Dealing with negative emotions

I have been experiencing a strange feeling lately, like if something wrong is about to happen. I am going about my daily routine, minding my own business, when I suddenly feel an ache in my chest, get depressed, and feel the desire to cry. 

I have ignored that feeling for a few days but it is just that with every day that goes away I become more unhappy and anxious, not knowing what terrible event is going to happen.

I thought that this is getting out of hand, and I need to talk to someone about it. Just as I was ready to tell my friend about it, she informed me that she was feeling the same way, and that she, too, gets depressed for no obvious reason.

Then I considered informing my mother, and the strange thing is that she was just as unhappy as I was. She seemed depressed as well, but when I inquired as to why, she replied that she believes something awful is about to happen as well. Now, I’m not sure why this sensation is shared by these women in my life, or if we’re all simply too anxious for this life, but I trust my intuition, and I feel like I have no power over what will happen.

Ways to cope and stop the chronic worrying

Identify your main worry – and then, write it down so you can see it. Most of the time, we just disregard our ‘minor’ concerns and go about our daily lives without giving them much thought. If it hurts you and takes up a lot of space in your thoughts, you should take care of it. Take a scratch, for example. Since you know it’s painful, you disinfect it and apply a bandage to avoid infection. If not treated immediately, life scratches can lead to severe infections too.

Wipe them away – If you’ve already been through the first phase and identified the bad feeling, and arrived at the conclusion that it’s nothing serious, just wipe them away. Think of these thoughts like clouds in the sky: just passing your mind like clouds pass across the sky, obscuring the sun.

Face reality and be brave – Hiding behind worries and allowing anxiety to invade your life is not the solution. If there is something you can do about it, do it. Perhaps it’s time to move closer to the things that make you uncomfortable and find out that they’re not as disagreeable as you imagined.

Relax – Instead of allowing your unreal anxieties to dictate your life, do something you love doing. Read a book, go for a walk in the park, draw, talk to a friend, or pray/ meditate.

Exercise – It has been proven that aerobic activity reduces stress hormones, provides you strength, and enables you to cope better with negative emotions.

Most importantly, if you’re like me and have others around you who are experiencing the same negative emotions and feelings as you, understand your feelings and then help them as well. This may appear to be an extra task, but once you’ve dealt with your difficulties, focusing on someone else’s may offer you a feeling of purpose and can chase the blues away.

And if the inevitable happens, as Charles Jones once said, things don’t go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.

(Image Source – Unsplash, Toni Reed)

Disappointment and rejection

Dreams come and go, and they are incredible to start with. We become so enthusiastic about a new challenge that we are prepared to go above and beyond for things to work out in our favor. We’d get up early to discover things about the new dream, read more, and do our best not to disappoint.

But what happens when the new dream comes crashing down, when the path ahead is rocky, and we can’t seem to find the answers to our questions? It appears that our Universe has failed to fulfill its purpose, and we must embark on another journey although the track is unclear, foggy, and the baggage is heavy.

It’s foolish if we think about it. We get all the signals that something may go wrong, and we’re feeling that inner guilt rotting inside, sensing that it’s not going to happen, and yet we hope, yet we allow our dreams to spread their wings and fly.

Just like when our mama told us not to do something because we’ll get hurt, but we still did it because we wanted to and were too stubborn to listen. Did we shed any tears? You bet! Was it painful? Of course, it did, and we made sure that everyone around us was aware of it.

We eventually wiped away our salty tears, pulled up our sleeves to conceal the bleeding bruise, and went on to our next disappointment. Not all of the obstacles were painful or discouraging. Some of them helped us to climb higher and learn new things.

We’ve learned a lot along the road, and many times when we felt we were being turned down for something ‘good’, we were led to something greater. I suppose that every new opportunity brings with it a new set of aspirations and accomplishments, and no matter how many warnings we get, we’re never prepared for that kick. And we can’t expect to be shielded from everything in life; disappointment is a necessary part of growing up.

If we’ve been rejected and feel disappointed, it doesn’t mean the journey is over, it means that something greater is on the way.

Be patient, believe in yourself, and never give up hope; happiness and success are just around the corner.

Overthinking

What is the definition of life? What makes it truly significant and worthwhile? Is it the new job, the new laptop with the colorful keypad, or the dreadful sensation of the unknown that creeps in every night?

I recently struggled to make sense of these meanings and came up empty-handed. I’ve been going in circles for a long time, mostly because I’ve lost sight of my purpose, of the things I used to like doing, such as writing.

