Finding Balance: The Of Whiskey and Words Redesign

It’s official, the Of Whiskey and Words redesign is complete.

After more than 5 years it was time for a change.  Over the years, this blog has evolved more than I could have ever anticipated or accurately put into words (but wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try). There are times when I still can’t believe people take time to read my scatterbrained thoughts on life.

To those who’ve taken the time to read, comment, and share my writing over the years thank-you.  I would have given up long ago without your encouragement and support.

When I first started Of Whiskey and Words there was no plan.  I had no idea what I was doing, what I was going to write about, or even how long I’d keep at it.  However, over time I found my voice (I think) and realized that so much of what I was experiencing in my life was true for countless others in theirs.  As William Nicholson, said “we read to know we’re not alone.”  Well, the truth is that’s why we write too.

Some days, the blog was about everyday life and the issues I was facing. Some days, it was about traveling the world and exotic places. Some days, it was about an interesting article or a new song to share.  

But it never had that one single focus.

For a long time, I thought that was what would prevent it from being ‘successful’ and what was preventing me from me being a ‘real blogger’.  Everything you read about starting a successful blog says to find your niche and stick with it. The problem was I’ve always felt that I was more than any one thing.

If I had to pick a niche it would have been travel.  It’s my greatest passion and something I’ve spent countless hours researching, dreaming, and doing.  It’s something I know more about than the average person, but as I looked at other travel blogs I always left each of them thinking something was missing.

The truth is, the internet is full of blogs about people who quit their job to travel the world and want to inspire you to do the same.  Hell, I once was that person and wrote those same post when I quit my job to work on a cruise ship in Australia.

What no one seems to talk about is how to combine the traditional lifestyle with the nomadic one.  

Most travel blogs are great if you want to quit your job and travel the world indefinitely.  But what do you do if you want to feed your vagabond side while working a job you love?  Where do you go for help with that?  While each travel blog I came across was great in its own right each seemed to miss one important life lesson.  

Balance.

Speaking from personal experience, leaving is easy.  It’s the coming back that’s difficult. Learning to balance two completely different, yet inseparable pieces, of yourself in order to live a complete life- that’s the real challenge we all face.

It took years for me to learn that lesson and now that I have, I’m determined to never sacrifice one part of who I am for the other.

The redesign helped me to figure out who I was and what Of Whiskey and Words is about.   Which is why you will continue to find both life and travel topics it.

I will continue to write on everyday life and all the pleasures and pains that go with it.  Throughout this blog, you’ll find my thoughts about love, destiny, life lessons, change, and learning how to handle whatever life throws at you.  You know, casual 4 am star gazing topics.

I will also continue to write about on my upcoming and past adventures, advice on how to travel, and stories I hope will expand your worldviews and show the world is more magical than you could ever imagine.

My hope is that Of Whiskey and Words shows you that you don’t have to choose one life over the other- that you can find balance.

Life doesn’t have to be all about traveling nor does it have to be all about climbing the corporate ladder. There’s a way to have both if you’re willing to work for it.  I’m not saying I have it all figured out, but I hope seeing my success and failures along with how I’ve chosen to live will inspire you to never settle in the pursuit of the life you’ve always wanted.  

Stay Gold.