Aura with Writing

New Year, New Beginning- Blog Update

Happy New Year 2017!

I know I have been away from my blog and writing for a while now. Though I cannot state any justifiable excuses for my nearly half- yearly absence, I wish to sound reasonable by blaming various life circumstances. While I was lost learning life lessons the hard way, I missed waking up to the encouraging and kind comments from this generous community that usually make my day. So, I am back with a budding hope to continue writing and blogging a little longer this time. 

2016 has been an enlightening year on various fronts with mixed experiences, fair amountof traveling and self realization. It was rewarding  with respect to writing, as I dared to make an attempt to blog on a serious note. In spite of my irregular posts and updates, I gained reasonable number of followers that I never believed I could. The encouragement and learning experience from fellow bloggers is beyond satisfying! With this new year, I wish to share new thoughts, new stories and also gave a new look to the blog in the process!   

It’s never too late to start afresh!

I hope this year is better and brighter for everyone!😊

aurawithwriting

42 responses to “New Year, New Beginning- Blog Update”

  1. Pratyusha Avatar
    Pratyusha

    Nice 🙂 Happy new year. Glad you are back on blogging 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. aurawithwriting Avatar
      aurawithwriting

      Thank you Pratyusha! Glad to be back. I loved the video song of yours, great job!!! 👍🏼😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Pratyusha Avatar
        Pratyusha

        Thanks again dear 🙂 It always feels good to be back 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Sumi Nath Avatar
    Sumi Nath

    Welcome back :)..looking forward to reading your thoughts and wishing you a great year ahead.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. aurawithwriting Avatar
      aurawithwriting

      Thank you so much! I hope to continue better this time. Happy reading and blogging! 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. bloggeray Avatar
    bloggeray

    Well, well, who do we have here? Kamaal hai, aap to gayab hi ho jaate hain, baar baar!

    Anyway, welcome back to WP. Looking forward to having posts more regularly from you in my feed.
    Happy wala new year to you!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. aurawithwriting Avatar
      aurawithwriting

      Hehe, ab se gayab na hone ki koshish karenge 😄 Feels good to be back and good to see you! I’ve been following some of your updates on facebook, though I could not comment. I wish to be regular this year. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. bloggeray Avatar
        bloggeray

        It is good to have you here. You’ve been following my updates on FB? Aha. That’s good.
        As long as you keep posting at least weekly, you will be regular. 😝

        Liked by 1 person

      2. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes, I saw your first article on Women’s web as well! 🙃Kudos for that! 😄 And yes, at least weekly sounds fair enough to be termed regular. 😁

        Liked by 1 person

      3. bloggeray Avatar
        bloggeray

        Yeah. I wanted to tell you about that. All thanks to you.
        Weekly is okay. 😝

        Liked by 1 person

      4. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        No problem! Glad to do it! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Gary Avatar
    Gary

    Well, you did tell me you would be back and I’m very glad that you are too. Happy New Year too. I hope your self realisation journey has brought you into a good place. I know, from experience that such can be quite daunting and cause anxiety looking backwards at decisions or choices that were bad ones….realising they can’t be changed now can liberate emotional fixation on them and permit one to move onwards.

    Alternatively…you’re not addicted to A to Z challenges are you? lol….please say you haven’t come back just to do that !!!

    Lovely to see you back here my friend 💐

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. aurawithwriting Avatar
      aurawithwriting

      Gary! You literally read my mind!!! My experience did lead to some anxiety and seemed daunting. I cannot agree more on your words regarding the liberation in the end! Thank you my friend! 😊😊 And AtoZ- No! I’m not addicted to it, nor I’m sure if I will do it this year😂 That is in April anyway, lot of time. 😜

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        That’s my empathy people watching thing…when someone suddenly goes quiet there is often a deeper reason why and usually how they word things just before it changes. However, often stepping back from social media is essential to reset things and find your inner self or just breathe again. I do hope all is well gain now though. You have been missed.
        As for the challenge….that’s April…the Kindness one is in May…I’ve jet mapped to June already 😱

        Liked by 1 person

      2. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes, all well now. Nothing life threatening, may be I jus see things in a different light now. 🙃 You truly are very good at empathizing I must say, thank you Gary! 😊 Im thinking about Kindness Challenge, as it is in May. So you are doing the A to Z? That’s wonderful!!! Your blogging plate is already full for the next half year! Great!! 😄😄

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        New perspectives are good. Recycling old methods of thinking just stagnates things and makes everything grim. I think it’s brilliant that you’ve found a new way of thinking. You sound very positive too. I think the challenge might help with that immensely too. A to Z I’m just thinking about…I’ve a few things that need finishing writing wise first…including my NaNo manuscript 😱

        Liked by 1 person

    2. aurawithwriting Avatar
      aurawithwriting

      Ohh, your 2017 looks busier, in a good way!🙂 Yes, I’ve turned a lot positive, which was hard, as my mind is more inclined towards the other side. Wish to write about it. Let’s see how it goes. Let me know, if you plan on doing the AtoZ.😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        I fully understand the negative mind and how it impacts everything. I use that side on the kindness challenge to talk about positivity…well, will be! Just remember if you feel it slipping reach out and talk about it instead of bottling it up yes? And A to Z….I have a memory cell saying did we not agree to do it together this year 😱

        Liked by 1 person

      2. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Ya true! Bottling it up only makes it worse. Writing about positivity through the kindness challenge is a good idea. And AtoZ, yes!! Your memory cell is right 😂 We did agree on doing it together this year. I will be glad to do it 😃

