Ever just say, gotta stop? | Pad Patter 26 July

[AnneofAlamo]

Sometimes our schedules can fill up to overflowing. Our commitments become overwhelming, and something has to give.

I gave up scrapping, and memory keeping for a few months. I love how refreshed I am, and a new and bright focus on why I memory keep, and why I create pages. (cause I more than anything miss creating).
I am really blessed to have a scrap family here, that I knew I could pop in and still feel. But, I needed the time away.

Tell me, have you ever had to say,

I can't do ____________ (insert here) this anymore.

Did you stop forever?

Was it a break?

Guilt or complete freedom?

Tell me about it!

 

[wvsandy]

My husband fell and broke his hip right in the middle of MOC! I had to stop scrapping "cold turkey" and take on a lot of other duties that I usually ignored. It was hard but it was a good "break" for me.

There have been other times that I've had to say "just stop!" Hugs to you.

 

[AnneofAlamo]

My husband fell and broke his hip right in the middle of MOC! I had to stop scrapping "cold turkey" and take on a lot of other duties that I usually ignored. It was hard but it was a good "break" for me.

There have been other times that I've had to say "just stop!" Hugs to you.

oh goodness Sandy, I remember that, and that would be harder I think.
I think the freshness I feel when I open my program and happy to keep some memories

I also quit girls scouts! oh, my I hated it. Brownies, I did it for ONE year per my mom, and on the 365 day mark, I handed in my nasty brown uniform and ugly socks! bhahha

 

[Beckie]

me, yes definitely. after I stopped scrapbooking years ago I tried to spend all the time I had left focusing on my photography. There's a popular mom photog site that I spent years on as I took classes, got photo feedback, etc.

But I noticed that everyone was working towards a certification (? that means what, anyway ?) and I found myself caught up needing validation from the people on the site to feel like my work was good. I walked away from all photography for about a month, only used my cell phone. They i picked up my camera again, with confidence, haven't gone back to the photog site, and I'm happily shooting for myself ever since.

best thing I ever did. getting caught up in a loop of external validation was dead end!

 

[cfile]

yes I have had to do that a few times... the last big break from scrapping I can remember was in 2012 when my Dad was in ICU and passed away on Thanksgiving.. the time between Halloween when I went to be with him down in Florida until sometime in January I did very little in the way of scrapping. If I did it was only to keep up with my CT duties but my heart wasn't in it.

I had that recently too where i needed the break.. (when Dawn passed away.. was so hard)

Re having to quit something you love, I will have to say counted cross stitch. I have all the supplies... DMC floss, metallic threads, patterns, aida cloth, luguna cloth, towels, potholders, bookmarks - you name it. The biggest problem why I had to stop was because of my eyesight and my hand cramping all the time was getting painful. I still go back and try and get a few more rows of this Chicken I have been making done, but this poor chicken has been "in process" for at least 10-15 years! lol

 

[AnneofAlamo]

Then i picked up my camera again, with confidence

I so love this part, with confidence!!! That is what makes you love the camera, and the results!

counted cross stitch. I have all the supplies... DMC floss,

oh my gosh! I did too...after years of little Xs! I had a precious moment huge canvas...all soft pinks, creams and whites...argh! It was the nail to my cross stitching! I had it all too. I gave it all away, and darn it, my floss was in this way cool wooden box, I wish I kept that thing. bhwhaha

 

[jenn mccabe]

I took a few small breaks from scrapping due to school over the last few years. Taking a lot of classes that ended in 'ology and then trying to make room for creative things - it didn't mesh well for me.

I also pretty much gave up reading for pleasure for the last 3 years while I was in school ... all those textbooks! I never had the desire to read for fun when I had a break. Now that I'm finally able to get back into reading - I find I'm really picky about about my books. I've put down a few that just didn't speak to me. I think I still have the mindset/fear that I don't have the time and only want to read stuff that I love. I used to never put a book down - I'd push through even if I thought I didn't like it. Gave pretty much every book a fair chance. (Except Life of Pi. I could not get through that book for my life! or for Pi!)

