January on Instagram

FROM TOP LEFT: Me on a winter walk in the Nordic Hat.  ::  My Circle In Square blanket is getting a bird foot edging. ::  Driving through a winter landscape in Switzerland. :: A baby blanket in progress, new pattern coming soon. :: Sun set in Sweden over the frozen bay. :: The ice covered bay in Sweden. :: The Pine Tree Wrist Warmers pattern was released. ::
I started to run again after over a year of abcense.  :: It's tulip times...

I collected some pictures that sums up my January on my Instagram account @myrosevalley. It is a fun thing to do. You get perspective. And to look back on yesterday's post about the Self Esteem Bully coming to visit all so frequently in my life, it confirms I'm actually accomplishing things. I want to take the chance to say THANK YOU for your fabulous commenting on that post. I know I'm not alone but at times it feel tabu to talk about these things and I feel that it is important to show them in bright daylight. Bullies exist. Especially self esteem ones. I think we all have been visited by one oh so many times. We just need to learn how to handle them. Bless you for all good advice and comforting words.

I don't know how many of you that are on Instagram or who of you who follows me (and other bloggers/crafters/friends/interesting people) on Facebook for that matter, so forgive me if you feel that this is a duplicate of what you've just seen from My Rose Valley. Recently I've been reflecting a bit about social media and the different channels I use, how I use them as a business owner and how I use them as a viewer myself. I think that topic needs its own blog post so I will sit myself down and try and explain and brainstorm all this with you another time. I would like to know how you feel about it, you see.

So for now I share a glimpse of my January @myrosevalley. Come and follow if you want to see more and speak to you soon about Social Media. February is up and running (literally) in full speed and I'm enjoying it.

PS Instagram? It's a free app for your smart phone to download, where you can follow people you like and find inspiration. You upload photo snippets of your projects, activities, what makes you happy, friends and what ever you feel like. It's like a photo diary. Check it out if you haven't before.

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

The Self Esteem Bully

I wake up one morning and my first thought is: "I can't do this..." I have no energy. My creative juices are gone. There is nothing left. I don't even have energy enough to keep my home tidy and nice. How can I expect to have energy enough to work and run my own business if I can't even take care of my every day life? That morning I feel rather useless. I feel blue.

My self esteem bully sits firmly on my shoulder and bangs on my head. Tells me I'm a looser, a failure. He says I'm a nobody. That whatever I do it isn't good enough. He says I'm a disappointment... "Look at her. What has she become? What can she do? Nothing!" he says and laughs with a nasty voice.

That morning I wish for a new sunrise. A new day. I wish for energy and strength to get through this lousy, lousy day of self doubt. I could pull the blanket over my head and sleep it away. Or I could get up and get busy. This is the turning point. It all depends on the decision I will make in this moment. Surrender or fight?

I get up, take a long shower and cry a tear or two. I get dressed and have a cup of tea. I sit down and then I collect enough strength to push that bully off my shoulder. He falls to the ground and runs away with his hairy and dirty tail between his legs and a weight is lifted from my shoulders. "You little rat", I'm thinking... "You nasty little bully - piss off!" I smile in triumph, filling myself up with a fresh new breath while he disappears into nowhere... I can do this. I can. And I will. I've already done it. I'm actually doing it. Right now!

I treat myself some new tulips. I shake off pressure and expectations. I do small things around the house. Small things in my office. That day I do only small things because no big things are needed when you have a lousy day. I give myself a break. I tell myself he is wrong that bully. I tell myself "Look at everything you have accomplished; your family, living abroad, a successful blog, your pattern shop, your life!"  And I nod in agreement. I have skills. I can do a lot of things. I work hard. I love with passion. And I do things good. I matter. I am good enough. And I am somebody because I am me.

The day comes to an end. I go to bed with hope in my heart. The next morning I wake up to a new sunrise. To a new day. It looks a bit brighter than the day before. And I feel stronger than the day before. And the bully? He will come back. He will continue to challenge me. He always does. I just need to stand up to him. Push him away. And every time I do so, I will grow stronger in myself and I will do just fine.

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

It's Time For Pink!

The Christmas blog header is gone. The Christmas decorations are put away. Christmas dramas are put behind and Christmas joy is forever treasured in my memory and on film. I crave pink. Lots of pink. Light pink and bright pink, pale pink and smiley pink. Pink tulips on my table. Pink PJ's when going to bed. Tea cups with pink roses.

I want to make a pink table runner and a pink baby quilt for a new arrival. I made a pink set of Pine Tree Wrist Warmers (pattern here) and I love them dearly. I want to make another ruffle pillow, in pink. I want pink in my bathroom and so I choose a pink tube of shampoo and conditioner at the grocery store, and new bright pink scrub gloves for the shower. Maybe I should buy myself a set of pink towels too...??? And pink soap, toothpaste... Am I going to far??? I just want pink. So pink it is. For a while. In my home. Longing for spring and pink apple blossoms on the trees.

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE: