From 2016-2019 I participated in National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) and wrote a blog post every day in November. Earlier this year, I thought I would do the same this month, but by mid-September, I knew there was no way I could commit to NaBloPoMo while battling pandemic-fatigue. I reminded myself that I “blogged” every day in April, National Poetry Month, so two months of daily posts in one year might be a bit much to ask of myself.
Fall Semester is over, and I am only a few grades away from being able to reclaim some parts of my brain. Now, I can focus on clearing a “backlog” of tasks from my to-do list and sharing pretties with you a little more frequently–for the next 4-6 weeks.
I’ve dedicated this week to cards received from Love Notes partners and friends.
Today’s post features gorgeous artwork and beautiful messages from my latest Love Notes (LN) partner, Zotis K of Sunnyside, New York. Here are the cards and notes she sent in response to prompts for LN 33 which ended late October.
Art by Zotis K
Prompt 1: Give me just a second…
Give me just a second…to decipher what has happened. We are going through many struggles, struggles that all of us are sharing now. Under this lockdown we’ve been given: time to heal – time to share – time to adjust – time to accept – time to be with loved ones – time to care for one another – time to give thanks for the blessings of being given one more day – time to create – time to call and listen to a friend or neighbor or a family member in need of comfort – time to develop skills we didn’t know we had – time to establish some form of peace and understanding. From now on, let’s just save time for ourselves because “we” are important too.
Art by Zotis K
Prompt 2: Release
Just like moons and like suns,With the certainty of tides,Just like hopes springing high,Still I’ll rise. –Maya Angelou
Just breathe and release.
Art by Zotis K
Prompt 3: In this moment…
Be thankful for a breath of fresh air to be alive and well. Allow love and happiness to penetrate throughout your mind and soul. Take time to relax and live in the moment, the now, the present. Enjoy today. –Amaka Imani Nkosazana
These cards/messages rescued me from some crazy-busy moments and reminded me to take a second to pause and reset. Maybe, they’ll do the same for you.
Love Notes Postcard Project: In case you haven’t heard, Love Notes is a postcard project coordinated by Jennifer Belthoff that “encourages slowing down, getting back to basics, and connecting through handwritten notes sent through the mail.” Participants sign up for the swap on Jennifer’s website and then she assigns partners who correspond with each other for three weeks based on a prompt she provides each Sunday. The swap is hosted quarterly (four times per year).
NaBloPoMo Note: I didn’t do NaBloPoMo this year, but you can always scroll down to the archives to read my November 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 posts. I can’t remember any of the posts, but I’m sure there’s lots of eye-candy. 😀
Pics and Posts 
By the power vested in me by the blogosphere, I hereby ABSOLVE you from any regrets or guilt about sitting out this year’s NaBloPoMo! ZAP! Done!
Besides the fact that I still find it nearly as inconceivable as running a marathon, I am utterly in awe of anyone who can string even FIVE daily blog posts together.
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Haha! Thank you! Daily blogging is incredibly difficult [for me, at least]. The first time I did it, I was convinced I can do anything. Like finish at least one of the books I’m in the middle of. BUT of course, academic writing is waaaaaaay harder than writing blog posts.
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I’m so jealous that you’re done with your fall semester. I still have two more weeks to go. Enjoy your break! You for sure deserve to take it easy. Whew.
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Girl, don’t be jealous. I’m a chair. There’s really no break in the doing. For none of us. Things just ease a bit.
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Oof. You right, you right.
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Insert stressed cry-face…
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This is so beautiful, thank you Chandra. Big hugs and lots of love headed your way all the way from over here in Arizona. Have a great Holiday and very Merry Christmas.
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Hugsss and more hugs for you and yours. I’m looking forward to getting to your beautiful blog posts. They always make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside and I REALLY need that right now. Just one more week of catchup work…
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Beautiful…helped me breathe….and smile. Thank you
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Amen.
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So delightful! Thank you for sharing these with us. 🙂 My partner did not send one card this round. Oh well, on to the next round. Haha. 🙂 Happy “resting” Chandra. 🙂
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Oh pooh! Not one! I’ll send happy mail your way as soon as I catch my breath!
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