 

[StefanieS]

Scrapbooking:I stopped in 2016, was still doing CT stuff but nothing for our albums. That was a tough year - hubby's father died and my Mom died too. So I went through MOC and creative team layouts and just printed those - not perfect and not matchy matchy like they would have been had I made them with the family album in mind. But they are done and show snippets of the year which is better than nothing.
Cross stitching: stopped when I discovered scrapbooking and no never went back.
Knitting baby blankets for charity: stopped for two years and now slowly knitting another. However the kittens just love wool and needles and movement so its nothing like when I made ten per winter.

 

[AnneofAlamo]

Except Life of Pi. I could not get through that book for my life! or for Pi!)

OMGosh! I have that stupid book next to my bed...I move it constantly, I can NOT get into it, thru it or anything. Emperor's new clothes to me...bhawhhah. I am going to walk to my room after this post and put in the charity box.

That was a tough year - hubby's father died and my Mom died too.

When I am emotionally drained, making pages of memories is NOT therapeutic to me. The hurt overwhelms. Being able to step away is so healthy.

 

[DisneyMom]

I just came back end of May from a few years break from Scrapping. I was a designer for a number of years as well. First computer/laptop issues, then we had a big move and I got pregnant with our 3rd and it was a rough pregnancy. So few years off during all that was needed. But I missed it every single day. I tell my hubby that my passion in life is scrapping our adventures so they are preserved and remembered forever. It feels so good to be back scrapping again.

 

[jesskab]

I just finished my senior thesis. I got a B. My professor offered to let me rewrite it. I'm still finishing a class on Cairo & my back keeps going out. I'm chomping at the bit to start my Guest Polly spot. I just had to say no. I got a B, I'll live. I don't want to put any more effort into that 16 page essay. I'm done, I accept it.

Also, I refused to do the extra cub scout summer stuff. It wasn't fun last year. You can only tour a battleship so many times. Nope, I chose to let us all enjoy our summer.

 

[michelepixels]

I couldn't think of anything I quit when I first read the original post. I think I tend to just let things fall to the wayside.

I don't consider myself to have quit cross-stitching but I think the last time I worked my "current" cross-stitch project was over 5 years ago. I definitely haven't touched it in 2 years since I relocated it from my desk to the wall, thinking that hanging it might somehow increase the chances of me working on it. Instead the chances decreased because now I rarely ever see it! LOL

I certainly did not intend to quit scrapbooking but when I got serious about photography in 2012 and spent a couple of years taking classes, including business classes, for a few years I barely scrapped at all. I missed it too!

But now I've thought of two things I did decisively quit.

First, it was working on digiscrap Creative Teams in 2012, when I decided to focus on photography. I missed that less than making my own pages in general, but I have fond memories of being part of a team and behind the scenes at a digiscrap store. Maybe someday I will again.

Secondly, just this year, I quit my volunteer job as photo editor of VaHomeschoolers Voice magazine. I had worked there since 2011, longer than anyone else on the magazine team! I was struggling to do the job well anymore, finding it annoying instead of fun, and actually thought about leaving for a year or two before I finally did it. Even then, I said I'd keep doing it until they found my replacement, and continue being available to help, rather than giving an exact quitting date and disappearing. I felt both a little bad for abandoning them AND a wonderful sense of freedom.

 

[EHStudios]

Mid 2013 I stepped away from digi-designing & from many CTs & being crazy active in my then digi homes. 2012 had more than half a dozen family deaths pretty well back-to-back and the resulting family drama and issues that came with it meant I couldn't stay as active and committed to things as I wanted. Then in August 2015 we learned of a close cousin's heroin addiction and that took me away from all my PL scrapping, (so I'm 3 years behind even though I still have all my photos & memorabilia), & even further away from creating lightheartedly on teams. It wasn't until last year's MOC (2017) that I fully decided I was going to scrap & create & do the things I love COMPLETELY for me & stop letting other people's crap drag me down. Just saying at the beginning of the year last year that I was GOING TO DO IT reinvigorated me. (Maybe soon I can come back to designing too! That's something I miss, but scrapping is definitely my heart.)

