A Type A personality down to my fingertips, I find it hard to slow down. And while these past 20+ years of living with MS have done much to help me accept a slower, much slower life, I do tend to pile things on.
When this happens God gives me startling wake up calls that help me to think, rest, and change. Not surprisingly what’s been happening to me is a good example of this, if not one of the worst ones. I find it semi-astonishing that I have gone 18+ years without one of these.
I found that my health difficulties that would keep me from working would also give me distance from the daily grind and I could think and plan. I suspect that at least part of the reason for the wake-up calls beyond my pig-headedness.
I’ve been thinking while I stitch and read. And I’m going to slow down. You guys deserve better than my distraction. Beginning now there will be changes on my blogs and in my shop.
Nuts about Needlepoint will be updated daily. Mondays & Thursdays will have new content. Tuesdays & Fridays will have updated reposts of great content from the past, 10+ years of it. Wednesdays & Saturdays will highlight content from around the Web. Sundays will be Stash Sundays. Although there will be free projects and stitch guides this year, they will not be on a set schedule.
Needlepoint News will be updated three times a day at 9, 2, and 7 Pacific time.
Stitch of the Month will go on-line this spring and will be updated on the 1st and 15th of each month.
I am going to close the Thinkific classroom and all my courses will be available on Etsy, probably by early in February. While Thinkific is fine, it’s just too expensive. Since you guys are going to Etsy, I’m going where you are. We do not need more platforms in our lives.
Once I get some brain bandwidth I will be announcing project classes using painted canvases. Watch for the announcements.
Now back to stitching and recovering . . .
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Cindy says
Good for you! Take care of yourself first and it will all work. Sounds like you have a good plan
Page Pond says
Thank YOU for all that you do for us! I have learned so much from all that you post. I am gaining in confidence as a beginner stitcher. It doesn’t sound like you are slowing down to me but if this new schedule fits your new slower you, then that is fantastic! Take care of yourself! You are a jewel!
And may I suggest (& ask….) why does Needlepoint News have to be posted 3 times daily? It seems that once would be sufficient…..
Pam Hatcher says
Hello Janet! So glad to see you back! You’ve been in my thoughts and prayers these past several days. Glad you have had time to reflect and hopefully find s balance. I’m sorry for your struggles. You have been missed!
Lynn R says
Janet, as a person with multiple chronic conditions I understand being pushed into a slower lifestyle. It has been amazing to me how you’ve handled all you do for so long. Kudos to you for recognizing a need for change and adopting it unapologetically! For those of us who haven’t been following you from the beginning it will be great to see posts from the past. I’m looking forward to reading them!
Darcy Walker says
Janet – as a Type A that feared white spaces on my calendar, it took me 3 years into retirement to understand what normal is. Once I simply blocked out unscheduled time and limited commitments, it is amazing how sleep improved, health improved and stress reduced. Sometimes we Type A’s need a big jolt to alter our lives. Limiting what we commit to is hard but in the end – as a tenet study showed – the most successful people are those who stay focused on just a few things and do them really well – allowing personal time and downtime!
So stick to reduction and focus on your health. Whatever you do is more than most of us. Cheers, Darcy
Marilyn says
As another chronic illness sufferer, although not for as long as you, I hear what you are saying. It’s a process and doing too much and suffering for it seems to me to be the only way to really understand the need to slow down.
I’m glad you have learned it. You are far too precious to us to do yourself in. Less coming from you is the price for your well-being and I say so be it, amen.
Your quality remains and quantity is the price for keeping you healthy. I don’t you to have to stop, so simply slow down and smell the roses!
Nancy Clarke Green says
Glad you are thinking of you and DH!! I will enjoy past posts, especially, as I am somewhat new to them.
We have all enjoyed your posts, classes, etc!! And will continue to read with interest.
Like Lynn R, I have multiple issues so look forward to past posts.
You will be in my thoughts as you face the new challenges
Janet M Perry says
Thanks, getting through this is really, really tough.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Marilyn —
Thanks so much, it means a lot. I’m just working on getting through the days and crossing off small things on my list.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Darcy —
Thanks. I just hope other things get settled & certain enough that those other things will improve. At least I was able to make a nice start at physical therapy this afternoon. I’m hoping things will start looking up soon.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Let’s hope this all works. What surprises me about the old posts is that even though I checked them all not too long ago, is that so many are out-of-date.
Updating and highlighting them is going to be great for us all!
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Thanks! Keep praying, we aren’t out of the woods yet!
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
Page —
Good question about the News. That blog is designed to haver very short articles about specific things, the vast majority stuff at shops. So you’ll find info about trunk shows, sales, classes and stuff like that.
And there’s lots of stuff.
I think about it from the reader’s point of view.I know if I wanted to know about classes, I’d like to find those posts only. That’s why I keep those articles short & on a single topic. Three times a day is pretty close to often enough to pick up everything. At least they are pretty quick to write . . .
Keep stitching,
Janet
Janet M Perry says
I’m working on it.
Keep stitching,
Janet
Bess says
My daughter has MS and it reminds her when she is doing too much as well. Have you heard of Lemtrada? She just finished the first course last week (5 infusions). It somehow resets the immune system and hopefully stops the MS progression.
I wish you the best! And thank you so much for all you do for the needlepointjng community!