to you and how will you know when you achieve it?
Here we go…
—
I hate writing with exclamation points. It always feels fake and contrived. Or if it’s not fake, it just seems too perky!!! See what I mean?
But I said to Stop the Merry Go Round! with and real emphasis. It’s how I’m feeling. I’m fine. I really am. But life definitely feels like a merry go round. It’s fast and the scenery is constantly changing and sometimes it just makes you feel nauseous. And sometimes it makes you want to close your eyes. And sometimes it makes you want to get off.
Norah Jones (who my husband loves to call Bore-ah Jones from a SNL skit that came up with that – doesn’t matter, I still love her) has this song I just love called “Carnival Town.” The first few verses go like this:
Round ‘n round
Carousel
Has got you under it’s spell
Moving so fast…but
Going nowhere
Up ‘n down
Ferris wheel
Tell me how does it feel
To be so high…
Looking down here
I used to listen to this back when I was in the corporate world. And I got it. I mean, I got it. And never wanted to feel that way again. I wanted to do something that felt good. That had meaning but still spelled success.
I’ve finally reached that point in my life. I’m writing, which I love to do. I’m working with my new partner, Heidi (and we’re totally kindred spirits even though our lives are nothing alike) on Charitable Influence. Perfect, right? It’s a beautiful thing and I’m excited and proud. And yet the merry go round just started spinning a little faster.
19 comments
Hi! Congratulations on Charitable Influence, will go sign up after I finish writing this comment. I am sure it will be a great success.
Thank you, thank you!
Woah – you read my mind. I’ve been talking about this for a couple of days. But mostly how I’ve noticed how EVERYONE is on this merry go round, and noone has time for the simple pleasures of enjoying eachothers company as much. Makes me kind of sad.
On Sunday, I actually went to my husband’s aunt’s house for dinner. They are all in their 70s but I love their company. Not once did I look at or crave the comfort of my phone and internet connections. It’s nice to take a break like that every once in a while.
Yep. I”m stuck on the merry go round, and to put it bluntly I hate every single second of it. I just want to spend time with my family, my son, my writing and my obligations as an employee are severely hindering that these days. Somethings gotta give. Great prompt. I used it today. And I went over the 5 minutes. 😉
I used to be on some pretty rough merry-go-rounds. The kind that caused me dizzy spells and shortness of breath. I miss the paycheck but I’d rather find a way to make money and stay happy and balanced in my life.
I am really excited about Charitable Influence – I just signed up 🙂
But I know what you mean about the merry go round…
Yay! Thank you for joining!!!
Oh how I’ve missed this weekly post 🙂 I had to take a few weeks off but this morning it was such a joy to get up and just write! Thank you for hosting this. Congrats on Charitable Influence! What an awesome concept! And, I’m a Norah Jones fan, too. My husband always gives me the side-eye when I start listening to her music around the house. Have a fantastic week!
Glad you linked up! Yeah, I know I make my husband crazy with my mellow music. I think Sade especially drives him nuts but I love her!
Congrats on the new project launch! I am so not sure what success is for me anymore. Not long term, at least. I can see little successes in my life each day or each week, but right now, that is all.
You know what? Little successes are often more important than anything else. I think the happiest people are the ones that learn to celebrate life every day.
I’m on a different kind of merry go round, but I totally get it. I’m really excited to see the launch of your new project, and I hope that things are going smoothly for you, even though you are clearly exhausted. It will be worth it! After all, you’re fulfilling a dream! 🙂
True, true, and true. I keep trying to keep perspective and I know you are too. What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger!
Congratulations on Charitable Influence! I think it’s awesome that you are doing such great things for yourself and others.
This merry go round does travel fast, but remember, you can always stop, slow down, impede its pace.
Thank you! And yes, I’m fortunate to be in the position to control my own merry go round. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
As if you didn’t have enough on your place…you go & launch a new business! Congrats & good luck with Charitable Influence.
But this is the one i can build up with passion. I couldn’t say no!!
I’m not sure which of the pieces to this post I’m most excited about.. I can not wait to implement my first Stream of Consciousness Sunday (love this idea!). But I hopped over to Charitable Influence and wow, what a wonderful idea! Looking forward to see what thrives there! Great work!