I'm Not Procrastinating; or Thoughts on The Pilgrimage

I know I've only promised one post a week, but it's Wednesday night, and I feel like writing. And yes, there is a long list of other things I could be doing right now, from the should-not-be-postponed-any-longer (buying plane tickets!) to the menial (making my bed... I know, it's sad). Some of you may call this productive procrastination. You know... when there are things you should be doing, like sorting out your bills or responding to emails, but you decide that it's the perfect time to completely reorganize your music library or re-customize your blog, or... really do anything other than what you should. I hear you. And I've productively procrastinated like a pro... but this is different. I promise, and I'll explain...

Obsessed. It's not healthy... [source]

One thing I've learned is that I, as well as most people, am much more productive when I'm doing something that I want to do. I don't mean those impulsive wants (i.e. streaming the most recent episode of Dexter(!!!) or eating those oh-so-delicious Lotus cookies... which I may or may not have sitting next to my laptop as I type).
 I mean the things-- the desires that have already been on my to-do list for some time... the things I've wanted to improve, wanted to try, wanted to just do.
Here's the (very) short list:

• Practice (more like learn how to play) my guitar.
• Write more letters/postcards/emails. Just be better at keeping in touch.
• Read more. Much more. And much more en español.
• Plan lessons and be the kick-ass teacher I know I could be if I just tried.
• Exercise (SO much more difficult now that the weather is cold)
• And last but not least, give the blogging thing another shot (check!)

So yes, I may be procrastinating more pressing items on my to-do list, but like I said, I feel like writing. And you know what? It's on my list too. So I won't feel bad about it. What needs to be done will get done precisely because it must be done... even if I have to stay up late to do it. In the meantime, it's better not to fight the momentum. Go with the flow.
Moving on...

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I'm reading a book right now called The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho. While it's not his most famous novel, it was his first. How appropriate then that it is the first of his that I'm reading. So far, I love it! This is in part because the story is set along my beloved Camino de Santiago-- Coelho has done his research well, and the proof is in the little details... the ones that make me smile and reminisce.

SEMPRE NO CAMIÑO is Gallego for
Always on the Path. True statement.

But aside from this nostalgia, the book is inspiring me to reexamine myself and to meditate on what my dreams are and what it is that I want out of this life... important questions that should not to be answered quickly... if at all... 

And so I'm back, from outerspace...

... or should I say from outside the blogosphere.

First, a pretty picture to distract you:

Taken this past August in Missouri on a visit to my Grandpa's. I love finding flowers where you least expect them--  springing out from between the rocks or perhaps breathing life into some wintry soil (oh, daffodils). :)

 (para una versión española, mira el fin del post)
It has recently been brought to my attention that I never rarely write on my blog. (Thank you, David). I also need to drop Rebecca's name... my lovely friend and fellow blogger (although she's much more deserving of the distinction), who recently blogged about blogs she reads and was kind enough to include mine on the list. These two people are the ones to thank for this hasty and very raw return to the blogging world.

Return. That makes it sound like I purposely left it and am now coming back. The truth is (what a statement that is)... well, the truth is a lot of things. For now, the truth is that I've not been a faithful blogger, and the reasons are many:

1. I got behind in my posts... and then, things changed... relationships, contexts, these kinds of things, and after the changes, I didn't know how to relate my travel adventures that had happened before those changes. And so, I decided neglected to relate anything whatsoever.
2. I constantly struggle with what I want this blog to be. Is it a way to keep my "people" informed on my life? Is it a travel blog? Is it someplace to express my thoughts, dreams and feelings about life? Is it for sharing links that I find interesting? Is it for me, or is it for those reading it?
3. I want to do more things than there is time for in the day.
4. Even given the above, I am lazy and don't always make the best use of this time that is already in high demand. 
5. excuse
6. excuse
7. excuse
8. and so on...

 Up to now, the only thing I am sure of is that, whatever this blog is, whomever it's for, it needs some more attention and more regularity. And so, I am about to do a very dangerous thing-- I am going to make a promise... and Rebecca and David, you can hold me to it: I will post, in some fashion, at least once a week through the end of the year. After that, we'll just have to see what my New Year's Resolutions are. :)

Please feel free to leave notes of encouragement, requests for what you would actually care to read, and of course any other questions, comments or concerns! Good night!

P.S. I've updated the About Me section (see tabs below the header).

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Esto no va a ser una traducción directa ni completa de lo que ya he escrito-- estoy cansada y no soy capaz en este momento de hacerla. Pero me doy cuenta de que, tal vez a algunos de mis pocos lectores les cuesta más entender el inglés. Y ahora que estoy escribiendo en castellano, pienso que quizás lo debería hacer más para practicar tanto como para ayudar al entendimiento de mis amigos españoles... hmm. De todos modos, lo que he dicho, más o menos:

Algunos (David!) me han dicho que casi nunca escribo en el blog. Añade el hecho que mi otra amiga Rebecca mencionó mi blog en el suyo, y sentía que debía escribir de nuevo. A estas pesonas les debéis vuestro agradecimiento por este post escrito con prisa y sin mucho pensamiento-- mi regreso al mundo de los blogs.

Pero decir 'regreso' da el sentido de que yo lo había dejado a propósito y ahora estoy volviendo. La verdad es (vaya frase! como si pudiera decirla todo)... pues, la verdad es muchas cosas. Por el momento, la verdad es que no he sido una blogger fiel, y las razones son muchas:

1. No había escrito hace mucho tiempo sobre viajes, los cuales tenía ganas de relatar-- pero entonces, la vida cambió... relaciones, contextos, entornos, cosas así, y después de los cambios, no sabía cómo explicar esas aventuras que habían pasado antes de esos cambios. Por eso, dejé de escribir... no deliberadamente, sino por negligencia.
2. Este blog no sabe lo que quiere ser. Digo, YO no sé lo que quiero que sea este blog. Muchísimos ???
3. Quiero hacer tantas cosas que no hay suficiente tiempo en el día.
4. Aun dado el número 3, a veces soy perezosa y no utilizo muy bien este tiempo que ya tiene gran demanda.
5. excusa
6. etc.

Ahora, la única cosa de la cual estoy segura es que, lo que sea este blog, para quién sea, necesita más atención regular... más cuidado. Por eso, estoy al punto de hacer algo muy arriesgado-- voy a hacer una promesa: haré un post, de algún tipo, una vez a la semana por lo menos, hasta el fin del año. Después, tendremos que esperar los 'buenos propósitos del Año Nuevo.' :)

Dejadme unos ánimos, peticiones para lo que de verdad queréis leer, y por supuesto, preguntas, comentarios o preocupaciones! Además, si os notáis algún error en el uso de la lengua, por favor, que me corrijáis! Gracias, y buenas noches!

Besos a todos.