VernetteOutLoud

BBQ: All things Rara

You start a blog for many reasons, but what they don’t tell you is that once you start blogging and people start reading and you start reading other blogs, you don’t know when it happens but suddenly you are part of a family of mostly strangers you come to love almost as much as (and in some cases) more than your real family. It is one of the unexpected and beautiful surprises about blogging and that for me…has been one of the reasons I keep doing it. Because with this family, I can be truly me…moles (I have least 6 at last count) and all…no judgement.

This week my blogging family was plunged into sadness…anger…for me it was mostly denial. One of my absolute favourite bloggers Rarasaur, was unjustly sent to jail. She was falsely charged for a crime she did not commit, but with no resources to defend herself, she will now spend a year in prison.

Bloggers for Peace

She is a giver, a teacher, a peacemaker. I am joining with another member of this family of bloggers I have come to love: Kozo Hattori and I am also asking you to “reach into your hearts and give to help one of the greatest peacemakers in the blogosphere”. You can donate to her freedom fund by clicking here: http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/i-didnt-go-to-jail-today-and-other-notes/

I am dedicating this week’s BBQ and Bloggers for Peace post to Rara. I wish you peace, light and love and I pray that this too will be the past and you will have your new beginning.

BBQ - 11.01.14

We are well into 2014. How are those intentions you set at the beginning of the year when everything was all shiny and new going? How has your One Word, affected your journey thus far? Wait…do you even remember your one word or theme for 2014? How about your resolutions? How are things going on that front?

Are you feel discouraged because maybe you bit off more than you can chew, or maybe you’re just lazy? Some of us are waiting on Monday to start, because you cannot start a gym program on a Saturday obviously. Or maybe you’re waiting for the beginning of June, because who can start that project on the 10th of the month right? Might as well enjoy the old habits for a little while longer.

Like Rara said here, “Everyone wants to start with a bang! They want to see results in moments, or they wait to start until they’re at the starting place.”

Guess what…the starting place is right now. You can begin today, right now, right where you are, just as you are.

So my lovelies, will you start again? Or for the first time?

Right where you are today?

No fireworks…bangs, crackles or pops?

I posted this back in January and the words are as true today as they were five months ago.

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I’m participating in this super cool series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ

Do you want to be part of this
yummilicious BBQ?
Here’s how you do it:

    Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
    Create a BBQ post with the quotation
    Link back to the blogger you quoted
    Tag your post BBQLUV
    Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Yup! It’s that simple.

The Shroud of Two Rings

I have been working in my own little bubble for more than 4 years.

It was what I needed at the time.

When my mother died, I needed space. During her decline, there was no room for dealing with my own feelings. So after she died I needed time to process everything I had pushed deep down inside for months.

I was so grateful for the peace and quiet at work. I was in my own space and my supervisor pretty much left me up to my own devices. He really trusted me to work on my own.

I was grateful for this safe haven. Because there was no way I could have faced an office full of people, acting like life goes on, when my world was never going to be the same. I would have lost it. I know that is a luxury that many people don’t have and the fact that I had this haven is something I will be forever grateful for.

So in my own little cocoon I worked.

I started the process of facing what I was feeling and started dealing with my grief.

I went inward.

I healed. Slowly.

This however had an unfortunate side-effect.

The rest of my unit and the wider department formed their own opinions of my “hermit behaviour”. They saw it as me being a bitch or…not liking people. Which if I’m honest is not entirely false. Either opinion that is.

However, I didn’t particularly care what anybody thought.

I worked well. I worked hard.

I worked alone.

But like everything else in this life…ALL THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

On February 03rd, I will MOVE to a new department. Not only is it going to be on a floor full of people, I will be expected to be team lead in a unit of men.

Funny enough, my One Word for 2014 is MOVE.

However, when I set my intentions for 2014, I expected a move of some sort…but no way did I see this one coming and I am not entirely sure that I am ready. Be careful what you wish for…right!

