Nodding to the Not

January 24, 2015November 13, 2015 ~ Teresa ~ 19 Comments

I did not choose a word for 2015. I did not set goals, or make resolutions, or sum up my blog or give a state of the blog address or list my most read post of the previous year. I did not usher in the New Year with any kind of fanfare.

So far, this has been the year of Not. So, I guess you could say in my non-conformist ways of not doing so many things that other bloggers seem to do and that I have done in the past, I inadvertently chose the word “not” for my 2015 word. Except, I did not.

“Why not?” you may ask. I don’t know. I haven’t even written on my blog since December 31, when I wrote an end of the year “what I learned” post about Rearranging Furniture so I could link up with Emily over at Chatting At The Sky. So, I guess you could say that I sort of did a year end summary. I’ve done these “what I learned” posts before though, so just following my norm. I don’t think it counts or reverses my not’s in any way.

So, here’s the thing. I want to write. Truly, I do. I write things in my head all the time. Almost everything that comes into my world has potential for an essay or story of some kind, so the words are always at the ready, so to speak. For some reason, I haven’t been. Ready.

There could be a reason for this, or maybe it just is. Maybe it’s the season in which I find myself currently residing. Maybe it’s fear that I don’t really have anything to say. Maybe it’s exhaustion. Maybe it’s unanswered questions. Maybe I need to find my sense of place.

All I know is that it seems to be a season of unwritten words that float on the outskirts of my mind, just out of reach of pen to paper, or more accurately, finger tips to keyboard. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to end any time soon. Or, I suppose, it could end tomorrow. Either way, I have decided to embrace this journey of “not” and see what it’s about. I am not going to fight “nothing”. I am just going to rest and see what develops. Or, not.

So, I think this means, in case you haven’t already noticed, that I’m taking a blogging break. There, I said it. I’m taking a blogging break. I don’t know for how long. And, I don’t exactly know why. I hope there is a purpose and it’s not just laziness. I hope I figure out some things about my writing, or about me, while I’m not blogging. And, I hope you don’t forget about me because I won’t forget about you, the few, who read my words.

It seems silly to worry that I’ll lose you in the lull, and it seems even sillier, to let the fear of losing you be the reason I don’t take a break, when a break is clearly called for. I have to trust that when the words are ready to be read you will welcome me back.

In the meantime, please know that I value you and the time you have given to reading my words and encouraging me along the way. Some of you are silent readers behind the scenes; Some of you are friends and family I’ve known a long time, others are people I’ve met through this fascinating world of blogging and you have become true friends. I will not forget you and even though I’m on break I will still be reading your blogs or seeing you on Facebook.

I haven’t laid down my pen for good and my hope is that there will still be words put to paper while I’m on break. I hope there are words written that I can someday share with you. I appreciate being kept in your prayers while I am on hiatus.

Nodding in Grace,

Teresa

Hello 2014

February 6, 2014February 6, 2014 ~ Teresa ~ 9 Comments

“Look to the Lord and His strength; Seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4

So, it’s February already. And you may be thinking I’m a little late on greeting the New Year. Not at all.

I have come to the conclusion that for me the new year begins in February. I did glance it’s way on a couple of post early in January. I even chose a word for the year. Begin. Yes, I get the irony.

But, I wasn’t ready. It may have been partly due to the worst case of sinusitis I’ve ever had, followed by a horrible bout with gout (see how I rhymed. it just happened).

However, I think the truth is that it takes me that long to decompress and wind up the old year. That whole stretch from Thanksgiving to New Years is not especially kind to me. No matter how much I try to stay calm, for some reason the holidays stress me every time.

If I could just go away for about six weeks at the end of every year to my favorite place in the mountains, I’m sure I’d be ready to say hello on January 1. That, of course, is not usually an option because it is family time and family is important.

So, I take January to regroup. This year I had some brain swirls, but I didn’t feel like engaging in deep thought on a regular basis, so I just left them swirling. Oh, I did make some lists of goals and projects and even daily schedules. Things I was shuffling around in an attempt to come up with a plan for the year.

I even had an epiphany of sorts that sometimes in order to begin you have to stop. If you think about it long enough it does make sense. Sometimes in order to gain perspective and direction you have to stop and take it all in.

Stopping to reassess goes along with the theme of reviewing the old and regrouping for the new. Right? It goes along with setting goals and moving forward. Right? So, that’s what I did. I stopped for awhile.

Today, I decided I was finally ready to greet the New Year. Ready to begin. Please don’t ask me what that means. It may take all year to figure that out. But, you have to start somewhere.

My somewhere is simply to say, Hello 2014.

Beginning in Grace,

Teresa

PS. I am ready for spring and swinging on my front porch. Winter is so last year.

This Is The Year To Begin

January 4, 2014January 4, 2014 ~ Teresa ~ 5 Comments

Today is a special day for me. Just like the New Year does for all of us, today also represents a new year for me. I hope I do it well. This is the year to Begin. I have things to write about, but two things have to happen first. The thoughts need to simmer a while longer and I really need to feel better. Soon. So, when I’m thinking more clearly, I will be back. In the meantime enjoy a picture from one of my earlier birthdays.

Celebrating in grace,