#se february 2018 prompt challenge
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And Cat Makes Three
Here’s my submission to SE’s February Prompt Challenge! I was so excited to scoop up @makapedia‘s prompt: Character A and character B try to take care of a lost dog in an apartment where dogs are strictly prohibited. Or a lost cat. A lost pet. Any pet is acceptable.
This was a blast! Thanks to @jaded-envy and @piercelovewonton for the beta eyes and a big extra thanks to jaded for organizing this event!
And Cat Makes Three Rating: G
“No.”
“Please?” Maka says.
It is far too early in the morning for Puppy Dog Eyes, but here she is, unleashing them while Soul is still in his plaid pajama pants, mug of tea in hand. The juxtaposition of Puppy Dog in her eyes and black, mewling cat in her hands is as charming as it is grating.
“Maka. We can’t even have cats in the apartment.”
He wants to make her see reason, but unfortunately, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a weapon, in possession of perfectly good sense, must be in want of a meister with no sense at all.
He’s not being entirely fair. Normally she does have good judgement, but alas... today it has been stolen by a four-legged purring machine.
“I know, but look at her.” She holds the cat up, another meow escaping its jaws. Soul walks over to it and leans in, narrowing his eyes.
“...Looks like a cat,” he observes, which earns him a scowl. “And--” Accusatory eyes flash. “How do you know that it’s a girl?”
Check out the rest below the cut, or on AO3 | FFN !
A wave of guilt crosses her face before it’s replaced with a smile. She feels bad, but not bad enough. “Beeeeecause… I might’ve already taken her to the vet. And had her microchipped.”
“Makaaaa,” he grouses into his teacup, closing his eyes.
“...We don’t have to keep her,” Maka says softly. She’s the queen of the guilt trip, even when dumping a large shopping bag on the counter that is, incidentally, filled to the brim with cat toys.
“We can’t keep it,” Soul says. “Unless you wanna get thrown out of the apartment.”
He stands no chance. Her heart is too big, programmed to help every living thing that needs saving, and it’s going to leave them homeless, wandering the streets of Death City with Maka’s feline charity case in tow.
If they have to become vagabonds because of this, he is not carrying the cat toys.
“Just for a little while, then,” Maka says, looking down at her feet. “Until we find somewhere for her to go. Okay?”
He heaves a massive sigh, eyeing the now-purring cat in her arms.
“... Fiiiiine,” he groans. “But only until you find someone else.”
The way she beams at him is totally non-permissible. She should not be giving him positive reinforcement for harboring a fugitive.
“Wanna hold her?” Maka smiles, extending the cat out like she’s presenting Simba to his lowly subjects.
Soul grimaces and reaches out, but as soon as it seems to get settled, it lets out another yowl and jumps out of his arms, prancing away with its tail in the air.
“She likes you,” Maka declares in response to his scowl. “I can tell.”
---
He doesn’t like it at all.
It’s always there, in the apartment, staring at nothing, or licking itself, or thundering down the hallway at two in the morning like it’s chasing ghosts. Or even worse, staring at him. Which it does. Frequently. And when he shuts the bathroom door, it comes for him, claws slithering beneath the door, pawing at him like a toilet-peeping thief in the night.
It all sounds a little like paranoia; he knows this, and yet he can’t stop himself from keeping tabs on this cat. Fear for his own life is one thing, but he also finds himself making sure it hasn’t gotten itself into the grocery bags, or the coat closet, or crushed by the vacuum, or in the vacuum--
Not that he’d care. It’s not like he worries about its well-being or anything.
It does give him heart attacks every second day, though. One night, he’d been halfway through his routine midnight snack of two percent when yellow eyes had flashed out of the corner of his eye. A demon, he’s sure. Freshly summoned from the underworld to expunge his fridge of dairy.
“Yikes,” he’d said flatly, ignoring his heart hammering against his ribs. “Little witch.”
She’d let out a mewl and tried to rub against his leg, which had left him paralyzed in the kitchen at one in the morning, victim to her infernal whims.
She probably just wants milk, he could imagine Maka saying. In any case, his plaid pajama pants are no longer safe.
Maka had decided to name it Blair, after that character from Gossip Girl, because she’s supposedly classy and refined, or something. The ‘picture of down-to-earth glamour,’ Maka had said, as Blair had hacked up a hairball on the bed.
All Soul can think of is the Blair Witch Project, which he finds infinitely more fitting.
---
“Maka!”
