Turns of seasons bring about slow
transformations, if you are not paying attention they can seem dramatic. The
turn between years is much more noticeable, ushered in with festive celebration,
fireworks and the dropping of the ball in Times Square. So it is fitting that I
celebrate the slow transformation of my blog on the day for all things new.
Over the last three years the main focus of this blog has
been wine and food pairings. The last year or so has been a struggle. I simply
was not drawn to it. I was not inspired. It was not for a lack of
ideas. I enjoy cooking up a new recipe and thinking about what wine would make
an ideal pairing. I would go through the paces of selecting a menu and picking
the wine. I would prepare the meal, pour the wine take the notes and snap the
pictures. When I would later sit down to review the notes to write a post or
sift through the photos, I would feel the creativity drain away. I blamed many
things for the my avoidance of the blog. In the back of my a head excuses piled
up and were rationalized by the fact that many blogs whither on the vine and
languish in cyberspace. Something deep, deep down continue to tug at me and not
let the blog completely drift away, another discarded blog on the internet
highway.
Last October, I was reviewing many of the photos I had taken
over the year and noticed that all the photos I had taken of the food and wine
pairings were flat while other pictures I had taken over the year were vibrant.
It slowly dawned on me as I continued sifting through the pictures that yes, I
had grown bored with my muse. Realizing I was becalmed in the creative doldrums,
I thought about what led me to this point.
Maybe it was due to other things tickling my fancy, drawing
my focus elsewhere, leaving me not wanting to pick up my pan, bottle opener and
pen….
Maybe as the year progressed I found it exhausting.... Maybe over the course of the last year I had grown, creativity wise, in different directions and felt confined by the narrow focus of the this blog.
To be honest is was all of the above.
So in the spirit of a fresh start that is ushered in with a
new year. I am changing things up. Broadening the focus to include, new
passions and old hobbies….learning new things and sharpening old skills….to
include adventures in ordinary life and yes, from time to time I will pick the pan, bottle
opener and pen for a pairing and feature it in a post.
I look forward to the adventure that lies ahead.