Anyway, that's not what I'm writing about. I'm writing about me, and how all that has affected me.
Recently an anonymous writer left a comment to my last post, which was written over a month ago, asking, "Eric, Where are you???" Well, the unfortunate answer is that I'm in the land of the over-committed. Reading anon's question started me thinking, and I realize that not only is my time over-committed, but so is my mind. I'm so far lost in the forest of local issues, that I can no longer see any single tree clearly enough to write about it.
In early June, this over-commitment came to a head when I was asked to assume the role of co-acting director of the John Jermain Memorial Library. This came shortly after I was asked to serve as the treasurer for a local candidate's political campaign. I agreed to both. As some of you know, I also serve in other capacities for other organizations and committees. Anyway, those last two additions to my schedule were the straws that broke the blog. I literally have no time. As I'm writing this, I'm also thinking of at least three other things I could/should be doing, and will have to do when I finish, and none of them are reading the latest Harry Potter, which I really would like to be doing.
So, as you can see, though I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself, I think I have an excellent reason for not keeping up with my blogging. But, the truth is that I really like blogging, and it's important to me. Other things that are important to me have also been neglected of late: my family, my health, my home. The first two are the most important things in my life. The third is also way up there on my priority list. This blog ranks pretty high too. Yet, I've been ignoring them all. Not good.
It's not that the things I have been doing aren't important -- I'm not just sitting around watching reruns of South Park. Even so, I see a need to reorder my priorities, if for no other reason than, as things now stand, I'm not really capable of giving each of my commitments the attention it deserves. That became obvious recently, when I found that I just couldn't justify the time to attend the meetings of one of organizations on which I serve; so a few months ago I just stopped going. Now if I can just find the time, I'll write a letter of resignation...
More relief is on the way. The library Trustees are, I believe, close to making a decision on hiring a new director, which means that soon I can stop attending Trustee meetings, and working every other Saturday, and start doing only one job during the work week instead of two.
As for the rest, I'm just going to have to find a way to communicate to each of the groups I belong to that my commitment there is of a limited nature. I will have to say no when asked to take on new responsibilities. I will not be joining your group, organization, campaign or attending your meeting, workshop or fund-raiser, so please don't ask. This will be hard, because I really care deeply about our community. I want to fix Sag Hampton (the region), but not at the expense of breaking me.
If all goes as planned, I may even find the time and the perspective to fix Sag Hampton (the blog). We'll see...
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Currently not reading: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowlingand certainly not watching South Park
by Trey Parker and Matt Stone