The next day, his strangled yelp echoes through the apartment, and he hopes that the sound of pure desperation can properly rouse her.
“...What?” comes a drowsy response from behind her bedroom door.
She’s not grasping the urgency of the situation, so he expedites the process: “She’s trying to get in my pants!”
It’s very effective. The door flies open, followed by three heavy steps as Maka bounds into the room, fists clenched, ready to fight. “Who the h-- … oh.”
She stares at Soul for a moment, and then lets out a little laugh as she sinks onto his bed, watching Blair knead at the spot where Soul’s hip joins his leg.
“Nothing is funny about this,” he squawks, knuckles white against the backboard, which only makes her snort.
“Have… you never seen a cat do this?” She scoots up close to him, seeming to relish seeing him immobilized by cat affection.
“I have,” he says, grimacing. “But not to me.” When the cat jumps up onto his leg and settles herself in the crook of his thigh, however, he gives up the fight, scowling at Maka instead.
“She likes you,” she says again, reaching up and lying across the bed as she scratches the top of Blair’s head, and suddenly, this image, the two of them stretched across the bed with a cat nestled between them, sets his heart thumping again, though in a different way than before.
No. He will not fall victim to the allures of domesticity. He’s not ready to be a father, okay? Especially not to a creature that may or may not be consorting with the devil.
He is further convinced of this the next day, when all hell breaks loose.
“Surprise inspection!”
Sid is perky, as he normally is when he comes around for inspections. Soul suspects that this is because secretly, their landlord loves the stress that he induces in his tenants via his little check-ins. Much like the zombie apocalypse, no one can ever know when he’s coming. For many years, however, Soul had found it hard to be phased by this routine, since they never had anything to hide.
Until now.
“Uuuuhhhhh, just a second!” Maka calls out cheerfully as she jumps up, knocking over the cereal box in her haste. Her eyebrows knit in worry and she starts to sweep it up, but Soul’s got other priorities.
“Leave the Mini Wheats, what are we gonna do with it?” Soul hisses.
“Agh! Yeah. Okay. ” Maka jumps up and the two of them sweep the house, de-catifying the apartment which is, unfortunately, a process that normally requires more than thirty seconds.
“It’s okay, pretty girl,” Maka soothes as she quite literally stuffs Blair into a backpack, holding her down as Soul deftly pulls the zipper over Blair’s face. Under normal circumstances this would’ve given him an immense amount of satisfaction, but for the moment, he is made only of panic. Blair echoes his sentiments, screeching her displeasure as Maka carries her through the living room.
Maka places her gently on the porch, sliding the door shut against a chorus of yowls. Cat toys are quickly amassed and stuffed into a bag in the closet. After finding no other suitable hiding places, Soul simply chucks the litter box out the window, the top of the tupperware enclosing Blair’s… business inside. Maka glares at him, unimpressed at this decision, but time forces her into complacency, so she grabs the Lysol and makes it rain all over the bathroom.
With their tracks appropriately covered, the two of them run for the door, shooting each other a wide-eyed glance before they tug it open, faces ashen.
“Gooood morning!” Not waiting for a response, Sid struts in, chest out, almost giddy in the way he strolls through the apartment. He looks down at the spilled cereal and glances up at them.
“Heh. Yeah,” Maka says, pulling at a pigtail. “I’ll just--”
“No worries,” Sid says as she leans forward to start cleaning it up. “I’m sure this’ll be a quick visit, anyway.”
The two of them laugh, and Soul wonders if Sid can hear how forced it is. Soul crosses back into the living room as Sid and Maka make their way through the kitchen, and his feet still when a very obvious yowl carries in from outside. He peeks through the curtains to see Maka’s backpack rolling around the porch in a little circle, moving forward by little jolts and accompanied by Blair’s screechy commentary.
“Christ,” he mutters and, with Sid in the other room, he abandons his normal cool-shuffle for a full-on bound towards the record player, slapping on the nearest record without even looking at which one it is, eager to mask the sounds of screaming cat.
It turns out to be the soundtrack from Psycho - a present from Wes for his birthday - and he takes a moment to appreciate his love for Angry Violins, which happen to sound... not that different from Angry Captive Cats in Backpacks.
His relief is short-lived when, accompanied by the Psycho violins ringing his in ears, he hears something truly horrific from the kitchen:
“...Why is there cat food in your fridge?”
Maka’s stunned silence feels louder than the music, and since he won’t let her face that question alone, he doesn’t think before he hears the words coming out of his mouth.
