Finally Weariness Prevails
It has been a busy few months, with work seemingly never-ending; while I'm not complaining, as it pays the bills, it has forced me to look at how I spend my time and what I could do better. I'm not talking about efficiencies in coding - goodness only knows that I could be better at that, though I'm managing to keep pace with work and continue learning new technologies at the same time. No, I'm talking about life in general.
Seven years ago, in August 2002, I opened the Whitewicca website. It had been a project dear to my heart and began as an intended six or seven page site, to pull together information that I had found difficult to source. A friend suggested that it would be a good idea to have a forum, and so one was added and I sat with baited breath, wondering if anyone would meander in. Those were heady days, when each new post created a thrill and the membership hadn't reached double figures.
In the intervening seven years, the site has grown to over 200 pages of information and a massive forum, with one forum already archived for searches, a new CMS in 2005 and close to 6,000 members as I type. The sad thing is, it's not the same - people seem (and it may be my perception) to have become rather apathetic, not to post and the whole thing feels... tired.
It may be that I'm tired, or just jaded, as I have had very little time away from the website that has become my master in these seven years. I have wearied before, but there are only so many times you can try to whip up enthusiasm and a sense of community before it feels like you have a dead horse under the lash. I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning and it all seemed blindingly obvious - doesn't it always at that time?!!
When I woke this morning, I remembered my epiphany and decided that I'd act on it. I shut the site down. It felt very strange, as Whitewicca had come to permeate my life, but it also felt like the albatros had gone. I don't know how I shall finish this situation - I may yet reopen the site or I may just walk away and remember it with great affection. I have met some amazing and lovely people through Whitewicca, but I'm tired, so very tired, just now.
posted by The Shepton Witch @ 20:12
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10 Comments:
I know how you feel. I came to very much the same point with my theater company. If the work you have created is no longer bringing you joy, it is folly to continue. I am blessed to have been a part of it, and I look forward to reading your posts here.
As owner of the site, unless you are getting any benefit from running it; its best to close it down.
Perhaps, one day, you may feel inspired to re-open it, but perhaps you've already moved on, never to return.
Either way, don't continue with anything that is draining you. I hope you get your energy back soon.
Thank you both.
I had some great times on WW,and met some wonderfull people also swore at some absolute arseholes, but I think both WW and Shep-witch need a rest, the arseholes will get bored and go annoy someone else but the core group will remain, when it's rested it can be reborn again
I just want to say.
That I could never have found such a beautiful place to begin my journey. I have never operated a website of any kind before. so i have no real idea of whats involved.
But you must do what is right for you.
I hope you will find something that gave you that original good feeling again. I know i have made some friends from WW that i will have for many years to come.
Again thank you and thanks to all those whose love,kindness and wisdon i felt again, again while i started to take my first baby steps.
Blessings as always
desertwoman (AKA Heidi Tyrrell )
A lot of the difficulty with forums at the end of the summer is what appears to be apathy. Many people are on holiday, getting themselves or their children registered for school, teens off to college, etc. Participation falls off substantially and picks back up after Labour Day. This is a good time to take a break yourself completely and come back in a month a look again with refreshed eyes.
Maybe organising the moderators where each takes a different day to check the forum can help relieve the burden a bit. We've had a bumper crop of "unusual" new members to say the least and the contentious ones can make the forum not fun anymore.
It's stressful because you want to have the forum open to new members but not the wierd ones. Banning members isn't fun either, but some people just don't want to abide by the rules and disrupt the forum. Maturity has a lot to do with it too.
Whilst we hope you will repoen the forum, the core members of WW will support you regardless of your decision. You and your friendship is valuable to me.
Everyone needs to rest and reevaluate from time to time. You're no exception, Hedge! You've had a particularly hectic year, it seems. Some of us are merely having hectic summers. Should you decide not to reopen the site, I thank you for your hard work; and should you decide to reopen it by and by, I'll enjoy seeing it back again (still thanking you for the mysteries of your behind-the-scenes work), and will enjoy reconnecting with all the very cool people I've "met" and learned from. -Juneberrywine
So sorry for the way you are feeling TSW, its time to take a rest- reassess and redress- get some balance back and move onward & upward. Think Phoenix.
WW was a wonderful place most of the time and I am so gratefull to you for bringing some very special people into my life.
Some I have met in person and some I will meet very soon.
As has been said- the core group will remain in touch- one way or another and maybe regroup at a later date.
But for now- Be happy- Much love & light- Brightest Blessings- Carol.
I wasnt a part of whitewicca, but I am and have been part of other forums, some I have been a mod on, some not. I have left many for your exact reasons, and only stick with a few now.
i know though, how it can leech time away, and sometimes be the cause of more stress than pleasure. If you heart and head were telling you you have come to the end of that road its right to listen. Dont let sentiment for the good times cloud your memory and experience of the not-so-good.
leanne x
Speaking from a recent experience on another forum, I have to admire the fact that you are willing to be forth coming in your desire to shut down WW. I completely understand the burn out and the lack of fulfillment and I agree that if it is no longer satisfying something in you then it is time to either take a break or move on. May you find your fulfillment and the thing that feeds your soul!
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