I’ve been terrible at delaying and doing everything but the one thing that makes me happy. It was fun to create ‘to-do lists,’ ‘what should I purchase next month lists,’ plan new activities, exercise, and schedule doctor visits to see what was wrong with me. 

I have to admit that ticking items off a list may be satisfying and inspirational, even if it doesn’t provide the same level of enjoyment as doing something you like. The best aspect is that most of the activities were beneficial to me, and my problems were resolved.

The previous several months have been life-changing, and I have changed as well. The routine has changed, and I’m attempting to improve each day by reading more and participating in new things that I never dreamed I’d be doing. I’ve gotten rid of the majority of my negative habits and replaced them with new ones.

I’ve got new hopes and aspirations, but I’ve also got new anxieties and obsessive thoughts. Before going to sleep, I can’t seem to stop my mind from racing, and I tend to overthink things more than usual.

I used to be frightened of new experiences and envisioned things that did not occur; it was all in my brain the whole time. That caused me to miss out on essential sleep hours and struggle with day-to-day tasks. When I first awakened, I found myself laughing and feeling sorry for myself. Nobody should do that to themselves, and it’s a good thing I discovered it.

Lose some strings along the way

It’s normal to be scared of the unknown and to wonder what will happen next after a significant transition, but what if, instead of worrying and pondering what may go wrong, we focused on what could go right?

Overthinking destroys the new’s delight and wonder. Life will never be perfect, and for that matter, we will never fully know what will happen. Instead of overthinking and attempting to control everything that may occur, take one step at a time rather than picturing the entire staircase.

Imagine where we’d be if we spent every day overthinking and attempting to plan and control everything that happened to us. Honestly, I don’t believe we could’ve ever envisioned ourselves in the places we are now, with the people we have in our life; I definitely couldn’t have imagined myself in this situation.

Woody Allen once said, ‘If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.’ Instead of creating plans that may never come true, realize that God already has a bigger plan for you, one that you could never have imagined, something out of the ordinary. Let go of the ties that bind you, relax, and remember to breathe and appreciate the delights of each new day.

Image Source – Unsplash,
Rodion Kutsaev

Song of the day #159

I won’t be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I’ll be on time, ah

Pandemic snowy-rainy day

These past few days, I’ve awoken to the sound of raindrops. They just kept falling from the sky, sometimes mixed with snow, sometimes plain, as if the sky was mourning. I can’t recall waking up and walking outside these days because that doesn’t happen very often with working remotely.

I summoned the courage to go out and meet my colleague on Friday. It was snowing heavily, and it was one of those days before the weekend where you just want to crawl into bed and sleep for a few more minutes before chores and work.

Despite her hesitation, I insisted on meeting because she had to offer a gift for my mother. I considered it a good day to go out, hoping for the snow to stop falling from the sky and the weather to change. I got ready quickly, didn’t pay much attention to the weather, and just dressed up plainly, with a spring coat and had light makeup.

It was Friday, and I was just a simple girl in another city forgotten by time. I sprinkled at the door, bid farewell to the cat, and skipped my chores for a few minutes, so I could get out and have some rough polluted air. And meet my friend.

Dashing through the sleet…

Under the curtain, the snow did not look so intense, but outside there was a different story. The small town traffic became mundane by sleet and snow. The cars appeared to be a collection of toys, driven by small children with attitude and no patience or consideration for pedestrians.

I was a little early for the meeting, so I took the opportunity to order two cappuccinos from a new local coffee shop. The waitresses didn’t bother to express their surprise at my spring outfit in the middle of winter, in March.

Needless to say, I was already drenched and had dirt on my shoes. But who cared? I was just another girl who left the house during a pandemic dressed for the coming season, full of hope and good vibes.

I met a friend at the bus station and we drank cappuccinos while walking through the heavy rain and shivering. We swapped our goods and said our goodbyes soon after. I then ran to my station and caught a micro-bus back to my house.

It’s incredible how people can judge and analyze you with a single glance despite not knowing you very well. I was escaping my everyday routine by going out to see a friend on an ugly-snowy-wet day, wearing only a short coat and forgetting to bring my umbrella. What a horrendous crime!

I could almost hear their mutterings: ‘Ahh, poor girl, look at her!’ She’s dressed shabbily and is drenched,’ while I’m listening to my favorite song through my earphones and enjoying a lovely Friday outside.