“Oh, uh -- that’s mine.” (He’s going to kill this cat.)
He walks into the kitchen, trying to keep his face as impassive as possible - which Maka is certainly not doing, her mouth falling open as Sid turns to face him in disbelief.
“Yeah, it’s got uh… good health benefits, okay?” He can tell Sid still doesn’t believe him, and he can see Maka’s eyes growing wide with fear from behind him, and he knows, deep in his heart, what must be done.
“See?” he says, grabbing a fork and popping a bite in his mouth. “Good for digestion.” It tastes like salty, fishy refried beans, but the worst part is… it’s not even that bad.
“Plus--” Maka says, eyes sparkling with amusement at this point, because they can both see that Sid is beginning to accept that he may just have really weird, if catless, tenants. “It’s free range.”
“From Uruguay,” Soul adds, pointing to the label.
Sid heaves another sigh at this, and just as Soul is about to stuff another bite in his mouth to really bring home the charade, Sid simply shuts the refrigerator door and mutters, "Can't believe I already gave back your damage deposit."
The soothing sounds of Psycho continue to spill from the living room as they enter, which probably doesn't do much to improve their newly decreasing reputability with their landlord, but at least this particular room is devoid of potential cat giveaways.
With one exception, of course.
After clearing this room, Sid opens the curtains to look out onto the porch, and Soul's heart jumps into this throat as he cranes his neck, trying to see what Sid sees and hoping desperately that Sid isn’t watching a strangely mobile backpack. Somehow, though - miraculously - he doesn't seem to find anything of note, and he continues down the hallway. It takes everything in Soul to not race to the window and make sure that their cat is still breathing, but he holds himself back for the final ten seconds of Sid's inspection.
"Everything's fine, as usual,” Sid says, and Soul tries not to let out an audible breath. “But," he adds with a small laugh, "lay off the kibble, would ya? I don't wanna have to call Poison Control on my weirdest tenants."
He pulls the door shut, his chortling echoing down the hallway and leaving Soul and Maka staring at the peephole in the door.
The things he does for her.
Well, he's not living this one down for awhile, but for the moment he's more concerned about the great escape that his cat seems to have pulled off from the porch.
But no, the porch door slides open to reveal her purring and curled up in the bottom of the bag, pressed against the door. As soon as they bring her back inside, she hops out of the bag and runs over to the table the record player sits on, rubbing against its legs.
"Huh," Maka says, glancing at Soul and smiling.
"What?" He's still grouchy about Sid thinking he subsists on a cat food diet.
"I think... she likes the music."
Startled, he looks down at Blair again, who is happily curled up at the base of the table, head bopping along slightly to the music.
"'Course she does," he says with a shrug, turning to finally clean up the cereal. "We already knew she was psycho."
---
"You're leaving me alone with her?!"
"It's only for a week." Maka's eye roll is extremely unnecessary, he decides, especially since his concerns are extremely legitimate.
The cat won't leave him alone. She still hasn't stopped watching him when he drinks his midnight milk; if anything, she's gotten bolder, meowing at him in the kitchen, even standing on two legs and pawing at his knee, eyes wide and unblinking like she's trying to bewitch him into handing over his precious carton cargo.
“You’re just a wolf in cat’s clothing, aren’t you?” he’d said to her on one of these nights, and as she’d finally stalked away, leaving him to finish his milk in peace, he swore he saw her wink in the light of the fridge.
“She’s a cat, Soul,” Maka says, bringing him back to the present. “The worst she can do is fall asleep on your face.”
“Uh, yeah, which would suffocate me. That’s murder.”
Maka hoists her bag over her shoulder, dropping her keys into his begrudgingly outstretched palm. She’s the Responsible One, after all, keeper of the sole keys to the mailbox and the recycling room. Normally he’d be quietly happy about accepting this responsibility, but now... at what cost?
“You’ll be fine. She trusts you.”
It’s not whether the cat trusts him that’s the problem, he muses, but he catches the keys anyway. As she walks to the door, he staunchly ignores the fact that he misses her already.
That night, he puts on the Blair Witch Project to properly educate his fugitive feline about her namesake. She watches it with the same wide-eyed attention that she gives him when she’s after his milk which, yes, he does find terribly unnerving.
“You like horror movies, don’t you?” It’s the most riveting discovery he’s made in months, mostly because it makes so much sense. She meows back at him from her perch on his lap.
(It’s not like he likes her sitting there, or anything. He’s just too lazy to move her.)
