It’s the first time in three years I’m not participating in the #write31days challenge.
Many bloggers in October take this challenge to write every day during the month. Making the decision to participate this year was, for me, a struggle.
I’d go to bed thinking, “There’s no way I can physically attempt this challenge and stay sane right now,” I have more on my plate this fall, and my time to write is limited. But, I’d wake up in the morning, filled with the promise of a new day. I would almost convince myself to change my mind. “You’re just using your schedule right now as an excuse. You can do this.”
I can drive myself crazy with such back-and-forth self talk.
This went on for days. I asked my husband what I should do. Keep in mind, that would be like him asking me if he should work overtime for 31 days straight. But his response was, “Do whatever you think you should do.”
Yeah, easier said than done.
I asked God what I should do. Nothing came immediately.
I even polled some of my blogging friends on Twitter. “Why do you do (or don’t do) #write31days in October?” The responses were intriguing. But, one response stuck out to me. It was from my friend, Jeanne. “I don’t have time to do #write31days and my own projects. I have so little time to write, I must choose.”
The very next day, in a text conversation with my sister-in-law, she was congratulating me on my accomplishment of being published in the Five Minute Friday book. She closed out the conversation with words that continue to swirl around in my mind,
“Now get going on YOUR book.”
I must choose.
Get going on YOUR book.
Two who do not know each other, and who didn’t know I was struggling with this #write31days decision, helped me come to a choice that was best for me. God used them to give me my answer.
Sure, I could have pressed through and made a plan and came up with a theme and I’d be on Day 3 of writing. And yes, I would have stretched myself and grown my writing. That’s always a good thing.
But sometimes, as I’ve heard said before, good can be the enemy of great.
Saying yes would have been good. But, saying no to this challenge was, for me, great.
Friend, how about you? Have you recently struggled with a decision where both sides were good? Was there something, or a person, or a situation that helped you see the greater choice of the two?
Sometimes we just don’t know. And we make the decision that appears best. Whether or not it ends up being the good or the greatest choice, we follow through and make the best of it. That’s when I find good is still good, even if the choice I made wasn’t the greatest. And, God can still bring His good from it.
So, during these 31 days, I’ll be writing… Here on my blog when I feel led, and behind the scenes in the pages of what’s to come. And, I’ll be cheering on my friends whose great decision was to take the challenge and who are rocking it.
I’m cheering you on as well, as you decide between what’s good and great today.
Blessings!
Julie
Linking this post with Lori, Holly, and Kelly.
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Good versus great – always the hard decisions to make. I’m not doing #write31 either. Making hard decisions too on where to focus in limited time. Good luck on your projects! Can’t wait to see where you’re going!
Julie, I totally understand. We are cheering you on too. You post whenever you can!
I tend to agree with Sergei Gorchkov, late Admiral of the Soviet Navy – “Good enough is best.”
The drive for ‘best’ (or,cloyingly, ‘Go for the gold!”) is a pernicious thing in our society, because ‘good enough’ can bring a lot of joy; not reaching an imagined height of perfection just gives dissatisfaction.
I feel exactly the same way. Sometimes I want to post more (not necessarily with the 31 days but in general). I’ve thought of cutting down on length and putting in really great quotes I’ve found on pictures I’ve taken and adding a couple paragraphs on my inspired thoughts behind them. But God has other plans, and His plans will trade good for great.
Julie, I love what you said about choosing between good and great. I find that I often feel obligated to complete tasks or say yes to events that keep me from doing something greater. I am somewhat new to blogging and didn’t know much about the writing challenge, but I don’t think that would be the best use of my energy either. I wish you the best as you work on your book!