There is no post today. I understand that seems unlikely since you are indeed, at this very moment, reading a post. But … trust me. There is no post today.
I know this because yesterday, when I was supposed to be writing today’s post, I sat at my desk staring out the window. All day. For like 12 hours. Occasionally I’d let my eyes drop and I’d stare at my boots for a change of scenery. It was terrible.
Let me explain a bit about how I work, and how most bloggers work. You have a calendar and you have post ideas written down for the future. I personally have a month’s worth of post ideas scheduled in advance. So at the beginning of the month I know exactly what I’m going to be writing about for the entire month.
This eliminates the stress of OMGWHATAMIGOINGTOWRITEABOUT. Which is an official disorder according to the Medical Association of Bloggers and University Students. Treatment varies but ranges from doing 16 consecutive loads of laundry to attending a kegger.
So I had all my post ideas written on my calendar but for some reason today’s post was missing. I had nothing written down. No scribbles, no ideas, nothing, all I had was a big, fat blank square and the feeling of impending doom that goes with it.
So I stared out the window. A couple of times I took a break from my intensive window staring to walk around and check my sap buckets, talk to some neighbours, and then I got back to my window staring. Every once in a while I’d swivel towards my computer determined to think of something to write about. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to force yourself to come up with an idea but it’s kind of like forcing yourself to poop if you’re constipated. You can try all you want but nothing is going to come out.
In desperation I typed into the Google bar … what can I write about? This brought up a litany of posts from other bloggers with ideas on what to write about! I kicked my heels off of the desk, planted them firmly on the ground and got to reading. Somewhere in between the suggestions of “Write about what you had for lunch” and the very popular “Write about something you know about”, I branched off into YouTube videos of cats doing weird cat things. Somehow that led me to this fun little life tip.
I want you to go to Google right now. In the search bar type “do a barrel roll”. But don’t put the quotation marks in it. I just added those so you knew what I wanted you to type. Go ahead, do it now before you forget.
I can’t say I was instantly cured of my writer’s block but I did feel mildly queasy which was a fun change the feeling of impending doom.
I then headed to Instagram where I asked my followers if they had any ideas. They did. But I didn’t feel like writing about any of them. I guess I just didn’t feel like doing anything. So how did all of this turn out great?
At around 4:30 p.m. I finally decided to give up. That it just wasn’t going to happen and I should just stop stressing about it. I really should have recognized the signs and given up hours earlier instead of wasting time getting nothing accomplished.
I put on my running shoes and tights, plugged in my earbuds and walked out the door. I ran. I ran and I ran and I ran like I’ve never run before. I’ve mentioned that I am a spectacularly bad runner. Either my legs feel like they’re made of cast iron, or they tingle or I keep turning left so I’m never too far from home in case I suddenly get the desire to empty the dishwasher or paint my bedroom.
But not today. Not on this terrible day.
Instead, I trotted off at my usual pace, arthritic elderly tortoise, and felt pretty good. My standard run is 5 km. That is all my body wants to do and that’s all my mind wants to do. By 3km I’m usually thinking about what shortcuts I can take to get home so I can make dinner and eat it all down.
What happened yesterday, on that terribly unproductive day was I ran longer and faster than I have ever run in my life. I had 3 personal bests. Fastest pace, longest duration and most kilometres. And it was easy. I could have kept running forever, but I stopped at 10 km because at the rate I was going I wasn’t going to stop until I ended up on a shrimp boat in Alabama with Lieutenant Dan.
It was great. I felt great.
Somehow all the stars aligned. Something terrible turned into something great because I decided to stop fighting it and leave the terrible behind.
I hope you enjoyed today’s non post where my epiphany for you was to literally run away from your problems.
You’re welcome.
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I love this. –It’s like your unconscious knew you were simply supposed to run that day. AND you were rewarded by not fighting it.
I never thought I’d think of running 10 K as a reward, lol, but I guess it was! ~ karen
I believe that was the best you could do you restored and refreshed . Should’as and could’as some times need a chill out. So thumbs up from me.
That barrel roll just about did me in. I just stuffed my face with a huge roast beef dinner and wasn’t prepared for that. Queasy much? I wish I could run, or walk, or do any kind of good for me exercise stuff. I’m just a lazy lump….. Tomorrow will be a better day :)
I used to have “the stress of OMGWHATAMIGOINGTOWRITEABOUT” when I was a newspaper columnist with a deadline. I gave that up as it was turning something I loved to do (write) into something too much like work. As we all know, that can take the joy out of things in a hurry. So, now I’m a blogger, but on my own terms. Even so, my blog has been picked up by news agencies and duplicated in their online publications. I don’t pre-plan anything. I just write when the idea hits me. And if one doesn’t, you are likely to get samples of my latest art project. LOL
What a wonderful inspiring post. We should all do more of getting outside-outside of our nagging brains, manmade structures with their enclosing comfort or duty or time wasting distractions and breathe and move and sit- on a park bench and just be…at rest,at Peace,fully alive…and happy
Amazing! I am so jealous. I don’t think my body has any ability like that.
This makes me like your internet self even more. Well, I already liked you from your posts anyway but still…
You are almost the opposite of me in your go getter abilities. I think I read you because of both your humour and counter balance to me. Plus, not many people blog regularly anymore and I miss those days:) I don’t attempt half of what you do…or I make my husband do the DIY projects and I decorate them. You remind me of my fav aunt. She also weirdly shares your name with the ‘a’ instead of ‘e.’ Anyway, weird personal tangent. I’m not especially socially appropriate I suppose…maybe? Regardless, It’s nice to know you have days that are awesomely ordinary…Except for that Gump run…I count that as at least a week’s work of productive activity:) Bravo.
