750

This is my 750th post in a row. Round numbers are sort of arbitrary, but this seems like as good a moment as any to take stock of this project.

I’ve loved publishing every day. It began as a creative challenge, and it’s been a good exercise in putting in the reps even when I don’t think I have anything to say.

It turns out that it is possible to come up with something to say; it just takes effort. And the marginal cost (i.e. fear) of publishing goes way, way down when you know that you can and will do it day in and day out.

But: there’s a difference between waiting for perfect and simply posting another fortune cookie to the internet simply because it’s today and it’s free. And, contemplating this unusual harried lonely Christmas season, I don’t think the world needs either more masochism nor more noise.

So it’s time to make a change. This blog isn’t going away, but it will no longer be daily.

Streaks are funny: the argument about showing up today never really goes away — but, as soon as you seriously contemplate breaking the streak, ego jumps up and asks, “How could you?”

As best I can see right now, it’s important not to get too attached either way: neither to the perfectionism that can prevent publishing in the first place, nor to the ego that demands that a streak cannot be broken once begun.

From now through new year’s (at least), I’m going to experiment with publishing when I feel I have something worth saying. We’ll see how that goes.

If you’ve read even a fraction of the last 750 posts, thank you for the gift of your attention. If you’ve read them all, bless you. And if you’re looking forward to more, know that I am, too.

Till next time, be well. And a happy and healthy new year to you and yours.