Winter Reflections: Finding Strength in Community and Blogging

By -
 

 Before I share today’s update, I want to say this: caregiving brings both good days and hard days, and this winter has held plenty of both. Writing again finding my voice again has been the thing that keeps me centered. This post is about that journey, and about the strength we find in connection.


Two women in neutral winter coats laughing during a snowball fight in a snowy city park while a friendly humanoid AI assistant joins the fun, illustrating Susan and Alrady blogging with AI as a creative assistant
  Having a winter break with a snowball fight

❄ Winter Reflections

Winter has brought both stillness and unexpected turns.
Since December 8, life has been full both good and challenging.

✨ Q4 sales were stronger than expected (thank you!).
✨ Holiday prep was intense.
✨ And we’ve been navigating health issues.

After a year of uncertainty, my husband recently received a diagnosis of slow‑growing lung cancer. It’s been emotionally heavy, but we’re taking it one step at a time.

My friend Susan has also been slowed down caring for her husband through heart failure. As medical bills mount, please consider supporting her Zazzle store for next year’s Christmas cards or gifts:
👉 Susan’s Zazzle Store

💻 About Blogging

When Susan encouraged me and actively helped me to revive my blog, I didn’t expect the joy it would bring back into my life. Her support rekindled my love of sharing, communicating, and helping others through writing. With Susan’s encouragement and a little help from AI tools to organize my thoughts I’ve found that special joy in sharing again

I didn’t realize how much I was drowning under the weight of Parkinson’s and cancer until this space gave me a release. Blogging has become more than words on a page it’s a way of coping, a reminder that connection and creativity can lift us even in hard seasons.

This blog continues to be a joy, but it’s not something I’ve monetized beyond my little cup‑of‑coffee donation link. Because of that, life and health come first, and I’ll share new posts as I’m able.

Thank you, Susan, for encouraging me and helping me find my voice again. And thank you all for your patience and support it means more than I can say.

Happy Holidays,
Alrady (aka Darla)

✨ Together we find strength thank you for being part of this journey.

 

Comments

Susang6 said…
Darla, thank you for this beautiful post. Reading your words reminds me again how much our almost two‑decade friendship means to me. You have lifted me up through some of the hardest seasons of caregiving, always encouraging me when the days felt overwhelming. I’m so grateful for your strength, your honesty, and your heart — and even more grateful to call you my friend.
December 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Google Search Console: Is Your Blog Indexed?

By -
Image
  Learn how to check if your blog posts are indexed in Google Search Console . Step‑by‑step guide to using the URL Inspection Tool , Coverage report , and Google’s “site:” search to confirm visibility and request indexing when needed. Publishing a blog post is only the beginning. The real test of visibility is whether your content is indexed by Google . If a page isn’t indexed, it won’t appear in search results no matter how much effort you put into writing, optimizing, or promoting it. For bloggers, especially those building authority or growing an audience, checking indexing status is essential. It’s the difference between writing into the void and building a discoverable presence online. The Role of Google Search Console Google Search Console (GSC) is the free tool that shows you how Google views your site. It tells you whether your posts are indexed, highlights issues that might prevent indexing, and gives you the option to request indexing when needed. Think of it as yo...
Read more

Ed Dale's Challenge 2010 Review by Gayle McLaughlin

By -
This is my third year taking this free online class from Ed Dale, The Challenge 2010. A completely free seminar for online bloggers and internet marketing newbies, I first found out about this course from Janet Ford, my Ehow guru. Ed Dale stresses that anyone on any level can participate and learn a wealth of information. I am one of those people who have been blessed by learning so much. In 2008, I learned about Google Reader and RSS feeds from The Challenge. This year I was able to use a free software, Market Samurai, Wordpress Direct and Traffic Bug that I enjoyed evaluating. Prior to 2010, the Challenge was known as the 30 day Challenge. Participants had 30 days to try out all the ideas and and new software available. I have participated in 2008 and 2009, but I never finished the entire Challenge. This year the format changed. They changed the teaching and action steps to 30 minutes a day. One week on and one week off. I finished the entire Challenge of seven modules ov...
Read more

Break Studios & Bright Hub

By -
Hello all, and thank you Darla for giving me this opportunity. I write for both Break Studios, and Bright Hub. Just wanted to give you a little report of them. Break Studios: pays $8/article, pay day is on the 1st and 15th of the month. They require APA format, min. word count is 250. Their titles are not as obscure as DS and (I Think) are easier to write. The CE's are friendly, and you can do more than one rewrite if necessary to get it right. The really big downside is that the review time is around 4-6 days. You sell all rights to your content. Bright Hub: pays $10+rev share/article. Pay is once a month after you hit the $20 min. payout. There is no specific format to use, unless a managing editor (ME) requires one for their channel. Word count min. is 450. Reference requirements are set by the ME. The CE's for each channel are friendly, and you can ask them questions if you receive a rewrite. You also have more than one chance for a rewrite. Their articles can some...
Read more