There is a lot to be said for impetuous acts. The impromptu weekend road trip, the blind date, the improv class. I’ve never shied from these impetuous little acts and they’ve typically paid off well for me. I can attribute my photography career to an impetuous enrollment in photo school, my marriage to an impetuous first date, my current charmed existence to an impetuous move to the big city.
To be impetuous – and to have that end in delight and not in tears – requires, I think, knowing when you’re ready, and pouncing on opportunity. Let me clarify:
Impetuous + unprepared = disaster.
Impetuous + prepared = magic!
May 1: Blogging on the balcony.
So, my most recent impetuous decision was to sign up for the 2010 WordCount Blogathon. (You can see the eye-catching logo there to the right.) My friend and blogging spirit guide Amanda signed up, and like a true disciple, I followed suit. The object: to blog every day in the month of May.
This clearly defies the title of One/Week. Will you bear with me, readers, while One/Week temporarily becomes One/Day?
A few rules for myself:
- Not every post can be about food.
- Not every post can be in essay form.
- Every post must still include a photo I shot.
- Every post must still fit the description of “things that matter to me” – no posts on what a boring day it’s been or why homemade popcorn is better than movie theater popcorn.
One/Week is just over four months old, and I’ve really gotten attached. I’m ready to jump in with both feet and play with her every day for this month and see where each of us ends up.
Having watched plenty of Three’s Company, I totally agree about your impetuous + unprepared formula. This blogathon should be fun.
Please reconsider and write the popcorn piece. My cast iron skillet can beat that movie theater crap to a fluorescent hydrogenated pulp any day of the week. It matters, man.
TwoHands, I will reconsider, but only if you link to my blog. I long for a trackback.
Which reminds me, I want to do a post about blogging. It’s meta.
Happy to make your acquaintance!
I am still scratching my head over the notion that not everything can be about food.
Still, I am intrigued by your premise and shall be subscribing to your updates.
Yay! Nice to meet you via the blogathon….happy writing!
Danielle Buffardi
PenPoint Editorial Services
http://www.penpointeditorial.com
Hi ya, DragonKat! I jumped into the Blogathon pan as well. Should be an interesting, fun journey.
I’m enjoying your blog.
Thanks, all, for your introductions and encouragement! I admit, I had a hard time with yesterday’s post — first time I’ve ever posted without a strong idea in advance, so it felt a little undeveloped but still, I liked that I had to do it and I did do it. Would love to hear how others felt – was it easy still or did you have to dig a little?
A “blog spirit guide” – suddenly, my career path is crystal clear…! Seriously, thanks for the (flattering) shout-out, Katie, and I’m loving your writing. It feels looser and like you’re letting us in on insights that maybe you would have ruled out/overlooked when you were only writing weekly. So glad to have a Blogathon Buddy and can’t wait to see what comes up for both of us through this process!
Oh, and love your formula for impetuousness
If you’re prepared, tho – not really “impetuous”, more like “bold,” right? I thought about moving to NY off and on for 10 years. Then one day, I was ready, and I (we) did it. Maybe it looked impetuous on the outside but it had been brewing on the inside for a very long time…
I think you’re right, Amanda, but it’s much sexier to be (thought) impetuous.
Bold, brave, decisive – all good words to describe being aware of your internal readiness and having the sense to recognize that either the timing is right, or that an opportunity is to be seized.
good luck doll, its an excellent goal
Thank you, Kristi!
[...] I love to write and how well I can do it, and pursuing that led me to meet some great people through a Blogathon I participated in in May. I accomplished the insane feat of posting every single day for a month – with much [...]