They finish the movie in silence, Blair purring against his stomach. And even if his cat is a horror movie-loving, crazy violin superfan who is probably a demon, he has to admit… it’s sort of nice to have her there.
---
The rest of the week passes much like this. Blair invades his space at every opportunity, and Soul fends off her advances. He’s taken to pacing around the kitchen to avoid her begging during midnight milk, which is only moderately successful. She - like Maka - is aggravatingly persistent, and although he will only ever claim to be supremely annoyed about this, there’s a part of him that does find it endearing.
Currently, Blair is on a quest to grab a bite of his dinner, jumping onto the table every few seconds and swiping at his chicken. He imagines Sid saying well, if you’re so interested in her food, she should get a crack at yours! and crabbily wolfs down another bite. In response, he picks her up like a baby (which cats are supposed to hate, but she, for some infuriating reason, loves it) and tosses her on the bed, shutting the door so he can finish his dinner in peace.
Minutes later he finds himself creaking open the door to find that Blair has nestled completely into his laundry pile. Only her face is exposed, eyes half-closed in Tide-scented bliss.
“Tch,” he says, feigning disgust, but even as he says it, he’s taking his phone out, snapping a photo to send to Maka.
It’s after midnight, so he doesn’t expect a text back, and when the screen lights up in his hands, he almost jumps.
[[ see? she likes you. :) ]]
He rolls his eyes, but he bites down on his lip to keep from smiling. Aloof stoicism is his brand, and Maka, with her ruthless optimism, will not break him.
[[ likes being up in my business, maybe ]]
[[ well, I do that too, sometimes. and I still like you. ;) ]]
The smile is gone, replaced by a dull heat that fills up his face and then recedes, though the familiar gnawing in his gut sticks around.
“I wonder if she could,” he says to Blair. She blinks at him from inside her laundry cave. “Ever like me,” he explains. “Like that.”
At this, Blair stretches, sending socks rolling down the sides of the pile, and then plops back onto his lap, belly exposed.
“Is that supposed to mean something?” He tries to sound grouchy, but he’s smiling again, and it’s awful. “I don’t speak cat,” he adds, but as he sees her lying there, giving him nothing but love despite all his surliness, she reminds him of someone.
He looks down at his phone and starts to type.
[[ yea, ur not so bad urself ]]
--
Soul realizes that he should have seen his very peaceful week as a bad omen, because at this moment, he feels like Blair is making up for lost time.
This is what he gets for trying to be responsible. Clearly the possession of two forbidden keys had driven him mad with power, and since great power is the inevitable precursor to great responsibility, he’d decided to give Blair a bath - a cat’s public enemy #1 - in order to surprise Maka when she came home.
And when Maka walks into the bathroom to find litter all over the floor, and Soul and Blair drenched in a corner of the bathtub, she is certainly surprised. In fact, she walks in at the worst possible time, to angry hissing coming from more than one source.
“Ugh, Blair, quit it --”
“W-What are you doing?!” She raises a hand to stifle her laugh as Soul stares absolute daggers at her.
“I was trying to get her clea-- oh- oh god- stop wiggling--”
But Blair is, unfortunately, a master wiggler. In her haste, she leaps over the lip of the bathtub and out into the hallway. As Soul lunges for her, his face slams into the side of the tub with a sickening clunk.
“...Ugh.” He rises from the depths and pinches his nose as Maka runs over to him. “Is it bleeding?”
She carefully lifts his hand off his face to reveal that yes, it is, and even in the daze that he’s in, his eyes flicker to her hand, gentle against his.
“Let’s… clean this up?” she asks. All he can muster in response is a glum nod.
“I dob’t know,” he huffs a few minutes later, two tissues stuffed up his nose as he crosses his arms. “I tought maybe she’b like bads!”
“Maybe she’ll grow into them,” Maka shrugs as she dries his hair with a towel.
“Yeah, okay.” He settles into letting himself be taken care of, because his head is pounding and because yes, after a week, having Maka’s face this close to his is kind of nice, or whatever.
He has mostly forgiven Blair (for precisely this reason, if he’s honest). She’d come back in to the bathroom after sufficiently drying herself - he suspects the floor vent in his bedroom is to blame, as she’s fluffier than usual - and has now endeavored to wind between his and Maka’s legs.
“Well, anyway. All done.” Maka tosses the towel on his face and heads into the hallway to put away her things, his hair apparently dry enough.
