Thursday 8 January 2015

Progress


I intend to write a post, inspired by some of my favourite blogs, on seeking out colour in this the gloomiest of months. At the moment all I can hear is the splash of surface water on the road outside and hailstones hitting the window. My fingers and toes are constantly cold. It keeps raining and when it's not raining it's threatening to. Grey, grey, grey. It may be one of my favourite colours but I do believe in everything in moderation. 

When the sky, the ground and most things in between are the hue of a dirty woollen blanket - well, it gets a bit much. Even for a self-professed pluviophile.


So that's a project for later this week: to get out and get snapping at anything bright and beautiful. In the meantime I'm staying indoors and toddler-chasing and, during quiet periods, indulging in that most January of pastimes: pondering. My most recent post was all about being brave, taking chances, dipping a toe in. And that's what I'm doing.

A risk, a chance, a knock on a door. Every day. And I'm writing each one down (notebook fiend that I am). Not all these things are a big deal; maybe I'll simply cook something different and a bit challenging. One day I may speak to someone new, start a conversation. Yesterday I decided to give Facebook another go and I put a page together outlining my photography and writing then - gulp - set it free. There's something quite daunting about the prospect of people you actually know reading your blog. Which sounds ridiculous considering it's out there on the internet for all to see.

But I did it. People 'liked' it. Some will have clicked 'like' without even looking at it. That's OK.


There's something good about trying something a little bit daunting each day. And it gives you a sense of achievement too, a 'to do' ticked off the list. I'm hoping it turns into a habit. I'll stop short at 'addiction' - I doubt I'll ever be an adrenaline junkie or even a thrill seeker. But seeking out new things, pushing yourself that tiny bit further and finding - to your surprise - that you can do it: that's got to be good for your self-belief.

Yes, I'm aware that things will occasionally fall flat or backfire. But I also think that most won't. So there's a bit of optimism for you in the bleak not-even-there-yet Midwinter.


P.S. Thank you to the people who contacted me regarding iron deficiency. I know the cause of mine and I'm taking measures to deal with it. And I'm feeling far better than I have in ages.






17 comments:

  1. We have glorious sunshine today !! But with a sick child at home, I'm not able to go out. I wish it was grey and dull. sarah

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  2. Some beautiful photos even though there isn't a lot of colour.

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  3. Oh I miss colour too Sarah! I find myself looking through my photos of warmer months looking forward to the changing seasons. I do like winter but bright sunny frosty days are my ideal winter day. You sound happy to be taking your daily challenges. You're definitely fulfilling your Be Brave intention. Bee xx

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  4. I can't even say 'aaah but so many different shades of grey' without thinking of a badly written popular romp! Your pictures are so beautiful though Sarah - they capture the beauty in this time of year perfectly. Saying that I'm so looking forward to seeing some colour - it's even more of a treat when we've been without it for so long. Well done for getting your blog on Facebook - very much a brave thing to admit to friends that you write a blog, and then let them read it! It's almost like admitting you have a guilty secret - Hello - my name's Jane - and I blog! Glad you're starting to feel better re: the iron x Jane

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    1. Thanks Jane! It is strange how we're happy to share so much with strangers online, but the thought of those we know reading about us is quite an uncomfortable one! x

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  5. Those are some very beautiful photos.

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  6. What beautiful photos. I'm happy to hear you are putting yourself out there a bit like you wanted to, I hope it brings you some little adventures. We are quite alike I think, I need to push myself a bit to talk to new people, and yes, I'm a notebook junkie too. I keep them in all sorts of different places in the hope that nobody will find out how many I have. It's interesting what you say about people you know not knowing you have a blog. No-one I know knows I have one, it's a whole secret life I have here in Blogland! I hope you have a good and brave weekend Sarah. CJ xx

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  7. Well done you for giving things a go is all I can say! If you don't try you will never know will you. I totally get the thing about people you know reading your blog. I tell very few people, and no relatives apart from hubby know about mine. Somehow strangers - even though some have become lovely friends - reading it is different than family! I guess I feel I can be more myself if I don't feel that others will be reading it and commenting in real life. Anyhow, I hope that your facebook page and all your other trying things new work out really well for you. xx

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  8. That last image is stunning Sarah, a perfect advertisement for every shade of grey ;).

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  9. A very thoughtful and nice post! Plus the pics are stunning! :)

    Take care
    Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)

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  10. Lovely pictures and I am totally with you on the need for colour and growth in winter's grey. I think letting people know that you blog is a good thing. I have blogged now for around seven years and have got used to the fact that some family and friends read, some don't. The people who engage and comment are nearly always those I have only met through blogland although the blog has led to some originally virtual friendships becoming face to face ones too which is pretty wonderful! Good luck with your new challenges. I agree. It is good to do something new, however small.

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  11. Happy new Year Mitenska, your photography is amazing! I'll pop over to your page. X

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    1. Hello! You'll need to search under Sarah L Hardman and hopefully you'll come across it :)

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  12. such beautiful photographs and writing Sarah. x

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