Time for a hiatus

Hi all! I've started this post a thousand times, because I am still a people-pleaser (sorry Oprah, I'm working on it) and don't want to make anyone unhappy, but I've decided to take a break from blogging to write my book. I've been thinking a lot about this since the New Year. I desperately wanted to maintain this community and continue on with the blog, but updating it feels very different now that I'm not blogging about my experiment. Without my project to write about, I have drifted into critique or summary of the show. It's just not what interests me. I think there are plenty of outlets out there that already do this – not the least of which is Oprah's site and message boards.

Now that my social experiment is over, I really want to have time to write my book. I'm insanely, head-over-heels grateful to have gotten an amazing opportunity to write about my experience and I don't want to water down my ability to create a fabulous book because I spend so much time discussing the 2009 episodes. It takes me anywhere from 2-4 hours a day to watch the show, maintain the blog, do my research, answer my emails, etc…and in doing this (along with my day job, maintaining my home, my family, my sanity), I'm not giving myself a fair chance to dedicate myself to my dream project.

Also, if I'm forcing myself to watch the show every day and write about it, I'm not able to truly experience the "after" effects of the project. Will I drift back into old ways, stick to Oprah's suggestions, or find brand new paths to follow as a result of my Living Oprah year. Will I continue watching the show? Or will I never turn on the TV in the morning again? I'm not able to follow my own voice if I'm trying to make everyone else happy but myself.

I have incredibly mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I'm going to miss checking in with you and hearing from you daily. On the other, I feel like a weight has been taken off my shoulders and I'm excited to see what the next chapter of my life will bring.

I expect I'll be checking in occasionally, so if you want to join Feedblitz in order to be notified when new material is put online, that's fab. OR, if you don't want to subscribe, but want updates about how my book is doing, when my book is going to come out, when I FINALLY finish my accounting, etc, please please please send your email address to livingoprah@live.com with the word "book" in the subject line and I'll happily drop you a note when I'm on the shelves.

Don't forget, I'm a little bit desperate to meet you face-to-face. (Cue Barbra: 'People…People who need people…Are the luckiest people in the world!") So, when I do any publicity for the book, I'll let you know where and when and how I'll be. If you're available and nearby, PLEASE do come say hi and allow me to thank you in person for all your support.

I'm sad. I admit it. I'm going to miss the heck out of you. Please don't be a stranger. If you read anything, see anything, hear anything Oprah-related that you think I'd enjoy, do not hesitate to contact me. And I'll do the same – if something exciting comes up, I'll definitely post it here. Oh, and if you happen to have extra vibes to send, please send me all your "write-a-great-book" vibes. That's right, I said 'vibes' – I'm a yoga teacher, what do you want from me?!

So, good-bye for now. I think I'm going to go through some major "you" withdrawal over the next weeks.

All my very best,
Robyn