Running on empty update: my tank's filling up

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Last week’s less than empty tank

Oh, my! My past two posts have thrown me into a spin. Weren’t they a study in opposites? This one, written only a week ago, elicited so many empathetic and heartfelt comments from so many of you gorgeous Planetarians. I was flabbergasted. It was one rare post I hesitated to publish, given its bleakness. It’s amazing how much hard financial times can impact on your spirit, let alone your bottom line, isn’t it? Not to mention adding in health and parenting issues.

I was relieved to hear I wasn’t alone in feeling a bit under the hammer but at the same time, concerned to hear some of you are as well. I hope that by ‘keeping it real’ here on Planet Baby, you always feel there’s a place to share and seek the counsel and kind comfort of others. I want this to be an encouraging and hopeful little haven in Blogland for you, my dear Planetarians. The monthly pay arrived (even with a windfall bonus thrown in – what blessed timing) and I had my hair cut. Life is looking up a little!

Filling up my tank this week with my Blogging Your Way mood board

And then, your responses to my last post on my Blogging Your Way mood board completely blew me away! This post was so uplifting to write. A joy, even. I couldn't believe how much I adored the process of collating my mood board. And the thrill of being creative! Now as regular Planetarians know, this could be a big break-through for me, PND-wise. For me to get interested and excited like this hasn't happened for the longest time. I feel like there's a latent, creative side to me which I hardly know but would love to tap into.

It was then such a leap of faith to post those photos, to show you sides of me which many of you I doubt knew existed. My draft list of post topics which flowed out of my pen in the first days I started blogging has 149 (I just checked) – can you believe that?! So many of those topics cover the areas illuminated by my mood board. They are nascent thoughts which have been tumbling around in my head as I try to find the right words to convey my feelings. Some are more well-formed than others. Some are smidgens of ideas. But they all represent me. Well, many other sides of me which you may not have yet uncovered here.

I couldn't resist adding this close-up for a dear friend

And then so many of you, the world over, left such uplifting and encouraging comments which moved me more than you’ll ever know. Rhi, your comment in particular, touched my soul – thankyou. You were all so gracious and encouraging. And then to see sweet comments from Holly and Leslie just capped off a brilliant day. To cap it all off, Alexis kindly informed me that Holly had even tweeted about my board (as a non-Twitterer – or should that be non-Twit – I had to find out what that meant to understand her first!).

Oh, my sainted aunt! Days on Planet Baby don’t get much better than that at the moment.

Filling up my creative tank even more

So now, I am craving time to spend alone with my silver Lamy fountain pen, my light blue leather German  Bindewerk notebook, my computer and my Blogging Your Way course – I have so many lessons to catch up on and homework to do. Darling Mr PB is as excited for me as I am and has promised to entertain the pixies out of the house for a couple of days (we have a long weekend ahead). Bless him. I think he sees his ‘old Jane’ returning. I hope he’s right.

But I suspect there will also be some ‘new Jane’ thrown into the mix. The girl who’s turned 40 and let it sink into her bones, finally realising that she’s at the tiller of her own yacht (make that Planet!). Where I’ll lead you lovely Planetarians all next is uncharted territory. I’m only getting my stripes as a navigator so please be patient with me. I’ll aim for open waters where I can conquer my fears and let my blog truly express everything that makes my heart sing, not just the parts you’ve seen so far. Are you ready to share this flight of fancy with me? I can’t wait to share this journey with you.