Thanks, Julie. I'm lucky to be part of a community of writers, both local and online, that supports, encourages and cheers for every member. Writers are amazing people.

Thank you, Christine, for sharing your story. I'm impressed by your perseverance to attain your writing goals despite everything else you had/have going on. And what a great way to look at what we'd be giving up if we did quit. I'm going to keep that in mind in the future - I've made too much of an investment in myself to quit.

Diana, I'm sorry for your loss. I went through the same thing, I couldn't even read during that first six months. I'm happy for you that you've found love again and are moving forward. It sounds like you've got a lot you could write about on your blog.

I haven't written on my blog in over a year, and I miss it. I'm not the same person I was when I started the blog, so I'm working on ideas for changing it up for who I am now.

I learned that what I was calling "widow brain" is a thing that happens during grief, which helped me be kinder to myself, especially when I experienced the secondary grief of being excluded from my late husband's family, after I began dating an incredible man. Sadly, Victorian attitudes toward widows still exist. I could write a book--and I might!

Thanks for this post!

Kathy, I'm sorry for your loss. One week ago today would have been my 30th anniversary. I make it through that day now by remembering it could be worse - we spent our 27th anniversary setting up home hospice. I still have days where I cry, too.

And, you didn't blow off five years of writing daily. You simply missed one day, and for very good reasons. I can't imagine the strength it took for you to write through surgery, pain and drugs. Whether it's day 1 or day 1500, it's a good day when you write.