28 Comments
May 7, 2021Liked by Linda Caroll

Good morning and congrats on the two lovely treats. Thanks for this piece,Linda. We can be so hard on ourselves sometimes, continually raising the bar when really, like you said, breaks are ok too. And needed. Have a lovely day on Sunday with your daughter. 🥰

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Thanks, Suz. It's true, right. Sometimes we need to kick the bar down and rest. Hope you and Mr. Suz have a lovely weekend, too.

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It's been a weird week all over, Linda. Your post last week was great - I shared it with a bunch of people, and printed it out. It seems like a lot of people are struggling lately, with a variety of issues. But, as we all know, this too shall pass. Stay safe, my friend.

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Thanks, Tom. True enough - it's a weird time for many of us. We've opened pharmacies for vaccine shots and my daughter is getting hers today. I am so relieved. More for hers than I was for mine. You take care, too.

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"All effort counts, even if it’s sporadic or minimal." This is perfect. I was also feeling a bit behind the 8 ball, then received the email with a bonus from Medium. Well. That was a big surprise and very motivating to continue.

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Seems a lot of us are there, Tree. It's funny - I often feel a little vulnerable throwing my mess on the table and then y'all step up and say you're there, too. I am so glad you got the bonus, too. Hope they plan to make a habit of that. It's sure great incentive. lol

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May 7, 2021Liked by Linda Caroll

Thank you, Linda. I needed this. I haven’t written on Medium since Feb 24th. I’ve been the final edits of my memoir and have been hit with one wave after another of health issues. It’s all I can do to stay working on the book, a two-year project.

Frankly I’m exhausted. A deep bone-weary fatigue. Right now I’m running on sheer determination. It’s been hard to watch balls drop. Even hearing Medium offered a bonus in April and knowing I missed a chance at it out of choice is difficult. Am I making the right decision to not blog? Will this pay off? I’m investing in it and hoping that it will. But only time will tell.

So thank you for reminding me on Mother’s Day weekend of the necessity of sacrifice—something all moms are very familiar with—and the importance of banking on our best momentary decisions to have the right outcome in the future.

Sending you and me a big hug. ❤️

Kerry

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I hear you on the exhaustion. I've been rebuilding two shopping carts since last fall. Some days there's just no fuel left. Hopefully Medium will do the bonus thing again and you won't miss out next time. Sending hugs to you right back. ❤️

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May 7, 2021Liked by Linda Caroll

It HAS been a weird week. I've struggled with juggling all the balls as well. Must be a stars thing. GREAT post, Linda. I feel exactly the same as you when my daughter waves and backs out of the driveway!

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Right? It's like -- okay, what's in retrograde? The solution, of course, is plants. lol. I've been looking for a string of pearls for forever and just found a little one. Hope I can keep it alive.

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May 7, 2021Liked by Linda Caroll

that's a succulent????

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Indeed it is. Have a look at this!

https://succulentsbox.com/blogs/blog/how-to-care-for-string-of-pearls

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So pretty! I've always wanted some! I love real pearls too! Favorite gem

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Congrats on both your bonuses. I received it too and it was certainly a bright spot in a dull day!

I am the poster child for bot being up all the time and it's okay.

Happy Mother's day to you 😊

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Yay, Kristi, I'm glad you got it, too. When you wake up Sunday morning, please know I'm thinking about you and sending hugs.

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❤❤❤

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May 7, 2021Liked by Linda Caroll

Congrats on the Medium bonus. You deserve it!

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Thanks, Linda. For stubborn persistence if nothing else, right? lol

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Congratulations. Keep chipping away

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Thanks, Carole. I will, indeed.

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Two vaccinations plus 14 days and a flight, just in time to see Mom on Mother’s Day, and to see her in person for the first time since March 13, 2020. This year she remembers me, next year she likely won’t. Dementia is a bitch. Cherish every moment.

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Two vaccinations plus 14 days and a flight, just in time to see Mom on Mother’s Day, and to see her in person for the first time since March 13, 2020. This year she remembers me, next year she likely won’t. Dementia is a bitch. Cherish every moment.

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As always, thoughtful and candid. That's why I like your writing. I was back underway on the boat this weekend 3 months to the day of open-heart surgery. I met a nurse at the new marina who lost a friend recently while in surgery undergoing the exact same procedure as I had. Hearing something like that tends to change one's perspective. It's not to minimize tough weeks, just helpful to remember that 'this too shall pass' and remember to appreciate the little moments of joy....even during a tough week. I hope this one is full of blue skies!

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'Do less, to achieve more, faster."

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What popped for me - if you write 500 words a day, you'll have the first draft in 6 months. That is just what I needed to hear this morning with my coffee. Gracias

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Thanks

Sam John

Baghdad, IRAQ

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Your email this week and last week were both full of "food for thought." Perhaps April was a month of holes for many people. It was for me. Reading your thoughts on falling in and climbing out of holes helps me pull out of mine. I cut an article out of the NYT years ago and keep it nearby. The title is "On Not Writing," by Bill Hayes. The first sentence: "I started writing this essay five years ago, and then I stopped." He goes on to explore how not writing "can be good for one's writing." : )

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Sometimes a step back from what we are doing, is actually a step or two forward.

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