enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

one little word / three months of “choose.”

Rocks

Almost three months of 2012 are in the books (literally).

I have not been very deliberate with how I have used my one little word so far. Though I can think of a few instances where I was grumpy about something and said to Paul, "I know I am supposed to be choosing not to care about this."

(I don't think that counts.)

But, when I look back, over the past 90 days, I see two choices that are enhancing my creative life.

one / I have cut the list of blogs in my reader from over 130 to about 90 and down and down and down to just 31. There was just a lot going on between the blogs and pinterest and instagram and twitter. And it is such a relief to have chopped some of the clutter. I spend much (much) less time in front of the computer these days. And when I am sitting here, it's usually because I am typing away on this blog or responding to emails or editing and printing photos or working on specific projects. I have deleted the mindless scrolling and it's feeling good.

two / I stopped trying to find the financial angle on all creative endeavors. Over the past three months, I have let the shop sit on the back burner and turned my focus to the blog. And more importantly, I have gotten back into the habit of making stuff without an agenda. What is ironic is that this has led to a very awesome opportunity. I know for sure that opportunity exists because I was making for me – not for a payday. It was a wonderful lesson and something I'll be discussing in more detail in the months to come.

Good creative choices these past few months. Nine more months to shift focus in other areas.

2012, you're a good one.

*photo of my ever expanding beach treasures collection. It's a favorite, for sure.

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28 responses to “one little word / three months of “choose.””

  1. Lauren Martin Avatar
    Lauren Martin

    Elise, as a geologist I am loving all of the rock photos you’ve been putting up since moving into the new place!

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  2. Cecilia Avatar
    Cecilia

    thanks for the reminder about one little word. i haven’t been focusing on my word as much in recent weeks, so it’s a good time to do a quarterly check-in 🙂

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  3. Kaytie Yost Avatar
    Kaytie Yost

    I love this post so much and really admire your efforts to choose the things that are right for you at this moment in time. These two ideas seem right on target. I’m working on cutting out some extraneous things in my life too and recently cut down my blog reader to about 90. It felt really freeing for all the reasons you mentioned, but now I’m itching to cut it down more (i’m not sure if i can do 31 though)!!

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  4. robyn Avatar
    robyn

    great post!! and i’m with you on the whole “stop trying to find financial angles” bit. maybe it’s the spring hitting, maybe it’s the sick babe napping upstairs, but i’d rather just make stuff and talk about it when i feel led than worry about how i’m going to make money off it.
    hmmm. good thoughts, indeed.

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  5. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    Your beach treasures are another great example (like Instagrams) of things that look better together, as a bigger picture, rather than each of its parts. Definitely a good thing to keep in mind during the day to day.
    I’ve also made a point of cutting down my daily blog reads, and even stepping back from the blog to refresh my reasons for doing it and my goals. Excited to hear about your new opportunity 🙂
    Mel

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  6. Frankie Avatar
    Frankie

    I cut my blog reader down at the beginning of the year as well, but then started adding to again. You’ve inspired me to go through it again and cut back! I love your collection of rocks and shells. It makes a really nice photo!

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  7. Rose Avatar
    Rose

    I cut down my reader as well. SUCH a relief. Honestly, your blog is probably the only one I read with such dedication (thank you for eclectic posts that always keep me interested!) And yes, thank you for the word reminder. I look at my word each day (I painted a picture of it, and it rests near my desk). It’s amazing how much this word has played into every day & every decision. I always knew I needed to be more PATIENT, but seeing the word every day really enforces that.

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  8. Katie Scott Avatar
    Katie Scott

    love the organized rocks picture – got to remember to do something like this next time we go to the beach.

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  9. Her Sunday Avatar
    Her Sunday

    I’ve cut my reader down as well and now I only subscribe to the blogs that I’m really enjoying and getting fulfillment out of. It’s great! Number 2 is such a great realization- it’s amazing the kinds of things that just pop up when we’re not trying to make them happen.

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  10. Tana Lopez Avatar
    Tana Lopez

    I just discovered your blog this week and I am already addicted. Not sure why I love it, I just do. Thank you! 🙂

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  11. Susan Bowers Avatar
    Susan Bowers

    every month you ‘choose’ what your month is going to be like (the posts with the picture + I choose… you have hit each month. i like seeing what you are choosing to do each month. i’d say your allowing your one little word more time than you think.

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  12. Acompton Avatar
    Acompton

    i want to hear about this “opportunity”. it sounds exciting! i love the word “choose”. it’s so empowering.

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  13. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I love this. I am having a similar realization when it comes to blogs (and TV!) that the less time I spend reading/watching, the more time I have for my own creative pursuits. It makes a world of difference, truly.

