Today, is the 20th of February 2016. Today, I am 27 and a half years old. Today, my blog is 345 days old. Today, my daughter is 2 years, one week and 6 days old. Today, the 1000 voices speak for compassion mouvement, #1000Speak is one year old! Now, that is a real reason to celebrate, because half years are no longer celebrated once you no longer a a toddler.
Over the past year, I only participated twice in the #1000Speak for Compassion mouvement. I wrote about the topics of gratitude and forgiveness. Even though I only joined in twice, I read many many posts that other bloggers wrote on the topics of compassion, listening, love, forgiveness, gratitude … One of the first times that I came across the mouvement, was during the A to Z Challenge, the blog in question has been retired, so can not even check what this very first #1000Speak post that I read was about.
Over the past year, I go to know people better through their very private and personal posts. In November 2015, Rowena wrote about her medical condition in this very touching post entitled Wisdom of Gratitude?, now 3 months later I still regularly think back to her strength in such a moment of weakness. I felt lost for words, but made an effort to send some hugs Rowena’s way:
Wow, I am completely moved by your piece. I had no idea that you were suffering from such a rare and difficult illness. I am glad that your kids can enjoy you fully, I do suppose that you do make sure to live every moment with them to the fullest.
I do wish you a long and as healthy as possible life with as little suffering as possible.
Hugs, Solveig
Many times I did not comment on posts, often I think I was too moved, I did not know what to say. The posts where it was hardest to say something where those that have stayed with me the longest.
In August 2015, I read about listening, I recall Geoff’s post An Ear to the Future, I did not feel ready then to participate in the linkup, I was more ready to read other’s posts and find out more about how to listen correctly. Listening is something so important, that we often do not do correctly. Reading in a way is a for of listening, just that we cannot interrupt and stop listening to the person talking to us, ok we can stop reading.
It took me a long time to take the leap and join the linkup myself. I felt insecure. Would I be saying something wrong? Would I write something politically incorrect? Would I be off topic? Am I really capable of writing about compassion? Riddled by doubt, I did not dare sit in front of the computer, or pick up my pen and write some things into my notebook. Even though the post by Trent about love, The Elusive, dealt with the trouble of not finding the right words, not exactly knowing what to write, and perfectly reflecting what kept me from joining in with my own post, I still did not join.
For a long time I was not ready.
In November I had the chance to do a guest post for the series The Story Behind the Story, I dove into my past and shone light on the reasons that lead me to write, out came the post Answering My True Calling, which I still feel today, helped me grow as a blogger, a writer, a person. Shortly afterwards, with my newly acquired confidence, but also the tragic events that had happened in Paris, and the compassion I was showered with after writing about the terrorist attacks, I wrote about gratitude for #1000Speak. It was a necessity.
If you are still hesitating about joining the mouvement for compassion, then stop hesitating and join! I have not blogged in a while, various reasons have kept me away from my computer screen. Some are as simple as lacking time due to work and having family visiting, others are more serious.
Today, I want to regain my confidence in my capacities as a writer and make my blog live again! I might be slow with replying to comments in the days and weeks to come, but know that I am there, smiling about every positive comment that I receive. Today, I am taking my head back out of the sand and am starting to blog again.
Today, I am going to join #1000Speak to tell you how grateful I am that this amazing community exists. Today, I feel that this event can help me regain my confidence and become a blogger. Today, I am going to let you know that even though I started this post in my notebook, I never looked at what I wrote inside that little black book, I started this post from scratch, it is rough, probably riddled with mistakes. But today, I just want to write again. Today, I want to thank you for reading.
© Solveig Werner 2016. All rights reserved.
Solveig Werner 
Wow! That is spine tingling stuff, Solveig and exactly what this movement is about. That’s a really special dose of self compassion right there and that makes every word that’s been tumbled on to the page extra important. I can almost sense you shaking your shoulders and pursing your lips, ready for some real blogging action. I think you entirely encapsulate in your touching prose what so many of us feel about joining in. Does our contribution merit entry, is it going to be ‘good’ enough? And, yes it is and it does. Please put this in the link up. There will be so many having the same concerns and to read someone articulate this fear so well will help then move from reader to contributor.
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This is a fabulous post Solveig! Feelings drive many of us in regards to our posts. Because of my husband’s illness and surgery, I’m stressed and worn out. At these times I find it hard to express myself. However my A to Z Blogger’s Challenge probably will be about Caregiving as that is what I have been doing since Christmas. I have MANY challenges ahead of me. I like reading about what is taking place in people’s lives, so I’m glad you shared this post.
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Wonderful post, Solveig. It can be hard to find the words sometimes, and I often don’t have them quite right, but reading and sharing other posts – looking to their posts for your own inspiration is what a community is all about. I hope you’ll maintain your confidence and continue to share.
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It is great movement. I posted several times for he first event, maybe 5 or 6. After that it was hit or miss, but still several. I’ve met a lot of good people and the whole nature of my blog changed because of it. Oh, oh, I’m starting to write my recap post in your comments! Anyway, you blog compassion all of the time, so doing it through #1000Speak will just put you in good company.
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Glad to find you here and that you have decided to join in. I too often wondered if what I wrote was “right” for the link up. But there are so many ways to think about compassion and I came to realize that you really cannot do it “wrong”.
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Reblogged this on beyondtheflow and commented:
1000 Voices for Compassion is A Year old and I have loved being a part of this from the beginning. Here’s a year in review by Solveig, who mentions a post I wrote about forgiving an illness xx Rowena
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It is a wonderful movement in the blogging community. I haven’t participated more than a couple of times and that’s because I’m not organized enough. I don’t plan blog posts ahead of time and the 20th pops up and I say “shoot! I missed it again!”
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I love your thoughts about reading as listening. Glad to see you writing, this was a thought-provoking post!
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Congratulations on your personal milestones!! We’re so happy to have you! It doesn’t matter how many times you posted but it means a lot that you lovingly read so many of our posts! So glad to have you in our village! 🙂
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So many wonderful milestones to celebrate! I love how you’ve read and remembered these posts so well – that’s amazing! I don’t make it to the link-up every month, either. I don’t think that’s what matters. What matters is that you’re with us and you share your words in your own time.
I’ve read many posts, by the way, and comments of bloggers who feel the same – that their posts aren’t good enough, that they aren’t good enough, that they have no business writing about compassion and so on. And the truth is that every one of them, in their own way, is perfect and MORE than enough!
Glad you’re with us!
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Thanks for this lovely and honest post, and I second what Louise says, you cannot get it wrong when you write about compassion. Whatever it means to you is what matters.
I’m glad you let go of worrying about being good enough and joined us this month.
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Ah, so glad you want to write, Solveig, you have the heart, the talent and amazing energy about your writing.
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Some wonderfully moving gratitude and honesty here. I agree. I feel the same about 1000Speak and glad you didn’t let your uncertainty stop you. Glad you’re here with us.
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