But I don't like to call it that...I call it 'justifying'.
I can justify just about anything....
Why my husband needs to go pick up the kids instead of me.
Why we need to pick up Chinese for dinner instead of having me cook.
Why it's OK to spend the evening sitting on the sofa instead of walking on my treadmill.
One of the places I've been feeling my justifying, or excuse making, the most is in my writing.
I KNOW it's important to write every day.
I KNOW that to be the best writing teacher, I need to write.
I KNOW that just wanting to be a writer isn't enough to make it happen.
I have to do something...I have to write.
This was a page from my writer's notebook last week, when I made the decision that I needed to stop making those excuses, or justifications:
Doing things that are important to us need to become a habit.
And excuse making shouldn't be one of them.
This is so true, but sometimes the excuses are a way of taking care of yourself, especially when it comes to take out.
ReplyDeleteI make more excuses about writing than anything else. Not about blogging, though. Knowing someone is waiting for my post. Having a round up to attend. Deadlines work. So maybe you need a deadline. Do you have a writing group? Having a group of people who are waiting for the next chapter inspires me and keeps me from making too many excuses.
Oh I know those excuses!! I'm sure I could add on a million more. I have found that writing for my students has given me an audience (and no way out) and that helps. By the way, you've written here so don't be too hard on yourself! Happy Writing!
ReplyDeleteThis post spoke to me because I do exactly the same thing. Sometimes I just need a break but sometimes I need to push through and write, cook and enjoy being busy. Please know that I am out here working on the same things you are :)
ReplyDeleteThis post spoke to me because I do exactly the same thing. Sometimes I just need a break but sometimes I need to push through and write, cook and enjoy being busy. Please know that I am out here working on the same things you are :)
ReplyDeleteLove that "tomorrow" on your list. Sometimes the day just isn't long enough... This is a good reminder for us all, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a good one to respond to your post. I do write every day and so happy to be back to the routine but even as I'm writing I'm thinking about what else I have to do that I'm not doing and that drives me crazy. It's so hard for me to just embrace the moment. That'a good resolution... OLPhrase... so don't beat yourself up :)
ReplyDeleteThis is all part of the process...and look, here you are on Tuesday - no excuses!
ReplyDeleteYou do your best, then move on. Give yourself permission to work at your own pace. I like the idea of justifications rather than excuses.
ReplyDeleteYes! I hope you read Michele Haseltine's SOLS today about writing - even if it is writing badly.
ReplyDeleteNo excuses! (or justifications....)
Wow! Just what I needed to hear! My biggest justification is "I don't know what to write about." I don't really know how to overcome this though.
ReplyDeleteEither way, thanks for the motivation!