 

[Serena]

FACEBOOK!

It's a cesspool of misery for me! My "family" is on there and even though I've tried so hard to patch things up, it finally just came to my attention I will never be a part of them the way I'd like. I will always be just some extra person that happens to have similar DNA.

It was always a vicious cycle of getting to talk to those I love and then seeing stuff that just made me sick to my stomach or depressed and I'd always take time off and everyone's like "there she goes again." I can't seem to 'burn' the bridges so I just leave it.

Finally a few years back I said "DONE." I STOPPED going to facebook. I still have it, and on occasion if a friend sends me a link or something, I'll go back, post and talk for a little then I click off IMMEDIATELY. I DO NOT read my feed at all. I do not use it for anything. I limit myself to work and LilyPad and it was one of the BEST things I've EVER done for myself emotionally. Things started getting better, I was happier and I am happily at home here. ^.^

IF for some reason I ever ended up on a CT team permanently, I MIGHT go through and clean up my page just so I can start posting, but the one team that sign me on, forgot about me so my social accounts stay quiet for a bit. heh.

I cannot stop creating in some way. I need to be photographing, or scrapping, or choreographing a dance. If I don't, my heart and soul just kind of wither. So that I'll never stop in some form.

I'm glad you're back, we missed you, Miss Anne! ::SUPER HUG!::

 

[BevG]

Ah, lots of things have fallen by the wayside, over time. What is interesting is when you happen to pick one up again and then remember how fun it was. Like reading - I was an avid reader and then I had a hard time finding good books and then Facebook and the internet came along, but I read a book a few months back and loved it. Like cross-stitching - I used to do it all the time while watching TV or a kid's movie, but my kids are not little any more and I don't watch TV or movies. Someday again??

Like traditional, paper scrapping - this has been on hold for 5 years, but... we finally cleaned out and painted my oldest son's bedroom (he moved out 5 years ago) and we made it an art room. I sorted and organized my paper stuff and I am paper scrapping again -- committing to at least 1 Saturday a month. I have 20 years backlog and probably already enough supplies to do all of that.

 

[Karen]

I'd say that the only thing I've had to say "this has to stop" is over-volunteering at church. Once I joined one thing, then people got to know me and would ask me to do another thing rather than finding someone else at church that wasn't involved in anything and then they'd ask for another thing and another..... fast forward to me having ZERO free time at home with my family because I was always at church doing things that really weren't a good fit for me. SO I started learning how to say no to things that weren't using my spiritual gifts and said yes to more family type things that my family could do with me. That was a HUGE step for me... learning to say no is a good thing! I also learned that when they came asking for another thing I'd say... well, which one of the other things do you want me to quit?

as for crafty stuff... I too used to cross stitch, but I doubt I'll ever go back to it. Those projects just take too long! Lol! I also used to do stained glass stuff and that is something that I've recently started itching to get back to. I have a Tiffany reproduction lamp 1/3 done and I really want to get back to it even if that the last thing I make. I spent a ton of money on the glass for that lamp and it will be so pretty when it's done! The lamp I'm making looks like this one, but hasn't been touched since I had my boys about 14 years ago!

 

[Sokee]

I'd say that the only thing I've had to say "this has to stop" is over-volunteering at church. Once I joined one thing, then people got to know me and would ask me to do another thing rather than finding someone else at church that wasn't involved in anything and then they'd ask for another thing and another..... fast forward to me having ZERO free time at home with my family because I was always at church doing things that really weren't a good fit for me. SO I started learning how to say no to things that weren't using my spiritual gifts and said yes to more family type things that my family could do with me

Amen! This was me at church and I agree, there are so many that do none..... I had an Elder in the church that told me. ‘N0, is a complete sentence.’ How wise!

