We take our freedom for granted too often, I think. Here in the United States, we throw that word around rather carelessly sometimes. We are blessed with so much freedom: of speech, of religion, to vote, etc, and sometimes the very meaning of the word is lost on us. In fact, we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to freedom in our daily lives.

We fill our days with busy, busy, busy, leaving no time for the freedom to take a much needed nap, or enjoy a spontaneous afternoon in the park…

We sign ourselves up for helping with school parties, and Christmas Pageants, church choirs, and volunteering for every good thing that comes along, leaving ourselves exhausted and stressed and unable to enjoy the very things we should be looking forward to with joy…

We take on projects that we know will be difficult to fit in to already busy schedules…

Where is this freedom we claim?

It’s nowhere to be seen. We have enslaved ourselves by the shoulds and have to’s… But there is hope!

Look around your life, and take stock. What are you choosing to do that doesn’t fill you with joy? What do you wish you could just let go? What are you doing out of habit, just because you’ve been doing it so long, not because it’s enjoyable anymore? Which activities and to-do’s are weighing you down, and stripping you of your freedom?

For me, when I stopped to look around, this blog was continually one of those things. Y’all know how flaky I’ve been with posting for Thought Provoking Thursday the last few months. I’ve apologized for it more than once, and was determined to do better. But my heart hasn’t been in it, not because I don’t love it, but because there is other writing I’m working on that has higher priority now.

This blog, and especially the Thought Provoking Thursday linkup with y’all that I so loved, had become an anchor weighing me down, and taking away my joy. I knew I didn’t want to continue on like that, so I signed up for Kat Lee’s Blog Coaching program over at How They Blog. (I highly recommend it, by the way. She’s fantastic, and has a knack for helping you focus on your goals that really makes a difference!) During our chat about my blog and writing goals, Kat suggested something shocking: Stop blogging. At least for awhile. Focus on your other writing goals, she said. It’s okay, she said. You can come back to blogging when you’re ready.

Freedom! That’s the thought that first came to mind when she said those words. I knew immediately that I was going to take her advice, which meant finding someone to take over the Thought Provoking Thursday Linkup for all of you. And as quickly as I decided to pass it on to someone else, one name came to mind, and I knew who it would be. And so today is officially my last day as host of the Thought Provoking Thursday linkup.

The Big Announcement:

I’m pleased to announced that Lyli Dunbar, of 3-D Lessons for Life, is going to be taking over for us. Starting next Thursday, you’ll find the linkup over at her place: 3dlessons4life.com. Lyli has been a faithful participant in our little Thought Provoking Community for some time, and I know she take great care of y’all. And I’ll still be around, here and there, linking up my own posts from time to time. I’m so grateful to Kat for the idea, and to Lyli for taking over. There is so much freedom for me in this decision! I’m not giving up blogging entirely, but I am going to be moving to my new site, and streamlining my writing and blogging together. I’m really excited about the move, and I hope you’ll all join me over there as soon as it’s ready. (By the way, if you sign up for my mailing list over on the sidebar, you’ll be sure to get the updates for my new place, over at MichelleAcker.com too.)