I need a time out.

Although I made the decision this past Tuesday, I needed to live with it for a couple days to make sure it was really what I wanted.

Doing a podcast is quite a lot of work. Ask anyone who's done it. With a few wonderful exceptions, it's fairly thankless work. In order to do it week in and week out you really must love doing it.

First I want to express my overwhelming gratitude.

To those readers here of A Yoga Coffee Outlook, thanks for all of the comments, email, skype chats, and phone calls. It's frightening and often embarrassing to write when things are not going well. You guys have been keeping me going in so many ways and feel a lot like family to me.

Listeners of the podcast, you guys really hung in there. Somehow we even increased the numbers to nearly 1000 listeners over the last two weeks. Chas and Elizabeth were willing to take on a bigger role... and barely got their feet wet. Liz and Ricardo gave up their free time and some good stories to help me keep the show alive. All proof that even strangers with different view points can sit down for an hour and share bits of their lives with each other. Which was the true spirit of the show.

The Podcasting community is such strong and supportive group of great people. Ray Iddings of Pink's Radio and Paulie B of Punky Radio both stepped up to be on the show. Geoff from the On Hold Podcast not only offered to be a guest host but has been a sympathetic ear and supporter of the show from day one. There are many others, too numerous to mention, who offered to hang out with me for a show or two. Even Bob Gentry who is likely the busiest guy on the Sunset Strip these days offered.

Everyones generosity in regards to the show forced me to evaluate the situation intensely. I'd feel terrible if after everyones efforts I still felt the way I do now... With Bobby's departure from the show, I don't love doing it anymore. I don't have it in me anymore. Every time I put the ridiculous headphones on I get into this battle with myself and it's just too difficult to do. So I will no longer be doing shows.

Clearly I need a blog break as well. So AYCO will go dark until November 16th... Coincidentally thats when the I-Pod contest is over. I'm not going into seclusion, I just won't be publicly posting. I will still be answering my e-mail and checking comments... Just no new posts. The podcast will cease to be available after November.

Thanks once more to everyone. I hope I haven't let anyone down.

Comments

[Ricardo]

I....I.....I don't know what to say here but I do understand. I am putting my blog on a semi hiatus with very brief posts now and again because I have to finish up my script. Do what you feel is right, you can always start a new podcast later if you'd like. Take a break, rest and come out swinging again this November.

[Rob]

Good luck! I look foward to your return!

[Liz]

I will be looking for your return as well. Your blog is one of the few I read daily. I will miss the podcast too.

[Tony]

Take the break. We all need one from time to time.
We'll still be here when you get back. Plus, you may come back with some great stories and pics from the Halloween party. * hint hint *

Enjoy your break!

[Geoff]

I understand. You've got to do what you've got to do. Good work keeping it real. Sorry I won't get a chance to guest host on the show, but change can be a very positive thing. Good luck with the break, but don't be a stranger. I look forward to whatever you come back with next. Talk to you soon I hope.

[Charles]

Kelly, sometimes a break is the perfect remedy for what ails us. Take the time to recharge and know that we will all patiently await your return. Before I sign off, however, for what it's worth please know that my brief experience as a blogger has been made much more enjoyable through “knowing” you. You've been kind enough to link me, help me out with technical questions, introduce me to other great blogs (through your sidebar) and most importantly, become a blogger friend. You're a credit to the blog community and each and every one of us is lucky to know you. Thanks for everything and know that while you’re on hiatus you'll be missed, but you'll not be forgotten. Catch you on the flip side (which, in this instance is 16 November).

[Maritza]

I've noticed many of us feel the same way. Maybe because it's fall and we need to get ready to hibernate? Enjoy you're time away, you'll be sorely missed.

[Gobs]

I was going to say pretty much a little of what everyone has said so far so I will just say have fun. I look forward to your return when you are ready, no pressure. If you need an ear, you got my email addy.

[QueenieCarly]

I'm looking forward to your return as much as everyone else. I think we all go through spells where we need to distance from our blogs. I know I do, anyway. Unlike me, you have th good sense to take a break. Rest up, relax and can't wait until you're back.

[RennyBA]

You will certainly not let anybody down by taking a break. Blogging is not an obligation other than to you. I love to read your post and will miss them of course, but I do understand that you need a break and respect your priorities. Good luck with your project and welcome back when you feel ready and when blogging again gives you energy!

[Brad]

I have changed my bookmarks.

[Yoga schools]

Interesting! I lift weights and was thinking about picking up yoga. This seems like the perfect fit.