After many years on this blog, it felt like the perfect time for a fresh start. I’ve been mostly absent from this space for several years for various reasons, but I feel like the best way to put it succinctly is that I’m undergoing a life reboot. For quite some time, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to come back to the blogging world. Once I decided to work my way back into it, there was some inner debate as to whether to keep this blog alive, or to begin a new one.

As you can see, my decision was to keep this one and start over. The “Pull Up A Toadstool” name is one which I still love and feel still suits me, so here I am. There will still be random types of content, like in the old days. However, I have undergone so many changes in the past several years that it was time to start fresh and move forward in ways which reflect the person I’ve become. It’s exciting!

I cannot say that I will be here regularly yet, but the goal is to get to that point. Health issues have been the main theme in my life, and frankly I’ve spent the vast majority of the past few years in what can best be described as a void. There has been no art, writing, physical activity, and very little socializing. It has been a blur of severe flare-ups (of mostly my CFS with a little help from other conditions), with the accompanying fatigue, pain, and brain fog. In the last few months though, I’ve been seeing glimmers of hope.

In many ways I’m at square one, because my physical state is weakened. That’s just the reality after spending over two years mostly on the couch or in bed. The good news though, is that I’ve been able to resume a little more activity around the house and spend more time in an upright position. The biggest thing right now is to slowly attempt to build back some physical endurance, which has historically brought the brain fog and creative energy back to more functionality. As I have never been in a severe state for this long, I have no idea how long the rebuilding process will take this time.

There is a degree of worry that my condition has progressed to a point that my level of functioning just won’t be what I’d like it to be in order to do all of the things I wish to do. But and this is a big but, for the first time in well over a year I am feeling those glimmers of interest in the things that I love to do. So, I’m shoving the worry aside and getting to work on rebuilding from the ground up. With all that has transpired in recent years, I feel a bit like a phoenix, making my rise from the ashes.

If there are any of you still here from before, I’m glad you’ve stuck around. For anyone new who discovers this space, welcome! I’ll be back as soon as possible with something to say or show to all of you.