Looking for inspiration, I decided to consult that great oracle of ideas — Google — and searched for “things to write about on a friends and family blog.” I was hoping for a few quick topics, but instead I got this overly ambitious advice:
“Some of the best blog topics are popular categories like food, health and fitness, personal finance, and travel. Other excellent topics include lifestyle, technology, business, fashion, and DIY crafts. To find the best topic for you, choose something you are passionate about that aligns with your expertise, as consistency and a unique perspective are key to success.”
Well, shoot. I realized I was in deep trouble — because I know just enough about some of those topics to know I don’t know squat.
But I’m always up for a little fun, so I thought I’d share what I do know.
Food
I’ve learned that there are no “good” or “bad” foods because food doesn’t have moral value. I know how to buy food, prepare it, cook it, and — most importantly — eat leftovers. That’s huge. I know people who refuse to eat leftovers, but I cook with the express purpose of having them. It means I don’t have to cook every single day, and honestly, that’s my kind of meal planning.
Cooking, by the way, is far more enjoyable in retirement. Everything about food is easier when there’s no workday in the way.
Health and Fitness
This one’s close to my heart (and lungs, and knees) these days as I try to recapture my youth. Okay — maybe not my youth, but at least a little stamina and one more shot at feeling fit before I depart this earth.
Here’s the thing: you can know a lot about health and fitness and still not have it all together. That’s me in a protein-packed nutshell. I know what to do — I just don’t always do it. Doing the stuff, I’ve learned, is far more important than knowing the stuff. (Note to self: future blog idea — “Why a college degree doesn’t make you smarter or better than anyone else.”)
Personal Finance
Ah, this one’s more my speed. I’ve done a decent job managing our money — not that there’s loads of it — so that we’re relatively debt-free in retirement. Joe’s still working (for now) to pay off his machine shop equipment before interest hits, but we’re in good shape.
The most important thing I’ve learned about money is that having some makes life easier. Having grown up in what’s now called an “economically disadvantaged household” (a much lovelier term than “dirt poor”), I learned early the value of a hard-earned dollar. Joe’s the frugal one; I’m the family spendthrift. Which explains why our kitchen has all the bells and whistles — and our sunroom has a shiny new piece of fitness equipment.
Fashion
Now here’s a short section — because this is exactly how much I know about fashion: nothing. If I like the way something fits and feels, I’ll buy five of the same piece in different colors. I call that “rounding out my wardrobe.” It’s efficient, consistent, and 100% me.
Whew! You can see what a fount of knowledge I am. That’s plenty for today. Maybe tomorrow I’ll tackle a few more topics — though at this rate, it might be safer if I don’t.
Don’t you feel better for having read this? Maybe you’ve realized you have a favorite topic — something you could write about every day. If so, go for it! I’ll be here cheering you on… from the comfort of my leftover-filled kitchen.
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