Dad bloggers get paid to blog. That is my contribution to the SEO efforts of the evening. As is my custom I am writing this a few minutes after midnight except unlike most nights I am exhausted.
Smarter men than I would have just gone to sleep but I was determined to participate in this edition of Just Write. Played two hours of basketball today and spent 30 minutes on the treadmill. Two hours of chasing younger men up and down the court. Two hours of proving to myself that I have found a way to stop the clock.
Now two hours and three sets of push ups later I am almost ready to go to sleep. Would have done so earlier but I had to work on my NanoWrimo story. Haven’t been as happy with it as I would like to be but that it is not unusual. There have been more than a few occasions upon which I looked at my words and rolled my eyes in disgust.
Tonight I read through my contribution and decided that it didn’t work so I started  a second option. Pumped out and polished about 12,000 words that I need to review. Need to sift through it all and see if it makes sense or if I have created some cockamamie concoction that stinks.
I know how to tell a story. It has a beginning, middle and end. In between there are nouns, verbs and adjectives that are used as the secret sauce. They are the spice that provides the flavor and the sauce that makes the desert something more than ordinary. But it is hard for me to see whether I have been successful. My perspective is skewed. Sometimes I am too hard and sometimes I am too easy on myself.
But I am pushing. The time to do more is now. The time to talk about it was yesterday. I can’t wait any longer. Today is when it happens. Today is when I turn words into deeds and actions into stories.
I am excited but I am scared. I haven’t any doubt that I can do this but my fear walks with me and wonders if I can do it right. Can I live up to or exceed my potential. There is only one way to find out and that is to do what I am doing. I am trying. I am pushing. I am asking for help. It is not easy for me. I don’t like doing it and I am not sure that I am asking the right questions but I am doing my best.
If all goes as I wish my best will lead into new opportunities and this dad blogger will get paid to blog. That is what I want. I want to earn enough to support my family. I tell my children that they need to push to live their dreams and not dream their lives. I can do no less.
And now I am going to sleep where I will dream of many things some of which I may share later. Life is meant to be lived and that is how I shall live it.
This is a mom blogger who wants to get paid to blog. Have you checked out http://bloggingyourpassion.com ? I recommend that site. He is one of a group of dads who DOES make his income on his blogs. He has a lot of great information.
Hi Gianna,
Thank you for the tip. I will check it out.
I like what Jack is saying.
“I am trying. I am pushing. I am asking for help. It is not easy for me. I don’t like doing it and I am not sure that I am asking the right questions but I am doing my best.”
That’s what any of us can do, Jack. Do. Push. Ask for help.
Keep on keeping on, Jack.
P.S. This is going into an upcoming Blog Soup. That means you’ll get love, permanent links to your Twitter and blogpost, and maybe just a little bit more rank juice.
Stan,
The best part of not being the 25 year old who had insane amounts of energy is that my keep on keeping on has more focus.
Life experience is simply invaluable- can’t screw an old head on young shoulders. Good things come to those who work for them.
Dammit. I was hoping for a free weedeater or something.
I’ll let the PR team know and we’ll see what we can do.
I was looking for the line to get paid?
Hi Jim,
The check is in the mail. 😉
Jack, aloha. No wonder you were exhausted. What a day! Actually, I think your physical exertions were the least of it.It sounds like your mind is tired from endlessly spinning around the hamster wheel.
Jack, it will truly be a day of celebration when you are supporting your family doing what you love most–writing. You are an amazing communicator. do you have your plan in place for how you think ir will happen or are you still working on it?
In the time we have known each other, I have been watching you go through your metamorphosis. When it’s complete . . . WOW!
Best wishes for a terrific day, Jack. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
I am currently working on a plan to make it happen. I have a rough outline in place but I need to spend some time polishing and refining it. This can be done, but I want more structure to it than it currently has. School tuition can be demanding so…
Anyway, when I am not tearing my hair out I am having a blast. I think good things are coming for all of us.
You can always stop the clock for a little while, it’s just that when you get older it hurts more when the clock starts again. I’m finding that out every new season of rugby.
As for getting paid to blog, I think that’s a great goal (and one that I have). I know, however, that it’s something that is going to take me a while to achieve, which means that my enjoyment of doing it has to be the primary purpose. Money will be a much appreciated bonus to it all.
Making enough to support my family doing it? Well that seems like a pipe dream for me right now.
Adam,
Pipe dreams don’t have to remain as such or so I often remind myself. I can’t say that all of my dreams have come true but many have.
I hear a lot of good things about Rugby and have been very tempted to try it. Probably should do that sooner than later as that recovery time won’t get any faster.
G’Day Jack,
I dunno whether you’ve ever heard of Transactional Analysis or “TA” for short. It was quite the Big Thing back in the 1970s and 80s. Even The Beatles went to India to meet the Big Guru, Maharishee Something or other.
One of thee things i found useful from TA was a little technique to use when you found yourself really pushed.
Ask yourself two questions. What’s the worst thing that can happen if I do/don’t do this? What’s the best thing that can happen if I do/don’t do this? It’s a handy little device.
Just thought that I’d pass it on for whatever it’s worth.
Hang loose and have fun.
Best wishes
Leon
Leon,
I didn’t know the name of that particular exercise but it is a technique that I have used upon more than one occasion.
A simple thing, but it has great utility. I like it. I really need to pass that on to my kids- can’t remember if I have shared it with them.
Played touch football for a long while with my son and my nephews on Sunday, and either they’re getting faster or I’m slowing down. Can’t figure out which…
There’s no stopping the clock, Jack. Just a delay of game…
Hi Joe,
I ran a 29 year-old down last night and blocked his shot from behind. I suspect that he was slowing down and prepping for the lay-up, but am not sure.
So, since I don’t know for certain I say he was going full speed which means that the few pounds I have shed have rewarded me with a step or two.
Sadly I think you are right about stopping that clock- but I’ll take the delay. Damn, I love this stuff and am going to miss it when I truly can’t compete any more.
Applause for your efforts, determination, and follow-through! I need to take a page (or two or three) from your playbook.
V,
You are one of those people that I have faith in. When you are ready you’ll get it done.