From inside the bathroom, he catches her saying something else as she walks away, something that he wasn’t sure if he was meant to hear: “It was still really sweet.”
Blair, at this moment, bounds into the hallway after Maka, stopping just for a moment to look at him again.
Before she turns to go, he swears he sees her wink again.
---
It’s midnight and - world’s biggest plot twist - Blair is here.
Because of course she is, this infuriating, adorable, sweetheart of a cat that he can’t really bring himself to scoff at anymore. She might be Blair, Beseecher of Midnight Milk, Bringer of Nosebleeds in Bathtubs, Probably A Witch But Definitely Also A Cat, but she also might sort of be… family.
She’s a nuisance, but she’s their nuisance, and it’s the way that things are supposed to be.
“Alright, fine, little witch,” he mutters, going to the cupboard and grabbing a small bowl. “I think you tried to do some matchmaking yesterday. So here. I owe you one.”
Into the bowl goes a modest helping of two percent, and Blair meows her gratitude as she laps up her earnings.
Down the hall, in her bedroom, Maka smiles at the two of them, at the grunty-meowy conversation that she can’t quite make out.
As she lies there in bed, she pulls out her phone, and with a small sigh, she rereads a conversation from a few days before, replaying it in her head as she tries to figure out what it means, if anything.
[[ yea, ur not so bad urself ]]
She rolls over, letting the screen fade to black and watching her reflection in the glass.
… Who knows. Maybe Blair can help her figure it out.
#my writing#soul eater fanfiction#soulxmaka#soul&maka#family feels#roommates#cat chaos#se february 2018 prompt challenge
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Augmented Analytics Market 2023 by Key Trends, Application, Region, Segmentation and Revenue Analysis
Market Scenario
Augmented analytics tools are used to analyze automated data with the support of machine learning techniques and natural language processing technology. Augmented data streamline the processes for data profiling, and data modelling thereby supports reuse and data governance. The approach also able to combine artificial intelligence and business intelligence and has huge potential to support technical as well as non-technical users to automate their data analytics tools. Further, it also automates predictive and prescriptive tools along with providing historical reports and dashboards.
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Global Augmented Analytics market was valued at USD 4.20 billion in 2017 and is estimated to reach market value of USD 13 billion by 2023 growing with 24% CAGR during forecast period 2018-2023. Increasing volume of complex data, increasing adoption of analytical tools for business intelligence, and development in artificial intelligence technology are some crucial driving factors for the growth of this market. However, lack of skilled workforce is expected to hamper the market growth in coming years. Development in blockchain and modernization of digital technology are expected to shape a fruitful opportunity for augmented analytics market during the forecast period. Whereas, high cost of analytical tools, and analyzing the huge generated data by maintaining quality and safety are some of the major challenges faced by the market.
Key Players:
The market players follow several organic and inorganic growth strategies, under which they focus on partnerships, agreements, collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, business expansion, product launches, and product enhancements to strengthen their position and excel in the global Augmented Analytics Market.
The global Augmented Analytics market is characterized by the presence of many global, regional, and local vendors. Market Research Future has identified following key players in the market – Salesforce, SAP SE, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle, Tableau Software, SAS, Tibco Software, Sisense, Qlik, MicroStrategy, Looker, Yellowfin, Board International, Logi Analytics, Pyramid Analytics, and Birst among others. Among these, Microsoft corporation, Tableau, and Qlik are leading the augmented analytics market in terms of their product offerings and customer reach. MicroStrategy Inc., a software provider of business intelligence, mobile software and cloud-based services, is projected to be a challenger for the leaders of the market.
Market Developments:
In January 2019, AVORA, enterprise analytics platform providers announced its investment of USD 6.5 million in the development of machine learning algorithms and augmented intelligence. With this investment fund, the company is also looking to enhance its leadership and sales team.
In February 2019, Tableau Software releases a software named as “Ask Data” integrated with natural language processing. This software is able to provide prompt visual responses for a query asked by user in plain language.
Market Segmentation:
The global Augmented Analytics market is segmented into component, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region. By component, the market is segmented into software, and services. Services segment is further sub-segmented into professional and managed services. By deployment, the market is segmented into on-premise, on-cloud and hybrid. By organization size, the market is sub-segmented into SMEs and large enterprises. By vertical, the market is classified into BFSI, Government & defense, IT & Telecommunication, Retail, manufacturing, energy & utilities, transportation, media & entertainment, and healthcare among others.
