Google+2Twitter0Facebook0If there’s one thing I’ve learned about life, it is that setbacks happen so we can step back to move forward. I’ve learned to embrace situations that don’t work out as expected.
Last week started of great and continued to be, but I had my dark moments, thanks to my blogs and other stuff. First, the email alerts for comments stopped coming. Which meant that I had to visit a post to see if there were comments. Of course, I could see them on the dashboard. Which meant I had to stay logged in.
On investigation, I found that all the mail delivery system notifications were cozily sitting in spam. Between my hosting company and Gmail, they just assumed I was sending out spam and simply stopped doing their jobs – to protect me. So considerate.
I decided to smile and carry on – after all, not such a big deal visiting my own blog to see comments – nice element of surprise and all that.
And, responding to a gut feeling I just backed up my blogs.
But no sooner than I settled down to the status quo than the next mad thing happened. Which was – two of my blogs became inaccessible. This one and Coffee With Mi. My first inkling of this was when I went to comment on the Blogging Betties latest post (you will love it) and found that CommentLuv couldn’t find a feed for my blog. Thinking it was a temporary hitch – you know how technology is – I tried commenting with Coffee With Mi. That didn’t work either. So I ditched both and commented sans the CommentLuv.
Then later, when I tried to load my blogs, nothing happened. I got an error message, the dreaded error 500. Often, this is a server side error and can be temporary. I didn’t stress over it.
But hours later, when both blogs continued to be down, I turned the matter over to the expert Vanita. Long story short – she efficiently diagnosed and solved it, and we were up again.
Then, there was no internet.
And other things added up, the details of which I won’t bore you with!
As the week wore on, I was beginning to feel worn out!
I won’t lie and say I didn’t worry, because I did. But strangely, I didn’t lose sleep over it. Must be the happy people rule!
One thing I’ve learned over the years is this: when there’s a problem and you don’t have the expertise to solve it, call the experts and that’s what I did.
What about the waiting bit? I took the opportunity to…
…step back to move forward
I got busy with other stuff. I focused on work deadlines.
Then I went out and took care of some chores I’d been putting off for a long time. While I am on the up and up about most things, there are certain chores I keep on putting off until the good old zeigarnik effect sets in and I get to it before I die of guilt. Of course, these days all I have to do is tell my folks and they’ll chew my brain until I finish it. So supportive.
I spent all of yesterday offline – and just chilled with my family enjoying a couple of movies back to back. We just segued into the slow afternoon after lunch together and simply decided to laze around. For those of you curious to know which movies, it was two Hindi films Amar Prem and Yaadon Ki Baarat. Amar Prem is one of our all-time favorites and a classic.
I finished a book.
I also spent time introspecting and I am on the verge of deciding to blog every day in July. July is a special month for me and has been for years now. Most of my new beginnings have been in July – job changes, the start of my career in freelance writing and editing and plenty more. Why, I started this blog in July 2003! Cue applause!
What is funny is, last week I was chatting with Vanita and telling her I planned to post every day, if not 5-6 times a week instead of the usual 3 times and then because of the hassles I described above, ended up not posting! But I’ve been busy cooking up drafts.
In short, I am generally trying to revamp my blogging habits. Slowing down needn’t mean slacking off. It only involves better time management and focusing on the things that matter.
As I took a step back to move forward I could
- breathe
- take stock, review and refocus
- see the big picture
- recharge myself
- generate new ideas
- feel motivated
- think about changes
- make a fresh plan of action
- appreciate what I have
- take time to smell the flowers
As I allowed myself to step back to move forward, I opened the doors, and windows to possibilities.
I feel good!
Setbacks can be a boon, you know.
And at the end of the day, all is well that ends well.
Now, let me show you a part of the campus at the College of Fine Arts where they had the crafts fair a few days ago.
Temple on campus
Student art
More art
Workshop with Work in progress
College of Fine Arts
Peacock. Well placed art
I am linking up with the awesome Unknown Mami for Sundays In My City - she sponsors world travel and I love it.
By the way…
A big group hug to those of you who’ve appreciated my “did you smile today” question when you comment. I cringe to ask you to confirm that you are not a spammer.
You will no longer see that message because I’ve stopped using the G.A.S.P. plugin. I use something else to fight off spam now.
I WILL ask you the question at the end of every post, though. So think about…
What made you smile today?
Tell me in the comments.
Namaste!
I am glad you are here. May your day be filled with smiles!
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