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blog posts, can't comment, can't hit like, changes are in the works, new directions, no dating stories, The One and Only, writing and publishing
“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” ― Roy T. Bennett
Happy New Week!
Every Monday feels like new start. A chance to start a new project, or follow up on old plans.
One of my plans is to write more. Well, not write more; publish more.
I do write often, but my writings rarely see the light of day. The problem is, I edit and edit until a post becomes too dated. I have written about this problem before. I still have not managed to make a change.
The posts that I manage to publish, are the ones that I decide to forgo all the endless editing and just hit publish. Believe me, it takes a lot effort for me to be able to do that. I feel anxious, as if I am going out in my pajamas, or if I am serving someone an unbaked cake.
When I look back at old posts, I see so many typos and grammatical errors. I see a lot wordiness. I see improvements to be made. It feels unfinished and, as if I am not presenting my best self.
But, right at this moment, I rather publish a post with errors, than not to post anything at all.
I look at my Drafts folder and it is overwhelming. As overwhelming as all the books around the house that I haven’t started yet, or worse, that I have not finished yet.
I decided to do something about all of the unfinished in my life. I plan on reading all the books that I have started. And then, start on all the new books that I have bought from my fellow bloggers that have become published. I am so proud of all of you! Please give me time and I will eventually get to read your books and will write a review.
Never finishing a book, is like holding on to a gift and never opening it. What if there is something really wonderful in there and I never get to it?
Getting back to my posts, I plan on tackling my Drafts Folder and going through each post. I will either hit publish or delete.
I also feel I need to give this blog a direction. This blog was started as an outlet to the pain of my broken heart and the devastation of being cheated on. Then, it became a journal of my dating adventures, and misadventures.
What should it become now? There are no more dating adventures, since Michael has been elected The One!
Is happiness boring? Failed dates are more interesting to write about. Plus, I don’t want to be bragging about how blessed Michael and I feel to have found each other. Perhaps I can make blissful life interesting.
Write about work? This commodities brokerage industry is one crazy industry, and I do have a lot of stories about it. That is an idea.
Write about travels? Well, I need to be traveling more to actually write about it.
The direction will take shape as I write more and more, I mean, as I post more and more. I decided, boring and all, typos and all, that I will post something every day.
Perhaps I will have a schedule and every day of the week there will be a different theme, but I am not there yet. For now, there will be days that my post will be very short, or just a photo, or just a 1 sentence review of something read, seen, eaten, etc.
Please note, I am visiting more of your blogs, but I still cannot hit like on any post (thank you WordPress! NOT!) And I do suspect that not all my comments are being seen or received. I write a comment. It appears to be published, but when I go back to the post, it is no longer there. I am considering changing blogging hosts, once I have researched my options. Suggestions welcomed!
Hang in there, as I grow and my blog changes. Thank you for being here!
“Don’t Just
Don’t just learn, experience.
Don’t just read, absorb.
Don’t just change, transform.
Don’t just relate, advocate.
Don’t just promise, prove.
Don’t just criticize, encourage.
Don’t just think, ponder.
Don’t just take, give.
Don’t just see, feel.
Don’t just dream, do.
Don’t just hear, listen.
Don’t just talk, act.
Don’t just tell, show.
Don’t just exist, live.”
― Roy T. Bennett
I’m glad your relationship is thriving, giving you the opportunity to find new writing topics. best wishes Ana.
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Hi Brad,
Good point – I should look at this as a great opportunity 🙂
Thank you and blessings to you!
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Thanks Ana! 😊
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Yes, a new direction. Maybe your mosaics…
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oh yeah, mosaics… I do need to find more inspiration in that as well.
Thank you for helping me see that I have additional items to focus on 🙂
Blessings!
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Yes, you can count your blessings that you don’t have to write about dating anymore. Now, you can focus on your art, travel, being in love, etc. The world is opening in a different and more wonderful way.
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You are so right!! 🙂
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Sorry to hear you’re having so many WP problems 😞
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Thank you Sheree!
I am considering making some changes, but I am afraid of making things worse. It seems every time I try to improve things here, it gets worse.
Blessings!
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You should email WordPress and tell them the problem you’re having Ana. They’ve been very helpful with me clicking too many settings at once! help@wordpress.com 💖
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Thank you Barb! I am going to try reaching out to them again.
Blessings!
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Well I know exactly what you are talking about with constant editing and fiddling with posts, but my issue is that I hit “publish” too early too often when I feel that something is done and then with fresh eyes, maybe a day or two later, I will see some edits I want to make in content or additions to the copy. But I have lost all the initial reads of the post as they won’t see what will inevitably the better more final version.
I’ve done my best to adjust this habit and now force myself to wait those couple of days on the more involved things at least. Some of my more simple short and fun things, usually involving cats I don’t worry of so much
I am also with you on having a very overwhelming drafts folder, and I could do with the same as you of finally sitting down with it and working on them further or just discarding.
