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Jody L. Collins's avatar

Oh my friend.... I do not even care that you've been silent/missing/quiet for however long--the wait is so worth it when you show up with your words!

And KSP's quote about doing something else then writing about it proved golden here--I love all the volleyball/coaching connections with Life in General and showing us your quiet (but sometimes very loud) self.

I will read anything you write whenever you write it.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Thank you Jody ; )

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Megan Willome's avatar

YES to all the comments, and a reminder of what you already know--that this is volleyball season, not volleyball life. Your words will have added richness when you return.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Oh my gosh, "volleyball season, not volleyball life". So well put, Megan. Yeah I know it, but leave it to the Poet say it so lovingly square ; )

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Kris Camealy's avatar

So good, Tresta. This sounds like wisdom. I hope those girls are listening to you, and I hope you are listening to you too. 🤍 This is a season, and you’re fully in it. You are where you need to be.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Thanks Kris. I'm trying to listen to me but I annoy myself sometimes. It's good to write things and then be reminded to take my own advice!

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Gracious, I needed this!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

It seems like I need this reminder about once every couple of months. I always think I'm going to get over the hump, catch up on things, and maybe next month I can... Ha!

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Sarah K. Butterfield's avatar

So much yes to this! Thinking we can do it all, all the time is a recipe for failure and burnout. Instead of shaming ourselves for what we can't do in any given season, we should give our best to the few things we can. I love that you're modeling this right now!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

"give our best to the few things" is a great little phrase to carry. Love it!

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Carol Longenecker Hiestand.'s avatar

from the vantage point of my 76 years of living, i say, you are right on:)

I am writing my story for my family and editing my dad's story he wrote and i have visions of writing on a regular basis, but i am more random than structured and have come to accept that some random is ok for where I am. so sometimes i hyper focus and write and write and somedays i do "nothing, like last week when the electricity went out from Tuesday to thursday and then again for 6 hours on friday! we spent time figuring out how to fix food. with an electic stove,, oh yeh, crock pots, microwave, nothing worked. evening drives to charge our phones were part of our day. I"ll happily read when you write again. until then, carry on!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Thanks Carol ; ) It used to discourage me to hear folks further along than I, talking about how they're still so busy, but it's just a testament to our humanness I guess. We are meant to be faithfully mortal while we wait for immortality!

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Deane Watters's avatar

Tresta, thanks, such good writing. I had what I’m calling My Summer of Hospitality. We had someone (or two or three) people staying in our home all summer long. I cooked lots of meals, had great conversations, and participated in many adventures but I couldn’t write. I couldn’t schedule spiritual directees. I wasn’t leading my women’s Sunday school class. And I couldn’t meet friends for coffee. It was a season where I had to focus elsewhere. I’m now back to doing all those things and I feel refreshed and able to enjoy doing the things I love. Just a few reasons I resonated so well with what you wrote. 🩷

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Tresta Payne's avatar

What a beautiful summer, Deane! I'm sure it will all feed into your next season.

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Sheila Dougal's avatar

Oh man, you and I are cut from the same cloth! I love your words. I love that you take time to share your life and thoughts with us. Enjoy this season with your team. You’ll get back on the writing bike no problemo! I’m confident!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Thanks Sheila ; )

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