But guess what, there is a time for everything.

My time for being silent is over.

Now it’s time to be seen and be heard.

It is time to shed The Shroud of Two Rings. Which is the name my supervisor gave my moods. And yes he told me that this is the name he gave the almost impenetrable hard exterior I usually wear to work.

And no, I’m not mad at him.

He has actually been really understanding and patient with me. I will forever be grateful for the space he allowed me to just be me.

The other side of the coin is that this has been my struggle all week: Being truly me and feeling pangs of…will that be enough?

Will my reputation for being a ball-buster help me here? Time will tell.

But for 2014…I’m liking unpredictable endings. So far.

BBQ: Flaws and All

Flaws

When Leah posted this on Monday, therein was the one line I needed to read that day and it stayed with me for the rest of the week.

I know that I have many..many flaws. There are those I freely admit to – my temper, I cannot stand people sometimes, I cuss…a lot. And there are those I keep hidden from you. Those closest to me…know the ones I’m talking about.

Leah’s words resonated so much with me, that they inspired this post. When you’re hurting or doubting yourself…or just in a eff-this-ish kinda place, you need some simple truth.

You are enough. Flaws and all.

Don’t be afraid to show the world exactly who you are.

Leah is another one of my favourite bloggers and she is also the author of Red Circle Days. You can read my review of this little gem here. She’s fond of words – a lady after my own heart and you can read more about her on her blog Little Miss Wordy.

_________________________________________________________

I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Yup! It’s that simple.

BBQ: Begin

BBQ - 11.01.14

You’ve set your intentions, chosen your One Word, or made your resolutions. Then it’s 11 days into 2014 and those intentions are kaput…or you may have already ditched your resolutions or started to feel a little down because you didn’t go to the gym every.single.day at least 3 days a week, like you promised yourself you would for 2014.

Maybe you bit off more than you can chew, maybe you’re just lazy? Some of us are waiting on Monday to start, because you cannot start a gym program on a Saturday obviously. Or maybe you’re waiting for the beginning of February, because who can start that project on the 11th of the month right? Might as well enjoy the old habits for a little while longer.

Like Rara said here, “Everyone wants to start with a bang! They want to see results in moments, or they wait to start until they’re at the starting place.”

Guess what…the starting place is right now. You can begin today, right now, right where you are, just as you are.

So my lovelies, will you start again? Or for the first time?

Right where you are today?

No fireworks…bangs, crackles or pops?

_________________________________________________________

I’m participating in this super cool series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ

Do you want to be part of this
yummilicious BBQ?
Here’s how you do it:

    Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
    Create a BBQ post with the quotation
    Link back to the blogger you quoted
    Tag your post BBQLUV
    Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Yup! It’s that simple.

7 for Seven

It’s no secret I’m not much of a morning person unless there is a Spin class or coffee involved. And as for Mondays…well Mondays can suck it! So when Mary of the awesometastic Contrary Mom started doing her 7 for Seven I thought, heeey here was the perfect way to chase the Monday Blues away by being thankful for just seven things that happened or didn’t happen during the week before.

As it turned out, 7 for Seven originated at Key + Arrow and in their words:

Let’s face it // Mondays stink. Or at least we typically expect them to stink. That is why, every Monday, we post seven positives from the previous seven days of the week as a reminder of what we have so that the week starts out on an upswing. There is much truth in the belief that happy people attract good things, so it is important to start the week out right. Sometimes it’s the more grand, but other times, it’s the simple things.

This year however, I want to change my Mondays suck thinking by being thankful for all the goodness in my life. So without further ado, I give you my first Seven for 2014:

7 for Seven

My hope is that by turning my focus to all that I have to be grateful for at the start of the week, I can carry that “positivity + balance + bliss” with me throughout the days ahead.

I would love to hear what your first 7 for Seven for 2014 would be. Please feel free to share your seven with me below!

Here’s to a great week!