It had been a long day. I'd started at 4 a.m. reading and sifting through
a mountain of emails; placing ads in ezines; researching new ezines to
place more ads; writing an article; editing two other articles; and just
trying to learn a few things along the way. I promised myself I would take
some time to relax and lay in the pool. By 8 p.m., I was still on the
computer.tired, grouchy and hungry. I never did spend any time in the pool.

Desperately needing a break, I went outside to sit on the patio. As I was
sitting there, I asked myself, "Why am I doing this? Why am I spending
10-12 hours in front of the computer?"

Asking myself those questions caused other ones to flood into my mind.
First they were:

- When was the last time I sat outside and just listened to the summer night
sounds?
- When was the last time I read a book for pleasure and not to learn
something?
- When was the last time I called my best friend just to chat?
- When was the last time I REALLY listened to what my husband was saying.
when my mind was not working on headlines/ad copy?
- When was the last time I went to dinner and a movie with my husband?
- Do I really need to get up at 4 a.m.?

Then those questions led to THESE questions:

- Why did I get into Internet marketing in the first place?
- Are the elements that attracted me in the beginning still there?
- Where do I see myself three years from today.five years from today?
- Where does Net marketing fit in my life.and do I still have a life?
- Do I really need to get up at 4 a.m.?

And those questions led to THESE questions:

- Why do I feel so driven to get so much done in one day?
- How much time each day do I want to devote to marketing?
- What am I trying to accomplish each day (in Net marketing)?
- Do I really need to get up at 4 a.m.?

And FINALLY:

- Has Internet marketing gone from a passion to an OBSESSION?
- Am I still having fun?
- Do I really need to get up at 4 a.m.?

I suspect these are questions we ask ourselves frequently. I think we
ask these questions when we are tired, burnt-out and frustrated.those
times when we feel like failures and think we're never going to "get it."

I know that's how I felt that evening.

I was able to answer some of the questions. Some I still need to think
about. In particular, trying to understand where that thin line between a
passion and an obsession is.

I think we HAVE to step away from the computer every once in a while.
We NEED to ask ourselves these questions and explore the answers we
come up with. And here are perhaps the two most important questions of all:

- Am I ignoring the special people who enhance my life?
- Am I forgetting that I only have today?

"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life."
Emerson

P.S. I threw my alarm clock in the garbage.

About the Author
Jo McNamara lives in Orlando, FL, with 8 cats and 1 husband. Find out how
an "Average Jo" was able to say, "Good-bye" to alarm clocks (it's in the
garbage); rush-hour traffic; time clocks and."Hello" to earning a comfortable
living in Internet marketing. Go to:
http://www.what-works-online.net
Or mailto:what_works_online@sendfree.com