Returning from the land of busy - a check in.....

 Hello. I'm here this morning, sending love out into blogland; taking the opportunity at this inbetween time after Christmas and before the New Year begins. 

Previous year up to this one, I would want to stay in the darkness...with the artificial and candle light creating a cocoon; and the illusion that time is halted for a little while. 

Only a few walks on hillsides or beside the ocean would tempt me outside. 

I've always reluctant to go back out into the real world and life as it usually is.... which for me was always work and busy busy busy. 

These few days are almost like that time in the morning when you are still in bed but awake, and know you can snuggle back down for a few more minutes. 

This year I still feel that sense of time standing still, however the big change is that I am not working at the moment ..... so no return to that busy busy work-life without balance. A new way of living lies ahead of me in 2023... I will be working again and I cannot deny that it is going to be a challenge not to return to my old ways. However I am determined not to return fully to the "land of busy" and to make some time for self-care, creativity and reflection. 

I will turn 60 years young in February and my healthy adult self is in the driving seat more often than not.... this journey continues in a more balanced way and with space and time for thriving. 

I am curious and grateful to experience this next chapter.

Sending love to you dear bog friends for a peaceful and joyful 2023 - signing off now. xx

August 2022 - Whinlatter Forest

Goodbye July

Hello my friends. I've been writing this post for almost three weeks now and have failed to complete it over three weekends. 

Three weeks ago I wrote this: "Right now in this moment I am tempted to post my usual greeting when I have been absent, the one that goes, "hello, how I have missed this space, now here I am back and I'm going to be posting here regularly."

I guess you might know me by now so I am not making any promises this time. My good intentions often fall by the wayside very quickly as life takes over. What is true is that I really do miss writing and posting here, and the connections that I made in the early stages of my blogging here.

Here we are already at the end of July, my life is changing, I am four weeks into my new job which is nearer home. I feel better. It's early days howevr, and I know that work will still be challenging, but I feel a shift in how I want to go forward.  So what else has been happening around here?"

It's partly been time and partly a little bit of fear at putting myself out here again. It's a difficult balance being a blogger, how to stay anonymous whilst enjoying the process of online journalling/writing? How to live your life for itself without everything being documented online? I have had to withdraw for a time for my own health and sanity, but then blogging was my road to self-awarness and wholeness at one point and that is why I am drawn back. I'm glad to be here and to be determined today to click the "publish" button.

Here are some glimpses of life around here since my last post:

 

3rd June 2017 -  Life is busy! Living in the moment. Happy.

4th June 2017 - ICAD Summer Challenge(only two cards made this year sadly.  Changing is hard when you feel content in your comfort zone. It is just fear of the unknown that is making me cling to this.

11th June 2017 - ICAD second and final creation of this year's challenge.
Tetrahedron.Thinking about The Louvre when making this.

 

12th June 2017 - Working on our overgrown and neglected garden. 

18th June 2017 - Our stop on a road trip to a family party. One day I will walk coast to coast.

21st June 2017 - Midweek concert with Mr Stayingawake.

7th July 2017 - Goodbye and Good Luck.

8th July 2017 - Time to learn this lesson as I step forward.

10th July 2017 - Today I start a new chapter.

11th July 2017 - Home from work early with time to enjoy the evening. No more commute!

18th July 2017 - Evening skies and the energy to enjoy them. Feeling peaceful.

19th July 2017 - Summer Weather! Wet and soggy most days. Flash floods in some places.

23rd July 2017 - A relaxing lunch out on a Sunday. No weekend working at home unless absolutely necessary!

26th July 2017 - Staying positive with new challenges. My mind has held me captive too long.

29th July 2017 - Still working on the garden alongside this little chap.

29th July 2017 - Self care - Getting back to walking and making important health appointments.

30th July 2017 - Wish I could paint a sky like this one.

31st July 2017 - Turning the pages of this new chapter,  a new relationship with myself.

That wasn't as difficult as I thought.

Now I'm off to click "publish."

Thank you

Thank you for the kind words on my blog post yesterday.

Everything is fine with me. Lump is nothing to worry about, just a lymph node working overtime.

I am so grateful for my good health and feel slightly silly for worrying so much.