Wow! Today is the Last Day of the Blogging Challenge.
Frankly, I cannot believe that I made it to the end of the 2023 #RRBC 30-Day Blogging Challenge. I confess that each day I began with the same question: What the heck am I going to write about today? We have been asked to share our thoughts on this experience, so here goes:
Thinking back on my words, I am most surprised that I shared so much about my younger days. For some reason, it just came out of my mind and onto the screen. I do not regret any of it, although it was very different from my typical interpersonal behavior. Much of what I shared has rarely been told to anyone before (perhaps with Aida, but that is it). I suppose my reliance on faith has been made pretty obvious these thirty days as well. Perhaps, I was urged from above to let it out, and therefore my choice to share so much is a good thing. All of us have been wounded in our lives, and the psychological scars are deeper than the physical ones. I have had a few surgeries and a broken arm. I have no fear or animus about those incidents. The mental wounds to my mind and heart remained hidden. The wounds continued to bleed. I now see my posts as remedies for those injuries. Once spoken, their power to keep injuring me decreases a bit.
Some of my posts were more whimsical, like the last one about music and my thoughts on comedy. What I said was true for me, but it does not expose any deeper thoughts or troubles. My desire for quiet or music just changed. My taste in comedy has not. I still watch old Monty Python programs. I will scroll through Netflix looking for older comedies. In my opinion, they were the best! That reminds me. I need to watch Back To School and Spaceballs again soon. Any Rodney Dangerfield or Mel Brooks movie is worth the time. Incidentally, when I wrote about my LP and CD collections, I should have mentioned that I also have a large selection of DVD movies. Mental note: I have to check them out today.
We are all complicated people. We are living separate lives doing lots of different things, and yet, today we are all authors and proud to be members of the Rave Reviews Book Club. Our greatness comes from our differences and similarities. It is amazing how often that happens in our lives. In each job I held, I met new people and did interesting things, even creating lifelong friendships along the way. Never forget that life is an adventure. It may not always be happy and amazing, but we still grow, learn, and meet new people. In the end, our ability to share and especially to care for one another matters most.
We were also asked if we would continue blogging. My answer is yes, but probably not everyday. I do not know who will read my words, but as I said before, I write for myself and for God. I let Him handle the rest. Finally, we were asked if this experience improved our writing. I do not know that answer. I have been writing (for work and my stories) a really long time. I always had bosses review my written projects and make revisions. I now have an editor who does the same for my books. While these thirty days may not have changed my writing style, they certainly changed me. I have always been a closed book to most people. My past was my past. That has now changed completely. I do not know if any of those experiences will find their way into print. In the case of my earliest memories, many are buried, turning a story into a few scattered flashes.
So many of you have written kind comments about my posts. I have appreciated and responded to them all. I have also tried to return the favor for many of you. My hope is that we remain friends, fellow authors, and enjoy this life to the fullest. All the best to each and every one of you. Today is a new beginning, and I hope you make the most of every moment. We are all truly blessed.
Karl, absolutely beautiful! What a delightful end to this wonderful, enlightening challenge! I, for one have enjoyed all your posts that I have read, although I still have some to catch up on. I hope you will continue blogging because you now have a NEW fan, me, Nonnie Jules! Kudos to you for all that you shared with us along this journey, endearing you to us more.
I am looking forward to your next read (in book format)!
http://www.nonniewrites.wordpress.com
Thank you, Nonnie. I created my blog before I discovered #RRBC, however, I almost never wrote any posts. I thought they should be about the next book, or something important. Thanks to this challenge, I know better today. I will try to blog more often, while maintaining progress on my stories. I am very happy you consider yourself my fan. I have been your fan for a long time. Thank you for starting me on this new adventure. All the best.
I’m happy you shared your past with us, which gave you closure. I tried to do the same with my posts since I carried the hurt inside me for too long and only shared my pain with my closest friends. But now, after releasing it to the world, I feel lighter. I am finished opening old wounds but will continue blogging. When I post my poetry and book announcements to my blog, I’ll search for yours.
Susanne, too many of us have hidden wounds that can infect our lives for decades. I was one of the walking wounded for a long time. Like you, I have made peace with my life. The past is a memory, and the pain is mostly gone. I wish you great success in your writing career. We both know that our #RRBC friends will support us along the way. I wish you happiness and peace.
I will definitely continue to follow you, Karl! Though we are quite different in many ways, our military brat background connects us on a deeper level than most. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through your experiences. And you are right – life is an adventure that must be lived, so live it fully! Thanks for sticking with us to the end! 🙂
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thanks Yvette. It was an interesting month. I wrote and read things that astounded me. So many of our #RRBC friends lead incredible lives. Incredible not in the sense of fantastic, but in the sense of triumphing over adversity, and continuing to move ahead. Enjoy your travels with your son. My children are now in their 40s. We took several vacations when they were younger. Now, they are pretty much on their own. I know it is the circle of life, but being an empty-nester is a major change. Enjoy them while they are young. And keep writing your wonderful books.
Karl, your blogs have been so interesting and varied, and gave us great insight into what makes you “tick.” I enjoyed hearing about your taste in comedy especially, as I share many of the same favorites. Your faith and personal philosophy did shine through, as well. Congratulations on completing this challenge! 🎊🎉💥
Maura, I appreciate your kind words. I never thought I would make it to the end. Somehow I just could not shut up! Ha! Keep looking for those great old comedies. I just remembered how much I loved the Three Stooges. Their shows were reruns by the time I saw them. That kind of slapstick comedy is just want a young boy needed. Laughing at silliness is a joyful experience. I wish you all the best.
Hi, Karl,
You’re preaching to the choir and I love it!
I look forward to receiving your blog posts.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem
Pat, it is a blessing to be among so many people of faith. A person’s faith is very personal, and I never question anyone else’s beliefs. Having faith and trusting God is enough. Thanks for the kind words.
Hello Karl, it has truly been a pleasure getting to know you! I found each of your posts to be interesting and well written, and I agree that writing can sometimes be cathartic. I love how you opened up a bit, as it allowed me to get to know you better. Keep on enjoying Monty Python! As for me, I’ll be keeping an eye open for “I Love Lucy” reruns. : )
Best wishes,
Donna M. Atwood
D. M. Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Donna, these last 30 days have been eye-opening for me too. All that stuff was stuck in my head. I am not certain why I chose to write about it. I have no regrets about it, although I have rarely been that open. Good memories are easy to share. Bad ones, not so much. Take care.
Karl, it’s been a joy getting to know you. After reading your blog, I see more clearly how God’s hand was in this challenge. Congratulations on completing it! I’ve enjoyed every one of your posts!
Blessings!
Patty
https://www.ptlperrinwrites.com
Thank you, Patty. It was an interesting 30 days. I certainly learned a lot about myself. I do plan to blog more, but not every day. I need to make time for other stuff in my life. Today, I’m going grocery shopping. Take care, and thanks for following along on my journey.
Karl, you did share some interesting stories about yourself and let us into your personal ideologies most people don’t want to talk about. It makes for lively debates. Thank you for supporting me all the way through my unusual journey. I appreciate you.