My Virtual Facelift

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You’ve probably noticed I’ve been taking stock lately. Assessing. Appraising. You know…having a mid-life crisis.

In a good way. And without the new cherry-red corvette.

I’m trying to get my sh*t together. Deciding what truly matters to me. Getting rid of what I don’t care about and making room for what I do care about.

Part of this wonderful evaluation was the rediscovery of joy last week. (Which I intend to keep up.)

Another part of this includes online stuff, such as my little Lemon Shark and its sister, Lemon Shark Reef. As you can see, there’s been some changes around here.

I’ve talked about how far removed from myself I’ve become. This space (as well as my other online platforms) has not represented me or my writing for a long while. I decided to do something about that. I went ahead and got a virtual facelift.

I’m remodeling. Seeing what works. Creating something that brings…wait for it…joy. I’m feeling more at home here already.

Oh, and that picture up there? It’s all mine. It’s me. I’m in love with that amazing, gritty, broken, beautiful heart. It speaks to me. It also captures my writing perfectly. Darkness, emotion, imperfection, beauty… I call it my distressed heart. Yup, that’s about right.

It was tough to think about getting rid of so much. I tend to stick with stuff. (I haven’t changed anything in three years.) But, when the time came, it was easy to do.

It’s freeing to let go. When our hands are empty of what we no longer need, they’re able to reach for what we now want.

 

My Sunday thoughts in (slightly over) 200 words.

ThoughtBubble

Why do we hold on to things that no longer suit us? Are we afraid of change? Do we become too comfortable or set in our ways? Or do we just put it off for “another day” until we realize two years have gone by?

 

37 thoughts on “My Virtual Facelift”

  2. Oh, yeah. I’m right there with you, struggling to make my writing platform reflect how I see myself as a writer. It’s hard to narrow it down. The humorous one? The serious literary one? Both? And why does it need to be one or the other, Can’t it be both?

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    • Yes. That. Reflecting who I am as a writer. It was waaaay off. I like this boring theme (the grey, black, white, dark red) and always have. Didn’t want to change that but…gah, the images were just not me.

      I think you can manage both. Hmm… Maybe. I’m not great at this stuff. What speaks to you? Search through the internet and see what image screams, “I’m Diane!” And go from there. 🙂

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    • Thank you! 🙂 I love it. I liked the old one, too, but I’d outgrown it. It had absolutely nothing to do with me or my writing anymore. (I did not design it myself. I have no artistic talent whatsoever.) Still following my joy. Thanks!

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  5. Mid-life crises seem to be going around recently!

    It’s easy and safe to continue doing what you’ve always done, but there comes a time when you can improve your life by giving it a good shake and laying it out in the sun. Bravo for finding the courage to make changes.

    I love the heart, though I confess I didn’t realise it was a heart until you mentioned it. I thought it was a bucking horse. Maybe it’s both. 🙂

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    • Do they? I’ll be on the lookout for mid-life crises. It is nice and safe to continue with what you’ve always done but, I must say, the switch was not at all difficult. It was freeing. Also, I thought it would take some getting used to (since it’s been the same for three years) but it didn’t. It was easy. Hmm… As for the heart… Perhaps a psychological interpretation is needed here? 😉

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  6. Lovely post and I can feel the difference in your words. Keep following the joy!

    I am too afraid to change my blog theme (it’s been over 5 years). I just know it will blow up and little blog shards will rain down on my head. But yours looks great. Well done. ❤

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    • Aw, thanks, Diana. ❤ I'm delighted the joy shows through in my words. And that you like the theme.

      I know *exactly* what you mean. Most (all) of the fear was in the technology aspect of it. I was afraid something was going to blow up. Shards raining down… Yup, the whole bit.

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  8. Oh, Sarah! I love this post and can relate to everything you say. I was only telling a friend yesterday that I feel like I’m wading through a mid-life crisis! ‘Finding the joy’ is a marvellous mantra and I hope you attract all the positivity and love you deserve x

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    • Ooh! Thank you. ❤ I'm a magician of sorts. A master of illusion. 🙂 Seriously, I'm glad it was a seamless transition. I had a post of "Pardon Our Appearance…" all set but found I didn't need it. I changed everything in one fell swoop. It was a long day but worth it.

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  12. I recall redoing my look a few years back. I was gray background with pink flowers that moved when you moved your mouse across them. But then I couldn’t figure out how to transfer all that fancy JavaScript to a blog platform, so I ditched it all and tried out some bookish scroll work stuff. That was too boring, so my husband suggested Squirrel, since that was my online identity in other areas of my life. I decided to run with it and have since embraced it into my very being. SQUIRREL!

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    • I know I followed your blog but can’t, for the life of me, remember that pink flower. (Or did it never actually make it to the public eye?) It doesn’t strike me as very “Loni”. Interesting. I absolutely adore your Squirrel and it’s definitely your online identity. (Along with your lovely photo.) You’ve got mad skills with digital design. Thank you, my friend. The Lemon Shark, her sister over at the Reef, and all the Brentyn hearts bow to you and your incredible talent. ❤

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      • There’s a total of like 4 people who have seen my old site. I made it before I installed WordPress. The style focused more on my Japanese side, which I don’t flaunt much online. I uploaded it as a subpage on my website. If you move your mouse over the flowers, they move. 🙂

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      • Now it is 5. And I love it. The flowers are really cool and I do like that logo. Loving the Japanese side of you. It really does have that feel. Very nice. (The school plays made me laugh.) 😀

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    • Huh. That is something we (collectively) do kind of think, isn’t it? Gritty, raw, dark, edgy does seem to be the “opposite” of feminine. Mutually exclusive. Interesting. Well, it makes for a striking image when the two are combined, in my opinion, which is probably why I like it so much. It’s exactly the look I was going for so thank you! ❤

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