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  14. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    Wise words, Elise. Thanks for sharing your “choose” journey with us. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about your other recent post about getting things done/taking action. Really helpful for me read that one, too. And just yesterday, this thought tumbled through my mind: what if I choose not to worry about enough money coming my way in the future and focus my spending choices on what I truly need just for today, one day at a time? Perspective shifts – they’re awesome 🙂

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  15. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    Yes! I’m with the others on this. This morning I was getting really frustrated with a blog post that wasn’t formatting right, and feeling myself cracking under the pressure I put on myself.
    I recently shifted from a purely personal blog with 10-20 readers to a blog about the island I live on, and with a focus a bit more on economic development and the future of this place, but with still a lot of personal stuff thrown in for interest. It has about 200 readers and it’s growing every day.
    It’s been quite a shift for me as a writer and sometimes I find myself feeling like I’m trying to live up to other people’s ideas of what this new blog should be, and never show the downside of anything.
    I only read three blogs regularly! I don’t how you folks do 31!

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  16. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    that is right! I do do that once I month. I had started to think of those as goals… but they are choices. 🙂

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  17. indigorchid Avatar
    indigorchid

    I came across a quote yesterday that made me pause, and it reminds me a bit about what you’re saying about opportunities arising from personal creative outlets:
    “Jeg tror at man tiltrekker de muligheter man selv legger grobunn for.” – Ferdinand Finne
    That roughly (and not as eloquently unfortunately!) tranlates to “I think one attracts the opportunities that you yourself lay the foundation for”, and it reminds me that opportunities don’t just come out of nowhere – usually, they are the result of some combination of work, personality, timing, exposure, and yes, some luck.
    I’m pretty sure you’ve earned whatever this opportunity is, and I am happy for you!

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  18. camille Avatar
    camille

    hey elise (or anyone else with expertise),
    how did you cut down your blog subscriptions? did you have some criteria or was it like a march madness bracketology type thing?
    please help me spend less time on google reader :p thanks!

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  19. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    hey Camille, I had my blogs organized into folders. One of them was called favorites. One was called friends. I found that I always cleared out those two, but other folders would sit for days or weeks. I went through the other folders and moved ones that I actually looked forward to reading to the favorites file. Then I just started deleting. If I did not anxiously look forward to what someone was going to say (or I knew them personally and wanted to stay up on their lives) it got cut. It took many many deleting sessions to get down to 31. I focused on eliminating 10 at a time and I never looked back. 🙂

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  20. Kelly Cree Avatar
    Kelly Cree

    Can’t wait to hear about the “opportunity”…it’s hard enough to have to wait til around 8am for your daily blog to come out! 😉
    Also–I’d love to hear whose blogs you follow. Always looking for a few really great ones. Thanks, Elise.

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  21. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    this is a list from last summer that is still pretty relevant. There are more but it is a start : http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2011/04/my-favorite-blogs.html

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  22. ktmade Avatar
    ktmade

    I have the whole cut down on blogs on my to-do list, but it’s so hard to do! what if i miss something important?! and i’m still in that young blog-networking phase, so i feel like i have to read everything. which is ridiculous, i know, because how on earth could anyone read everything?! but you’re helping me remember that i too chose a word for 2012 – trust. and i’ve been forgetting it. there’s been very little trust around this joint. so thank you.

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  23. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    are you on twitter? If yes, just follow the blogger there. Usually you will still get all the pertinent info.

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  24. Hayley Avatar
    Hayley

    I love the idea of having one word that describes your year. My word would probably be “let go”. well thats two words lol. love your blog and its such a joy to see new posts. i cut down my blog roll quite a bit and your blog most definitely made the cut 🙂

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  25. manu Avatar
    manu

    It would be nice to see the blogs that you are loving!

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  26. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Here is an old (but still accurate) list of ten faves :http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2011/04/my-favorite-blogs.html

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  27. Skye Avatar
    Skye

    I need to simplify, too. My word is “focus” and I haven’t been doing a very good job! Thanks for the reminder. Like others said, though, I think you might be doing more choosing than you’re giving yourself credit for 🙂

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  28. Chrystina Avatar
    Chrystina

    Two awesome things. I know that feeling – that having to cut blogs feeling. I actually just (15 minutes ago) went and removed most of the blogs from my “to read” list (thank you, Blog Lovin’) and let just the “Must Read These” category blogs sitting there. Now I’m catching up from March still, ridiculousness.
    It’s amazing how much more fun it is to be creative when you don’t have to be, huh?
    Glad you’re loving 2012!!

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