Instead, I wanted to concentrate on the bus window while leaning against the walls and listening to music. Life can be wonderful if you choose to ignore the curious, judgmental looks of others; it motivates you to attain your purpose and enjoy your time.

Home at last 😊

The bus eventually came to a halt, and I proceeded on my way home. At the traffic light, I noticed an older woman dressed beautifully, wearing colorful eyeshadow and carrying a red umbrella.

I could feel her gaze running through me; it had to be my mascara that decided to bleed and give me panda eyes. But there she was, serious-looking at me, and there I was, laughing and enjoying every drop of rain that was now falling on me.

I felt like a little kid, walking out in the snowy-rainy weather and forgetting to bring my umbrella, not wearing my usual winter coat or office shirt. It’s lovely to break the rules now and then, to get out, meet with a colleague, dance in the rain, and glow.

At the end of the day, snowy rain can be just confetti from the sky. In those days, meet a friend, have a sweet cappuccino, and allow yourself to play in the puddles and get soaking wet.

Song of the day #158

Pandemic events

Yesterday, I had to attend a baby shower party for one of our friends. It was the first event after a long period of pandemic and concern. One thing I really couldn’t get over was the clumsiness and social awkwardness that exacerbated it all. We were there for a special occasion, but because of all the rules and Pandemic hysteria, I remember that we weren’t able to fully enjoy ourselves or cheer for the birth of that child.

We were 50 guests, with 6 people at the table, spread at a visible distance. I recall light music in the background, curious stares, and a feeling of confusion and disorder. Though the organizers did their hardest to keep us entertained and present at the activity, I could read in the guest’s eyes the fear of attending such an event after a long time of stagnation. The food offered was delicious and I could tell that the people present were nice and warm, although we couldn’t interact that much.

Also, as with any event that took place during the pandemic, we had police coming by to make sure that the activity was in compliance with the laws and that no one was dancing or bending the law. It looked as though we were committing a crime and like we were suspects, albeit following laws. As kids at home in our early years, playing some silly games when our parents came and criticized our lack of sense and morality.

We didn’t shake hands, hug, or kissed on our cheeks, as it was against the rules. We simply fist-bumped and smiled, acknowledging the present situation.

Cruel reality

This pandemic has turned our world upside down, and it’s difficult to tell if we’re ever going to be able to get back to the way it used to be. There’s no perfect day for the baby shower, wedding, or any other occasion with people gathering. It’s just an event that needs to be handled according to tradition, with fewer people and more restrictions.

This Pandemic made us realize the amount of things we take for granted in life, not to mention, life itself. These occurrences are just a small reminder that our life is precious and that we should cherish it with all that we have and honor it, even though it means having to adhere to regulations.

At the end of the day, it’s important to mark the date, be thankful that we’ve been able to see our loved ones, and have a quiet sit down, appreciating the amount of things that we are still left with.

Useful WordPress Key Shortcuts

If you’re a multi-tasker like me, you want to be productive and get tasks done quickly and efficiently. The best thing is that WordPress also provides key shortcuts in the WordPress Block Editor that can be both useful and necessary.

You may be familiar with many of these WordPress Editor key shortcuts as they also apply to Windows and Microsoft Word. These key shortcuts work with both the WordPress Gutenberg Block Editor and the Classic Editor.

WordPress Key Basic Shortcuts:

• CTRL + C = Copy
• CTRL + V = Paste
• CTRL + B = Bold
• CTRL + I = Italic
• CTRL + X = Cut
• CTRL + A = Select all
• CTRL + Z = Undo
• CTRL + S = Save changes
• CTRL + P = Print
• CTRL + U = Underline the selected text
• CTRL + K = Convert the selected text into a link
• SHIFT + LEFT/RIGHT = Select one letter to the right/ left
• SHIFT + HOME = Select all the text until the beginning of the current line
• SHIFT + END = Select all the text until the end of the current line

Gutenberg Key Shortcuts for Windows users:

• Enter = Add a new block; Can also be combined with / to quickly insert multiple blocks
• CTRL + SHIFT + D = Duplicate the selected bloc’s
• ALT + SHIFT + Z = Remove the selected blocks
• ALT + SHIFT + D = Strike through
• ALT + SHIFT + Q = Insert block quote
• ALT + SHIFT + X = Add/remove code tag
• CTRL + ALT + T = Insert a new block before the selected blocks
• CTRL + ALT + Y = Insert a new block after the selected blocks
• / = change the block type after adding a paragraph
• ESC = Exit selection
• CTRL + SHIFT + Z = Redo your last undo
• CTRL + SHIFT + , = Show or hide the settings bar
• ALT + SHIFT + O = Open the block navigation menu
• ALT + SHIFT + M = Insert Image
• ALT + SHIFT + N = Navigate to the next part of the editor
• ALT + SHIFT + P = Navigate to the previous part of the editor
• ALT + F10 = Navigate to the nearest toolbar

Although these shortcuts can be intimidating at the beginning, you’ll get used to them in time and speed up the article or page writing process. At the end of the day, productivity doesn’t appear by magic, you can’t expect great results without preparing for them.

