During a surgeon's narrative of what took place during a patient's surgical procedure, s/he documents that prior to administering anesthesia, all parties involved in the planned procedure paused to correctly identify the patient, the correct site of surgery (part of body to be operated upon), the proper equipment and other pertinent pre-incision aspects of the operation to ensure safety and eliminate operating room errors. The time it takes for these safety checks is usually referred to as "a pause for the cause." It can also be referred to as "a timeout."
I am not performing a surgical procedure but I am pausing for the cause. The causes in my situation are life and the means of securing the necessities of it While dolls continue to provide immense pleasure, they also have the ability to draw my focus away from things that are more important. With everything in life there has to be a proper balance. Imbalance often leads to chaos, disorder, and careless mistakes. Admittedly, I have allowed some things to take a back burner to the gratification I derive from collecting, writing about, and buying more dolls. This has to cease.
As a result of circumstances that are fortunately not beyond my control, my doll buying has been put on hold for an indefinite period. This self-imposed doll-buying hiatus commenced in mid-April. It is a promise I made to myself that until I have done better in areas where I have lost focus that need more of my undivided attention, I will not buy additional dolls.
Will this pause for the cause mean a time out for the Black Doll Collecting Blog as well? No, absolutely not. My blog posts may not occur as often as they have, but they will continue as time permits. Since May proves to be a busy month for me, I will try to post whenever possible and when I have something viable to share.
So until I write again, enjoy the aspects of life that are important to you.
dbg
I hope everything goes well. Real life is important, so we/you can continue Doll life.
ReplyDeleteI could not have stated it better, LaDonna. Thank you!
Deletedbg
Always take care of what's important first Debbie!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Bonnie. That is the plan! Thanks!
Deletedbg
Wishing all the best.
ReplyDeleteThank you Thammie the Doll Maker!
Deletedbg
Hi Debbie!
ReplyDeleteI really like this post. I think that we all must to preserve the perspective of other aspects of our life when something takes lot of our time and dedication. It's about keep the perception around our life in a global way even if we have a passion,doing something. I never was able to post on my blog daily. Since I need inspiration and time to create a photo session,was difficult to me, to keep the rhythm. Maybe that was the problem of my blog,having now, less visits than ever,but at the same time I tried since 2010 keep my attention shared also out of my great passion for the dolls universe. Made me great read your post!Thank you so much!And we all will be right here waiting on you.
I have always enjoyed your posts, Jorge, particularly the styling of the dolls and your impeccable photography. Those are two important attributes to keep readers interested, but as you have mentioned, they both require lots of time and attention to detail. I know you are like me in that regard, anything you touch must represent perfection.
DeleteIt is touching to know that you will await my return.
dbg
You're a kind friend and is a pleasure have contact to you!We must to respect the friend's decisions,and I'm sure that all your readers and friends we'll be exactly here.Raedy to meeet you as soon as possible!!
DeleteTake your time and don't forget us!
Hugs My Sweet!!
Hi Debbie, I wish you all the best in your re-grouping "timeout" and I will treasure your posts whenever you have time to write.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paulette! It means a lot to me that you treasure my posts.
Deletedbg
I think we all understand about the conflict between R/L and our hobbies. I am just glad you are refocusing, but not leaving!
ReplyDeleteFirst things should always be first, right, The Grandmommy? One of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite actors is: “Do what you gotta do so you can do what you wanna do.”
Delete― Denzel Washington
Often before I roll out of bed in the morning on work days, I tell myself, "Let me get up and do what I have to do so I can do what I want to do." It gets me motivated, even when I'd rather stay curled up under the covers.
dbg
At some point in life, we all have to take a moment (pause foe the cause). This time will allow me to go back and review some of your old post that I have been wanting to check out. I feel like the grandmommy, I am SO glad that you are not leaving us. I had to skip to the bottom of the post to see what the outcome was.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, GG. I feel better already and have have already had a positive thing occur as a result of my regaining focus. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel even though I'll be busy-busy-busy this month. But I'd rather be busy than the alternative.
DeleteSo I am not going anywhere. I just won't be here as often.
:-)
dbg
I can definitely understand, Debbie. I'm wishing you all the best, praying that things are well, and I'll be here to read your posts as you have time to write them. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Roxanne. Wishing you all the best, too!
Deletedbg
I absolutely understand! I myself have been stagnant in playing and posting. I am currently focusing on gaining employment yet once again this year. Not sure if I'm suppose to be in Charlotte doing this, not sure if God wants me to continue to stay in the city of Charlotte, lol. I just know I trust him and the direction he wants me to go in. I haven't purchased dolls in a long time and I believe the last on was my Mini AG. My creativity has flowed in other aspect of my life and just maybe that the direction God wants me. I would like to wish you the best!!
ReplyDeleteAll my best to you, Brini. I pray that you are led in the right direction to find fulfilling employment where your many talents can be utilized.
DeleteThere are truly more important things in life than the next doll acquisition.
dbg
My nephew was such a ruffian that instead of being put in 'timeout,' he was always put on 'lockdown,' lol. That made it seem like a harsher consequence, I guess. Sometimes that's just what you gotta do.
ReplyDeleteI hope your nephew has outgrown the ruffian stage.
Deletedbg
Refocus, refresh, and rejuvenate. And come back when you can. We need you...it's not just idle amusement for your readers; it's a chance to read thoughts we can't find elsewhere, to find an emphasis we can't find elsewhere, and pictures of dolls that are not shown, in their fullness of expression, elsewhere. Reading your blog informed my collecting and made it more rich, and me more mindful of the importance of some seemingly small things that are not really small...at all. Dolls are the start of many friendships, and it connects us with the child we have somewhere still inside.
ReplyDeleteBless you and keep you and come back to us when you can.
I am doing the three R's you mentioned whenever possible, Eklectic1. Thank you for sharing what this blog has provided and will, hopefully continue to provide you and other readers.
DeleteBlessings to you as well.
I
will
be
back,
but
not
as
often
for a while.
dbg
I always find the ebb and flow of collecting interesting in itself. I remember a doll collector quite condescendingly announce that you weren't a proper collector unless your collection was out on display. I disagreed with this, that dependant on lifestyle, space and desire each person who collects has the opportunity to express their interests in whichever way they want. For myself there are times to "put childish things away" and times when I need those talismans around to give me the strength to go forth and conquer. I am currently having a moment where many a Barbie has found her way out of the toy box and we have rebuilt the doll house and the Camper has come from under the stairs because at this moment I need to see their aspirational happy faces around to get me moving in the right direction as they have been for 25 years of collecting (on & off). But Debbie, I get it there are also those times when you are strong and determined and a break is required. Go forth and conquer. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Julius,
DeleteThe doll-collecting experience will vary from collector to collector. For someone to attempt to define a person as a true collector or not by the manner in which they "display" or "do not display" their dolls seems rather odd. Our hobby has such a broad definition. No two doll collectors will ever be alike. In fact, some doll lovers/owners do not define themselves as collectors at all, and I am okay with that.
I am a doll collector who happens to love black dolls and prefer their presence over any others, so much so that the focus has been a constant in my life for the past 24 years. The majority of my dolls are always "on display" with very few stored because I enjoy seeing and being surrounded by them on a daily basis. While my dolls are a constant in my life, I understand your need to sometimes "put away childish things" and to retrieve them when their visible presence is needed.
I have placed myself on doll buying hiatuses before, but was never really as serious about the pauses and ultimately gave in when the next heart-warming inanimate doll surfaced. This time is different. Thank you for understanding and expressing the fact that you can relate to my self-imposed time out.
dbg