“I just want to be happy.”

Such was my response to a coworker, who was pressing me to apply for a position about to open where we worked. When I pointed out the position would not increase my pay and would require a longer commute, she countered with the numerous careers possibilities it would open for me – ones that would be very difficult from where I currently sat. “It is about what you want in life,” she added.

To which I responded that I really only wanted to be happy.

Longer commutes eat into time where I can do something that makes me happy. I realized that years ago when I abandoned just about everything I loved to work 10 hour days at a place nearly an hour and a half away. Now, four years into a 25 minute commute, I have not forgotten that lesson. It is hard to forget not only how physcially tired I was, but how soul weary I felt.

I’m not a great philosopher, but I have come to the conclusion that the point of life is definitely not about working yourself to death. In fact, one of the lessons that I’ve learned along the way is to recognize when things are going good. Right now, things are good. It doesn’t mean that my plans are static because they aren’t. If anything, my life is in constant motion. It just so happens to be going in a direction I feel positive about.

In fact, I have too much going on. That fact hit home today when I checked my Author’s Page at Amazon and realized I hadn’t updated No Map Nomads since April 1st. I never meant for this blog to become a back burner project. I even have draft travel stories to publish – they just need some edits, uploading, and pics. But I haven’t made the time for that for the last two months obviously.

I believe that goals in life change, that there are phases when we take on too much, drop just about everything as a result, and then have to revaluate what is important. On top of that, I’ve read no less than three things recently that talk about keeping commitments, having integrity, and being consistent with online presence. Boy, can I admit I just haven’t been fulfilling any of that?

The thing is, I still like Nomads and see it as a part of what I want to be doing. So I best start doing it and holding up my end of the deal. I hereby promise to post at least once a week. It certainly isn’t as if I don’t have anything to say – not counting travel stories. I still want to talk about determining what is success, announcing my VERY soon free promo on Born of Water, mentioning a new collaborative website that I am a member of, and finally Raven and I are in the process of building a little cottage. Like I mentioned, it isn’t like I’m not up to something. 🙂 My goal is to keep up with the travel stories at least once a month and other updates in between.

Oddly enough, one of the things I’m letting slide is my self mandated writing schedule. I have a goal of seven books on Kindle by December 2013. I have all the ideas and some of the books are in process. But what is in short change is time. To keep the schedule I set myself, I’d have to push until writing just frankly wouldn’t be much fun. That feels wrong. I want to be happy after all – at home and at my job. And I want to enjoy writing. If I pushed myself, I might be a more successful writer, but I also wouldn’t be much fun to live with!

It is finally late spring here in Maine. My garden was finally planted over the last week. The cottage building is gaining momentum and will be going full bore the next two months. Writing will come when I find the time and when I am finally snuggled in my new home this fall, typing away while wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by fall foliage. I’m just not going to stress about self imposed deadlines. If I get a change to go hiking, camping, or kayaking or stay home and write . . . well, at least I’ll have a great post to update you on, right?

One of the things I loved about the name No Map Nomads when Adam and I came up with it isn’t because it is a great title for an adventure travel website. It is because life is a great adventure too – and it doesn’t come with a map.

Enjoy life.