 

[GlazeFamily3]

One thing I have recently decided that I am probably done with for good is sewing. I began sewing around ten years ago when I was expecting my daughter. I have sewn her a ton of clothes, but especially enjoyed creating costumes for her. It was something that brought me a huge source of joy, but now that she is older she just isn't as in to mom made clothes anymore. I recently sold all of my fabric, notions, thread, and everything else. I have my two sewing machines and serger still, but will be listing those on a local sale group soon.

I also used to be a serious blogger- as in I actually blogged for an income. It just started with me writing for fun, but after a while companies would contact me to work with and write for them. I did this for five years and at times, I did thoroughly enjoy it. I got to work with some amazing companies and have some truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences including a conference at Disney World (that included unlimited fastpasses), movie screenings, and a lot of local events. But, a point came where I realized it was consuming me and all of my time. I decided to completely walk away cold turkey. Instantly it felt as if a weight had been lifted. That was about three years ago, and honestly I had not missed it really at all until recently. I have changed and grown so much in those years, that I felt I could possibly do this again, but with a clearer head so that I could keep it from taking over. It took me all of three days to realize that my heart just wasn't in it anymore and that this is a piece of my past I just need to completely let go of. And, I am okay with that.

And this is not me, but my daughter... In June of 2015 my daughter went her good friend's birthday party at a taekwondo studio. I was SHOCKED that she actually loved it. So much so that she asked if we could cancel her gymnastics camp so that she could start taekwondo. We did. She loved it. By November, she was competing and winning in regional championships. She continued competing over the next year, winning a lot of medals and qualifying for district championships (twice). She also began to assist in teaching the younger students class with her instructor and this became her favorite thing of all. At some point, around the beginning of 2017, she began to fall out of love with the sport. Her heart just wasn't in it as much anymore. But, she really wanted to achieve earning her black belt. So she stayed committed to the sport, working and training as hard as she always had. I was beyond proud of her. I knew she didn't love it anymore, but on her own she stuck with it to see a goal through. I know that the kind of dedication and work ethic she showed will serve her well in life. She got her black belt in December of 2017 and now happily does not attend taekwondo classes anymore.

 

[jenn mccabe]

I'd say that the only thing I've had to say "this has to stop" is over-volunteering at church. Once I joined one thing, then people got to know me and would ask me to do another thing rather than finding someone else at church that wasn't involved in anything and then they'd ask for another thing and another..... fast forward to me having ZERO free time at home with my family because I was always at church doing things that really weren't a good fit for me. SO I started learning how to say no to things that weren't using my spiritual gifts and said yes to more family type things that my family could do with me. That was a HUGE step for me... learning to say no is a good thing! I also learned that when they came asking for another thing I'd say... well, which one of the other things do you want me to quit?

as for crafty stuff... I too used to cross stitch, but I doubt I'll ever go back to it. Those projects just take too long! Lol! I also used to do stained glass stuff and that is something that I've recently started itching to get back to. I have a Tiffany reproduction lamp 1/3 done and I really want to get back to it even if that the last thing I make. I spent a ton of money on the glass for that lamp and it will be so pretty when it's done! The lamp I'm making looks like this one, but hasn't been touched since I had my boys about 14 years ago!

Never knew this lamp making thing about you! That is so cool!

 

[Sokee]

I hate to admit this but I quit my sister. I was the one who was the one who reached out first. I m not sure maybe about 3-4 years ago I found out in a round about way of a group of our old book club (which quit getting together) were getting together for a dinner. Last minute someone else messaged me inviting me. Realized my sister knew about it for weeks already. She never called and invited me. I ended up calling her and spilled my heart out to her how it hurt that we only got together or talked because of me.

At that time I made the decision to wait and see if she would call me. First year I was very hurt when I never heard from her..... now I’ve adjusted to her not being in my daily life. It doesn’t hurt anymore, it is just sad.