In last week's newsletter, I mentioned that November has shaped up to be sheer chaos. If you're wondering, nothing about this past week has changed my opinion. If anything, it's gotten even more chaotic.
But, sometimes chaos makes necessity bring out tools we don't always want to rely on. So, for the next three weeks, I'm actually going to be talking about three of these tools. This week, it's asking for help.
Why, oh why, when we are actually designed to be social creatures, is it so incredibly hard to ask for help?
One of several reasons November turned extra chaotic is a friend who is suffering with a challenging situation. We work together on a volunteer project and so some work that she was going to do, I now need to do. While I'm not quite sure when I'm going to get all the work done, I have no qualms at all about telling her that she doesn't need to worry about it. It's easy to give help.
On the other end of the spectrum, I started the week well by asking someone for help with some work travel. However, this also involved making changes to some things that were already scheduled. I needed to reach out to the travel agency this client insists I use. Digging in and asking for the help took me most of the week to finally get to. It's hard to ask for help.
And, yet, asking for help never takes as long as I think it's going to AND it nearly always helps me get things done more quickly.
I have realized that when something that feels easy sits on my to do list for three or four days without me making any progress, it's probably because I need to ask for help. I'm being watchful this month about what the other signs of needing to ask for help are so that I can act on them more quickly.
How do you recognize when you need to ask for help? What keeps you from asking for help? Drop me an email or click the Let's Chat button to discuss in the Circle Community.
Some Other Things You Might Find Interesting
What I Published This Week
- I posted about one of my favorite fictional worlds in Circle this week. I'd love to know what worlds you're finding pleasure in right now. Reply here or head over to that post to join the conversation.
Kara Monroe
28 minutes ago
Getting A Little Better At Being Me Every Day
For years, I struggled to read fiction, but now I’ve found a pretty good balance between fiction and non-fiction. Right now, my favorite fictional world is one created by Nora Roberts.
I’ve not read much by the very prolific Roberts (who also writes under the pen name J.D. Robb). She has published over 200 books - enough to fill a 10 page PDF list of books. In 2025 she will release a total of four new books. WOW!! (I’m struggling to write one book this year).
One of her upcoming releases is the third & final book in the Lost Bride Trilogy. This is a series where I’m already grieving the end and I haven’t even read it yet! I re-read books 1 and 2 on vacation to put myself back in the world. Every day now when I get ready to read, it’s hard not to just start them again so I can go back into that world.
As I looked at Roberts’ back list to write this post, I realized the only other whole series I’ve read is the Bride Quartet series, so apparently I appreciate Roberts’ books about weddings (not a topic I’m normally interested in). But, moreso, the thing I love about both of these series is the types of friendships she writes about as well as the way she portrays family relationships - both those of blood and those we choose. I’ve also really appreciated her detailed descriptions of big homes. While these are places I can never afford, she writes them in a way that makes them approachable and somehow make me appreciate my own home even more.
With respect to the Lost Bride trilogy specifically, I’m not usually a ghost story person. For some reason, the way Roberts writes these ghosts as characters makes all but one of them really interesting and fun to think about. I wouldn’t mind if Molly, Jack, Clover, and many of the others popped in at our house from time to time.
What fictional worlds are calling you back into them right now? As the leaves change I’m looking for books that both help me soak up the feelings of fall as well as books that will help me escape the bleakness of winter.
- I'm writing a book!!!!!! I've had this on my to do list forever and I've finally decided it will never get done if I don't set a deadline. So, I'm aiming to publish it in August of 2026. To make that schedule, I need to have at least a really crappy first draft written by the end of 2025. I shared the post below on social media this week. If you're interested in chatting with me about a career renovation strategy or story, I'd love to set up a time to do that. Drop me an email or message me in Circle.
What's Coming Up?
- I probably have part of day free next week in the area between Ithaca and Saranac Lake NY. Any of my readers that know this area and can offer suggestions of a couple of things to do or places to check out, please drop me a note.
- Because of a multitude of changes in that trip, I may have to reschedule the next Obsidian Office Hours. Make sure you RSVP for that even if you're thinking about coming so you get all of the event details.
November 17, 2025 09:00
(Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Join us for the bi-weekly Obsidian Office Hours Session.
Office Hours are a time to ask questions about Obsidian. If you have a question, reply to the event with your questions - or attend live and you can get your question answered in the session.
When appropriate, office hours sessions will be recorded and the recording posted here.
- Hope to see you at THIS WEEK's Budget with Me/YNAB Office Hours
November 14, 2025 14:00
(Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Do you want to get a better handle on your finances? If so, join me for a free one hour workshop to talk all things money. I'll do a demo of the budget software YNAB and talk about how to get started getting your financial information in order - with YNAB or completely on your own. Bring your questions!
- Looking ahead to December, I’m thrilled to have our intention setting and shelf reflection workshops. Don't forget to RSVP for those in Circle.
Tournament of Champions, Holiday Edition
We’re starting to get in the holiday spirit at the Bestie Bungalow. We did a little decoration and light assessment over the weekend to see if we needed to buy anything new. We’ve also enjoyed watching the first episode of Food Network’s first ever Holiday Edition of Tournament of Champions. This competition show is one we actually like and this new partner format is really fun. Weirdly, there are no video clips of it on YouTube so you just get someone’s 13 second clip this week. What recipes are you excited to cook during the holidays?
