Blogging A to Z 2022 - Dating

Welcome to Day 4 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest.

DATING

There are so many days I am glad my dating days are behind me. But, you say, what if you are widowed? If I happen to outlive my husband, I don't plan to date or marry again. I've been in a few relationships, had three children with two different men, and am just as happy spending time alone as I am spending time with my husband. I pray I don't have to live without him, but if it happens, I'll figure out life on my own. 

Here are my top three reasons for not wanting to date again:

1. The Pew Research Center studied public attitudes about our modern dating landscape in August of 2020. Nearly half Americans felt dating had gotten harder in the last 10 years, especially women. I agree. I met my son's father because I lived next door to his older brother. I went to high school with my husband and we worked together, even thought we didn't date until three years after we graduated. It doesn't seem to be as easy to meet people these days and technology seems to have made the whole process of meeting someone impersonal. 
2. I am super concerned about my safety. Between being a petite person and working in an industry where you could meet strangers on a regular basis, my safety is my primary concern. I've learned to be more aware of my surroundings and take precautions to protect myself, but I don't know that I want to travel down the figure out if the guy I am interested in is a nice person or a sex offender road.
3. To date could mean showing my body off to someone new, and I am just not going there. I've had three children, and pregnancy was not kind to my body. Neither was breastfeeding, for that matter. The thought of gaining enough confidence to be comfortable with a new person gives me a headache.

Here is a bonus reason why I don't plan to date again: I don't want to spend the time getting to know a new person and worrying if he will accept me as I am, try to change me, or just decide I'm not the one for him. Who needs that stress in their life?

What are your family friendly thoughts on dating? Do you think dating is harder than it used to be? What is the top family friendly reason you would or would not date again?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Jan 3

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome to the first Monday of 2022. How are you doing with your new year's resolutions? As I mentioned in early December, I'm not really a resolutions kind of person. By March, they all go out the window. Funny how that coincides with the spring real estate market. 

This year, I made ten bookish promises to myself. You can find them here if you wish to read them. As for professional/personal promises I am making to myself, here is what the list looks like:

1. Increase my sales volume by one million. This seems like such a puny promise, but considering I have assumed the role of president of my local Realtor association, I need to be realistic. Many people decrease in volume during their year as president. I don't want that to be my story.
2. To create better systems for intaking clients and for following up. Systems does not always mean automation. There are some things you can automate, but connecting with people in a personal way isn't one of them. It's amazing how much I've accomplished in the last 7.5 years, but I want to do more.
3. Spend more time in God's Word. I've done so much better over the years, but you can never spend enough time reading Scripture. I started the "Bible in One Year 2022 with Nicky Gumbel" plan on my Holy Bible app to help with this.
4. Take one "real" vacation this year. I will be traveling more than usual because of my real estate commitments. Summer is usually a busy time for me professionally, and I end up working most of my vacation. I don't care if I plan a long weekend with the husband or if it's going to Greece with the family like we planned in 2020. I need to find some time where work doesn't invade private time.

Now, onto my reading world. My Goodreads Challenge says I read 61 books last year. That is 21 more books than I planned. Yes, children's picture books made up part of that, but considering I've read less than 50 books the last four years and picture books were always in the count, I consider that a win. This year, I am looking to read 70 books. I would like to read fewer than 12 picture books as part of that count. 

Sheila from Book Journey put together The 9th Annual First Book of the Year. I am joining other book bloggers in declaring my first book of the year. We will see if I can keep to it this year. Say a prayer for me. :) 

Though I will be sad to see this series end, I am eager to read The Attic on Queen Street. If you check out this post, you will also see what books other bloggers have chosen. 

My review of 52 Weeks of Writing appeared here on December 31. The gift card giveaway is running for about another 12 days.

I also squeezed in this family devotional that I reviewed on my children's book blog. 

I need to finish this one so I can start my first book before January book reviews are due.

I will review the first chapter of this one on January 25.

My review of this poetry collection will appear on January 26. 

These two don't have a deadline, but I would like to get them read this month. 

After that, I need to review this one at my children's book blog in February.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Though we definitely don't have any white, fluffy stuff on our mailbox right now, I just loved this cute snowman image.

Santa didn't bring me many books this year, so I opted to buy some used books for myself. The first two arrived this week.

Barnes and Noble is running a huge 50% off sale, so the Lil' Diva went shopping. Lucky for me, she didn't realize she already owned this book.

She also picked up a guided book for me.

I also grabbed these Kindle freebies. I have one of Chapman's Pebble Creek books here, so I thought this free short story would be a nice addition.

That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope you will share your resolutions and reading plans with me this week.