To steal the theme from the lyrics of Irish lassie Sinead O’Conner, it’s been 5 hours and 24 days, since I took my blog away….

But you can only keep a blogger away from the keyboard for so long… I’m back baby and ready and raring to go in 2012!

I needed this blogging sabbatical so badly; I was weary of words.  However when you factor in it was held over the busiest, most social time of the year (plus I was still working, scoring my first ever paid web content writing gig) meant that it wasn’t a true writing detox. But I did scale back heavily on the other side of blogging: the social media demands, the reading and commenting etiquette on other blogs, for example.

However, try as I might, I could not switch off the part of my brain that automatically conjures up paragraphs and posts. And with there being no other outlet to release them too, I fear it’s been a little detrimental to my rationality. Crazy as it sounds, I’m sure it’s why I am not sleeping well. There are too many sentences spiralling around inside my subconscious that previously had a release valve. So for my sanity, it appears I am back on the blogging block!

I have had plenty of time to ponder the direction of NappyDaze, and my writing goals for 2012… After many early morn walks though the tranquil surrounds of my childhood home, with nothing but the sound of my own breath, the twittering of birds and the crunch of country gravel roads beneath my feet, I began to plan.

This would be the year that I vow to only compete with myself. There is nothing to gain (except angst and stress) when you worry about the blogging escapades and successes of others. I find it not only unhealthy, but stagnating to my creative juices. Sure, I am all for gleaning inspiration from other’s achievements but I will not allow it to become the compass for which I set my journey towards.

I remember when my first ever post went live. I was completely oblivious to the fact an extensive blogging community even existed! I wrote only with the purpose of posterity and sanity; to release the overflowing ideas from my mind and record the moments of my son’s life to share with anyone bothered to read. In fact I was not ever sure if anyone other than my husband and son’s grandparents would ever even look at my site!

Since then, it has been a challenge to stretch and discover my writing voice. I adore painting a picture with words about anything that captures my imagination. So I may never fit neatly into one particular blog genre but I am oh so ok with that. I may never reveal the raw truths others can but I am also fine with that personal choice. I’ve drawn my line in the sand and shall stay behind it.

My main focus will always be to clear out the clutter of constantly gathering sentences and potential blog posts that bubble away in my brain.

I’ll also be sure to carve out time to explore other writing avenues in 2012. So if you see less of my online presence it’s because I have other dream gardens that have become overgrown with weeds and need my attention too.

One thing I do know is that I need writing like I need oxygen; it’s an essential ingredient in my psychology.

Here’s to heralding in the new year feeling the most refreshed and focused I’ve felt in a long time – look out 2012, I’ve got some BIG plans for you….