I promise this will be the last of my posts about motivation/validation and so forth, but I forgot a very important part of why people sometimes are not constantly “in the zone” and that is simply because real life gets in the way. It’s that famous old saying:
“Real life is what happens when you’re busy making plans”
If you get some bad news about a friend or family member or something directly affecting you then it’s natural that thoughts turn to those people in need and how to deal with or help with the issues at hand, and with good reason of course!
I won’t go into detail and nothing really bad has happened at TFS towers but I’ll just say it has been a turbulent few months with lot’s of news flying about that has taken up our time and thoughts.
Maybe even the news of the wider world affects your mood and you devote some thinking time and personal effort to helping those in need out instead of relentlessly focusing on your own personal plights. Again, this is all good!
I guess my only point with this short post is that it’s OK to step away from things briefly, life and friends and family are far far more important than saving rates, blogging, and ticking off personal goals and challenges. Also this is worth bearing in mind if you find yourself being overly judgemental others performance, or just others in general. You just don’t what people are going through most of the time and it’s worth bearing that in mind. I’m not one for people playing the victim all of the time but obviously there are many occasions when otherwise productive and hard working people take a hit and we should cut them some slack.
I am sure you are all well aware of this but I just thought it was worth pointing out anyway 🙂
I hope life is treating you all well at the moment 😉
TFS.x
You’re absolutely right.
We can get a bit over the top sometimes with concentrating on our FIRE plans, as you say, our heads can get filled with rates and stocks and amounts.
At the end of the day, our relationships are the most important thing. These are not just relationships to our nearest and dearest, but our relaitonships to neighbours, co-workers, and other humans.
‘Who is my neighbour?’ – Humanity is your neighbour. Be nice. Always.
Our relationships are also to objects and situations around us or that we become aware of e.g. the asylum situation going on right now.
Hope all is well with you and best wishes
M
Great comment as always M… thanks for your thoughts and all the best to you as well.
Sometimes when you work on something too much you get ‘retirement fatigue’, ‘decision fatigue’, ‘blogging fatigue’. Motivation dips to zero and you start to resent it.
Then real-life shows you what’s really important, and yes, we should work towards our goals, but not like automatons.
I suspect everyone who follows this blog knows what you’re going through!
Best of luck and don’t feel you have to write five times a week.
Thanks for the wise words Andrew, you insightful old devil you!
Cheers!
Real life is the most important thing. You’ve been at this blogging and FI lark for a good few years now, consistently pumping out great posts and updates, so the ‘fatigue’ which Andrew mentions is only natural.
You’re also experiencing/about to experience changes to your life, eg with your work etc. Big stuff, real stuff which will command your full and immediate attention.
All the best TFS, you have our best wishes and support.
Thanks weenie, that means a lot to me and all the other comments as well. You lot are just too nice! 🙂
Real life is actually all there is 🙂
Everything you do (including blogging, or any other “tasks” and activities you set yourself along with attendant goals) is part of the whole. You should never feel compelled to keep up with any part of it that isn’t naturally capturing or demanding your attention at the time. Allow yourself to go with the ebb and flow of what feels right at the time. The rest can wait.
All the best 🙂
Very good point Cerridwen and I never really looked at it from that angle before…
Thanks! 🙂