Something from Nothing
What to write about? Ugh! I can’t tell you how many times I have asked myself that question since starting this blog two and a half years ago. This was supposed to be the place I shared personal stories and professional tips on a consistent basis. There are 15 stories there. That’s pitiful and not what I intended when I wrote that first piece in the spring of 2017.
I have many ideas in my head but getting them organized and sitting down to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard just doesn’t happen. I admire those who pound something out daily. In fact, I just finished a consulting job with a political candidate who is up at 4 a.m. every day and many of those days he has a new blog piece written by 6 a.m. These are fully researched policy pieces complete with graphs and footnotes. How does he do it?! It is 10:30 in the morning right now and I’m still in bed as I attempt to focus and write this new piece!
I can write a news release, a script for a TV ad or a pithy media statement in a matter of minutes, but when it comes to this more personal type of writing, I get a few sentences down and then my mind begins to wander to thoughts of how I need to finish cleaning the house, what we should have for dinner or whether it is really too early to put up the Christmas tree. Then there’s the distraction of my phone. It’s right there. Should I pick it up? Nope. I’m not going to do it. Then again, one quick look at Facebook won’t hurt. Maybe Oprah’s Favorite Things will include something I can afford this year. That young couple’s wedding reception dance video was billed as something I don’t want to miss. And, I am certain the new shapewear advertised via click bait is just what I need. This blog piece can wait…
Well, that was a waste of time. There is still nothing I can afford on the favorite things list. That dance video wasn’t as good as the teaser led me to believe. And I didn’t buy that shapewear.
Wait! Where did the cat go? I must go see.
There she is sunning herself in the window…like always.
Okay. Enough with the playing around a delaying of the task at hand. Let’s finish this thing.
If you have made it this far, you are probably wondering where this is going and what it is about. It’s about nothing. That’s right. There’s no point. No words of wisdom from someone who has been there. No personal story that will tell you something you didn’t know about me.
I’ve been wanting to write something and if it has to be about nothing, I’m fine with that. At least I will have kept my promise to myself to write.
As I stated at the beginning, I do have other ideas for blog posts in my head. I’d like to write about what it was like working with people whose political ideologies differ from mine, the dichotomy of me being on the opposing side of so many people I worked so closely with for years and my admiration for the man who reached out and offered me an opportunity when I needed it. The stories behind these thoughts are not what you may think, but they will wait for another day when I am better able to organize what is in my head.
For now, something about nothing will have to suffice. Hopefully you will enjoy it anyway.
Janice Evans-Davis is a public affairs/public relations strategist. She works as an independent consultant and served as chief policy officer/director of communications in the Houston, Texas mayor’s office. You can find out more about her at http://www.jevansdavis.com or via her social media links below.
