A Preamble - The Loops

A bit of history …

I started this blog several years ago. I was excited to learn how to create a site and a blog on Squarespace. I made over one hundred posts and used my photos to set the tone for my words.

I wasn’t getting any response. I didn’t know very much about SEO. More importantly, I wasn’t confident that what I was writing about could be helpful to anyone. I think I was wrong about that.

Also, my life turned chaotic as I decided to move across the country from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

Fast forward to 2022. I am now settled in my new province and my new town. I decided to revise and redesign my site. So, I took an online course about Squarespace design. And I loved learning, being in the creative stream and doing the work.

After the site was mainly designed, I wrote three blogs and designed exercises to follow them. And I had fun making adjustments and making things pretty. And I launched - to a total of one friend.

Her response was less than I expected, and my confidence was shaken. I went into what a default position is for me. I retreated into a safe space of doing nothing, allowing the mind loops to play repeatedly. Thoughts such as:

• I can’t do this.

• Asking for donations is pathetic.

• I am not creative.

• I have nothing important to share.

• Who would want to read what I wrote?

• My colours are wrong.

• I am not the teacher I think I am.

• I have no value to add to this world.

• No one needs my help.

• I am not following the SEO rules and rules of blogging and site-building.

• Blah! Blah! Blah!

I am sure there were many more thoughts along these lines. These mind loops led to feelings of unhappiness and indecision and a state of spinning my wheels.

There Came a Turning Point - Ladders Appeared

Every once in a while, I would check out my site, and I liked it.

And … I went on to do other things—confidence-building things. I started taking Tai Chi and a seniors’ exercise class. I got out and explored my new community. I decided to make new friends and disengage from friends who didn’t make me feel good about myself.

I started to believe in myself and my worth. And I kept revisiting my site.

And … Now I Begin Again

I have considered who I am and what I want for Loop See Ladder. I want a beautiful, simple site that is pleasing to the eye without distractions from pop-up windows and ads. I want people on my site to feel comfortable exploring and seeing a bit of themselves in my writing.

I want to inspire people with my words, the pictures I choose, my offerings and the site itself. I want people to leave my site feeling better and sensing a call to action within themselves to improve their lives. So they can find the next step up their ladders out of the hell of their mind loops.

I won’t follow all the rules of blogging—I am a rebel in some ways—but I intend to be of service. As I get back into this practice of writing and creating, I plan to let each blog go and trust that the people who need to see it will. I know that all is well as is.

A Challenge for You:

1. Take a look at a mind loop that is driving you crazy. Draw it or act it out. You could journal about it or create a rap. Please find a way to make light of it because it is only a mind loop. It is not who you are. Please give it some space so you can see it for what it is.

2. Then, allow your gaze to widen to find a step out of it. The action does not have to be huge. And know that after that step, another step will appear. And know that you can get out of this situation. Just take as long as it takes. Be patient with yourself. You are an evolving, growing being. Enjoy the journey.

Please consider sharing a link to this blog or site with people you know who could use it and/or pass it on to others. Also, please share your thoughts with me. And … I would be appreciative of a coffee and croissant.

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