I just can't think about Christmas monetization - not now at least

I have been working on a blog post over the last week or so, top 10 gifts for the fitness fanatic. I know I have a limited amount of time to post it (it's geared towards those last minute shoppers like me) and I was getting back into it today but my thought process changed, therefore the tone for my post changed.

Why did this happen you ask? We!l I am not thinking about monetizing right now (though I know it is a good time to do so). I found out my dad has melanoma cancer a month ago and though I and my mom have been strong and positive, I spoke to my mom yesterday (at a store nonetheless) and she started crying and saying he has quickly gotten worse. ***A little side note, I just move from Chicago (where my parents are) to Dallas 3 months ago, so this was hard to hear**** She mentioned that Christmas will be bleak this year because of this and I of course said that is the furthest thing on my mind. And I wasn't lying.

You see as I started writing why my audience should buy this awesome gym shoe or these trendy yoga pants and the latest wearable all following and clicking on my Affiliate link, I just couldn't write those words. I didn't feel it! Instead, I started re-writing it over saying that buying gifts is not important and we are missing the true meaning of Christmas which is really the spirituality but also good health and family and giving to those in need.

I scrapped the post and have decided to write authentically about what Christmas means to me and write from the heart hopefully gaining organic traffic who feels the same. I wrote this as I had to share this and grateful I have this platform/community to do so.

Thanks for reading!

Oh and unfortunately I can't see them over the holidays, I am set to visit immediately after. Keep praying things turn around!

Elizabeth