Good luck, and whatever it may be, even the smallest or silliest of things, keep writing!! Cheers
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Ha, we suffer from different problems… you hit publish too early, and I hit too late, or actually not at all.
Every post that I read back I see changes to be made, typos to be corrected. I stopped looking back through my published posts for that reason.
If I wait a day or two to publish something, chances are, it will never be published because I will edit something to death.
At the moment I have 260 posts in my Drafts folder – it is really overwhelming. My goal is to clean that up, salvage some of those that may be worth and just delete the rest.
The ultimate goal, as you advise, is to “keep writing”!!!
Thank you for the visit and comment!
Blessings!
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I have always enjoyed your pieces on your mosaics. I love watching them come together and become something.
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Hi Madeline,
Thank you for that! I have done a couple of things that I will be posting about soon.
Blessings to you!
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glad you are adapting new ways. talking about comments, it might require the other party to approve of comments sometimes and later it shows up. Also, you might think of substack, medium too. WordPress is great too and you are absolutely wonderful 😊
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Hi April,
You are probably right. I also have my comments set to be moderated before they appear on my blog.
I had never heard of Substack before. I am going to look into that and also Medium.
Thank you for the compliment!!! Blessings!
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You are my clone! I go through all that you go through when it comes to writing and publishing and typos!! I dissect everything I write and a SOON as I hit send, I find errors! Argh! I love all that you publish. I look forward to seeing more. I am still having great difficulty being inspired to write as my muse is gone. Hopefully, I can again sooner than later.
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Hi Andi,
Hopefully you and I can, not only find inspiration, but hit the publish button more often.
Sending you hugs and blessings!
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I agree! ♥️
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YOU are never boring, and life is full of typos—that’s what makes it a work in progress! Write, Ana, in whatever direction your soul points. I love reading it all!
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Thank you so much Stacy for those kind words!
I love this: “Write, Ana, in whatever direction your soul points” – I plan on following this great advice!!
Blessings!!
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Happiness isn’t boring. I’m happy you have found the one. 😊
While failed dates are sort of fun and interesting to read about, after a few years it becomes pretty mundane. I’ve been getting better at weeding people out these days and try to enjoy those dates even if we’re not compatible.
Also what you said about change is true!
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Thank you so much!
Dating was often a pain, but it was also fun meeting new people, and sharing the stories here.
Good for you for getting better at weeding people out. So many people out there not worth of our time and energy. Do go on dates with an open mind, and enjoy the moment, even if there is no future. Best of luck!
Blessings!
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That’s so true and it can be thought of as a fun experience. Time isn’t wasted if you had fun or learned something. ❤
Thank you for the kind words. I certainly will!
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We don’t mind writing mistakes… don’t worry. Well we love to know what you are up to even if you are not dating anymore. It is good to hear you are happy!
It makes me happy too 🙂 ♥
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Hi Ute,
Thank you for being happy with me – it means a lot!
And thank you for ignoring the mistakes, and being always so supportive!
Blessings!
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I am interested in what your life unfolding, at this point is a celebration point. What’s coming only God knows. I think you continue to be you and the blog will take a natural direction that sits well with you and your readers.
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Hi Cassa,
You are always the voice of reason and kindness!
Thank you for the kindness and support!
Blessings!
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Blessings to you Ana and your love ones. 🌻💚
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Life is the greatest inspiration and no doubt you’ll find many interesting things to write about – blissful is fun and nice to read about too. 😊 Good luck getting into the schedule and rhythm. If only there were more hours in our day.
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I could use an extra 10 hours a day for sure lol
Thank you for the kind words!
Blessings!
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I understand about the draft folder Ana, but you have the right idea. Pick one and see if it’s worth finishing, or if it needs to be deleted. If I have more than 10 drafts it’s stressful. The ones you just sit down and write, then click publish are usually the best ones because they came from the heart. xx
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Hi Barb,
I have 260 posts in my Draft Folder. Every time I open it, it is overwhelming.
You are right, it is always better to have something authentic, from the heart.
Blessings!
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Oh my goodness, Ana…I’m sure that is hugely overwhelming. Maybe just promise yourself not to add anymore to it until you decide what to do. Many blessings to you my friend. xx
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I have already deleted some. It feels good to be going through them.
Good advice!! I am hoping the next thing I publish is one of those posts that I decided it didn’t deserve to be deleted.
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There you go, Ana….publish the ones that deserve to be seen. ♥️
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Sorry about the WP problems, I had the same issue with the likes and decided to switch my account and transfer my blog to a new WordPress account which fixed the issue.