I wish I could not write as well as you!
Brava, Karen! That is some magical transformation of a day.
For myself, it is the zen of preparing to move. Right now this consists of defying physics (or rather adapting quantum physics) to pack belongings into boxes that exactly fit the space and time the objects currently occupy. When I succeed, the universe shifts just ever so slightly.
May you enjoy more endorphin-filled days. Now I’m off to experience some barrel rolling firsthand for an adrenalin rush.
Congratulations! You had what we call a “blow day” ; when nothing seems to work, so the hell with it. So, you’ll feel better when you next sit down to blog. Kinda like a bumper sticker that says “Trump happens”…
LOL! ~ karen
Those boots are worth contemplating!
Karen-Love your posts, love your not posts. Sometimes life sucks, and given enough time and/or distraction life can awaken in us curiosity or what ever it takes to get a person moving. Getting outside and doing something repetitive helps me.
Love your posts.
Karen, you always make me laugh. Loved the barrel roll thing too. Don’t sweat the writer’s block. I think your blog of not having a blog was great and puts into perspective of how we all have those days of “holy [email protected]#, I’m not prepared but I’m going to wing it” kind of days!
Contrats on the run by the way. I say that to anyone that actually runs on purpose!
I think this is in my top 10 favorite posts! Or non- post post 🤔
I plan on rereading it next time I have a day that comes to a grinding halt!
Thanks for sharing!
Wiggly – poopy – squirming runners are a real workout to deal with but the sweet hugs and smiles make it worthwhile! At 72, it becomes an olympic workout.
BArrel roll was great. And 8 found out if you type in “askew” the results will be. Askew!
I’ve never been able to ride amusement park rides so the barrel roll about made me puke. Thanks so much for that first thing in the morning.
Nooooo problem. ;) ~ karen!
It was your daily destiny. You can’t fight it. You just have to find it.
You found all 10K of it.
:) ~ karen!
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😄😄😄
I ran, too! I ran after my 2 yo grandson while babysitting. It was fun for the first 3 minutes, then I just wanted to sit and work Sudoku. He did the barrel rolls! Rather then my normal exercise of diddly squats, I can mix it up and little and do some barrel rolls – thanks!
Sounds like a workout to me! My current exercise regimen is just benchpressing our 9 month old–he’s only about 22 lbs but the real challenge is the wiggliness. ;)
LOL, I’m there for ya. ;) Now get back to your exercises. ~ karen!
WOW…MOM…WOW!
[ulp]
Walking has similar effect for me; it clears my head if I’m not trying to. And I’m with others in that I felt better just reading your post, but wish the running section had more details and was just a squoosh more detail.
This post was a “Seinfeld” moment! And the barrel roll was totally unexpected. Thanks.
A PB? That’s amazing! If you really want a challenge, try running in those boots ;)
That. Made. Me. Dizzy. I’m going for a walk…
Nevertheless she persisted.
;) ~ karen!
I meant SAT not Saturday lol
LOL. ~ karen!
Hmmmm …. I had a day like that yesterday…. Saturday on one chair most of the day doing nothing at all…. next time I will try running!!!
I feel queezy.
That’s all.
Barrell roll on an empty stomach.
I don’t run but I did have a very non-productive art day in my studio ! But I did get a longer walk in today with my two dogs
…..one of whom can roll a barrel shaped exercise ball !!!
I think this is the perfect non post. Very inspirational! Good job!
You’re awesome. And I think that’s just my favourite part of life: when the wonderful thing happens because of the shitty thing. I never get tired of it.
In fact, I’m waiting on a wonderful thing right now.
This was a pretty good non post post. :)
At any time of the year, btw, I like to read about people who are still working on their New Year’s resolutions. How they managed to prepare a resolution that they can maintain.
Good idea Luanne. A Resolution update.
You impress me all to hell, Karen.
Karen……………………………………………..
Are you sure you’re OK?
First brussel sprouts and now this?!
Should we get into a bunker?
You are killing me!
Love them kind of days if I ever get one… good for you! Happy your bad day turned into a good day!
Very impressive. I only run to sales racks. I did the spring prune of 60 rose bushes today. Does that count as exercise?
Your nonproductive day turned out great! I laughed out loud when I read the words ‘a shrimp boat in Alabama and Lieutenant Dan.’ I love Forrest Gump – one of my favorite movies! thank you for the laugh and the lift. I spent all day in my pajamas, tomorrow I’m going to try to do better
A day in your pajamas every once in a while is a great thing! More than every once in a while might be a cause for concern. Get out of those pajamas! ~ karen
2,320,000 barrel rolls. Really.
You personally?! Good Lord, how did you keep from barfing? ;-)
This is fantastic as I, too, ran away from my problems today! I didn’t break records but it was such a great feeling to be out and pushing myself physically instead of being chained to my computer attempting to finish my dissertation. At first I chastised myself about procrastinating but then halfway through the run I realized this was actually better use of my time :) As is reading your blog as a ‘break’ ;)
OMG – no post today! Woah Though – Thanks for letting us know.
;) ~ karen!
OMG OMG the barrel roll thing lol 😆
I know, eh?! LOL!! ~ karen
I love it when a run just turns into a run and not a chore!!! I’ve given myself a #50by50 challenge and I’m running 50 races by the time I’m 50.
16 down! 2 years to go. Might have to sign up for Around the Bay!
Eep. EEP. The Around the Bay. Nope, lol. ~ karen!
OMG, the _5K_ Karen!!!!! Ain’t nobody got time for the 30k LOL!
LOL. O.K. then. ~ karen!
you go girl !