Winter is a Time for Reflection

38 Replies

I have been thinking about this recently. That I am going to take a break from my blog. My temperament is such that I normally do not like to talk a lot and make small talk. Blogging feels like making a lot of small talk to me. And I have picked up on a mean tone to it. I wrote about it in by blog about the grammar police.

I read something about Winter. That it is a time to slow down, go inward and reflect. I am ready to do that.

Blogging has been an experiment for me to see if I like writing and have any ability. I do think I have some ability. Right now I do not like having it dominate my life. I find that I do not like doing it to this extent. So frequently and so much.

I may drop in and read others blogs, comment and post again myself. Not sure just now.

Glad to meet some other friendly bloggers and appreciate the kind comments some of you have made about my posts. I appreciate the support of my friends and family as well.

 

38 thoughts on “Winter is a Time for Reflection”

  2. Laura L.

    I will miss your posts but you have to take care of yourself first and foremost. Sometimes all you need is a short break, not always, but sometimes. I’m sorry the grammar thing appears to have been a last straw.

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      And I don’t like it when there is this mean tone to comments. Too much negativity in the vibes lately. I do not want my blog to be about negativity. But sometimes we have to stand up if we feel something is not right. That is when we open ourselves up to this kind of stuff.

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  6. Doobster418

    I’m sorry, Deborah, if you feel that I was being mean and or generating negative vibes in my comments on your post about grammar. You opened your post with the statement that “Unsolicited corrections of others writing is not a helpful thing.” Not to you, perhaps. But what you stated was your opinion, not a statement of fact that applies to every blogger. Because U an a blogger and my opinion is that if I make a grammar, punctuation, or usage error, I welcome such corrections. I was merely expressing a different perspective from yours.

    To the best of my knowledge, I have never corrected your grammar or punctuation. I can’t even say if you’ve ever made such an error. And, as I said a number of times in my comments, I don’t go around making such corrections uninvited. So in that regard, we are on the same page.

    Again, if my comments precipitated your decision to take a break from blogging, I am sorry. Unless it’s something you really want to do, or feel you need to do, you shouldn’t permit anything I have written in your comments to push you away from blogging. And, if you feel that I’m a negative influence, and wish me to, I will stop following your blog. Thus, any negativity you sense from me will no longer be present.

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  7. Deborah Drucker Post author

    I was just reading some blogs on the internet on the topic of Grammar Police and it made me feel better. I did think you were over-reacting and maybe were upset because of the Oxford comma. You actually did comment on one of my posts about me not using the Oxford comma. And I made light of it. Remember the part about the youts. I wrote the post because I had noticed recently a couple of other bloggers almost apologizing in advance if they made any grammar errors. That really got my dander up about these grammar police. I find other bloggers do feel the same way that it is petty and pompous or worse for people to criticize writers for grammar errors and that they all make them. I am not talking about a completely sloppy post but a few errors. But then I think if it is intolerable to someone to read a blog because of grammar errors then they don’t have to read it. One blogger made the point that the criticism is not helpful and just the opposite, makes her want to give up. I thought that criticizing one of my commenters with the remark ” don’t get your panties in a knot,” was below the belt. Literally and figuratively. I have heard that grammar wonks hate it when people say literally and figuratively. Hariod said I have the right to monitor my blog. But I don’t want to have to monitor my blog for people saying mean things. But you aren’t the only reason I want a break. I do get tired of feeling I must keep babbling on about stuff. So I want to take time to think about what I am going to write. So you don’t have to stop following but just don’t mention my underwear and knots.

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  9. annanolan2014

    I completely understand, Deborah, although you are undoubtedly a talented writer blessed with a gift of introspection. But I think the secret of blogging – and of other social-media exchanges – lies in the balance: when I was in the throes of my daily-blogging challenge, I was struck by the madness of it all and resolved NEVER to get involved with anything like that again. Social media are seductive, but it’s not real life. Clearly, people will have their own view of what the right balance for them is; for me personally, it’s probably one blog post per week, although I’ve decided not to be too rigid. For example, I was ill and thinking that it had been a week already and I hadn’t posted anything, but I then reflected. So what? Big deal. Everybody has their own life and, much as people (you among them) have been generous with their likes and comments, I’d be very surprised if anybody noticed. And that, I think, is how it should be. I imagine that many of those blessed with family and real-life friends will consider them a priority, with blogging seen as a pleasant diversion – but no more than that. I am now more determined than ever to achieve that balance for myself and not to allow blogging and attendant activities eat up too much of my time. To change the subject, both dashes and brackets (or parentheses) are used mainly to mark the separation of included units positioned medially or finally. The difference between those two punctuation marks is that dashes tend to give a somewhat more dramatic and informal impression than brackets. The three examples below illustrate the interchangeability of commas, dashes and brackets.

    • The man with the beard, Tom’s dad, always comes to parents’ evenings.
    • The man with the beard – Tom’s dad – always comes to parents’ evenings.
    • The man with the beard (Tom’s dad) always comes to parents’ evenings.

    Enjoy your break. Love xxx

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Thanks so much Anna. ❤ xo I appreciate your kind words and support. I am glad you are recovered. I think that you are wise in realizing you don't have to adhere to a rigid blogging schedule. I have had similar thoughts, that I had committed to a schedule and then wondering if it was ok that I did not keep to it. I agree that I must do what is best for myself even if I had set up a schedule for blogs. Thanks for examples of "brackets.", dashes, and commas. I wanted to point out that in American I would call the brackets like these (parentheses). I thought I had read, in our American grammar, that if you use what I would call brackets that look like this [ bracket] around something it is for the author to interject a correction like a word that was omitted from the original author's quote. Do you use this type of [bracket] to insert information into a sentence or quote? These brackets look square edged instead of the rounded one.

