Hope you are all well. Life here in Switzerland rolls on in rapid speed including lots of lifestyle changes, kids growing up, adjustments, many dull but precious normal days of family life and every now and then some drama. Totally normal, you know.
I'm not gonna recap the whole year or so, it would be a waaaay too long blog post to write, but every now and then I feel the need and desire to write down my journey through life, like I used to do. Yes, I do miss this place. I miss putting words to everything that storms around in my head, to moments that needs to be remembered and highlighted. I miss the chats, the conversations and the confirmation that I'm not alone in all this we call life. This place has been like therapy for me during that decade of intense writing, photographing, creating and sharing. I'm not sure where I would have been without My Rose Valley and all you readers that comforted, reassured, gave advice, encouraged and just simply were there giving me compliments and cheerful comments in my comment field. Yes, of course it makes you feel good when someone says they love your blog. I'm not ashamed to say that. And I know many of you loved coming to my corner of Cyber world to peek into what was going on in my life. Just like I loved peeking in to yours.
I don't know how many of you that actually read blogs anymore. Me myself, I don't do it very often. Many have stopped blogging (myself included, or maybe it is just a long pause...) and maybe it is a natural development as social media grew so quickly and other platforms became more popular and easier to use. Less time consuming, more instant but also less authentic and more commercial I would say... You know what I mean and lets not go down that road. Me myself, I have disconnected almost completely from social media. I hardly ever do Facebook anymore, it can go weeks between Instagram visits and Twitter was never my thing in the first place. I almost stopped taking photos and because of that the words vanished... I think I burned out.
I'm babbling, not knowing where I'm going with this. I'm trying to find my words and the flow but I think it will take some practice. I'll pop in from time to time. Share a few words and thoughts with you here, with or without photos. I want to. I can't promise I will be consistent. But maybe it will come. I feel the need of writing a journal again. With focus on nothing and anything. This part of life I'm now stepping into is worth documenting. Being 50, kids growing up, getting back into work force, reinventing myself, battling health issues, working hard to stay fit and rediscovering my marriage. Where are we now? Who am I? What happens next? What do I want? What is important? What is going on in this world? What does the future hold for us all?
Kärlek
Annette
Annette
FOLLOW My Rose Valley HERE:
i still look forward to your post you always have such lovely pictures
ReplyDeleteHi Brooke
DeleteThank you! That warms my heart and inspires me to start snapping moments of life in picture form again.
Xxx
Lovely to see you again! I've never commented (that I remember, but then that happens too often} but have always enjoyed your quiet style and beautiful photos! Take care of yourself and hope to see you upon occasion when you have time!
ReplyDeleteHi LizaEllen
DeleteI so appreciate you taking your time to comment now after I've been quiet for so long. The best encouragement to see someone is still out there sharing my thoughts with me. Thank you. See you around.
Xxx
I'm here, reading. I've not written my own blog since my "muse" cat died, except for her eulogy. I do think of you when Switzerland or Sweden is mentioned. Do touch base with us now and then - you've been missed.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara and I'm sorry for your loss. Pets are very dear to us and it is heartbreaking when they leave us. Thanks for popping in and see you around.
DeleteXxx
I am glad to see you. Like you I have entered a new era of my life. Your post has encouraged me to open my long neglected blog and maybe start posting about my new journey. I don't do the other social medias and I think Facebook is way to public, but a blog post feels so much more personal and private. I hope you do pop in every once in a while with bits and pieces of your life.
ReplyDeleteHi TRudy
DeleteThank you for your message and I feel so comforted knowing I'm not alone in this new part of life. I guess many of us are there. Let this journey begin. I think it will be a very interesting one.
Xxx
We definitely always need time for reflection. But sharing, putting our feelings down in writing, is a rather nice way to facilitate the process of working through whatever changes we are going through. I've been blogging more than 10 years now and haven't been so consistent in the past few years but am working on changing that this year. I've made so many friends through blogging who are constant in their visits and comments. I do enjoy Instagram, but have never used Facebook or Twitter or anything else. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy
DeleteHappy New Year. So true so true all of it. Putting words to what we are going through is so therapeutic isn't it? SO here I am. Let's see where it goes. Happy to have you with me.
Xxx
This is such a coincidence, I was just this morning thinking about your blog (probably because it was suddenly frosty here and my neighbour's summerhouse in the frost reminded me of your summer home) and here you are! So lovely to hear from you, and I am wishing you a smooth ride in this time of change. It is much the same here - children growing etc. I blog just once a week usually now, but I do still enjoy catching up with a few people. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteDear CJ
DeleteHow weird is that?! :) Will pop over and catch up with your journal notes. Feels good to be here and chat a bit with you cyber friends. I hope to do more of it. Thanks for popping in my dear and take care!
