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725th Friday Blog Roundup

I am gently easing myself back into my schedule, by which I mean that I am kicking and screaming about returning to normal life.  I don’t do well with breaks.  I love them, but re-entry is hard.  My skull feels like it has been stuffed with cotton balls.  I am distracted.  I want to crawl back into bed and read my vampire book.  (Discovery of Witches… it feels a little bit like Twilight.)

The one thing I do love is my new 15 minute ritual.  I’ve been using it to read Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat.  I bought this book a year ago, and I’ve read the first 20 pages or so several times.  But this time I’m going to plow my way through to the end.  I’m going to emerge out the other side a calmer, focused person.  I think.  If not, it’s on to the next book.

How are you doing with re-entry?

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Stop procrastinating.  Go make your backups.  Don’t have regrets.

Seriously.  Stop what you’re doing for a moment.  It will take you fifteen minutes, tops.  But you will have peace of mind for days and days.  It’s the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.

As always, add any new thoughts to the Friday Backup post and peruse new comments in order to find out about methods, plug-ins, and devices that help you quickly back up your data and accounts.

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And now the blogs…

But first, second helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week.  In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:

Okay, now my choices this week.

The Road Less Travelled has a year-end review post.  A few people created one this week, and I love these look-backs on the year.  She pulled out her favourite/noteworthy posts and put them together in a roundup.  Everyone who writes a blog has a few best posts from the year.  What are yours?  P.S. I wish we still did the Creme.

Searching for Our Silver Lining has a post about tafoni.  First and foremost, I love this line: “I found myself becoming more of an observant of life instead of a participant.”  It’s a post about looking for signs from the universe and thinking ahead on the upcoming year.

Lastly, Too Many Fish to Fry has a post about the dangers of authenticity.  She explains, “But, getting validation simply for expressing hardships can be a bad thing. This post sums up an interesting technique the author has noticed certain writers use — it’s called the ‘failure formula’.”  She’s making a distinction where authenticity is tied to complaining or expressing something negative (though you can be completely authentic and expressing the positive if you happen to be an optimistic person).  It’s an interesting take on venting.

The roundup to the Roundup: Back to the daily grind.  Your weekly backup nudge.  And lots of great posts to read.  So what did you find this week?  Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between December 21st and January 4th) and not the blog’s main url. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week?  Read the original open thread post here.

11 comments

1 Jjiraffe { 01.04.19 at 9:54 am }

Re-entry IS hard! One of my favorite quotes about the New Year comes from “Bridget Jones’ Diary”–the book, not the movie.

“Was really beginning to enjoy the feeling that normal service was suspended and it was OK to lie in bed as long as you want, put anything you fancy into your mouth, and drink alcohol whenever it should chance to pass your way, even in the mornings. Now suddenly we are all supposed to snap into self-discipline like lean teenage greyhounds.”

Thanks for the shout out. 🙂

2 Sharon { 01.04.19 at 11:24 am }

My re-entry has been rough, too. Mainly because in addition to returning to work for a busier-than-usual week, I have dealing with a difficult client situation that has necessitated involving my firm’s management, and my father died unexpectedly early yesterday morning. Not a good start to a new year.

Here’s hoping that you’re feeling back in your groove soon.

3 Cristy { 01.04.19 at 12:16 pm }

I’m having the same issue with the cotton balls. It’s hard to adjust after a break from daily routine, so here’s hoping that fuzzy feeling clears for both of us very soon.

Thanks also for the shout out! Here are my picks for the week:
https://rainsthoughts.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/last-of-2018/
https://mypathtomommyhood.blogspot.com/2018/12/house-of-broken-dreams-home-of-new.html
https://www.stirrup-queens.com/2018/12/take-all-your-chances/
https://lavenderluz.com/2019/01/top-5.html
http://www.leahcampbellwrites.com/2019/01/02/in-defense-of-pink/

4 Cristy { 01.04.19 at 12:57 pm }
5 Jenny { 01.04.19 at 2:47 pm }

Re-entry has been rough. I loved being home with my kids for 10 days, but it was also incredibly exhausting. I feel like I need two days to myself just to sleep.

6 Jenny { 01.04.19 at 2:48 pm }

Sharon, I’m so sorry about your father. Sending you lots of love.

7 Ana { 01.04.19 at 3:03 pm }

Oof. Reentry has been tough, I always feel like I need some time to myself after a family vacation. I need to plan better next time so I can get that. I liked “A discovery of witches” but the sequel was so disappointing!

8 Charlotte { 01.04.19 at 4:25 pm }

My reentry has been…weird. A classmate of my daughter’s passed away New Years Day from brain cancer, diagnosed in May, and just a few weeks after his 18th birthday. So our community is reeling. His long time girlfriend is one of he student teachers for my son’s preK class, and the whole thing is hitting so close to home. My heart is breaking and tired from all of the loss recently. The funeral is Monday, and school staff have advised parents to accompany their kids because it’s been so upsetting and has left everyone with questions and anger.
My dog is suddenly sick so my husband is currently at the vet and I am scared and nervous. I can’t really handle anymore bad news.
Sharon, my deepest condolences for the loss of your father. Holding you in my heart. (((Hugs))) ❤️❤️❤️

9 Charlotte { 01.04.19 at 4:26 pm }

Also, maybe it’s the year to bring back the Creme?? I miss it, too.

10 loribeth { 01.05.19 at 11:13 am }

Thanks for the mention, Mel! I hesitate to respond because, as a childless retiree, I didn’t have to plunge back into routines that include commuting, work & children (let alone a death in the family — I am so sorry, Sharon! 🙁 ). But yeah — we returned home on Jan. 1st after spending 12 days with my parents over Christmas & New Year’s, and I am EXHAUSTED. We didn’t do a whole lot while we were there except sit around the house, play cards & eat, and I can’t blame jet lag, since there’s only a one-hour time difference. But I’m constantly tired, and I have no idea what day of the week it is. No matter how much I love holidays, I always find they throw my internal clock completely out of whack. I’m hoping things will start feeling more “normal” & back into a regular routine once Monday rolls around.

11 chris { 01.05.19 at 6:04 pm }

Re-entry implies that there was a break. LOL I’d love a break, but alas there wasn’t one. Never is. Although this year I did actually take off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which is rare. However, other than that I’ve worked uh pretty much everyday. And, after having the flu for the past month I’ll just be glad when it’s finally gone. I feel like the whole season flew by because of that darn flu- and I missed out on too much of what I usually enjoy because of it, but it is what it is.

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