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  10. luciledegodoy

    Deborah, I am sad to see you go because I enjoy reading your posts, as well as the commentary of your blog. Here, one can always count on learning something new, reflecting, and also having a laugh sometimes. The experience I had with you has been wonderful, and I will miss you here. I know that you have real and trusted BFFs in real life (instead of cyborgs ;-)), but I consider you a virtual friend. Our exchange of comments was meaningful and loaded with friendship. Thank you so much.

    I understand your reasons and wish you all the best.

    However, I would like to ask you to not take these people too seriously. Those who follow blogs to entertain themselves, by focusing on format instead of content, should ask themselves if they are in the right place. Perhaps they should make this a real job, as they are so good in grammar. There is value to it, but not when unsolicited, and worse, when done in a careless, insensitive and selfish manner, i.e. to please themselves.

    When correcting others, instead of reading and understanding the content, they totally miss the point of the experience. Besides…why don’t they just unfollow?

    I do hope you forget this very soon, It is not worth your while.

    Hugs from Amsterdam.

    Lucile

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Thank You so much Lucile ❤ for your kind words and thoughts. I do feel I have met some very nice virtual friends like you. I know some people are so insensitive that my post on grammar police will not faze them. But I wanted to speak out on something that was bothering me. I agree with you on this issue, as you know, about this unsolicited grammar advice. Seems like others think it is perfectly ok to trash other people's comment sections as well and make fun of the other commenters. I have thought of a good description for the grammar critics, grammar snobs. I will put this all in its place. xoxo

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  11. annanolan2014

    And thank YOU for your kind words, Deborah. It’s wonderful to be feeling better. I nearly wrote a post today but held back on purpose (in the spirit of my new-found equilibrium: NOTHING terrible will happen if I postpone the task for a day or two!) You are ABSOLUTELY right about the square brackets; sorry, I completely forgot to mention them. Look after yourself and keep well. xxx

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  12. Prajakta

    I will miss you Deborah.. Not only the depth you bring with your posts but also the understanding with which you share and comment. It is not just networking but a budding connection where we share a little bit of our experiences to get insights. You have been truly a wonderful person to build a bond with and we will be waiting once you pick up your pen again.
    I hope you continue writing even if you do not post. Good luck!

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  13. Audrey Meltzer

    Being sensitive has its pluses and minuses: Inflow of negativity can drain the energy from us. Inflow of acceptance can elicit appreciation for our creative source and recognition of our common humanity, and it often energizes us.
    Thank you for all your valuable input on your blog, Deborah.
    xx, Audrey

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Thank You I think you have a good interpretation of this. Thanks for the kind words about my blog. My upper back has actually gone out. I think my body is telling me I have to stop and take a look at things. I also realized my writing chair was not giving me any back support. xoxo

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  14. Kat

    I will miss your posts but I understand. You need to do what’s best for you. I plan on hanging around so if you decide to stop in, I’m sure I’ll be here somewhere. I have enjoyed your posts and I will miss your unique point of view on your Kat posts. 🙂

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I am taking a break. I am thinking of doing some journaling because I still have some feelings about what happened with my post on the grammar police. I have been thinking I want to write more about it but want to explore my feelings and ideas more. Or I may just write something completely different. You never know. Thanks for the kind words.

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  15. JoAnne Silvia

    I know what you mean about not wanting blogging to dominate your life. I feel that pull, and I don’t even post every day. I’ve been feeling too sedentary and miss being outside. Maybe some fresh air will help. I’ll miss you and hope you continue to share your experience, insight and humor from time to time, but most of all, I hope you will take care and follow your heart.

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. morgaine620

        It is so important for ones health to have a time out every now and then. No matter what is going on around you. And no matter how much you love what you are doing. Just take your time and when you are ready you will be back full power :-). Take care 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Deborah Drucker Post author

        Thank You for your kind advice. I did a post today as part of my recovery from my Grammar Police post. I have decided to follow a very loose schedule and blog when I feel like it for now. Recovery in progress. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  17. capsulecreations

    I have been away from blogging and only read this now. I read your last post first but reading this now, it is starting to make sense.

    First of all can i say that i love your blog. You write from the heart and when i am reading one of your posts, i am so engrossed by what you are conveying in your post that i frankly don’t care or notice grammatical errors, not that i am saying there are any. I followed your blog because of its contents and not to “police” your writing..

    Secondly, whilst i appreciate your decision, however i’ll be missing you.. My Reader will be bereft 😩

    Thirdly, what i love about blogging is the fact that most people are here to connect with one another and when criticism is given, it is always a constructive one.

    Don’t exhaust yourself my love, enjoy the break and rest assured that as and when you decide to come back, you’ll have faithful readers/followers like myself waiting for that next amazing post… Xx

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I am very honored by your words. It means so much. I am a bit overwhelmed. When I started writing my blog I remarked that when blogging we can feel like we are out somewhere alone and we don’t know if anyone is reading or listening. That is where I got the inspiration for my blog name, and from a similar story by Louis L’Amour about a woman writing about her feelings on notes and tying them to bushes on the prairie. I am so happy to be connected with other writers like you. ❤

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      1. capsulecreations

        I love your blog’s name and that is the best thing i found about blogging that you get to interact with like minded folks who you wouldn’t meet otherwise. When i first started blogging i didn’t realise how much effort it took to keep up with it. But i have decided that i won’t blog daily or give myself deadlines because you don’t know when inspiration might drop by. At the very least i make sure i post something once a month. Hope you are enjoying your break 😀

        Liked by 1 person

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