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Break Time

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break

Exactly 450 blog posts ago I started with the belief that I had so much to share with the world.  Hubris, indeed.  The blog has turned into more of an events journal, rarely going deeper than day to day happenings, some thoughts, and tweets that made me laugh.

The subjects that are most dear, I have not blogged about: my health journey and the politics happening in the US presently.  Am I a coward?  I don’t know.  I do admire those with a unique voice that share what is really going on with their lives in a way that reaches out and helps others.  Can I do that?  Do I have the courage?

I only know that I am giving myself time to re-group.  For the last several years I’ve posted 3-4 times a week.  Faithfully.  Have I run out of words.  If you know me, you know that is impossible.  But what am I willing to share?  Will this continue as a journal of sorts…..happy events?  Or will I have the desire and guts to share those deep places in my heart.  Time will tell.

“It’s okay to take a break.”  I will repeat these words again and again to myself until I believe them.

News vs Hallmark Movies

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It’s important to be informed, I tell myself, as I read various articles and tune in to PBS or the BBC.  Don’t turn away…keep involved.  There is a lot to be discouraged about in the news with conflicts, natural disasters, and those disasters of our own making.  Sometimes I’m overwhelmed.

So there’s the Hallmark channel where you know what will happen in the first three minutes, the comforting archetypes showing up time and time again.  Sometimes I do long for a happy ending where everything turns out right in the end.

But the world is more complex than that.  No one is all villain or all heroine.  The villain never knows he or she is in the wrong while our heroes often slip off their perches.

I’ll keep watching, listening to and reading news, because I think there’s a responsibility I have as a citizen of the world.  I also try to remember that there are people and organizations doing great things with their power or money to make this planet better.

Still….the pull of fake conflict and the perfect ending.  It’s not real.  I know it’s not real.  Yet sometimes I just need a break.

People are like stained-glass windows… — Lemon Shark

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Guest Blogger, Lemon Shark, shares her reflection on a beautiful quote.

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross It’s easy to sparkle and shine when there’s light in your life. When you reflect […]

via People are like stained-glass windows… — Lemon Shark

What day is this?

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There is a rhythm of the school year in most USA learning institutions that begins around September and ends in June.  Although the beginning dates may change a little here and there, these have been the seasons of my life since I was five.

When I received my bachelors from the University of Kansas, I realized that the teaching job I had wanted from the time I was 10 was not the job I wanted as a 20 year old. I had changed. I no longer wanted to teach small children.  But then what?

After graduation, I moved to a different state and tried a variety of occupations for a couple of years.  This did not work out.  If I was a waitress, I would quickly become the one singled out to train the others.  In the print shop, I became the one who trained others on printers, computers, mailing processes, etc.  What was the universe trying to tell me? I fell in love with American Sign Language and was, within two years, teaching others.

It all came back to learning and teaching and the cycles of the school years.  New Years Eve was never a big deal for me.  It seemed to cut my year in half.  The real NYE was always the night before the first day of school.

So, I followed my calling and became a trainer, teacher, and then instructor at a Community College. After what seemed like a lifetime in education, I decided to early retire.  I was able to….so did.  I wondered when the rhythms would tilt and move to match the rest of the country.

What has happened?  The gentle tilt has become a spin.  I seem to have no sense of the calendar at all.  “What is today?” is a question I’ve asked my spouse on more than one occasion.

While I believe that old dogs CAN be taught new tricks, I may always live the rhythms of a school year.  That’s okay, I just have to learn to figure out which day of the week it is.

And really, if that’s my biggest problem, I am blessed indeed.

Awards Can Build Community

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I’m new to writing blogs (four months), so when I received two awards in one week, I was a bit overwhelmed.  I was flattered, but at the same time felt as if I was just handed a chain letter. (“If not passed along terrible things will happen to the receiver of this letter” – These chain letters were popular years ago.  Now on facebook one receives the FB message to “share” if you love puppies)

November 1st, I’m starting my first NaNoWriMo adventure and felt I didn’t have time for anything else.  But then I thought about it and realized….hey, this is supposed to be fun!  Also, I have been enjoying reading new blogs and all the interesting things posted. My blog was not just a diary, it was part of a bigger community of sharing.

I thought I’d make up my own rules and respond by combining the two awards.  (My computer will not blow up or anything, will it?  Will it?)

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Thank you Beaton, of https://becomingthemuse.wordpress.com/ for the Liebster Award.

Thank you, Afrika Bohemian, of http://www.tribe53.com/ for the Infinity Dreams Award.

Liebster — The Rules:

  • Once you are nominated, make a post thanking and linking the person who nominated you.
  • Include the Liebster Award sticker in the post, too.
  • Nominate 5-10 other bloggers who you feel are worthy of this award. Let them know they have been nominated by commenting on one of their posts.  You can also nominate the person who nominated you
  • Ensure all of these bloggers have less than 200 followers
  • Lastyly, COPY these rules in the post.

Infinity Dreams – Rules:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back.
  • Post the award badge and rules.
  • Tell 11 facts about yourself.
  • Answer the questions that were set for you to answer.
  • Nominate 11 other bloggers and set questions for them.

The following could be thought of as facts about myself or answering questions:

  1. What is the story behind your blog name?

My name is Bobbi Bowman.  I thought about changing “man” to “woman.”  “bobbibowwoman” I feel kind of bad about the two “ww” in the middle.  They kind of creep me out.  But it’s too late to change it now.

  1. Why did you start blogging?

I work with a little goldfish that tweets every Friday in #Friday Phrases.  She has become popular enough that some have suggested I need to illustrate her.  So I am brining her to life in word and image.  It’s a lot of work, but I find it enjoyable.  The more I work with the wonderful Friday Phrases community, the more I write.  Is this an interesting phase or a new life?  Hummmmmm

  1. What was your favorite class in High School?

I loved speech and drama.  Speech: I had a way of breaking things down and holding interest.  Drama: I was a behind the scenes kind of gal until they threw me on stage a couple of times my Senior year.  I mostly worked with backdrops, props, and costumes.

  1. Favorite Books?

Right now I’m reading so many blogs I have not found time to read a book.  I do have an extensive Nancy Drew collection from when I was younger.  I also used to read “The Chronicals of Narnia” once a year.  I like YA literature. Recently fell hip deep into a wonderful Sci-fi series of books written by an Oregon author.

  1. Favorite Movie?

You are killing me here.  I can only give you my favorite two movies of last year because I love way too many movies: “About Time” and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”

  1. Weirdest thing you eat?

I love the most hated candy in the states…candy corn.  I eat it once a year and love it.  Then I’m done.

  1. What one word covers me completely?

Blanket

  1. What is your party trick?

Not showing up.

  1. What three things would you take to a desert island with you?

My husband (although not technically a thing), my phone, and a luxurious yacht

  1. If aliens invaded the planet, why would you be the first they should take?

I’m very diplomatic and curious.  I also have a good sense of how to explain the different events happening on earth.  I’m also a killer mime if there are communication breakdowns.

  1. Share one thing you didn’t understand about the world when you were a kid.

Why bad things happen to good people.  (Still working on that.)

My Rules:

I have enjoyed reading blogs, so here are a couple of awards you may wish to play around with.  They’re fun and the questions are interesting.  You can even make up some of your own.  However, the award is not to be meant as homework, so if you are not feeling it, please don’t do guilt over it.

The idea is to share and build community, so no pressure.

Wandering Wives

Petrichor and Clouds

The world according to Godistricksy

teleportingweena

graygirlsrock

Friday Phrases!

Hall of Tweets