Day One.
I journal every day. And because a journal is for getting things out before things overflow, or maybe even overwhelm, when the day’s journal is done, sometimes there’s just nothing left to say when it’s time to sit down and write for sharing with the public. That happens a lot, by the way. You can’t just turn it on and off like Stephen King, at least I can’t. Unless something you journal about becomes the something you write for sharing with the public.
Anyway, today is Day One of National Blog Posting Month, or NaBloPoMo. And during NaBloPoMo, I hang with a small collective that calls itself Cheer Peppers, because of that one time, at the very beginning of our existence, when our leader called it “NanoPoblano”.
And it stuck.
Today’s post is just a hello to those who read, and maybe write, every year around this time. The picture at the top was my journal entry from the last day of October, when all the anticipation of writing for 30 straight days turned into the existential dread of writing for 30 straight days. The meme I quoted in the journal entry, also supplied by leader of Cheer Peppers, helps address my November dread in a whole world filled with a high-grade existential dread beyond just a writer’s bellyaching about, well, writing.
It’s good to be kind to yourself in those moments when the hard things get harder. Yet for me, sometimes, it’s also good to take a kindly boot to the ass and just start typing.
So this is today. I’m already mostly done with tomorrow’s post. The post that, if I finish, might just make everybody hate me, and that’s okay. Or maybe I’ll just post cute dog pictures. I haven’t decided yet. But you’ll find out right after I do. For now, remember that when you read, please like and share. And if you’re one of those bloggers who are about to spend this month fighting their way through another November of existential dread, seasonal affective disorder, unnatural hatred of daylight savings time and the requisite “fall back” that happens this coming Sunday, or any other godawful thing happening in our small and getting smaller everyday world, remember, you are not alone.
See you tomorrow.
William S. Friday 
So good to see you, exactly as and where you are, and to laugh–heartily!–at this: “The picture at the top was my journal entry from the last day of October, when all the anticipation of writing for 30 straight days turned into the existential dread of writing for 30 straight days.” I’m looking forward to reading more from you, for at least a few weeks.
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Way to go, Bill! You captured in your journal what so many of us are feeling (frustration) these days. It’s good to have company. Good luck with the November dread. Looking forward to following your journey through the month.
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Happy Pepper Season! I forgot about the daylight savings thing. Sigh. Why is time so weird?
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Hopefully that daylight savings ridiculousness is going to end. We voted for it to end overwhelmingly I think. We’ll see. Good luck to you. I’m still debating….
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I read your journal and your post. I relate to it all. I decided I’d just post the minimum and focus on others’ works the best I can. Thank you for sharing your voice. You matter. 💗
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And here you are ❤️
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Waiting on tomorrow…. 😉
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Happy to read the work of another journal-ist. I’m now on #138. I look forward to seeing what else you write this month.
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Love the image as a start because, well you know, I call it art! But even its words and the words of the post itself got me. The dread is real, especially for someone who hasn’t consistently written in years after back to back trauma, and the weight of the world right now. But I’m moved by your day one, moved enough to keep going and not judge the quality of my “throat clearing” first few day posts as I get back on track. Looking forward to your day 2!
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Good to read your writing again, Bill. Every so often something will pop into my feed that reminds me Time isn’t linear in all cultures. If The Powers That Want to Be tried to dictate Spring Forward/Fall Back, they might be eaten by some tribes.
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Love your commitment to journalling. Once a long time ago I used to journal everyday but now find I do not have the time. I find myself wistfully thinking of things I want to jot down in my journal but then find I am swept up in life and it’s one am and I am in bed and can’t get downstairs to grab my journal. Your handwriting is so unique, by the way! Also funny you had existential dread of writing for 30 days – I look forward to your contributions!
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Hooray for November vibes, good old existential dread and (I think perfectly natural) hatred of daylight savings. Lol… happy Peppering Bill! 🙂
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