Song of the day #157

‘Like an echo in the forest
The day will come back around
As if nothing happened
Yeah, life goes on (Oh, woah)
Like an arrow in the blue sky
Another day flies by (Flies by)’

WordPress Block Editor

Hello, dear readers! I am writing on this topic today to provide insights about the WordPress Block editor and to address one of my follower’s questions about the Block Editor. Sorry, Kevin, it was just too much to write in a comment! 😅

As you might tell, WordPress is ongoing a lot of updates lately. Safety reasons are on the top of the list, as we don’t want to leave or website pray to hackers. Apart from that, we get to experience new updates and upgrades along with a new version of WordPress.

WordPress Block Editor

I started writing on WordPress a long time ago, so my first experience was with the WordPress Classic Editor. However, not long ago the Classic Editor got replaced with the new Gutenberg Block editor.

If you are accustomed to writing to the Classic Editor, details may seem confusing and hard to comprehend at the start. I recall my first interaction with the Gutenberg Block editor (the website did let me know that an upgrade was done), needless to say, I went back to the Classic Editor after just a few posts.

I have to recognize that I feel uneasy and not understanding how this latest block editor worked altogether, it was a challenge. In time, using the Gutenberg block editor and going back to the Classic one made me discover the importance of the latest update, and took some time to study it.

Gutenberg Block Editor

Gutenberg and Classic are two separate editors for content development in WordPress. While the Classic Editor was a text editor with formatting buttons identical to Microsoft Word, Gutenberg uses an entirely different method called ‘Blocks’. Blocks are primarily content components that you can apply to the edit screen to create content layouts. Thus, each item attached to your post and page is a block.

This is how the Gutenberg Block Editor looks like (the language displayed is Romanian, my primary language):

Blocks can be added for each paragraph, images, videos, galleries, audio lists, and more. For the WordPress Free and Premium Plans, these blocks are based primarily on the theme used, as we cannot include WordPress Plugins.

What do I love about the Gutenberg Block Editor?

1. Creating a new post anytime I feel like doing it, either by selecting the top bar to write a new post or by going to ‘Posts » Add new’ to my WordPress admin menu. If I am writing a new page, then I can use the ‘Pages » Add New’ menu.
2. As the new Block Editor helps me to write my title and then move on to the first paragraph, I can start writing immediately.
3. Functionality. I love that I can move content elements up and down, edit them as individual blocks and create my posts faster and more efficiently.

Also, each block comes with its own toolbar, which displays at the top of it, and the buttons in the toolbar can change based on what I’m editing.

4. By clicking the ‘add new block’ button present in several sections of the page, I can add any block I want:

5. Key Words. Apart from clicking on the tabs to search the block, I can also use keywords to make my work easier. TIP: To enable the keyboard shortcut, type / to search and add a block:

6. Drag and drop. I love this feature because I can drag and drop any picture I want to insert into my post, and it will instantly create a block for me.

7. Pexels. I can add any free image on ‘Pexels’ by simply selecting an image block and clicking on the ‘Pexels Free Photos’ option. Here I can type any keyword for the preferred image, type on search, and Voila:

I don’t like the Gutenberg Block Editor, can I go back to the Classic one?

You can still change to the Classic Editor via WP Admin if you like. However, the Classic Editor will be supported until 2022, which means that if you don’t have the chance to switch to the Gutenberg Block Editor, there is yet time to learn.

WordPress offers free courses and if you want to learn even more, their Blogging U. offers free courses: https://en.support.wordpress.com/blogging-u and also free webinars: https://wordpress.com/webinars/.

Conclusion

In my view, the update to the Gutenberg Block Editor is a successful one. Not only does it deliver quick and simple handling, but it also offers a fantastic experience as a blogger. Taking time to read and understand this new upgrade is certainly going to benefit you, and it’s a step ahead in the future.