SETBACKS, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT?

Hey y’all. I know most of my blogging hasn’t had much to do with writing or books, but sometimes, I feel it’s important also to share what is in my heart. Hope that is okay with ALL of my subscribers 🙂

This week I registered online with http://www.dailyom.com to get advice on improving my health, fitness, and meditation. Ironically, I ran across this.

If you remember last week’s blog, I focused on accepting compliments. Anyhow, moving right along.

Although it wasn’t supposed to be a part of this week’s write-up, I must share a recent experience I had.
Monday was a sad day guys; I took my laptop to the Geek Squad (Best Buy) for servicing and was assured it would not affect any saved document files. After a couple of days, I opened the software I primarily use for all my writing only to find that my files were no longer available. It was so disheartening. I spent hours searching my laptop, looking for every file, every document, and every source to find my files, but no luck. After reaching my frustration maximum, it was time to take the laptop back to the Geek Squad to see if they could locate the files that were there before they did the “repairs.” The person at the customer’s service desk was very nice and patient and searched my laptop thoroughly, but to no avail. None of my files were found. I mean nothing – no previous versions… no restore points… NOTHING. It was clear by the look on my face how sad and devastated I was. The service rep was as very empathetic to my situation, but there was nothing else that he or I could do at this point – my files were gone. My five short stories in the making – GONE. And my novel-in-the-making – GONE. 
It was all I could do to pick up my laptop, hold it close to my chest with my arms wrapped around it, said thank you, turned and walked away slowly with my head held down. I was in deep thought, I was sad, my lips and chin trembled, and my eyes were starting to water although no tears fell. I said to myself I wouldn’t cry, but I also told myself that I just wouldn’t write anymore. After such a horrible loss, I convinced myself that 1) I don’t have it in me to begin all over again, and 2) I don’t have any backups or notes from the files I had lost. That was the purpose of the application I was using – to document and keep track of everything – my every thought and my every idea.
I got in my car, eyes welling up but still, no tears actually flowing, I drove home in a trance. My heart beating fast and in pain. Walking in the house numb and in disbelief, I began wondering and wishing, maybe the files are still in there somewhere. I walked inside just wanted to scream or hit something really hard – but I didn’t. Then I thought about getting in the shower, turn on the water and slide down the shower wall to the shower floor as the water runs down all over my body while I scream and cry my eyes out – you know, just like you see on TV. It always seems to make the ones on TV feel better. But, I just could not cry today for some reason; the tears simply would not come.
Accepting my reality, I took some deep breaths, put my big girl drawers back on and vowed I would just rewrite all my stories again; I will start over. After the initial shock had subsided, I adjusted, adapted and decided to move on. I remembered that this was just another one of life’s setbacks – another obstacle and another hurdle. I am stronger than this. I will suck it up and move on, but I will not forget how disheartening it all is. And I will be writing a letter to Best Buy Corporate office about how they fell incredibly short of living up to the service that they claim.

Found out that had to write my complaint on their website forum, which I did. No satisfactory there. I was told that if I were to read #’s 11/12 on the service order, I would have read that its the customer’s responsibility to back up all data and they are not liable for any loss of data. Well, part of this could be my blame for not reading the order, as I am always asking my children, did you read what it said first?
But I was told by the technician and assured that this was not needed because the repairs that would take place would not have anything to do with my files. When the service order was handed to me, the tech did not point out any language of the service order, he just folded up my copy and put in a sleeve and gave it to me. So, that is that.

I will look into purchasing a new laptop when finances are in order, but the good news is that I am writing again, starting over from scratch. I can say, it’s all behind me now.

Oh, on a funny note, if you read my book The Whispering of My Heart, This is what Chloe has been up to. She is reading now. Hahhahhhhh!!!!!!

I will share some other important thoughts and issues that have been on my mind with you next week. Until then have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

I want to leave you with this one thought: Isn’t it funny how people need you until they don’t.