Regional analysis
The market for Augmented Analytics market is estimated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period 2018 to 2023. The geographical analysis of Augmented Analytics market is studied for North America (U.S, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, U.K, France, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacifc), and the Rest Of The World (including the Middle East & Africa, and South America).
Currently, North America is a leading market in Augmented Analytics. North America is an established region in terms of advanced infrastructure and is widely known as an early adopter of new technologies. Advancements in technologies such as machine learning, and natural language processing has developed fruitful opportunities for the development of Augmented Analytics solutions in the region.
Europe is the second highest revenue generating market for Augmented Analytics. High adoption of identity access management solutions by IT & telecommunication, and government sector, and increase spending on analytics tools by key players such as SAP SE in the region are the factors propelling the growth of European augmented analytics market.
Asia-Pacific is projected to grow with fastest growing CAGR. Increasing development in machine learning technology, among enterprises, government support for digitization, high investment in advanced analytics solution by China are some of the major driving factors for the growth of this market in the region.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Augmented Analytics Market, By Region, 2018–2023
Table 2 North America: Augmented Analytics Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 3 Europe: Augmented Analytics Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 4 Asia-Pacific: Augmented Analytics Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 5 Rest Of The World: Augmented Analytics Market, By Region, 2018–2023
Table 6 North America: Augmented Analytics Component Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 7 Europe: Augmented Analytics Component Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 8 Asia-Pacific: Augmented Analytics Component Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 9 Rest Of The World: Augmented Analytics Component Market, By Region, 2018–2023
Table 10 Global Augmented Analytics Component Market, By Region, 2018–2023
Table 11 North America: Augmented Analytics Deployment Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 12 Europe: Augmented Analytics Deployment Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 13 Asia-Pacific: Augmented Analytics Deployment Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 14 Rest Of The World: Augmented Analytics Deployment Market, By Country, 2018–2023
Table 15 Global Augmented Analytics Deployment Market, By Region, 2018–2023
Continued…
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10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho and Wyoming. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
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Text
Augmented Analytics Market 2018 Growth Rate Research Report and Future Plans 2023
Market Scenario
Augmented analytics tools are used to analyze automated data with the support of machine learning techniques and natural language processing technology. Augmented data streamline the processes for data profiling, and data modelling thereby supports reuse and data governance. The approach also able to combine artificial intelligence and business intelligence and has huge potential to support technical as well as non-technical users to automate their data analytics tools. Further, it also automates predictive and prescriptive tools along with providing historical reports and dashboards.
Global Augmented Analytics market was valued at USD 4.20 billion in 2017 and is estimated to reach market value of USD 13 billion by 2023 growing with 24% CAGR during forecast period 2018-2023. Increasing volume of complex data, increasing adoption of analytical tools for business intelligence, and development in artificial intelligence technology are some crucial driving factors for the growth of this market. However, lack of skilled workforce is expected to hamper the market growth in coming years. Development in blockchain and modernization of digital technology are expected to shape a fruitful opportunity for augmented analytics market during the forecast period. Whereas, high cost of analytical tools, and analyzing the huge generated data by maintaining quality and safety are some of the major challenges faced by the market.
Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7464
Market Segmentation:
The global Augmented Analytics market is segmented into component, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region. By component, the market is segmented into software, and services. Services segment is further sub-segmented into professional and managed services. By deployment, the market is segmented into on-premise, on-cloud and hybrid. By organization size, the market is sub-segmented into SMEs and large enterprises. By vertical, the market is classified into BFSI, Government & defense, IT & Telecommunication, Retail, manufacturing, energy & utilities, transportation, media & entertainment, and healthcare among others.
Key Players:
The market players follow several organic and inorganic growth strategies, under which they focus on partnerships, agreements, collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, business expansion, product launches, and product enhancements to strengthen their position and excel in the global Augmented Analytics Market.
The global Augmented Analytics market is characterized by the presence of many global, regional, and local vendors. Market Research Future has identified following key players in the market – Salesforce, SAP SE, IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle, Tableau Software, SAS, Tibco Software, Sisense, Qlik, MicroStrategy, Looker, Yellowfin, Board International, Logi Analytics, Pyramid Analytics, and Birst among others. Among these, Microsoft corporation, Tableau, and Qlik are leading the augmented analytics market in terms of their product offerings and customer reach. MicroStrategy Inc., a software provider of business intelligence, mobile software and cloud-based services, is projected to be a challenger for the leaders of the market.
