Happy almost-December. Did you watch the Parade on Thanksgiving? My son-in-law Nick was a stilt-walking rooster near the front of the Parade. William and I went downtown to watch in person, but the crowds overcame us and we ended up watching on the TV inside Lindy’s. It was still fun, very traditional, very New York. Then we walked to The Village and had dinner with Nick and Adair at Sacred Chow. The next morning I left for the New Age Health Spa to lecture and to take a Reiki course, which was quite enlightening.
Thanks to everyone who commented on last week’s post, “Gratitude in Times of Change.” This morning there was an editorial by David Carr in The New York Times, which spoke about the very same thing. He talked about young people flocking to Manhattan to do drudge work at newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses and, if they could put up with it long enough, find themselves promoted to positions of power in these industries of information. Now it’s all different: they’re coming and finding closed doors. He did end with a positive note about cabals of wunderkinder coming up with stunning ways of doing things in the brave new techno-world, but he didn’t say much about how everybody else would make a living. That, presumably, remains to be seen.
Someone did write in a comment after Wednesday’s post, “Please keep giving us ‘a charmed life’.” You know what? I’m pretty sure this blog is going to end. The lovely folk at Beliefnet (they really are the best) offered to renew my contract, but I’ve never quite “gotten” the blog thing. I think if my commitment were for a weekly post, I’d be great, but daily is tough. I sometimes find myself writing when I have nothing to say, just because I’m supposed to get something up here five times a week. That makes me feel bad: there is enough twaddle out there without my adding to it.
I also haven’t figured out how to become a sufficiently popular blogger. I’m told that the way to do that is to find out what’s big on Google on any given day and write to that, but it’s either something about a celebrity or something about politics. I don’t have a lot of interest in celebrity goings-on; and the one time I ventured into politics, about the health care debate, a large number of people came to the blog, but many of them were mad as hell. I knew that half the people would disagree with me—that’s always the way it is with political issues—but I wasn’t prepared for the venom. One person, a kind one, wrote in saying, “You have to stop writing about this or you’ll lose all your readers.” Gosh. Talk about a rock and hard place. I did stop because, even though I have as much right as anybody to an opinion on health care, it’s not my area of expertise. Yes, the subject lured in blog-readers, but I’d be shocked if one of those actually had any interest in my other work.
The main reason, however, that I will soon either retire from blogging or resurrect it in a different (and less frequent) format is that there are still books in the world, and it’s time for me to write one. If I put my heart and soul (and an hour-and-a-half) into a daily blog post, there’s less of me left for the book. Books are my life and my legacy. As long as a publishing house exists on the earth that believes in my work, I’ll write books.
So, I haven’t said a lot today that’s of any help to you. For that I apologize. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you’re gearing up for more holidays ahead. I love this season and just may go this afternoon to look at Santa at Macy’s.
Victoria Moran is a motivational speaker, the author of ten books, and a certified life coach and holistic health counselor. If you are interested in coaching and would like a free sample session, email charmedassistant@aol.com and put “sample session” in the subject line.
photo credit: Kirk W.
posted November 30, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I love your books and receive your e-letter, but I had a hard time keeping up with your blog. It was just too hard to keep up with it everyday. And then to play catch up…well you know. I look forward to your emails and books. Have a great holiday season!
posted November 30, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Victoria,
I am sorry to hear that this blog will end. I have enjoyed reading it during the day while taking a break from work. My mother and I both have really enjoyed your books, and she was lucky enough to hear you speak at Unity Church of Dallas a few years ago. We were in New York this summer and attended Unity there, hoping to maybe see you there in the congregation, but you were out of town that weekend (you had written where you were in this blog or maybe in your charmed life email). I wish you the best in everything you do, and I wanted to let you know that you really have touched more lives than you will ever know.
Stephanie
posted November 30, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I’ll miss your blog, but since your work and life are all about being true to your self it sounds like that’s what you should do. I’ve had the same struggle with required journal writing. Sometimes I just have nothing to say, so why waste the time?
posted November 30, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Oh no, don’t go. I will certainly miss your blog as I find it is truly like hearing from a friend. Your posts are refreshing, and I love the tidbits about New York since I think it is such a wonderful and exciting city. It’s fun reading about your life, including the healthy diet you maintain. You are a good soul, Victoria Moran, and your light shines through in your writing. I shall miss the blog, but will certainly look forward to your future books. ps-Give me inspirational over controversial anytime.
posted November 30, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I agree with Stephanie! You have made such a difference in my life! I will really miss your daily blog. You sound a little “down”, but I want you to know you have inspired me and given me such hope for positive changes in my life. I read your blog daily; in fact, I have printed out and laminated several of your blogs (including the “Ten Commandments”, “10 Things You Need to Hear”, etc.), and I read them in my meditation/prayer time first thing in the morning when I awaken. Thank you also for your wonderful books!
posted November 30, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I am certain that I am not alone in saying I will miss your daily blog,but trust your instincts that you are doing what is right for YOU at this point in your life. We should all applaud you for having the courage to do that!
As a teacher of nearly 30 years, I,too have become disillusioned with the lack of regard for things which I felt were of value throughout all my years as an educator. No longer are we allowed to teach cursive writng as it is not necessary for passing the state and federal testing! I barely have time to read to my students just for the pleasure of exposing them to beautifully written words and thoughts. If I have ten minutes a day to do this after all the “Standards” are addressed I am lucky.( And so are my students!)
I will be retiring in two years and although I’ll miss the children,the field of education has become so detached from the children and so focused on tossing out what is “nice to know” and only teaching what they “need to know”that I will be happy to follow my heart in other directions in the future. Like you, I have at least three books inside me that are clamoring to be written. I refuse to believe that we are coming to a point where books and newspapers are of less importance that those things which flash and buzz to get our attention and give us bytes of information that we “need to know” rather than what is “nice to know”. I’ll take the “nice to know” any time. How about you?
posted November 30, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Why not blog on your own terms, when you are enthused to share something with us all? Having a contract whereby you HAVE to post entries so many days a week must surely kill inspiration. Obviously, we’d all like you to continue, but at your own pace.
posted December 2, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I have some tears coming as I read your beautiful comments. I don’t know most of you, but I love all of you. For anybody who enjoys this blog and doesn’t get my newsletter, “The Charmed Monday Minute,” be sure to subscribe to that so we’ll be able to stay in touch. (You can do that from my site, http://www.victoriamoran.com/subscribe, or just email my assistant, Monica, charmedassistant@aol.com, and we’ll sign you up.) I don’t know what the future holds, except that you guys got it right: writing needs to be done when there’s something to say.