Let me cut right to the chase. I would like to express my deepest apology to those who subscribe to The Rest Stop. Over the past 24 hours or so you received 13+ email notifications for new blog posts. Please allow me to explain. I consider myself a decent communicator and remain passionate about sharing my 5-year journey toward rest and greater life balance through these weekly blogs. However, apparently, I totally “stink up the joint” when it comes to website development and administration.

Just over two weeks ago I began a new feature “Rest Stop Minutes” a daily one-minute audio segment designed to be a quick thought for the day on rest and life balance. I started by recording audio files and uploaded them on a new site page. But soon realized I couldn’t schedule them in advance and had to modify the web page every day. My research revealed that there was a way of having two separate blog pages on the same site with the platform I was using, but I couldn’t make it happen. I’m more of a hands on show me how to do it kind of guy. I don’t do well at all with written step by step instruction manuals, although I am a very process-oriented person. Having to follow a written manual causes my hands to sweat and I break out in hives. Which explains why whenever my wife and I do a DIY project like putting a desk or shelving unit together, we have “loud fellowship” go into separate rooms, or she just puts it together by herself (by following the written instructions.)

Meanwhile, I explained my dilemma to my oldest son and a close friend who is a software engineer over dinner on Tuesday evening and they guided me through the steps (visually while on the computer) of what I needed to do. Armed with this newfound knowledge I went straight home and like a “banshee monkey” started uploading the previous two weeks of Rest Stop Minute audio posts using the newly designed blog page and began scheduling future posts.

This morning my friend, co-worker and Rest Stops subscriber “Sam” (Samantha) emailed me and wrote, “Did you mean to send out 13 email notifications last night?” (insert look of horror) Apparently in my excitement of launching the second blog page for Rest Stop Minutes, the moment I hit publish a separate email notification was sent out for each of the 13 posts I had uploaded the night before. I thought I had activated a setting on my site that published the content but didn’t send out a subscriber email notification.  Well obviously, I was wrong. So, I hang my head in shame and ask for your forgiveness and grace for blowing up your inbox and my lack of website management skills.

In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out if or how I can activate separate subscribe buttons. One for those who prefer the weekly longer Rest Stop blogs, and a separate subscribe button for those who would like to receive the daily short audio blogs, Rest Stop Minutes, Monday through Friday.

I want to personally thank you for the encouragement and support I’ve received from so many over the past two years.  I hope I have earned your trust. One of my goals this year is not so much about the numbers – “how to increase views or subscribers.” But instead, to encourage those who read my weekly musings or occasional rants, and work toward building a community of practitioners willing to go against the grain and the tide of a world bent on speed, busyness and burnout and engage together to pursue a quieter, simpler, more restful and balanced life.  – Ralf

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