Regional analysis
The market for Augmented Analytics market is estimated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period 2018 to 2023. The geographical analysis of Augmented Analytics market is studied for North America (U.S, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, U.K, France, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacifc), and the Rest Of The World (including the Middle East & Africa, and South America).
Currently, North America is a leading market in Augmented Analytics. North America is an established region in terms of advanced infrastructure and is widely known as an early adopter of new technologies. Advancements in technologies such as machine learning, and natural language processing has developed fruitful opportunities for the development of Augmented Analytics solutions in the region.
Europe is the second highest revenue generating market for Augmented Analytics. High adoption of identity access management solutions by IT & telecommunication, and government sector, and increase spending on analytics tools by key players such as SAP SE in the region are the factors propelling the growth of European augmented analytics market.
Asia-Pacific is projected to grow with fastest growing CAGR. Increasing development in machine learning technology, among enterprises, government support for digitization, high investment in advanced analytics solution by China are some of the major driving factors for the growth of this market in the region.
Market Developments:
In January 2019, AVORA, enterprise analytics platform providers announced its investment of USD 6.5 million in the development of machine learning algorithms and augmented intelligence. With this investment fund, the company is also looking to enhance its leadership and sales team.
In February 2019, Tableau Software releases a software named as “Ask Data” integrated with natural language processing. This software is able to provide prompt visual responses for a query asked by user in plain language.
Get Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/augmented-analytics-market-7464
Intended Audience
Software vendors
Supply and Distribution vendors
Government
Research organizations and associations
Resellers
End-user verticals
Small & medium sized enterprises
Industry associations
About Us:
At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.
In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.
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10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho and Wyoming. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
0 notes
Text
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho and Wyoming. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
0 notes
Text
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho and Wyoming. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
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Text
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho and Wyoming. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
0 notes
Text
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally
Good morning, friends! I read three posts this week that I want to share with you. The first was written by author Matt Haig back in 2015, but I only found it recently and it is still so timely. A note that it talks about depression and suicide, but there’s one quote in particular that resonated with me: “Christmas is one of those times when the idea of something doesn’t match the reality.” It is absolutely worth reading all the way through to the end.
The second post is from my friend Bianca who wrote quite honestly about why it’s time we removed the pressure around Christmas. If you’re seeing a bit of a trend here, it’s true that I’m still not in my usual Christmas spirit. I can echo what Bianca wrote: I love the lights! And the food! And I plan to take some days off! So I feel generally ok about the holiday season. It just doesn’t feel very “special,” and I’m starting to realize that is also ok.
In an attempt to remove some of the pressure around it here on this blog, there is just one thing I want to say before I log off for a few days: thank you. Thank you for being so caring and supportive this year—and not just to me but also to each other. We’ve talked about some heavy stuff here this year, and I am so grateful that this space is one that continues to remain open and safe. Thank you for being part of it.
The last post I want to share was written by Daisy for No Sidebar. In it, she shared 10 questions we could answer to end the year intentionally. This isn’t about goal-setting or trying to come up with resolutions or anything else future-thinking. It’s just a simple exercise that can help you reflect on the past year. For everything that’s happened, that felt right for me, so I answered the questions and am sharing them here.
I’m signing off for a week! In that time, I plan to complete a 1,000-piece puzzle, start and finish a new book, and spend two nights in a house on the ocean with some of my family. There’s no cell service and definitely no internet. If I could wish anything for you right now, it would be to unplug for a day—and just be. xo
1. What makes this year unforgettable?
Admittedly, I feel like I am always going to remember 2017 as the year we lost the girls. But I’m also going to remember it as the year I moved to Squamish and finally let myself settle in. Slowing down and letting myself really “be” somewhere came with its own challenges—namely that I could no longer manage my anxiety by hopping around from place-to-place, and instead had to make the decision to deal with it and do some therapy. But it also came with so many bonuses. On top of the beautiful landscapes, I found a community of creative, honest, and vulnerable women I feel so fortunate to now call my friends.
2. What did you enjoy doing this year?
Oddly, I really enjoyed not travelling much. It felt good to get to know my new home, create some routine and learn a few trails like the back of my hand. I also made time to read more books this year, which felt good too. :)
3. What/who is the one thing/person you’re grateful for?
A few people come to mind right away, but I’m going to say that I’m grateful I had the money and resources available to start therapy. For the first two months, I was going weekly which was costing $520-$650 monthly. That was obviously not a regular line item in my budget, and isn’t something I would currently be able to afford to do for an extended period of time. But having my emergency fund made me feel comfortable enough to make that decision back in April and I am so grateful for it. I never would’ve imagined that having savings would’ve been so important for my mental health, and there is no doubt that therapy has changed my life.