Xxx
Hi Annete. Lovely to see you back. I’m about fifty with three growing up children, too. And I really like reading your blog, which is wonderful. Bloggers tell a story which is not common on Facebook or Instagram. Those stories are special.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Margi.
DeleteIt is nice to know I’m not alone in this phase of life. I think letting go of children and watch them become more and more independent by the minute is the absolutely hardest one yet. And I do agree that stories told on Facebook or Instagram are not even close to as wonderful as when you tell or read a story on a blog. I’ll make an effort to reconnect with my blog voice and hopefully I’ll be somewhat regular here chatting away. Looking forward to it as I’ve missed this connection with people all over the world.
Thanks again for visiting and leaving a message. Much appreciated and encouraging.
Xxx
Hi! I have never commented before, but felt I needed to today. I want to thank you for your time and creativity. I have never written a blog and have no idea how much time and effort it takes. I want you to know how appreciated you are.
ReplyDeleteLife has a way of unsettling us with all the different chapters we go through.Take your time to enjoy each one, they all have gifts, if we look for them.
I hope you will continue to blog, but if not, I will re-read what you have. I knitted as a child and crocheted as a young adult, but have done neither for many years. They are calling to me now and I plan to re-teach myself both of them. You have so many lovely patterns, I hope to make a lot of them. Until I get started, I just want to thank you again for what you have done here. You should be very proud of yourself!
Darlene
Hi Darla Mae
DeleteThank you so much for your sweet words. I'm so happy that you decided to leave a message today! And thank you for sharing your outlook on the different phases we go through in life. I really like that thought of looking at them all that they are gifts. They create our our story, our life. Very nice way to look at it. I'm taking in all your compliments and store them close to my heart. Thank you so much for coming in today.
Xxx
I've loved your blog for many years and your words are so beautiful. It's amazing to me that English isn't your 1st language, as your write so beautifully poetic. I agree that taking time away from the fast scrolling pace of social media can do wonders for the soul. Sometimes I feel like we just need to be "quiet" in order to hear what we need to do. :) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Farrah
DeleteWhat a wonderful compliment. Thank you so much! I live a life in English and I guess I more or less dream and think in that language daily which makes the words come naturally. I'm a bit of a romantic dreamer nerd and so the poetry maybe shines through that way. SO flattered. (Imagine a blushing Emoji here...) I read in Swedish and listen to Swedish radio every day to not loose touch with my roots.It's a good balance I think. And I so agree with you on the quiet part. To disconnect is the only way to hear what you're really thinking and feeling and wanting. It is a hard thing to do and needs practice. We should do it more often.
Thanks for popping in Farrah.
Xxx
So happy to see you back on blogging... :) Even if, as you say, you make no promise, take no resolution about it. Always a pleasure to have you there. My eldest daughter(40 y-o) also let go her blog, somewhat, popping from time to time with photos and some news, that's ok. Life is a not like a sea of oil with no wind...
ReplyDeleteYou choose and share words and moments that suits best your thoughts, your heart and we, readers, smile or cry with you, or like today, have our heads full of "who, what, where, when, why" as you do...
You will excuse my poor english vocabulary, I live my everyday life in french langage in eastern Canada... ;)
Bonjour Esther
DeleteVous pouvez escrire en francais comme vous voulez. :) J'ai besoin de pratiquer mon français et j'aimerais le faire par écrit. Même si j'utilise parfois Google Translate, il est bon pour moi de voir comment mes mots se rejoignent en français.
Merci de votre visite aujourd'hui et merci pour votre message.
Xxx
PS Votre anglais est parfait, pas besoin d'excuses.:)
Merci beaucoup ! :) Je reviendrai écrire en français, alors... tant que ce blog continuera d'exister !
Deletexxx
I think there must be a resurgence or something as I have restarted writing my blog again after over two years! I have managed two posts this year! Well 4 if you include my walking blog. Love hearing and reading about you. xx
ReplyDeleteDear Annette,
ReplyDeleteI struggled hard in the last year and I totally understand how you feel.
I was burned out and I feel now, that my energy is coming back.
I'm looking forward to find lots of energy again.
I wish you all the best for this year.
And writing is always a good doctor :-)
Greetings from Germany to you.
Angela
Please know that you are greatly missed Annette! Hoping you find your way back to us, even if it's only small slices of imagery and a few words here and there on Insta? I still read blogs, always my passion, but good ones are hard to find these days, so many have fallen away over the years. I would so love to keep up with you, I hope 2020 brings you a time and reason to reconnect xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you are back, even just a little bit!
ReplyDeleteI have visited that last 2019 blog post at least 20 times, hoping and hoping, and here is my reward 😀 Thank you!