New Year, New Beginning- Blog Update

On By aurawithwritingIn Miscellaneous

Happy New Year 2017!

I know I have been away from my blog and writing for a while now. Though I cannot state any justifiable excuses for my nearly half- yearly absence, I wish to sound reasonable by blaming various life circumstances. While I was lost learning life lessons the hard way, I missed waking up to the encouraging and kind comments from this generous community that usually make my day. So, I am back with a budding hope to continue writing and blogging a little longer this time. 

2016 has been an enlightening year on various fronts with mixed experiences, fair amountof traveling and self realization. It was rewarding  with respect to writing, as I dared to make an attempt to blog on a serious note. In spite of my irregular posts and updates, I gained reasonable number of followers that I never believed I could. The encouragement and learning experience from fellow bloggers is beyond satisfying! With this new year, I wish to share new thoughts, new stories and also gave a new look to the blog in the process!   

It’s never too late to start afresh!

I hope this year is better and brighter for everyone!😊

42 thoughts on “New Year, New Beginning- Blog Update”

  3. Well, well, who do we have here? Kamaal hai, aap to gayab hi ho jaate hain, baar baar!

    Anyway, welcome back to WP. Looking forward to having posts more regularly from you in my feed.
    Happy wala new year to you!

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  4. Well, you did tell me you would be back and I’m very glad that you are too. Happy New Year too. I hope your self realisation journey has brought you into a good place. I know, from experience that such can be quite daunting and cause anxiety looking backwards at decisions or choices that were bad ones….realising they can’t be changed now can liberate emotional fixation on them and permit one to move onwards.

    Alternatively…you’re not addicted to A to Z challenges are you? lol….please say you haven’t come back just to do that !!!

    Lovely to see you back here my friend 💐

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    1. Gary! You literally read my mind!!! My experience did lead to some anxiety and seemed daunting. I cannot agree more on your words regarding the liberation in the end! Thank you my friend! 😊😊 And AtoZ- No! I’m not addicted to it, nor I’m sure if I will do it this year😂 That is in April anyway, lot of time. 😜

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      1. That’s my empathy people watching thing…when someone suddenly goes quiet there is often a deeper reason why and usually how they word things just before it changes. However, often stepping back from social media is essential to reset things and find your inner self or just breathe again. I do hope all is well gain now though. You have been missed.
        As for the challenge….that’s April…the Kindness one is in May…I’ve jet mapped to June already 😱

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      2. Yes, all well now. Nothing life threatening, may be I jus see things in a different light now. 🙃 You truly are very good at empathizing I must say, thank you Gary! 😊 Im thinking about Kindness Challenge, as it is in May. So you are doing the A to Z? That’s wonderful!!! Your blogging plate is already full for the next half year! Great!! 😄😄

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      3. New perspectives are good. Recycling old methods of thinking just stagnates things and makes everything grim. I think it’s brilliant that you’ve found a new way of thinking. You sound very positive too. I think the challenge might help with that immensely too. A to Z I’m just thinking about…I’ve a few things that need finishing writing wise first…including my NaNo manuscript 😱

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    2. Ohh, your 2017 looks busier, in a good way!🙂 Yes, I’ve turned a lot positive, which was hard, as my mind is more inclined towards the other side. Wish to write about it. Let’s see how it goes. Let me know, if you plan on doing the AtoZ.😀

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      1. I fully understand the negative mind and how it impacts everything. I use that side on the kindness challenge to talk about positivity…well, will be! Just remember if you feel it slipping reach out and talk about it instead of bottling it up yes? And A to Z….I have a memory cell saying did we not agree to do it together this year 😱

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      2. Ya true! Bottling it up only makes it worse. Writing about positivity through the kindness challenge is a good idea. And AtoZ, yes!! Your memory cell is right 😂 We did agree on doing it together this year. I will be glad to do it 😃

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      3. If you relapse then message me if it helps! I’ve struggled with positive mindset for ages so into what it’s like 😇
        Oh, not a faux memory then 😱 Looks like April is now booked up too 😊

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      4. Thank you very much for the offering Gary! Highly appreciate it 😊😊 and you are very generous!! 😌 Yes!!! I’m so glad we’ll be doing it together this time 😃 I might need your help in coming up with the theme or ideas for AtoZ. 😜

