When it's time to shift direction

I read a great quote the other day - one of Hilda Carroll's regular offerings of thoughts for the week. 

The words were from Douglas Adams and this is what he said:

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.

It reminded me that we often find ourselves places that we didn't mean to go - and that's okay.  It doesn't mean we need to head back again - perhaps we just need to stop and enjoy the view, explore the paths that head off from here, or just accept that this is where we were 'meant' to get to in the first place.

I've been reflecting since my holiday on where I was going with my writing, coaching, and blogging.  The conclusion I've reached is that I want to focus on my work as a writing coach, and writing (and blogging) about writing with confidence.  I don't think it's possible (or sensible) to put equal effort into two different ways of writing (and coaching, learning, teaching and blogging).  You end up splitting your focus and attention, and reducing the quality of - and your enjoyment in - both.

So from here on I'm going to make the main focus of my work the Confident Writing blog.  It's going from strength to strength (I think!) and I'd love to see you over there if you haven't visited before.  Just click the link...

This shift in focus means writing less here, but continuing to develop it as a site:

Where I share some of my own more reflective writing. It’s a place to explore what happens when we start playing with language, and possibilities. A place to daydream. A place to share words and ideas inspired by stories, metaphors, pictures, films, music, nature, each other. The best learning comes when we share our stories together so please feel free to read, to explore, to add a comment, to explore new possibilities and conjure up new realities...

Thanks for all your support so far - I've learned so much from the connections that have already flowed from our exchanges here.  Although I'll be posting less you should expect to see many of the same themes and aims as before, so I hope you'll carry on visiting, and reading, and sharing your own thoughts, words, learning and stories.

Comments

[Robyn]

Joanna, I'd not have the time to devote to two blogs as you do so well. I know one thing, when you make a choice - don't look back and second guess because it's a waste of your time and talent.

Oh, I had fun answering the three questions today that you posed to me! You come with depth no matter what you do, Joanna, and I must not forget to change the site on my blogroll! I'll still come by to see what's stirring here.

I've been on overload. My house has been bustling with huge family gatherings the past two weekends. These events bring great joy and serotonin.

[Matt]

Good luck with your new focus, I'm sure I will continue to be inspired by your posts, even if they are a little less often!

Matt

[Joanna Young]

Thanks for the good wishes Matt. It's lovely feedback to hear that I've been providing a little inspiration! Much appreciated.

Joanna

[Joanna Young]

Robyn, thanks for your encouragement - you've been a great source of support for me all the way along.

And thanks too for the reminder not to look back.

Actually I've been thinking back to the recent series of exchanges on your site about making decisions, not over-thinking, how do you know when a decision is "done" - and trying to figure what the key point was for me in deciding this shift in focus. And you know for the life of me I can't pin it down. I just knew :-)

Best wishes

Joanna

[Scott McArthur]

Hiya Joanna

I just found this one.....

...thinking about, “A lack of seriousness has led to all sorts of wonderful insights” by Kurt Vonnegut

[Joanna Young]

Scott - that's brilliant! I am a little prone to seriousness myself - I will pin this up somewhere as a reminder of what might follow if I let it drop a little....

Joanna