4. What’s your biggest win this year?
Aside from the personal growth, it would be remiss of me to not mention the fact that I wrote my first book this year! A real book! One that will be in stores in just a few weeks! (And that you still have three weeks to get the bonuses if you pre-order a copy!) There were so many lessons to take away from writing this book, but one of the most important was that it is possible to complete a big creative project. On the day I submitted the first (crappy) draft, I had this overwhelming sense of I CAN DO ANY CREATIVE PROJECT I WANT TO wash over me. I can’t imagine any writing project feeling bigger or being more all-consuming than a book. Now, I’ve written one. So, I can do anything . . . right? ;)
5. What did you read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?
What an amazing question. I’ll start by saying that, without question, my new favourite author is Matt Haig. The most meaningful book I read this year was Reasons to Stay Alive, which came recommended by many of you when I first shared how bad my anxiety had gotten. So thank YOU for telling me about that book, my friends. More recently, I got my hands on a copy of How to Stop Time, which doesn’t even come out in North America until February 6, 2018! It was one of the most enjoyable works of fiction I’ve read in a long time—and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to play the main character in the movie adaptation! How exciting for the author. :)
Aside from books, I have listened to every episode of a handful of podcasts: Hurry Slowly, Secrets of Wealthy Women, The Slow Home Podcast (I did an interview with Brooke earlier this month that was so lovely!), Super Soul Conversations and Terrible, Thanks for Asking. That last one cracked me wide open, but I needed it.
As far as what I’ve watched that’s had an impact . . . nothing comes to mind. I enjoyed a few shows: 13 Reasons Why, Atypical, The Crown and The Great British Bake Off. But I can’t say that anything had an impact. This is something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Let’s talk about it in the new year. For now, books and podcasts win!
6. What did you worry about most and how did it turn out?
Honestly, I worried about how moving away from Victoria would affect the dogs—and two months later, we lost them both. So, I wish I could say that my worries weren’t warranted, and set an example for how/why it’s important to calm our anxious thoughts. But truthfully, March, April and May were really tough months for me.
7. What was your biggest regret and why?
I don’t regret moving, obviously, but I still feel guilty about leaving the girls. I know that’s something I had no control over. It’s just how I feel; like my leaving somehow prompted the beginning of the end for them. This is something I’m obviously still working through (and might help you understand why I’m still emotional about it).
8. What’s one thing that you changed about yourself?
One of the things that became apparent very early on in therapy was that I had zero boundaries in my life. I basically did anything and everything that would make other people’s lives easier, and put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. This was true in all of my relationships and it wasn’t healthy. In fact, it was one of the reasons my anxiety got so out of control. Thankfully, I’ve been learning how to set healthier boundaries in all areas of my life. It’s not always easy and I sometimes still let guilt takeover (this article on The Pool is another good read on that topic). But I have set some boundaries, and chosen to put myself first in some ways, and it does feel better.
9. What surprised you the most this year?
Most of this post has felt heavy, so I’m going to share a few fun/random things!
I was surprised to find myself driving across the US, from Minneapolis to BC, for the second time in a year! (And I never thought I would drive through South Dakota again, let alone twice in one year!)
I was surprised to randomly meet up with Sarah and spend two days together in Idaho. That’s some travelling big magic, right there. :)
I was surprised to meet my two closest friends in Squamish on Instagram—and learn that one lives right behind me, and that I can see the other’s house through the trees between our two homes!
I was really surprised to find Cheryl Strayed followed me on both Twitter and Instagram! I still don’t know how or why . . . but yea, consider me still surprised! (Let’s not jinx it.)
And I was happily surprised to find myself picking up and reading more fiction this year. It felt really good to fall in love with characters and get lost in a story.
10. If you could go back to last January 1, what suggestions would you give your past self?
If I had known what was going to happen in 2017, at the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it—and I wouldn’t have wanted to believe it. I don’t have a suggestion, per se, but more of a reminder: You will never regret telling people/pets how you feel, showing them affection and making sure they feel your love. When they are gone, the only thing you’ll wish is that you’d had more time together. So I would say . . . don’t rush off. Spend your time with those who matter most. Because there’s never enough of it.
10 Questions to End the Year Intentionally posted first on http://ift.tt/2lnwIdQ
0 notes