Hi there! Not sure if anyone’s still reading this but if so, I hope all is well.
I took a break simply because no one was visiting. If they were, I didn’t know it. I understand it can be a bit frustrating to enter a name and email each time you have comment but, I have to do that with every Wordpress blog I read. It’s annoying but not unmanageable. That's one of the things I’ve got on my “let’s rethink the website” list.
There might be a way around that and if so, I’ll definitely implementing the change!
I’m writing this at 6:30 on a late April evening because I’ve spent the past few weeks doing a LOT of thinking. Not just about the website but also the content of the website, the direction of my own work, and the actual domain name associated with the site.
Boring, right?
Yes, but necessary. I’ve spent an awful lot of time trying to “perfect” whatever site I was currently invested in. I’ve always thought that I had to find something that would connect EVERYTHING with what I do. That’s just not feasible and, quite frankly, has robbed me of a lot of time and energy.
Some of you may be aware that I spent the past 20 years dealing with chronic health issues, anxiety disorders and nervous system challenges. Lemme tell ya; it ain’t been fun. BUT I’ve been healing these past 3 years and I’m so, so, so, so, so ready to get myself and my work in gear.
This time, however, I’m doing things a bit differently.
In the past, I’ve jumped on the wagon and just ran myself ragged trying to do things that weren’t really what I wanted but what I thought I should want. For my writing. For my art. For myself. And each time I stressed myself, burnt myself out, and ended up sicker than I was before I started.
Genius!
This time around, I’m taking my time. Going slow. I’m gathering up loose ends between now and 31 May, crafting some submissions and sending some written work out into the wild, wide world.
Then, come 01 June, it’s Summertime.
Yeah, yeah. Summer doesn’t officially start until 21 June. But for me, the first of June has always been SUMMER to me, just as the first of September has always been AUTUMN. Besides, I grew up in the blissful, blessed 80s when we actually had 3 whole months off from school and - as far as I know - not one single person ever suffered from being away from The Establishment for that many weeks in a row.
This year, I’ve decided to take a Summer for myself. For my work and for my health. There will be a LOT of construction on this site. In fact, the domain name will more than likely be changing. I’m excited and I hope that somehow, someway others will be excited as well.
I’m going to be brutally honest with you here : blogging has never really worked for me. I was very active back in the early 2000s during bloggings heyday and it was wonderful. I made some wonderful connections and met some wonderful people. But for some reason, sometime around 2014, things just fizzled. Yes. I know. It’s still out there. I’ve popped back in from time to time. I’m guessing the rise of social media is to blame. It just seems like folks don’t really want to read that much anymore. They want videos and filters and something quick and easy and short and to the point.
Well, that’s not how I work.
While I am contemplating videos (yipe!) I have no intention to get rid of my long form posts. I enjoy writing them and I always enjoy reading them when I find someone posting one. I don’t need a bunch of links for flashy ads (I’ll click off a site if there’s too many pop ups or things moving in the margins. True story.) What I need is community and connection.
That’s what I intend to put forth on this platform again.
Along with some - I’m just gonna say it - videos.
Again, yipe!
Anywho, that’s about it for now. If you’re reading this, thank you! Let me know. Leave me a comment or pop over to my Instagram @jenchandlerwashere or, even better, drop me an email : jstantonchandler (at) gmail (dot) com. Also, quick reminder, I do a weekly newsletter on all things bookish and writing over at booksandbalderdash.substack.com. I’d love to see you over there as well.
I really do want to hear from you. Even if it’s just to say, “Hey!”
With Love and Creativity,
Jen <3