This is the blog post I did not want to write.
I love writing here. Actually, I love writing. I enjoy being a part of the Diabetes Online Community, and I enjoy writing (and now podcasting) maybe more than anything else I’ve done in the past few years. It’s a constant source of enlightenment (yes, I learn from you). It’s a constant source of joy to look at a topic and write something meaningful. It’s fun. A lot of why I do this is because it’s fun. It’s a gift to be able do this, and it’s one I’m grateful for every day.
But my paying job needs me right now. Until the end of the year, my work weeks that usually total around 40 or so hours are now totaling around 55 hours or so. That’s not so much when you’re 25, but it’s a lot when you’re 53. Also, The Great Spousal Unit has been away almost as much as she’s been home over the last few months, and I really feel like, you know, since I made this commitment to her 22 years ago, I should actually spend time with her when she’s here. Both of those things have seriously cut into my time to write and podcast.
Let me be clear: I am not closing up shop. I will continue to write. I will be delivering new episodes of Diabetes By The Numbers. If you write to me requesting a Champion Athlete With Diabetes medal, I will be happy to send one out. I still plan to participate in the #DSMA Twitter conversations every Wednesday night. I’m not saying no to anything, and I will try to fit whatever I can into my schedule any way I can. I am not going away.
But, though it really hurts my heart to say it, unless something changes, my pretty much three-times-per-week posts will be less frequent through the end of the year. Once we reach January, I suspect that will change and I will be able to go back to something a little more regular again. That’s what I want, and that’s what I like. I write here for you, but I write here for me too. Can you get endorphins from writing?
The really good news is that there are still plenty of other diabetes blogs to read, and even more coming online all the time. I get so much reading about others living with diabetes, their experiences, their challenges, and how they’ve met them with bravery and resilience. That should hold me for a while, and I hope it will hold you too in the times when you don’t see something new here.
I’ll talk to you soon… I promise.
Diabetes Blog - Happy-Medium.net 
Comments
I completely understand and wish you all the best. I’ve stopped writing, which saddens me every day, for two reasons-my children take up so much of my time currently and my laptop quit working. Haha. My point is I get it, we all do, priorities. Hope these next few months of the year go smoothly. 🙂
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Wow, so many of us have “stepped back” for a bit. I applaud you for your dedication and hope that your work weeks don’t pull you down.
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Good luck:)
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I’ll miss your frequent posts but it’s not always a bad thing for life to interfere with writing about diabetes.
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I understand and admire when people realize they need to take a step back. It’s wise. Big hug!
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So – it’s time – and yes, spending time with your wife – and even more so, yourself is really, really important. This year was the first that I skipped Karen’s D-Blog Week – and I survived. You will, too!
Favorite memory? Walking down the hall at the Flamingo and hearing a happy, “Hi, Colleen!” The connections will still be here – even when we’re not here on a daily basis.
And – I have to say reading blogs is just as much fun as writing them.
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Colleen, this warms my heart. Thank you.
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PS – You’re 53??? Fooled me!
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Because of you my diabetes world opened up. I had never read any diabetes blogs before I applied for my Champion Athlete Award last year. After reading about several on your blog I’ve started searching the net to get more and more info to help me cope with my diabetes. Thank you so much for all the time you’ve put into your blog. I look forward to receiving your blog posts again when you’re able to return.
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Thank you Janie. That is a wonderful affirmation. Thank you.
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Life happens, and this is all secondary. We must prioritize as we run along. Thanks for all you have done and will continue to do, and I’ll look forward to keeping in touch whether it’s here, or any of the other ways to do that. Good luck with all the work importance and definitely have fun with your Great Spousal Unit as much as possible! 🙂
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It happens to the best of us. Don’t worry, you don’t really have to justify yourself… just means there will be more people looking at my diabetes blog! 😛 (www.IAmAType1Diabetic.com in case your readers want to check it out!)
All the best, and enjoy the time with your wife. She too deserves it.
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Thank you so much Calla. I love reading your blog! And I am adding it to my blogroll (on the left) right now.
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Stephen, I can’t count how many nights I’ve sat downstairs at my computer typing a blog post, while my wife called from upstairs asking when I was coming to bed. It stressed me a lot, and I think that realization ultimately allowed me to allow myself to cut back on my blogging activity. Yes, I needed to allow myself to do something – the obligation to continue seemed strong, but there was another obligation that was stronger.
You’re doing the right thing. You made a commitment to someone, and she made a commitment to you.
Consistently putting all your efforts into a blog isn’t sustainable when you have a responsibility to your family and to your employer. Though it’s one less blog for us to read regularly, I’m happy for you for making this decision. You’ve just made a giant leap towards finding that (pun intended) Happy Medium.
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You know what’s cool about blogging? We get to make the rules and decisions about frequency and time and deadlines and stuff. And when life gets busy, as it often does, we can pull back for a bit. There’s nothing wrong with that, Stephen! We’re always here for you!
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Hey, that is completely fine!!! We all only have so much time in our lives, and priorities changes (sometimes when we don’t even want them to). You do what you need to do, we’ll still love you just as much!!
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Yo dude… BE YOU and do what you need to do to take care of you and your other half.
Don’t feel guilty and certainly don’t worry about the rest of us nutheads.
❤ you!
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Thank you Scully… you’re the best.
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