It’s Valentine’s Day week. I love everything to do with love and not just on Valentine’s Day, but if you have someone special to share it with, enjoy!

It’s Monday again, already. 🙂 I won’t even say it.
I was meandering through my own mind and found myself wondering why I have a strong tendency to bite off more than one single person can chew. Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT and here’s what it gave me:
You don’t have a character flaw.
You have a missing boundary system.
And nobody teaches this growing up.
Gentle reframe:
You don’t need to become less kind, less creative, or less helpful.
You need to become the person who protects the resource that makes all those things possible:
Your time and energy.
Well, maybe so. It also said I may take on more than I can handle because my identity is tied to being reliable and helpful. Okay. Interesting, right? Not sure I want to look any deeper just yet, but something to ponder.
This past week has been a blur. Did I eat? Sleep? Function? Guess I did because I’m not hungry and no one has been calling to ask where I’ve been. 🙂 Still, I am weary. And of course, because of the workload this week, I’m way behind again on visiting with my favorite people on their blogs. Sigh…
I’m doing my best and that’s all I’ve got.
Sorry. I don’t mean to sound like I’m whining because I’m not. Just observing. I’m fully aware I’ve created it all. And it’s up to me to change it. Maybe this week?
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know how much I’ve struggled to keep my website and blog all working and that I’ve been stuck with the horrible Elementor plugin, right? Well, there is now a light at the end of that tunnel. I have found a lady who has given me a very reasonable quote to completely revamp my website and get it OUT of Elementor. I super excited and can’t wait to reveal the new and improved site!
This week is my youngest granddaughter’s birthday. She’s turning 11 on Wednesday. These kids are all growing up! No more little ones. This is Samantha, aka Sammy.

On the writing front, I have started working on the Lyrics section in the upcoming compilation and I learned something I want to pass along. I’m sure the ones of you who write poetry already know this, but I didn’t. When creating a poem in a document, I learned to use shift+enter for a soft return to tell the computer I simply want a new line and to use a regular enter (Hard return) to start a new stanza.. I’m curious. Did all of you poets already know this? I’m amazed at how the learning never stops when it comes to the craft of writing. I’m down to the last few entries, then I’ll be ready to start this book on its journey toward publishing.
Here’s a poem I included:
My physical body you no longer see
Yet, the love that binds us will always be
My Spirit lives on, just in another place
So, let a smile replace sorrow on your face
I’m as close to you as your next breath
Please don’t think of me in death
Choose hope and love instead of fear
And never doubt that I’m always near
I haven’t had much time to read this past week, but did finish one book and started another. Reading to me, is almost as important at breathing. If you haven’t seen Jacqui Murray’s latest, you might want to take a look. That’s the book I’m reading now!

It’s fascinating to get a glimpse at how our Neanderthal ancestors might have lived. It was all about survival.
This quote from Frederick Douglass seems especially poignant in a world where there is so much wrong.

I drew an Angel card to share with you this week and it not only spoke to me softly, but sort of punched me. Do you ever stop and ask yourself exactly what are your dreams? Or have we stopped dreaming?And patience? Remember our last Wednesday word, ‘Wait?’ Well, here you go.

