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I sat down to write this column and I couldn't settle on a subject. A lot of different ideas filled my congested head (thanks to the extreme temperatures of the world we live in where it's 80 degrees one day and 43 the next, I caught a cold. I'll raise my plastic Dayquil cup to toast to Mother Nature and global warming).
I could write about self-improvement and personal development. I've started a new takeout-free diet and fared well the first week. Being a single guy, I'm not the best cook. I also realize that ordering out gets expensive and packs on the pounds as a nasty side effect.
I've come up with a pseudo-healthy compromise. The Chinese restaurant down the street from me makes the best steamed shrimp and broccoli (or other veggies), so that has become my new go-to.
It's also not too hard on the wallet. Now, if I could just make myself walk the 10 steps from my office to the treadmill in the fitness center, I could really make progress and be proud of myself. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Speaking of which, maybe I could focus on health and fitness for busy people. I have two jobs. By day, I manage an apartment complex in suburban Philadelphia. This is my night job, although I've never viewed writing as a job. It's
more a labor of love.
At any rate, by the time I put in a 10- or 11-hour day, I don't feel like exercising. I've tried to convince myself to hit the treadmill for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 more in the afternoon. So far, no good.
Maybe I could better myself in other ways, like learning a new language. The apartment community I manage is filled with residents from around the world. Some of them have tried to teach me a few foreign words. I took three years of French in high school and a year of Latin, but conjugating verbs was not really my thing.
I also went to Paris and Rome in high school. I quickly found I was a fish out of water when trying to communicate with the locals. Maybe I could write about traveling the world. After all, summer is coming up and lots of folks are planning vacations. I'm not sure I'm included on that list.
I try to write something about a topic that matters. I'm not really a DIY guy with home improvement projects or business ventures. I'd rather work two jobs and pay someone to do it for me (the right way) than struggle and be disappointed with the result.
I've written several stories about self-sustaining lifestyles, such as growing your own food, using solar power and living off the grid. That doesn't mean I have a green thumb. My skin also burns easily, and glamping doesn't interest me, let alone camping.
I could write about apartment living. I've done it and now I try to make happy homes for 350 residents who live in my community. We have the same lifeguard staffing issues as many of the area pools. There's plenty of parking and green space. This could range from renter issues to décor, etc. Hmm, might be something there.
I could also do sports. I've been a sportswriter in some capacity since 1991. I used to be good at tennis and running. Windsurfing or paddle boarding are not too easy to do in Philly. Lots of people kayaking or crews row in shells on the Schuylkill River here. Not really for me.
I wish I could have produced something to write about, maybe I'll come up with something for next week.
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Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991. His column, "Virtually Home," appears regularly.