As for the comments, it seems like Akismet has falsely flagged you as spam. All you need to do is fill out this form on their site and they’ll fix the issue: https://akismet.com/contact/
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I relate to the struggles with your inner editor, Ana. It would be difficult for me to write the first draft of a post and then publish it as is (even this comment is edited – ha). I feel the need to polish, but in the process I think my writing loses spontaneity. So there’s the goal for me – to let my writing just go with the flow. As for topics, I do think you’ll figure it out. I enjoy the freedom of being able to grab any ol’ topic as it hits me, instead of sticking to particular subjects. Maybe you will too!
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Hi Dave,
I can tell your posts and comments are edited, as they are always so well done… this comment, for example.
In your posts, you take a subject and beautifully weave different aspects and meanings of it, in the end making it a very interesting, and often educational.
I will take a page off of your book.
Blessings!
Ps. This comment has not been edited 😀
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Happiness is not boring and a delight to read about, Ana! 💗 My draft folder is full of discarded posts, also. I loved hearing about your travels to Iceland and Brazil. Love, love your mosaics!
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Thank you so much Kerry, for always reading and for all the kindness!
Blessings!
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🤗
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May I dedicate a song to you and Michael?
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Of course you may and thank you for such sweet gesture!!
True story: As I was listening to it, Michael walked in (I was going to share it with him later), and while doing his stationary dancing, said: “I like that”.
He has never said anything about any song I listen to, so this was a huge hit!
Thank you for such kindness that made our hearts sing, and our souls dance.
Blessings!
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To me, it’s about how love comes out of nowhere, and when you least expect it. It captures that whirlwind that we experience when the right one comes along. Congratulations to both of you!
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Thank you!
Beautifully said!!! ♥♥
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I for one would love a post on commodities. I’ll never invest in them, but I’ve always found them endlessly interesting. I’m on a bit of a dry spell at the moment with writing, so I do understand. I never read my old posts EVER! lol – Marty
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Perhaps I will write something about it, without boring everyone to tears.
Dry spells are scary – I always feel I will never write anything again. Then I start writing like crazy.
hahaha – I get it, but then again, reading old posts, always serve to illustrate how far we have come.
Thank you and blessings!
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Thank you for sharing!!.. just let your fingers do the walking and your heart do the talking!.. now you have someone with you to start new adventures with together!.. 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again…
May the love that you give
Always return to you,
That family and friends are many
And always remain true,
May your mind only know peace
No suffering or strife,
May your heart only know love and happiness
On your journey through life.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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Thank you Larry!
I feel so blessed to have someone to be adventurous with 🙂
Blessings!
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Are you me? Or maybe I am you. There are posts I never even got around to drafting, let alone editing and OMG even publishing! That’s why my blog is so barren!
In another, I am hoping to be you. I am creeping ever closer to joining (and using) Match.com. I think that’s where you met Michael? I met another couple recently who had met through Match.
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ha, We are are indeed very similar 🙂
Yes, I met Michael on Match, but find all sites similar, full of good and bad.
Give online dating a chance, but please be careful.
Blessings to you!
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You are the best. Plain and simple. anything you write, is from the heart. Just follow your whimsy and don’t force it…let it flow. I enjoy reading all of your posts, because I love the person who penned them 😊
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“Let it flow” – best advice and what I need to hear! I will try.
Blessings to you my dear beautiful friend!
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🥹…lots of hugs my beautiful friend
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This is beautiful ❤️
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Thank you so much!
Blessings!
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Your post resonates with me so much! My new mantra “Done is better than perfect” – I’m trying my best to bring this into all areas of my unfinished life!
Good luck with everything x
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“Done is better than perfect” – I love that! Maybe I will borrow it 🙂
Thank you and blessings to you!
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HI!! Congrats on Michael! So very happy for you . ❤ Wishing you all the best with him and your life together and the new direction in your posts. 🙂
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Thank you so much! We are both so happy and feel so blessed to have found each other.
Thank you for the support and for sharing my happiness! Blessings!
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New direction, new year, new you
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Always moving and reinventing!
Wishing you a blessed holiday season!
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Thank you
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love your blogs and whichever direction you take! And rejoicing in the adventures of a relationship are not bragging but being honest as to where your heart is right now which is what has always made your blogs incredible! And no apologies needed for grammar or errors etc, one must not be so hard on oneself as this also sets an example for others to follow. Imperfections are what makes you perfect 🤩
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Thank you for understanding and mentioning: “rejoicing in the adventures of a relationship are not bragging but being honest”.
I do hold back on some things because I don’t want to appear to brag or show off. At the same time I love being honest and transparent, with all, good and bad.
And indeed, as you so well put : “Imperfections are what makes you perfect”
Many blessings to you my imperfect perfect friend!
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I love that don’t just poem! ❤
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Hi Carol Anne,
I agree. I think those are great words to live by.
Blessings!
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