Summer ends.
Autumn comes, and it lasts for about two seconds. The leaves change colors, and then it seems like all the leaves just blow away.
And then they're just gone.
Then I stand there on the ground, watching as the leaves swirl and tumble. I lift my hands up, trying to catch them, but there's just so many and there's only one me.
So down they d
r
o
p.
And I can only catch one.
I feel like that right now -- trying to catch everything and do everything at once. Because BOOM - autumn hits and...
...School comes. Not only does school come, but it gets a lot harder and longer because school is annoying like that. And with school means less time (a lot less time) for other things so that means I'm "trying" to catch all these leaves tasks at once:
I'm trying to keep up a consistent schedule of blogging.
I'm trying to plot and become prepared for NaNoWriMo.
I'm trying to read more books.
I'm trying to connect with my writing buddies.
I'm trying to read their work that they so graciously give to me. Not only read it, but critique and give my opinion because they trust me enough to do that.
I'm trying to stay caught up with my editing. I'm nearly 8k behind, which means I can't take the weekend break I so wanted to use for reading.
My reaction to this whole list:
So you see the problem? I have a bazillion leaves that are falling and I can only chase a few. The rest will be left on the ground until I have time to pick them up again. Like reading. I've come to the conclusion that reading is just a far-away fantasy during the school year, so that leaf will have to wait to be picked up until December at the earliest.
All this to say: I won't be posting next Saturday. hahaha like I've been doing that regularly anyways. I'll post a monthly highlight on the 31st, so you can look forward to that.
Otherwise in November you can look forward to LOTS of NaNoWriMo posts where I'll be doing a weekly series on the struggles, excitement, and sleeplessness of the crazy month. (I'm starting to become reallyyyyy nervous about Nano. o.o *screams quietly*)
So with this two week break I'm also going to visit more of your blogs because I haven't had much time for that, either. If you know of any blogs that I absolutely need to be reading, link them below and I'll check them out in the next week!
And because I know a lot of us our struggling with juggling everything right now, just read this. (You're not alone.)
Stay encouraged. Try not to be overwhelmed with the insanity of life even though it's hard and there's just TOO MUCH and too many expectations and responsibilities.
Take a break if you need to.
Your fellow writers and bloggers will understand.
And I'm here to pray for you if you need that. <3
YOU GOT THIS!
*group fist bump*
- Katie Grace
How are you coping with the school year? You're not alone if all your leaves are falling at once.
Also, NaNoWriMo is in FOURTEEN days(two weeks if you didn't want to do the math). I'M NOT READY AHH. Are you prepared or... no?
I'll be back and posting on the 31st!
And here's my NaNo profile if you want to add me.
Oh, I know the feeling. I've had to forgo some reading time recently due to so many things pressing for my time... Hopefully soon things will slow down a bit, and I'll be able to catch few more leaves. That is a wonderful illustration too: trying to catch the leaves as they all fall at once.
ReplyDeleteAnd, thank you for the encouragement - same back to you too. :)
Ughhh, why must reading be the easiest to let go? *sobs* Ah, well. December. I can't wait.
DeleteAnd thank you! I was originally going to do an analogy with juggling, but then since it IS fall I wanted to do something that fit the season. :)
*hugs*
I'm so sorry that things aren't going well for you. >.< I know what it's like to have to juggle so many things at once and fail to keep them all in the air. I'll be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteAs for blogs, go read mine! XD But as for other's, I would really recommend my friend's blog: https://aberdeen92.wordpress.com She has really wonderful stuff. *nods*
Thank youuu. I'm probably making it harder than it is by setting goals for myself... :p But without them I wouldn't get ANYTHING done so they're kind of needed. If you ever need prayer for anything, please tell me. I would be more than willing, my friend. <3
DeleteHa. xD Too bad I can't subscribe multiple times to your blog. :p
Ooh. *follows* Yay for more blogs! Thanks. :D
Life is hard sometimes, and you're right you can't chase every leaf. I decided not to do Nano this year because I had too many other things going on.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your Nano novel! :D
Ahh, I actually really admire you for not doing NaNo. xD It seems hard to NOT do NaNo because everyone and their grandma's neighbor is participating and you don't want to be left out, you know? So you're awesome for just letting it go and knowing the limits of your schedule.
DeleteThank you! <3
Ohhh this is lovely! I've been feeling all this stress and stuff lately too and feeling a bit like I'm drowning. *hugs* You've got this!
ReplyDeleteThank youuuu. <3
DeleteI feel exactly the same way. *hugs back* We'll keep on keeping each other up and word warring and all that fine stuff. :)
Yes, I can understand the whole "school" part of this... And with Nano coming up... *panics* No, I'm not ready! Aaaaaah! xP
ReplyDelete*fist bump* You can do this, Katie. :-)
I know. o.o I'M FREAKED OUT AND THERE'S TOO MUCH GOING ON AND argh. *stabs school multiple times* :p
Delete14 MORE DAYS UNTIL NANOWRIMO!
