November 2020 Link Party With A Chronic Voice

It’s time for November 2020’s Link Party with Sheryl at A Chronic Voice! This month’s prompts are Incorporating, Experimenting, Sanitising, Launching, and Writing. I always enjoy writing my answers to these prompts and reading what others have written. Thanks Sheryl for hosting this every month!!

First of all, two of these prompts made my think of my website, and my attempts this month to improve it.

Incorporating & Launching

Recently, I checked the speed of my website on mobile, and PC platforms, and was bothered by how low my scores have dropped. About a year ago I switched servers to Siteground from Web Hosting Hub, and it really helped my site speed. I’ve been tangled up in computer tech mess for days now trying to improve the speed of my site. I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to switch my website theme to something more mobile-friendly. Why do websites have to be so complicated and technical?

When I went to Siteground, I discovered that my Cloudflare settings said my website wasn’t activated. Cloudflare is supposed to make my server faster. I’ve gone in circles trying to correct that problem. I seem to get everything working properly, and then the next time I log in, it’s inactivated again. Hopefully, adding a paid account should fix that problem.

The paid account is also supposed to open up tools that optimize images and speed things up. When I rechecked my site speed it didn’t look any better. So I guess that means I really need to change my website theme. Wish me luck in getting that done without breaking things. (: If you have any tips on how to change your theme, without breaking anything, I’d love to hear them!

Experimenting

Next, this prompt reminded me of all the changes in social media this year.

Due to all the chaos of this year, I’ve really neglected keeping up with changes in Pinterest and Instagram. It just felt like too much energy to spend to try to learn something new. I really wish these programs would stop changing everything every couple months. So I guess I need to experiment with some of these new things, like Story Pins, and Reels. Since I’m hibernating from social contact, I might as well learn something new. I just wish that social media was simpler to understand.

Sanitising

Next, here’s a new spin on sanitising. How about if we clean up the junk our minds are consuming every day? I heard a pastor on Sunday say that a few years ago, criticism was really getting him down. So he deleted Twitter from his phone, and he started feeling much better. Hmmm, he might be on to something?

For example, I used to get so frustrated playing two games on my phone, because I would get stuck and not be able to level up. Oh, I could have leveled up if I was willing to spend money. However, there was no room in my budget for games. So I deleted them from my phone. My frustration level decreased a lot! Not to mention I also now have way more time for other things!

What causes you to get riled up? The solution might just be something as simple as deleting an app.

Writing

Lastly, I love poetry, and autumn always reminds me of this poem:

Come, Little Leaves
by George Cooper

“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day.
“Come over the meadows with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the sweet little song they knew.

By this time in November, most of the leaves are down in Pennsylvania. You can read the whole poem by clicking on the title above.

And while we’re talking of writing, I’ve started working on another writing project. It’s a book about what I’ve learned as I’ve been working on healing from domestic abuse. It’s not the easiest thing to write about but it’s been useful for me to put into words the lessons I’ve been learning. Since I tend to need frequent reminders, writing it down is helping me to remember better.

FYI, it will be written from a Christian perspective, because my abuser used the Bible as a weapon. Which added a whole layer of spiritual abuse onto the rest of it.

Actually, I’ve been mulling over this project for a couple years now. I finally feel more confident in the direction to go, but I needed some support. I joined the Flourish Writers Academy for 2021. I’m hopeful this will help me stay on task, and provide answers to questions that come up.

Wrap-Up of November 2020’s Link Party

These were great prompts, Sheryl!! This wraps up November 2020’s Link Party for me. For my U.S. readers, Happy Thanksgiving!! Stay safe! Don’t put you or your loved ones at risk of covid-19. If you cannot figure out how to celebrate virtually check out last week’s post here.

To read other people’s submissions for this link party click here.

Also, I celebrate my birthday the day after Thanksgiving. Before we know it, it will be December.

If you’re looking for gift ideas check out my UpBeat Living Bookshop page. This is an affiliate link. Order between Black Friday, 11/27/20 to Cyber Monday, 11/30/20 and get FREE standard shipping! Bookshop also is offering gift wrapping for $2.00 for the first item and $1.50 for each additional item.

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Till next time, stay safe people! Kathy