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      5. You might need help?? You are the veteran in this one! I imagine that it’s quite difficult to come up with things that aren’t run of the mill though for certain letters. Did you get letter images from the challenge itself last year? I was only just getting into blogging back then so I’m a bit vague on how it’s all put together….apart from a letter a day that is 😳

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      6. Ya, all the letter images will be available on the AtoZ website. I was just into blog too, last April. I joined last minute, not knowing what was in store, lol. Writing everyday after a lot of digging and pondering for every letter, was kind of stressful. If we at least have an idea of what to write about each day well in advance- would make it much easier and enjoyable. People usually come up with themes and stick to them through out the challenge. Whatever is comfortable- up to us! 😀

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      7. Themes throughout might be good, although too rigid and I bet some letters are real problematic! What to pick though 🤔 Writing related, quotes, myth and legend….horror and ghosts….decisions, decisions. You are right though…better to have a theme or general run of concepts rather than just flit day to day getting stressy. Good advice and top tip 😊

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      8. You’re right! Themes might be too rigid. If not themes, we need to think of at least the titles for all 26 letters well in advance. Just to save time, as we just need to develop our writing based on it, rather than scratching heads thinking about what to write each day, lol.

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      9. I think an over arching theme might work…something like the myths and legends one because that opens up everything from Greek, Roman or Norse mythology and also things like haunted houses, mythical creatures, fables, folklore and do on. Mindfulness might be possible too as that can travel through quotes to thoughts on application (and lead into Mays challenge), fauna and flora too maybe. Although I think I’m creating prompts based on my writing genres here lol

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      11. We need some proper brainstorming in March! I really don’t fancy just starting without a clue where it’s going…and it must fit round life too…although…has to be easier than NaNo surely 😱

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      15. Also been a very busy start to the year. School exams for one son and trips to orthodontists…poorly kids….all things that take one away from concentrating on my things…still, battery recharge time too lol

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      17. Yes, I entered January thinking I’d get on top of all things writing related….forgetting about elders exam week which meant he only had to go in around midday. Bumped school runs to three a day meaning time condensed to very little. The orthodontist was to refit a brace on elder that had worked loose, then fit juniors, go back to trim a wire excess on his and then another check on elders….that said I’ve now got dual appointments going forwards to save separate trips 🙄. This is the first “normal” week of the year so best make it productive…except it’s arrived and I’ve no idea where to start 😱 Weekends tend to be my social media explores. This week I did a Twitter hop on Saturday and a blog one yesterday. Takes ages mind, but very useful to make new connections. I guess that counts as author platform building 🤔

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      18. Haha, I love the way you iterate your daily chores. This looks like a story in itself! 😛 But I can see how busy your boys are keeping you. That’s great! I don’t have much idea about the hops though. But yes, definitely sounds like a better platform for networking. 🙂

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      19. Eek, that story would only sell to frustrated parents with kids…then again, big market there 🤔 The hops are excellent networking opportunities. Just takes one or two to organise it and get folk signed up and then share the results. I wonder if we could get one up for A to Z participants. That would be a fabulous source of new blogs and introductions.

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      20. Yes! Haha, well, I did seem to enjoy it anyway :D. I’ve seen your effort with networking, very inspiring! Yes- AtoZ has a huge turnout, so definitely yes! I think AtoZ had something on similar lines last year- a concept of minions under each organizer. I wasn’t sure how it worked though!

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      21. Yes you did, but this time we avert burnout lol. Networking is time hogging though. I need to get a far better schedule. There are good opportunities in the kindness challenge too. I met a lot of cool people on that last year. I’ll look out for the A to Z hop thing you mentioned. I think it could work for us if handled right. You up for that too lol

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      22. Hehe, why not, if time permits! 😉
        Yes, I’m pretty sure there will be something for AtoZ. There is a Facebook page for AtoZ, where people post their titles under each alphabet everyday. That’s a good place to network too. Sometimes, you find few people write about the same stuff as you, with the same title 😀

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      23. Scheduling to make time for me things is high on my current todo list! Didn’t know about the FB page. Seems there’s more opportunities than I first thought here! Long old alphabet with no theme though 👀

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      25. Me too. Might even mix up a theme under the guise of writing…maybe horror prompts and mythical beasties….or maybe not….decisions decisions 🤓

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