We Don't Need Any Stinkin' Blogging Rules

We Don't Need Any Stinkin' Blogging Rules

A return to daily posting is something I've resisted for some time.  And if you've followed this blog, you know I've done a stellar job resisting.  Why?  Oh, now--I could come up with a dozen excellent sounding excuses, all of which you could easily argue against, and you would most likely be right.

My biggest excuse (the one I used frequently) was the time commitment.  I once treated this blog like there was a rigid list of rules stating:

All Posts Must Be At Least 6,000 Words
Every Post Must Include Multi-Media Content
Each Post Requires a Minimum Time Commitment of 1.5 Hours

I enjoy the occasional "mega-post," I do indeed, (and I'll occasionally have the time and material to crank out one of these super-post) but since this isn't currently my full time job, I can't abide by these self-imposed imaginary rules any longer. Tony Posnanski is a brilliant example of quality over quantity.  I'm pretty sure he's written entire blog entries on his phone--in between sets in the weight room at his local gym. 

My most honest excuse (one I've rarely said--and usually to my therapist only--Yet, it's the most obvious) is this: When I'm not doing my best, when I'm struggling--I'm not as motivated to write.  It's as simple as that.  It doesn't mean I've struggled the entire time spent away from daily posting, after all--I stopped posting daily in August 2010, hit goal in November 2010 and maintained for nearly a year and a half before I started struggling again.  I credit my regular facebook "micro-blogs," for sure.  But the point is this: I give myself the greatest chance of success when I'm posting daily right here on The DAILY Diary of a Winning Loser.  The ups and downs, the struggles--the victories...That's what this blog is all about... a complete picture, an unvarnished example...The good, the bad and the awesome.

I woke up this morning feeling sick.  I didn't sleep well because of a tooth ache.  This issue had progressively worsened (as these things tend to do) and this morning it decided to grab and hold my attention.  I took some ibuprofin and decided to somehow make it through my radio show.  As I settled into the studio, so did the pain, for a little while at least.  As soon as I was off the air I started making calls for available appointments.  The second call I made had an opening at 1:30pm.  It wasn't my regular dentist, but it didn't matter. I needed out of pain as quickly as possible. And after a couple hours in the dentist office, I was out of pain--oh yes I was...and the right side of my face was completely numb.  I was drooling and I didn't even know it--that's how much I wasn't feeling any pain.  Obliviously drooling...it was great.

I was told not to chew on my right side and to only eat soft things, "like ice cream."  Yeah--they don't know me very well, do they? ;)

By the time I reached my apartment after 4pm, my calorie budget was sitting at a very low 350 calories--all from lunch and my morning coffee.  I had tortilla soup with four crackers and some cheese.  I rarely skip breakfast, but I did this morning because of the throbbing tooth pain.  I opened another can of soup this evening--added a few crackers and cheese on the side and cut up an apple--and still, I'm under 1,000 for the day.  Again, not typical--but circumstances took away my desire to eat.

I decided to rest after the dentist and at least have a walk before nights end.  I planned on a 5K...ended up only doing two laps for 1.75 miles.  Everything considered, I'm happy with today.  I'm also hungry.

But it's way too late to eat anything.  I'll have a good breakfast in the morning.

I'll leave you with this thought from my facebook micro-blog today:

"I've said it many times: “I know myself.” What we know is based on what we've experienced, the choices we've made—the patterns of the past. That is what we know. Do we know of what we are truly capable? Believing in ourselves requires faith in what we haven't known, an unwavering faith in our ability to choose change. It truly does not matter what we've done, where we are starting or what we know. Believe, and this time will be like nothing you've ever known." 

Thank you for reading, goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean