It’s been so long since my last post, I feel as though we ought to get reacquainted.
Let me introduce myself, my name is Linda and once upon a time I wrote an expat blog in which I posted regularly. You might have heard of it – Adventures in Expat Land?
Seriously, I can’t blame you if the answer is ‘uh, no, the name doesn’t ring a bell…’.
Long time no write, right?
Yes indeed. I’d say a month between posts surpasses ‘irregularly’ and goes straight into ‘downright neglectful’.
Okay, okay. I’ll take my lumps. Will it make it any better if I say I missed you?
It’s true. Perhaps not believable, but true nonetheless.
At first I was going to explain why I haven’t been blogging lately, but as time went on the tale become longer and more convoluted. Then I thought ‘Oh, why bother going on about it, no one cares. They may not have even noticed.’
But then I started thinking about how much pressure we put on ourselves to do, act, or be in a certain manner, and how we give ourselves such a hard time when we don’t measure up to our self-imposed standards.
My intention was to post at least twice a week, and I didn’t do that. It wasn’t for lack of interest, because most of the past thirty days has been spent wishing I could sit down – uninterrupted – and pound out a post. I even found myself scrawling post ideas and particular phrasing on napkins and scraps of paper to keep from forgetting.
That’s not to say I haven’t been writing, as I have, but I’ll save that update for the next post.
So here’s the short version of why I’ve been out of the blogging picture:
- Prepping and hosting a weekend house party of longtime friends
- A loathsome head cold given to me by Daughter and then dutifully passed on to Husband
- A family member’s illness requiring time, concentrated attention and a fair amount of stress and worry, and despite my best efforts, sorely trying my emotional resilience
- A particularly pernicious malware infestation which resulted in my having to replace the laptop – already on its last legs with a rapidly dwindling battery and dying hard drive – at precisely the point I neither wished to encounter such an expense nor had time to deal with learning a new system and getting used to a different keyboard
- Prepping for and hosting family for a several days’ celebration over Thanksgiving, which included getting half my Christmas shopping done beforehand so gifts could be wrapped, distributed and sent off with their intended recipients
- Collapsing in a near-exhausted puddle while still enjoying a few days until Son had to return to university
- Myriad other little things I managed to cram in and then immediately forgot – have I mentioned my memory’s going?
So there you have it: the good, the bad and the ugly. Nothing earth-shattering or catastrophic, and plenty of highs mixed in with the lows. Just a list, not unlike anyone else’s.
In a nutshell, life.
That’s why I haven’t blogged lately. It isn’t that the dog ate my homework – although Oli did manage to run off with a hefty piece of roasted turkey.
It’s because life intervened.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program…
Happens to us all Linda.. but good to hear that you’re back. And thanks for being so honest – makes me feel much better about my list of “to do’s” that’s glaring at me right now – I think I’m going to create a list of “what’s been done” … But isn’t it funny that the list of to do’s always out lists the list of done’s – possibly there in lies my problem…
So true, Louise. I can’t even imagine if my ‘done’ list approximated my ‘to do’ list! Just not gonna happen…
Don’t doubt that you’re missed – I popped over here on the off-chance and was thrilled to find you’re still alive and a still-warm post waiting for me!
Thanks Aisha, I aim to please π
A bit busy then? π
Just like everyone else, Jack. When the laptop was out of commission I was just itching to blog!
Don’t feel bad Linda, I publish my blog monthly all the time! With all that my life entails (not moaning) its what I can commit to at this time π
Excellent point, Laura, and I always check out your latest post. We do what we can.
I admire you for blogging, and getting published, Linda.
Thank you Heidi, it’s good to hear from you. As someone who repatriated a couple years ahead of me, I know you’ve got some good advice to share!
Great to read one of your posts again Linda! I miss you! I totally understand the life getting in the way thing. I also feel I ‘should’ be blogging more regularly, but it just hasn’t happened. I am writing behind the scenes, I just feel I can’t share so much at the moment because a lot of things that are going on are personal and I haven’t fully digested it all yet. Sometimes I think it’s better to wait rather than rush out and write something you later regret…and to stop beating ourselves up like you say.
I’m really working on being kind to myself – and others – because transitions are tough enough as it is without our beating ourselves up over what does/doesn’t get done. We really need to Skype sometime Carrie, I’ll send you an email.
Linda, we’ve probably been blogging for similar amounts of time and I still can’t get beyond one post every week and a half. I told myself 2013 would be different. I’d post twice a week and be much happier for it. No chance. But I’m at the point where as long as the blog ticks over now and again, it’s okay. So don’t disappear, keep sharing every wee while and watch out for those exhausted puddles.
Well said, Russell. A good attitude to have and wise words to live by. Thanks
Very good reasons as to why you have been mia. lol.
Thanks π
I have only just found you, so no apologies needed π
Still, welcome back to blogging! I have been in a slump as well and only blogged twice a month for the past two months… then I managed to snap out of it and hopefully I’ll be able to keep the posts coming now!
I hope you post again soon! Happy Holidays.