This week's 100 Word Challenge from Julia (you can read the other entries here) is to write on the subject:
...in the dark recess of my mind...
By coincidence, I was kindly nominated for the Beautiful Bloggers Award by my fellow 100 Word Challenge writer, Anna Halford. To accept the award you have to thank your nominator - I do, I do; write 10 things about yourself that not many people know; and nominate six bloggers for the award.
As I've already written a blog including 10 things about me you didn't know, which you can read here, and as most of the nominated blogs on this thread are writers from the 100 Word Challenge, I thought I'd incorporate my 10 things about me into the challenge this week. And my nominated blogs will also be 100WC writers.
As usual, the prompt words are not included in the count of 100 words even though I have taken the liberty of repeating them a number of times. And of course we all know that numbers don't count ;~).
1. In the dark recess of my mind I wonder how my life came to be this.
2. In the dark recess of my mind I choose baby names for the sisters DD isn't going to have.
3. In the dark recess of my mind I'm sometimes satisfied that a beautiful and talented childhood friend grew up plain.
4. In the dark recess of my mind I'm smug that I have a daughter.
5. In the dark recess of my mind I worry about the impending sandwich situation approaching before DD is old enough.
6. In the dark recess of my mind I worry about the hand-to-mouth existence I'm living.
7. In the dark recess of my mind I think my daughter is the best.
8. In the dark recess of my mind I still think losing 20kg would magically transform my life into a fairytale.
9. In the dark recess of my mind I still believe what they said about me back then.
10. In the dark recess of my mind I really just want to be a housewife.
I nominate the following 100WC writers for the Beautiful Blogger Award. They are all beautiful bloggers and deserve it, but no obligation of course.
Julia Skinner from Julia's Place. The headmistress we all wish we had had, and the one who started all this 100 words business.
My friend Dancing In The Rain who guest posts on my blog, a wonderful writer and a strong woman. If you'd like to do it I'll post it for you.
Phil of Fragments from Firefly Phil for being such a clever and witty writer. I love his dry sense of humour and no nonsense approach.
Ronnie Tyler because aren't we all Hurtling Towards 60, and because she was the first one to turn the weekly 100WC into a novel.
Anna Tims the Adventures of a Middle-Aged Matron, because she'll kill me, she thinks I hate these things, and she's one of the funniest ladies I know.
Lisa at Woman Wielding Words, one of my favourite American bloggers and she wields them so skillfully.
Nicely done on all fronts!! And congrats on the award. Well deserved!
ReplyDeleteThank you Taochild. I noticed that you got one too - also well deserved. I think by the end of the week all the 100WCers will have got it. It's a bit like the flu isn't it?
DeleteFirst, congratulations on your award.
ReplyDeleteI felt sadness in in your entry, and I was moved. I share some of the darkness you wrote about.
I'm not sure how dark it really is - I've never thought about most og these things until I had to write them.
DeleteI just reread it - you're right some of it doeas seem a bit sad.
DeleteHi Midlife,
ReplyDelete1. I think you're really brave to be so open. Some of the feelings you have admitted to are the ones most of us usually hide. Am interested to know whether by airing some of them they have disappeared? A sort of spring cleaning of the recesses.
2. Wow! Thanks so much for the nomination. You could have struck me down with a feather. I was so not expecting to see my name since I don't have a blog. xxx
Your first question is interesting. I think that if any of the points were really making me depressed, I probably would not have shared them. I think I have made my peace with all of the above and this is just how it is - except maybe about the worrying ones (family committments and finances).
DeleteAs for the award - I'd love you to do it but there's no pressure. It's really your choice. You do deserve it however, blog or no blog.
Well done for combining the list and the 100wcgu!
ReplyDeleteYour list did seem a little sad; but I could see that that was in reflection maybe rather than the here and now.
x
PS I think you're right; before long most of the regular 100Wc-ers will be sharing the blog. A little bit of virtual hugging does the world a power of good don't you think ;)
DeleteTotally - virtual hugging is the future. Re your initial comment. I thinkn it comes across as sadder than it was meant to be. Especially number 1. I don't say that that I'm unhappy with the outcome - I'm more surprised by where I've ended up.
DeleteI absolutely love these - especially No 3, for you know how I relish a bit of Schadenfreude. But what is a sandwich situation (unles you mean the one I have every morning when I realise there's nothing in the fridge for my son's lunch box)? Thanks for the tag and the kind compliment. I have already done a similar challenge so there's nothing about me that's not known on the Worldwide Web. And anyway, I could never rise to it as exquisitely as you have, darn you!
ReplyDeleteThe sandwich situation refers to the sandwich generation where you have to look after aging parents and young children at teh same time and you are squashed in the middle of the sanwich. re the award - you very nicely got yourself off the hook, well done ;D.
DeleteThe honesty of your list is beautiful and painful. Nicely done. I may have to borrow your idea for my own challenge, since I have been an absent 100WCer lately Thank you so much for the award and your kind words.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome to use the 100WC/award combo model. I noticed that you haven't been on the list lately - I hope everything is ok with you.
DeleteGreat idea to combine the prompt with the award. Your list is one that I'm sure will resonate with a lot of people - I think everyone will look at at least one of the points and say "I feel that!"
ReplyDeleteYes I think the list is quite universal in many ways. Thankd for your comment.
DeleteWhat a beautiful post; such a genuine and honest way to write about the things that go on behind your closed doors, perhaps between the lines, that no one else could understand.
ReplyDeleteCJ x
Thanks CJ - it's funny how everyone has interptetted the list though. Most think it is sad but I think many of the items are ambiguous in that respect.
DeleteThis is great - such a clever use of the prompt. I could really relate to so many things on your list. Really touching and honest post!
ReplyDeleteThanks OM. I'm glad you could relate. I think the items are not so unusual - I just had the cheek to write them down.
DeleteVery much enjoyed your smart and clever use of the prompt and related fully to several of the things you mull over in your own dark recesses. And of course you don't need to think your daughter is the best, because she is!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deirdre. I keep it in the dark recess of my mind because the other parents at the nursery don't want to here it for some reason. :)
DeleteNot cheek but courage. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Miriam. I knew cheek wasn't quite the right word but I couldn't think of a better one at the time.
DeleteOh how I love this, mainly because I have such a long list of these sorts of things, well done for sharing and well done on the award xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Emma - I think we all do.
DeleteYour list is very honest,I hope that honesty will help to dispel some of the worries! Good work :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. More money would help for number 6. :)
DeleteI have been thinking about this post so much. Although dark recesses could give the feeling of sad or perhaps difficult to say aloud thoughts, What you have given your readers an insight into your inner voice. Thank you for your honesty and courage to "say" them out loud.
ReplyDeleteI think when you make a list like this without too much pause for thought -the most honest heartfelt thoughts pop out!
Gilly
Thanks Gilly. I was a bit surprised that many people found it sad. However, I think the restriction to 100 words was a good thing as it made some of the points ambiguous. E.g. number one. It doesn't say that I'm nor satisfied with my life just that I didn't expect it to be this. And yes, I was surprised by what popped up as I didn't plan it at all.
DeleteAll things that we all think about from time to time - great to see them all written down there in one go, very brave. Polly
ReplyDeleteThanks Polly. I knew I couldn't be the only one who thinks these things.
Delete