25 Questions

What Was Your:


1. Last Beverage: not including water? cuppucino

2. Last Phone Call: this evening to Sandy

3. Last Text Message: to a blogging friend, talking about things that happened today

4. Last Song You Listened To: Love Rain Down (George Acosta feat. Fisher)

5. Last Time You Cried: can't remember but I do get emotional


Have You Ever:


6. Dated Someone Twice: no

7. Been Cheated On: probably. If it was the reason my ex broke up with me then she did me a
                                 favour.

8. Kissed Someone & Regretted it: I've never regretted a kiss

9. Lost Someone Special: yes

10. Been Depressed: yes, between 2008-2009 following my car accident.

11. Been Drunk & Threw Up: yup

12. Three Favourite Colours: blue, soft pink (on women, not me), deep jewel-tone purple
                                           (again on women, not me)


In The Last Year Have You:


13. Made A New Friend: yes, a few

14. Fallen Out Of Love: no

15. Laughed Until You Cried: definitely!

16. Met Someone Who Changed You: yes

17. Found Out Who Your true friends are: not last year in particular, no.

18. Been Friended By Someone You Don’t Know On Facebook: yes, a few times


General:

19. What Are You Listening To Right Now: ATB: DJ In The Mix

20. Hair Color: can't remember

21. What's Getting On Your Nerves Right Now: nothing, but the day's not over

22. What Is One Thing You Wish You Could Change About Your Life: finances. That and I'd love to visit/ live in Australia.

23. What is your nickname: Bear, B, some flirty names I won't repeat

24. Most Visited Web Page: Facebook, Google and Yahoo accounts (I'm obsessive about
                                            e-mail!)

25. Name Something You Can't Wait For: maybe I'll tell you if we get to know each other
                                                               better

My Third Blogiversary- Where To Go From Here?

Is it really another anniversary? Like most of us, I guess, I never saw myself writing my blog for this long. But three years later here we are, Life In Quotations has been read over 80,000 times in 100+ countries according to my live traffic feed.

These numbers are important to me because I never wrote just for myself. In fact in the beginning I never wrote this blog for myself at all, not directly anyway. I posted only famous quotations as a way of reaching out and hopefully connecting with other people who were also feeling lost or hurting. From day one I envisioned this site as a safe haven where readers of all ages and backgrounds could come and exchange their ideas and experiences, with unconditional acceptance. Completely free of judgement. I want that for my readers because I’ve always wanted it for myself. It isn’t always easy to come by.

I'm happy to say I feel this has happened, although more often in private conversation than on my blog. I'm good with this, because it‘s allowed me to get to know many of you more personally than if you were to only leave anonymous comments about your personal experiences. What I’m trying to decide on is how to bring all of this to my readers.

This is what I want to do with Life In Quotations. To bring it closer to what I intended from the start, which is to have people share very personal experiences and hopefully show others who are going through similar things that they’re not alone. Most of the conversations I have away from my blog are about relationships, but also about things like depression, eating disorders, sexuality, self-image and uncertainty about the future. I’m very confident they’re things many of you can relate to.

I want to get back to posting more. I want to have a balance between deep subjects and lighter, everyday things in my life so that this never gets too heavy. I'm always happy to give advice when people write asking for my opinion but I don’t want my blog to read like an advice column.

So, I’m not sure where to go from here. I have to give it some thought and I’m open to any and all ideas. In the meantime I want to thank you all for reading me. More than anything I appreciate the friendship, love and support you’ve shown me over the years. You're all amazing and I couldn’t imagine it ever ending.

xo

Secret Sunday

It's time for the 63rd round of Secret Sunday, a chance to anonymously share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.

All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor.

2) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. Let me know and I'll follow along.

And now to it...

Barriers

The Berlin Wall came down, they said it would never happen. If a barrier that divides a nation can crumble to the ground, I'm pretty sure the wall you put up around yourself can be brought down too.

Secret Monday

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was so busy I didn't even realize until this morning that I had missed posting Secret Sunday (it's very rare that I forget). So...

Welcome to Secret Monday, a chance to anonymously share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.

All are valid.

Here's how it works:

1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor.

2) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. Let me know and I'll follow along.

And now to it...

Best Week Ever

source unknown, this was e-mailed from a friend

"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is

 immortal."

                                                                                                          ~ Albert Pine

The past several days have been some of the most amazing I've had since I started Life In Quotations three years ago. The very thing that makes them so amazing is also what has taken me away from here.

Over the past week about a dozen of you have spoken with me either by e-mail or Facebook about things you're dealing with in your lives. These conversations have occupied the majority of my spare time, and to be honest there's nothing I'd want more. Not only has it given me a chance to know you better, it's allowed me to share more of myself as well. I feel our friendships have grown stronger because of it, and to me that's time very well spent.

Topics of conversations covered this week:

• coping with anxiety
• toxic parents
• being asked for an opinion on a hairstyle
• self-harm (cutting)
• sexuality and guilt (fantasies and attractions to people who are "off-limits")
• death of a loved one
• recovering emotionally after an affair
• eating disorders (anorexia nervosa)
• coping with disturbing nightmares
• rekindling relationships after a betrayal
• negative self-image and regaining self-esteem
• coping with feelings for another person outside a current relationship
• emotions experienced during pregnancy
• dealing with lack of closure after a break-up
• starting a new chapter of life by moving to another country (two different people)
• being asked for an opinion on a new hair colour
• learning to trust

I've struggled since last year with exactly which direction I want to take this blog. We all have issues we need to work through, I'm no different than anyone else. Things like I've mentioned above are very important to me, but making them the focus of my blog all the time would make it pretty heavy. What I'll probably do is mix them in with other, lighter subjects to try and keep some balance.

From day one Life In Quotations has been written not only for me but with my readers in mind. So what do you think, what would you like to see here?

Secret Sunday

Don't ask me why I just thought of this but our local adult sex shop has taken over some of the space formerly occupied by the Amish furniture store. True. Makes me smile every time I think of it.

Hey everyone it's time for the 61st round of Secret Sunday, a chance to anonymously share secrets and/or fantasies you've been keeping to yourself. Some are uplifting, some are heartbreaking and some are just plain naughty.

All are valid.

Here's how it works:
1) This is open to anyone who wants to participate, from regular follower to casual visitor.

2) If this is something you'd like to run on your blog please feel free. Let me know and I'll follow along.

And now to it...

For A Friend

First love, first heart

First casualty.

Fractured words fluttering upon

Feet unsteady

Beneath knees weakened

By the blow unexpected.

In silence, dampened eyes

Searching for solace

Find your heart remains yet.

And across the miles

Through this room’s shadows

Holding vigil

In an hour so late

The voice of one so young

Your words,

Dance upon my screen and proclaim

I am not broken,

I am found.

Worry

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength."

~ Corrie Ten Boom