I wish you a good week ahead, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY, and be patient with yourself.
I too bite off more than I can chew but have been cutting back for my health’s sake. As I get older, I feel myself slowing down. I don’t like it, but I have accepted it. The patience angle card is perfect!! Sammy is adorable. It’s amazing how fast they grow up.
Thank you for your comment, Darlene. I am glad you have had the good sense to slow down. Maybe I will find it someday. I agree about the patience card. It hit home. Yes, the kiddos grow up way too fast. I hope you have a good week ahead. 💕
My grands are growing up way too fast too. Happy birthday to her 🙂 I didn’t know about the soft enter for poetry. I usually fix the formatting in paragraphs later. Beautiful poem! Love the quote and that’s what I’m focused on or trying to. Perfect angel card, patience. I am trying to be patient with myself. I’m allowing for not doing all the things I think I should or have been in past. I have always taken on too much and right now, I’ve pulled back and enjoying doing very little and seeing what I really want to do. Its always a process. Xo
I love your comment, Denise. It is all such a process, isn’t it? I am glad to share the soft enter trick for poetry. I hope it’s not going to be a formatting nightmare for my sister. If it is, we may call in you. 😁 So glad you forcing yourself to live in and enjoy the moment. Patience is such a big word. Thank you for stopping by. Hugs!
Happy birthday to Sammy! I love your poem.❤
Thanks, Priscilla. I appreciate your visit!
Happy birthday to Sammy – what a beautiful smile! You and my friend have a lot in common, Jan – she was just saying yesterday how busy she was last week and she was exhausted, but it was her fault. I’ll have to pass on what ChatGPT said. Lovely poem!
Thanks so much, Teri. I totally accept the busy-ness is all my own doing. Finding a balance is hard for me. I take anything ChatGPT says with a grain of salt. 🙂 Except for the recipes. Those were spot on! Thanks for the birthday wish for Sammy! Have a great week ahead.
Happy birthday, Sammy! What a sweetie.
Happy Monday!
Thank you, Kymber!
What a wonderful surprise to see my book on your blog. Thank you, Jan! I hope you love it.
I have Elementor on my Book Shop website (structuredlearning.net). It was such a struggle to get working (though I did with help from my British website guru) and now, I’m afraid to make changes. Sigh.
It’s my pleasure to share your latest book, Jacqui. I am very much enjoying it. Can’t wait to see how it all ends for these characters. I’m sorry you have Elementor. Maybe with a legitimate version, it wouldn’t be so bad, but my web guy installed a bootleg version that gets no updates or support. I hate having to make website changes, but I’m so ready for it all to work right! Thank you for stopping by and best wishes for a successful book launch!
I hear the weariness in your voice and it scares me a little. I know there’s nothing you can do at the moment to lighten your load, but I fear your body is about to say, “Enough” and shut you down. Happy Birthday to Sammy!! Wow, she’s really blooming. Love, love the quote and the angel card. Love you, Sister!
I will be okay, sister. It’s just been a lot with the lady at the shop being out. I expect that she’ll be back this week and things will lighten up. Yes, Sammy is growing into a beautiful, funny and smart young lady. 🙂 I loved the quote and card too. They both spoke to me. Have a great week ahead!! Love you!
I have a long history of taking on more than I can handle. I’m doing much better in that area now. My writing comes first!
That’s a good place to get to, Liz. I hope to arrive someday. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m pulling for you, Jan!
Thank you, Liz!
You’re welcome, Jan!
Hi Jan, I also have boundaries issues and I’ve been aggressively trying to implement them this year at work. It is really hard as people keep pushing and pushing for my input and help. I feel like I’m being pulled in too many directions and am close to resigning from my job. I’ve just had enough of it.
I’m so sorry to hear that the pressure has gotten so great you are considering walking away. But if that is what it takes for your physical and mental well-being, then it’s worth it. Thank you for stopping by and hope things settle for you!
There are times when we simply take a step back and reflect. Sometimes, life makes us run in a hamster wheel without us noticing for the longest time. But those moments, when we get some distance are healthy breaks that make us look at ourselves and the world from a different angle. Maybe those are the times when we realize that we grew out of something and into something new. Life is only development not stagnation, even though it can feel like it at times. Oh, and the card you picked just fits this all so well.
Oh, Jan, you made me fly away in my thoughts. I hope you don’t mind. Your post was just so inspiring. Thank you for that 💖
I’m happy the post made you fly away in your thoughts! That’s what it’s all for – engagement and sharing. I agree that those moments of reflection can help bring about clarity and understanding. “Life is only development and not stagnation” rings a big bell with me. Willie Nelson has a song that I love. He says, “Still is still moving to me…” Even in stillness, there is movement. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment today! Hugs!
That is a fact I love more and more to think about. Yes, there is still movement in stillness. Since stillness is a movement to the inside and that is a quiet process with big results. Big hugs back 💖
Good luck with the website upgrade. That’s a tall order, but I’m sure you’ll end up happy with it.
I have been needing this for a long time, Dan. Thanks for the good wishes.
Wonderful post about Valentines Day, Jan, and a lovely poem that would be great for my wife.
So glad you enjoyed the post, Tim. Thank you for visiting!
My pleasure, Jan. 😍