We can both do this. *nods and fist bumps again*
YOUR ANALOGY. Yes, yes, yes, and YES. This is exactly how I've been feeling lately, trying to futilely catch all the leaves at once. There's just so much going on and NaNo is in the horizon and just... *collapses* So much STUFF. I've also had to kind of put a lot of reading on the back burner, which kills me. But I only have so many hours in the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words! I needed that today.
I hope you'll be able to survive all the busyness. And good luck with NaNo! It's gonna be an awesome NaNo, I know it will. We're gonna make it awesome, right? *fistpump* Let's do this thing!
ARGH THANK YOU I'M GLAD WE AGREE. I know. NaNo isn't helping. I feel like they should've placed the national writing month sometime in the spring when we've hopefully figured out our schedule a bit more. Fall is a bit too soon to the start of school and new everythings. :p
Delete*hugs* You're welcome. :)
*deep breath* I'll survive. I'll just keep on plodding along through the busyness. OH YES! NaNo is going to be absolutely epic. Do you already have a project to work on?
(and are we buddies on the site...?)
I definitely know what you mean about being weighed down by having so much to do! Ugh, I have a hard time finding a balance with my time between writing, school, applying for college, church stuff, etc. and the small social life I have lol. XD I would suggest getting a planner and planning out your week ahead of time. I usually plan out two weeks at a time, and though I dislike taking breaks from writing, there are some days where I simply can't get to it because of schoolwork. And that's okay! Just don't quit and keep going. As long as you're doing that, you should feel proud of yourself. :)
ReplyDeleteApplying for college sounds really, really scary. o.O Good luck with that.
DeleteThe planner is a good idea. *nods* But my mom usually schedules things and I don't find out until a couple days before so it's hard to know what's going on when she's in charge. :p When I start working and such I'll definitely need to do that. *nods*
Thank youuuu!
I know the feeling. I've had it too, sometimes. (I'm hurtling towards it now, I fear.) But never fear: you'll survive.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah. We'll all get out of the busy state eventually. (Or so we can hope...) Ha.
DeleteAw. I hope school gets less stressful for you soon! Fall has only officially started here. The leaves just started changing last week--finally. XD I'm so ready and so pumped for NaNoWriMo! I think I'm going to ace it this year! Last year I was frazzled, but I have a writing buddy and we've been training with some pre-writing all month like prepping for a marathon. XD
ReplyDeletestoritorigrace.blogspot.com
Same. :p Bother school.
DeleteFall is quickly going away here. Most of the leaves (in our yard) have fallen or turned an ugly brown.
OH YOU'RE DOING NANO TOO? Yay! This makes me happy. Are you writing a new novel?
Nice. xD NaNoWriMo is kinda like a marathon actually. More time, less pain. :p (more pain for the charries, though...)
The first three on your list are definitely my life right now. I'm taking a college course at the same time that I'm trying to finish 12th grade, and I haven't had enough time to do the things I want to keep up with. I've had three books from the library sitting in my room for a month, and I have hardly gotten anywhere with them. And NaNo... I'm gonna try to get words out, but... We'll just see how it goes:) And blogging is really not happening, either. I totally related to this post, and I loved the way you said it feels like you're trying to catch all of the leaves at once <3
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one though I'm sorry that you're feeling the same way. :p
DeleteYikes, college. And graduating. Yeah, that would be very, very difficult.
I added you on the NaNoWriMo site! (well, you added me first, but I added you back. :p) I'll be keeping up with your progress -- shoot me a message if you ever want to set up a word war or anything. You can do this! <3
Aww, thanks! *hugs*
Thanks for adding me back!:) And thanks for the words of encouragement; I really needed them<3 Awesome, I may need to word war when NaNo comes around!
DeleteOf course! New writing buddies are always welcome. :)
DeleteYay -- it would be fun to do that. :D
Ugh, I believe I commented on this last night on my phone and it got erased. :( Oh well, I guess I can re-write it!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for this post, Katie! I'm going through exactly the same thing. I love fall, but everything just piles up this time of year. School and extracurricular activities are in full swing, and that leaves 0 time for writing/reading/blogging. Okay, so not 0 time... but sometimes it feels like it, and it sure stinks! I've recently taken a blogging hiatus myself (at least, I'm still *trying* to write posts when I have time... but I don't have any time so. O.o) It does feel good to take a break though, honestly - blogging was beginning to feel a little too much like work for me, but I think when I come back it will be great.
As far as NaNo goes, I'm a total pantster. So preparing, for me, looks like a few character questionaries, loose plotting, and a stash of chocolate to keep me going! :) I can't wait to hear your updates!
Ugh noooo stupid comments. :p
DeleteDefinitely. I want to keep blogging still *fun,* so I don't want to take away the fun from blogging by feeling like I NEED to post every so often. Already I feel super relieved by the break. Blogging is one of those things that are just always hanging over your head. :p
Pantsers UNITE! *high fives* Yes, chocolate is a must. xD
Don't stress out. I only have from 6:00 am to 7:00 am and then some in the afternoons to write, but I still get it done, I just have to turn off Pinterest, blogs, and the Jorum. I am doing a Pinterest/Jorum ban during NaNo, so that will be hard, but with God's help I will make it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and I hope you feel less stressed.
