Oh my goodness, I’ve missed meeting you all in this space! And I’m so grateful to Patricia over at Pollywog Creek for graciously hosting Still Saturday this last month. We’ll be moving back here tomorrow.
While I longed to join the others writing on one topic every single day throughout October, I decided instead to not only not participate, but to step away. And honestly, I was afraid. I was afraid I might lose you. But oh how I needed this time.
So today, I’m going to join Emily Freeman and others over at Chatting at the Sky and share some of the things I learned–and did–during my time away.
1. I learned that blog breaks really are important in order to rest and refocus and re-vision. (I typed that first as revision, and maybe both ways fit.)
2. I learned that empty space sucks in other stuff like water through a punctured dike, and we have to stick a finger in that hole of filling while we undergo spirit repair.
3. I discovered that though blog visitation and viewings decreased (sounds like a funeral, right?), followers and email subscriptions increased. I’m not sure what to make of that.
4. I learned that mushrooms are really only the flower of what grows underground–and that the main body can spread for acres. I had this vision of a fungus bursting through and gobbling up a whole town.
5. I learned that I’m raising fun but introverted pups who may be too much tied to my apron strings. I’ve thought they might make good therapy dogs, so we are in training two nights a week.
6. I learned to differentiate between forgiveness and reconciliation. Thank you, Diana Trautwein.
7. I learned I don’t much care for Renaissance festivals and how overwhelmed I am with noise and chaos. Well, I really learned that in September, but I wrote about it on October 1. This blog went silent, but I did continue to write over at BibleDude.
8. I gutted and cleaned a room that’s served as a storage room, a walk-in closet, a craft room, a nursery, and a dump-every-thing-here-so-you-can’t-even-open-the-door room. I learned (again) that it doesn’t take that long to do anything if you put your mind to and muscle into it. I set up the rollaway bed in there so my 38-inch-tall grandgirl no longer has to fold herself into a Pack-n-Play in my writing room when she visits.
9. My husband and I took a short trip to the Upper Peninsula and were dazzled by the fall colors. I learned I have a teeny bit of rebel in me because we ignored (along with hundreds of others) the orange cones placed to obstruct entrance to a national park–though my courage collapsed in the face of actual barriers informing us that only “authorized” vehicles were allowed in a certain wildlife refuge.
10. I reclaimed my writing room and learned I still have one suitcase filled with odds and ends from 2011 when my mom was in hospice. I moved it to my bedroom. I still haven’t emptied it.
11. I made several trips to Goodwill and learned that the more things I let go, the easier it is to let things go.
12. I learned that God has a sense of humor. The piece I wrote on wordlessness for Jennifer Lee’s #TellHisStory Featured Writer series posted in October, my wordless month.
13. I learned that you can spill some dark secrets to some trusted friends and still find love.
14. And I signed up to write a 50,000-word novel in a month through My Book Therapy. I’ve already learned that I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
Because I didn’t post teasers this month, here are the links to what I did write.
In Which I Pursue Wordlessness for Jennifer Dukes Lee
When You’re Overcome by Noise for BibleDude.net
Of Waterfalls, Honey and Mushrooms for BibleDude.net
Eyes of Mercy for BibleDude.net
When You Find it Hard to Forgive for BibleDude.net
What did you learn/do during this month?
Stilled and ready,
Sandy
Glad you’re back!
Glad I didn’t lose you!
I missed you., but I can see it was a good time for you.
I’m excited about your novel. I have 48,000 words written on a mystery. Could we encourage each other? I wish I was going to Laity. Our daughter will be coming home and I really need to be here for her. My heart will be there.
Oh, Linda. I wish so much you could go, but yes, you need to be with your girl.
Did I know you were writing a mystery??? That’s super awesome! I need to head over to your place and see what I’ve missed. Indeed, we can encourage each other. I’m starting with zero words, because what few I had–I tore up. 😉
Welcome back! 🙂
I think the many facets of technology and social media have crept up and taken over huge chunks of our lives. Only if we put their influences aside occasionally do we realize the impact they’ve been having. My time at our wilderness cabin helps me do that. I’m totally unplugged there whether I want to be or not.
I’m usually bad about making time to evaluate and plan, but I instinctively know when I have to rest. I recognize when I’m teetering and need to step back from life’s commitments and demands. I had a nervous breakdown of sorts many years ago and it frightened me enough to vow I would never let myself reach that point again.
I hope you’re feeling well refreshed, although I think you have a very busy life at the best of times. I’m off to check out those links to the articles that I missed reading.
I love the connections I’ve made and relationships I’ve developed through blogging and social media–like you. I could never have imagined. But occasional vacations, I’ve discovered, are so important. I didn’t go completely dark, but I can see how I might also choose to do that for a short season.
And just breathing in the thought of a wilderness cabin makes me relaxed and happy. I’m so glad you have that to escape to.
I smiled when I saw this post come across. Grateful for your break. Grateful you are back.
I learned–well, just confirmed–that you have a strong voice that is just getting warmed up both in what you want to say and how you want to say. Can’t wait to see what happens this month of NaNoWriMo and how you explore this writing life more deeply.
Welcome back dear Sandra.
I am glad that you have been able to share with us what was learned on your sabbatical away from this space, to refresh and renew and revision this space and your journey.
How goes your preparation for your trip to Haiti
Janel
This internet world is so different. The friends made but never met, the prayers prayed over those we don’t know but feel we know. You were missed but we knew you were ‘in process and that is always a good thing. Glad you have returned.
So glad you are back, Sandy!
You inspired me to do the same; I’ve not been blogging for a few weeks now, and haven’t given myself a set deadline as to when I will resume. Thanks for giving me the inspiration to try it out. 🙂
Blessings to you!
Welcome back!
I have considering writing a post about what I have learned this week! It’s been mind-boggling for me. Glad you back and loved finding you in my email box since I don’t have you in a little box on my Google homepage. I think they are trying to force me into using Chrome which I probably should but I am feeling like a 3 year who is strong-willed and not going to budge. 🙂
So thankful for your encouragement in my life this week. Can’t express how much it means to me.
Welcome home, Sandy. It was good to take a break (of sorts), but it’s also good to have you back. And thanks for the shout-out. Many blessings as you plow through this novel-writing month. I cannot imagine it!!
Welcome back! I learned how many good friends I really have in October!