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        If you relapse then message me if it helps! I’ve struggled with positive mindset for ages so into what it’s like 😇
        Oh, not a faux memory then 😱 Looks like April is now booked up too 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      4. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Thank you very much for the offering Gary! Highly appreciate it 😊😊 and you are very generous!! 😌 Yes!!! I’m so glad we’ll be doing it together this time 😃 I might need your help in coming up with the theme or ideas for AtoZ. 😜

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        You might need help?? You are the veteran in this one! I imagine that it’s quite difficult to come up with things that aren’t run of the mill though for certain letters. Did you get letter images from the challenge itself last year? I was only just getting into blogging back then so I’m a bit vague on how it’s all put together….apart from a letter a day that is 😳

        Liked by 1 person

      6. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Ya, all the letter images will be available on the AtoZ website. I was just into blog too, last April. I joined last minute, not knowing what was in store, lol. Writing everyday after a lot of digging and pondering for every letter, was kind of stressful. If we at least have an idea of what to write about each day well in advance- would make it much easier and enjoyable. People usually come up with themes and stick to them through out the challenge. Whatever is comfortable- up to us! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Themes throughout might be good, although too rigid and I bet some letters are real problematic! What to pick though 🤔 Writing related, quotes, myth and legend….horror and ghosts….decisions, decisions. You are right though…better to have a theme or general run of concepts rather than just flit day to day getting stressy. Good advice and top tip 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      8. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        You’re right! Themes might be too rigid. If not themes, we need to think of at least the titles for all 26 letters well in advance. Just to save time, as we just need to develop our writing based on it, rather than scratching heads thinking about what to write each day, lol.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        I think an over arching theme might work…something like the myths and legends one because that opens up everything from Greek, Roman or Norse mythology and also things like haunted houses, mythical creatures, fables, folklore and do on. Mindfulness might be possible too as that can travel through quotes to thoughts on application (and lead into Mays challenge), fauna and flora too maybe. Although I think I’m creating prompts based on my writing genres here lol

        Liked by 1 person

      10. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes indeed! All of them sound very much like your genres 😂but vey creative ideas. Thanks for this, helps me think about in different angles 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        We need some proper brainstorming in March! I really don’t fancy just starting without a clue where it’s going…and it must fit round life too…although…has to be easier than NaNo surely 😱

        Liked by 1 person

      12. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes!! Brainstorming is required. Planning ahead helps in every way! I think I can assure you it’s easier than NaNo! 😄 NaNo is the hardest I believe

        Liked by 1 person

      13. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Flipping hope so….I’ve hardly posted a blog post since NaNo!!! Mind you, I’ve been in a bit of a slump too…so that needs to change pronto 🤕

        Liked by 1 person

      14. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes, I see that! Looks like NaNo has you out just like AtoZ did to me 😂

        Liked by 1 person

      15. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Also been a very busy start to the year. School exams for one son and trips to orthodontists…poorly kids….all things that take one away from concentrating on my things…still, battery recharge time too lol

        Liked by 1 person

      16. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Ohh, looks like your days are busy! I’m afraid of orthodontists though, lol. Hehe yes, I hope you sneak out off your busy schedule someday and write on a weekend 😊🙃

        Liked by 1 person

      17. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Yes, I entered January thinking I’d get on top of all things writing related….forgetting about elders exam week which meant he only had to go in around midday. Bumped school runs to three a day meaning time condensed to very little. The orthodontist was to refit a brace on elder that had worked loose, then fit juniors, go back to trim a wire excess on his and then another check on elders….that said I’ve now got dual appointments going forwards to save separate trips 🙄. This is the first “normal” week of the year so best make it productive…except it’s arrived and I’ve no idea where to start 😱 Weekends tend to be my social media explores. This week I did a Twitter hop on Saturday and a blog one yesterday. Takes ages mind, but very useful to make new connections. I guess that counts as author platform building 🤔

        Liked by 1 person

      18. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Haha, I love the way you iterate your daily chores. This looks like a story in itself! 😛 But I can see how busy your boys are keeping you. That’s great! I don’t have much idea about the hops though. But yes, definitely sounds like a better platform for networking. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      19. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Eek, that story would only sell to frustrated parents with kids…then again, big market there 🤔 The hops are excellent networking opportunities. Just takes one or two to organise it and get folk signed up and then share the results. I wonder if we could get one up for A to Z participants. That would be a fabulous source of new blogs and introductions.

        Liked by 1 person

      20. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Yes! Haha, well, I did seem to enjoy it anyway :D. I’ve seen your effort with networking, very inspiring! Yes- AtoZ has a huge turnout, so definitely yes! I think AtoZ had something on similar lines last year- a concept of minions under each organizer. I wasn’t sure how it worked though!

        Liked by 1 person

      21. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Yes you did, but this time we avert burnout lol. Networking is time hogging though. I need to get a far better schedule. There are good opportunities in the kindness challenge too. I met a lot of cool people on that last year. I’ll look out for the A to Z hop thing you mentioned. I think it could work for us if handled right. You up for that too lol

        Liked by 1 person

      22. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Hehe, why not, if time permits! 😉
        Yes, I’m pretty sure there will be something for AtoZ. There is a Facebook page for AtoZ, where people post their titles under each alphabet everyday. That’s a good place to network too. Sometimes, you find few people write about the same stuff as you, with the same title 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      23. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Scheduling to make time for me things is high on my current todo list! Didn’t know about the FB page. Seems there’s more opportunities than I first thought here! Long old alphabet with no theme though 👀

        Liked by 1 person

      24. aurawithwriting Avatar
        aurawithwriting

        Hehe ya. The month of April has a lot of buzz about AtoZ, so we ll definitely come across many platforms regarding it. Im still thinking 😂

        Liked by 1 person

      25. Gary Avatar
        Gary

        Me too. Might even mix up a theme under the guise of writing…maybe horror prompts and mythical beasties….or maybe not….decisions decisions 🤓

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