Yeesh, that's even more difficult. I can't stand writing early in the mornings, so I admire you for that. :p
DeleteAh, Pinterest and the Jorum. Two very time consuming places. Though, I haven't been on the Jorum as much as I used to...
Thank you. Good luck with NaNoWriMo! <3
oh my gosh, i love your picture, and i definately looooooooove inside out, hands down!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! <3
DeleteOh my gosh, isn't it awesome? Sadness was my favorite character. xD There were so many funny lines in that movie.
I totally got you, sadness has kinda become my alter ego, funny lines, yes! My siblings have all dibbed themselves as one character or another, its really funny
DeleteThat's awesome. xD I think the great part of the movie is that all the characters are SO different from each other, so then when they're all together in the people's minds it makes for interesting dynamics. :p
DeleteOH MY GOODNESS YES, SO MANY LEAVES. *takes a deep breath* I wish I could catch them all. I really do .... but it's hard. You're right, though! I don't need to get overwhelmed. I've recently taken the longest blogging break I've ever had. And while it's been nice to be able focus more on school, and building relationships at college, I definitely understand where you're coming from. We'll get through it! :D Good luck with NaNo!!!
ReplyDeleteRIGHT HOW DO I CATCH THEM ALL! *freaks out*
DeleteYes, we'll all get through it. Life goes through busier times and I think fall is always one of those. Hopefully by the time December rolls around we'll be used to the routine schedule of school and writing and reading and blogging, and then Christmas break will also help. :p
Thank you!
Ahhhh Nano! First year. Just wanted to let you know I'm TheAcousticOctober13, who added you on the buddy list xD Just in case you were like "who is this..."
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm one of those people who just comments on everybody's blogs lol.
In terms of how I'm coping with the school year? I'm not. At all. Taking AP Us History through virtual school and the textbook assigned reading is UNREAL. I'm so behind, but if I read it before doing my lesson then I still am behind. I'm just behind xD What's worse is I get distracted easily, so that doesn't help. Hope you get through it! Only God knows how I'll find time for NaNo. I think I'll have time, but that's so not even true xD That'll make me schedule for sure, and I have a hard time adhering to schedules sometimes.
But the Lord shall give us the strength and comfort we desire in order to get through this obstacle!
Ohhhh okay. I wasn't sure who it was, but I'm that type of person who's like, "Yay! Buddies!" :P
DeleteUGH. Distraction. Yas. I get distracted so easily. In school and writing. And blogging. Even reading. *headdesk* Distraction is just one of those things that can be EVERYWHERE in every form. I can procrastinate by watching my neighbor mow their lawn for goodness sake. xD
Exactly! It's good to hear that. <3
Oh, you're definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by all the leaves falling! For me there's work and writing/editing and blogging and social stuff and general life-ing... Somehow that's all still (mostly) getting done. We just keep leaning on God for strength, and take it one day at a time. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouraging post, Katie!
Work. Yeesh, work is in my future eventually and I'm a teensy bit terrified. I don't know how you people do it. I have sooo much admiration. <3
DeleteYou are so welcome!
It's definitely a transition, but you do adjust and start getting used to it. For me, some days I have to remind myself that this is just a season. (I have a good job, but it's not where I want to stay forever--I want to eventually write full time.) You'll do great! <3
DeleteThat falling leaves picture is the best picture ever. I've been feeling the same way lately too. Although I'm out of high school, I've had work and packing and everything under the sun keeping me busy, and reading has felt like a distant dream. I've had to cut back on all the blog reading I do, and I feel like I wait way too long to answer all my comments. And gah. Hopefully everything will settle down soon, for both of us.
ReplyDeletePacking? Mind if I ask what you're packing for? College?
DeleteUgh. I follow a gazillion blogs (not really. But close. Nearly 150. o.o) so it's insanely hard to visit them each day and leave comments and such. Most of the time in the mornings I find myself only clicking the ones that look interesting--which pains me to do--but I don't have time do read more when school is calling. :P
They will. Things always will eventually. *nods*
Katie, what do you do when you go to an audition and you know you totally stank and all your siblings talk about how great, one of the people who has been a complete jerk to you, did? How do you face the cast list?
ReplyDeleteUff. That sounds very hard. *hugs* I'll be praying for you. <3
Deleteso the cast list came up today... i didn't make it, but i'm almost positive that i'll be teching, two of my siblings made it in, the last one didn't make it either, we're okay though, I think. catch the reference, the show is junie b. jones
DeleteUgh, I totally get this. All my leaves are everywhere at the moment. Reading has been a distant dream for so long. There's writing and editing, study, music, trying to get some music recorded for my dream of a YouTube channel, trying to graduate, and everything's all falling faster than I can get the balls up in the air. What was it like to not be busy all the time? Still, NaNo's coming, which always makes me feel better. I can't wait for November 1st!
ReplyDeleteThis really hits home on account of I'm over 100 blog posts behind because school has kind of taken over my life. :( Here's to the both of us getting things together, right? SPRING HAS TO BE AROUND THE CORNER, RIGHT?
ReplyDelete