Starting in November 2011, I’m becoming a private person. I’ve hinted at this for the past few months, and today’s (public, online) conversation with a dear & respected friend sparked a formal announcement.
As of November, most of my paranormal work will focus on just two things:
- Research.
- Documenting my discoveries in books that I write.
Oh, I’ll continue to see friends in this field. I may also emerge for Dragon*Con. (A lot will depend on where I’m living & researching in the coming year.)
I’ll probably add the occasional article online, and air a podcast now & then. Gaps between them are likely to be lengthy.
My work will be on a schedule that suits me rather than one that’s regulated by a calendar.
The backstory
This isn’t a sudden decision. In fact, throughout 2011, I’ve tried to find ways to restyle my career while truly contributing to this community.
Throughout most of the past 12+ years in the spotlight, I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve met people whose friendships I value highly, and always will.
In recent years the paranormal field has changed dramatically. I don’t need to describe the politics and power grabs. You’ve seen them, or at least the fallout from them.
I’m sympathetic when a friend or associate has to lower his or her standards to earn a living in this field. Each person decides where his or her boundaries are. Especially in today’s economy, those decisions can be difficult.
However, when those decisions have a negative impact on my friends and fans, or even on me… I can’t seem to shrug it off when I’m assured, “Hey, it’s just business.”
So, starting in November, my solution is to focus only on what I do well, and truly enjoy.
In most cases, my paranormal R&D will appear only in book format, for those who are serious about paranormal research… and the first-person stories that led to my discoveries.
For me, it’s about time. Over the past 15+ years, the Internet has been a wonderful tool for connecting with others. It’s also been an insidious consumer of resources: Time, energy, focus, and other resources.
Time is something I can measure. For those who are truly geeky about this, here’s how the numbers break down.
It’s all about time… and choosing happiness
Time is the among the only things we have in limited supply. If you haven’t taken a good look at how you’re using your time, consider the following.
In the U.S., with an average lifespan of 74.1 years — 1/3 of which will be spent sleeping (or trying to fall asleep) — you have about 434,000 waking hours.
Let’s say you also work an average of 8 hours/day during the business week, and commute about an hour a day. That’s 9 hours times 5 days a week spent at (or going to) work. That adds up to about 173,000 hours.
Now let’s count time spent on housework or chores. For women, that’s two and a half hours, daily. For men, it’s one and a half hour. So, let’s average that to two hours. In a typical lifetime, that’s going to take nearly 54,000 of your life hours.
So, after you work, sleep and do household tasks, you have about 207,000 hours for things like friends, family, church, hobbies, and — oh yes — eating, running errands, waiting in the doctor’s office, and so on.
It might sound like a lot, but it’s not. Not really.
Every hour counts
Those hours add up. It might be “just one hour a day,” but in life-hour terms, it’s a lot.
Let’s say you average just one hour a day dealing with email or checking Twitter & Facebook before you leave for work, or after you get home.
Those “just one hour” segments will use 27,000 hours of your life. (74.1 years x 1 hour/day x 365 days/year.)
Seriously. Do you want to spend more than 10% of your available life hours skimming spam or scrolling through Facebook?
I don’t mean to pick on email or Facebook, etc. There are many other ways people thoughtlessly waste their lives, one hour at a time.
For example, do you know the cost of a disorganized home? The average person spends a total of an hour per day, looking for things. Get organized. Reclaim that hour!
Wouldn’t you like more time with your family, or to pursue an interest that brings you joy?
Not easy choices… or are they?
I’ve been looking at all of this for awhile, trying to decide what to do.
At first, the decision to become more reclusive, to stop being so chatty online, to say “no” to the media and to events… it was excruciating.
However, the more I look at this, and the frustrations of others in this field… my decisions become easier every day.
When I get to the end of the road, I will not wish I had another 27,000 hours left for email or social media.
Instead, I might wish I’d reclaimed even half of those 27,000 hours for family, friends, and the things I value most.
I’m taking charge of my life hours now. I’m going to choose carefully what is worth my time and what isn’t.
What’s next
I’ve written (or been a large contributing writer for) about 15 books. I’ve posted over 500 articles, just at HollowHill.com. Add my other websites, and the number more than doubles.
It’s time for me to “follow my bliss,” as Wayne Dyer and others used to say.
To some, I’m going to look like a recluse. If I don’t post or Tweet or whatever… will people forget me? Maybe.
I prefer to think that I’m finally demanding time for the unique things I do… the things that will long outlive me, including my innovative research and discoveries that I can describe best in books.
But, either way, I’m choosing a life with more meaning for me.
As I said earlier, starting in November 2011, most of my paranormal work will involve two things:
- Research.
- Documenting my discoveries in books that I write.
I hope you’ll be interested enough to read them.
If not, that’s okay.
The past dozen years have been fun, and I appreciate your role in the community and in my life.
Photo courtesy of John Nyberg
