Sunday, November 7, 2010

Can I Resist?


I'm having a heck of time this month. You see, I'm a joiner. And there are all of these things to join in November, just calling to me! But I'm trying to resist, because I have a busy month that includes a lot of personal projects I want to do, instead of joining something that doesn't get me closer to my goals and dreams.

It started with Art Every Day Month, which looks so fun. I mean, I create most every day anyway in some way, this is right up my alley. But I'm resisting, because I don't want to focus my creative inspiration and efforts just to meet a self-imposed deadline every day when I have so much else going on.

Then there is NaBloPoMo, National Blog Posting Month, which inspires you to write a post every day on your blog for the month of November. Hey, I do that most of the time anyway! But not committing this month, which includes visitors and travel and the busiest, longest work week of my entire year.

Along the way I ran into 30 Days of Gratitude. What a wonderful way to uplift and celebrate the month of November, than to be grateful, for 30 days? But then that focuses me on one specific topic... and again a whole 30 days of commitment to it. Can't do it.

On my internet wanderings I bumped into Digital Detox, which sounds like a wonderful week long little way to simplify your life if you want to participate, and then November in Black and White. Hey, I love black and white photography. But wait, that would commit me to a whole month of it. Right now, when I have other things I'm focusing on. OK, so no.

Thank goodness I don't have any idead for a novel, or NaNoWriMo would be calling to me too.

I hadn't realized that I was such a joiner until I find myself struggling to resist joining in to all of these things. The communities they create are so fun. The things you gain by doing these activities is so worthy. As I read some of my favorite blogs I feel like I'm looking longingly into the windows of people at a party and I'm outside in the cold. But I remind myself, no, I can't put myself through this right now. Because for me, what's worse than being outside looking in? Joining something and then not being able to follow through. I beat myself up, because I committed to something, darn it, I should follow through. Instead, I'm choosing to stay sane this month, without adding extra pressure.

So to satisfy those urges to join, I've decided to create KaNoJoMo - doesn't that sound fabulous? It stands for Kat's Non-Joining Month. This month, I am not going to join or commit to anything that is not on my personal priority list. I am going to resist, walk away, focus on my own stuff in the limited time I have available. I'll just wave at everyone else through the window as I walk by, give them a thumbs up to let them know I support what they are doing.

Want to join me? Haha - I tricked you! You can't join me! That's the idea, no joining. It's a personal decision, one you can make too. No monthly or weekly or daily challenges or commitments to other projects if that is not right for you. Only commitments you make to yourself. You don't need to announce it to the world (as, ironically, I am doing), you just have to make a personal choice.  You don't need permission from anyone else but you, and you don't have to apologize to anyone for not joining.

Week 1 of KaNoJoMo is already over, and I survived without joining anything. Whew. Only 3 more weeks to go...

Today's photo is from Saturday evening in Venice. *Sigh* I love Venice. Still.

20 comments:

  1. What a great post! thankyou for mentioning November in black and white, I started it because I am seriously struggling with my commitment to my 365 and now it's very hard to picture something everyday in black and white!! anyway I love your idea, if you feel like breaking your own rule and popping in for the odd black and white please do so!

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  2. I like this idea. After being away from my pencils and inks for 3 days I feel totally out of sync and need few days to get back into my routine but decided this morning I'm just going to take it easy and do what I feel like for a bit, maybe even for the rest of this month :)

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  3. Wonderful post Kat! I also have seen the many different projects pop up over the last week, and while they all look fun and interesting I will pass and just stick with my 365 which is in the finally 2 months.

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  4. Ha ha ha! I'm signing up for KaNoJoMo THIS INSTANT :-)

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  5. In my foundation year at art college there were so many goodies to try out, print making, interior design, fashion, photography, graphics ...., I loved them all. I became confused .....

    In blogland I keep to my path, I may look through the windows for awhile, but then back to my path.

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  6. Truer words have never been spoken! I want to go everywhere, do everything, and see everyone, but this rarely lets me get what I need to do for myself and my family. So, about 5 years ago I started an all about me club. Just one member, and she keeps me focused. Still, some of those groups do look like a lot of fun.......

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  7. Kat - thank you for telling me what nablopomo is (I can't even commit to using correct capitals). I've seen that in the blogosphere, but couldn't figure it out, and guess what? Not joining either! I got invited to the 30 Days of Gratitude, which is a lovely idea, and so far I've contributed zero (0) pictures to that cause. My 365 project is stalled somewhere around 62, but heck, nobody was looking at them anyway...

    So, I'm right there with you on the NoMo - although I am part of BAM now, and there is Picture Winter coming up! I've got to do something to keep cute badges posted on my blog! Enjoy your month, Kat!

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  8. Love it Miss K! I am not a joiner. RUN FORREST RUN, it my mantra!. I need to hear thru silence what to do and that is what I follow. Maybe joining has to do with guilt and once you can live with( because we knew outgrow guilt) guilt, mayb eht ejoining urge will go away. Blessings thru your Journey, my friend...

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  9. I've been feeling the same way....kind of overwhelmed with things to do at home and with family, with almost no time left to create. I see some of the wonderful photos people are posting and I wonder--how do they find the time?
    So, to maintain my equilibrium, I'm not joining anything this month either, but maybe in January, which is a long and slow month.

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  10. LOL!!! Love KaNoJoMO, Kat!

    Sigh. I'm in for the first two! Well the AEDM and trying to post every day (but not officially joining NaBloPoMO which you have only now introduced me to). Posting daily is way harder than the weekly check-ins Leah has! But I see some people doing that AND NaNoWriMo and think OMG! How is that possible?!

    You're a smart lady Kat! Great post!

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  11. Wonderful post!!! You are so right! I've joined a few "challenges" but do them only if I have the time. They actually keep my creative juices flowing which I love. But I don't commit in such a way that I beat myself up if I can't stick to it. Blogging should be fun, right?
    I'm having it!

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  12. That's great... love it. It is hard to be committed to something everyday....

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  13. I have the same problem.. LOL! Great shot.. I love that you captured the candle so well and the reflection is blurred very sweetly :-)

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  14. So hard to keep up with everything - I totally agree. Great shot!

    Erika B

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  15. I think you've got it right! I'm constantly finding myself drawn to those commitment things too and all of them, as fun as they may be at times, usually keep me from doing the things I should be doing! Oh, and I love your photo - very relaxing! :)

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  16. What a great post! I can completely relate.

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  17. Wow your blog is looking amazing since the flying class! I have been browsing only in my Google Reader so I hadn't realized. Keep up the great work, lovely post. There is so much out there I get overwhelmed. I'm loving your photo frame project though and am going to post something soon! Happy creations from germany, tj

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