Finding Hope when the GDPR Stuff Destroys My Saturday

Please note: this article will not help you with your GDPR junk, but it will point you in the direction of having some hope and keeping your eye on the prize.

What the heck is GDPR?

This GDPR stuff is reeking some havoc on my calm website mojo. I don’t even know what GDPR stands for, and I’m in a state of rebellion so I’m not going to look it up.

All I know is I’m supposed to add a bunch of stuff to my website, so people can see I’m not going to use their information for anything other than emailing them my blog or newsletter. (That’s simplified.) Oh, and I also know this is all because of some law the European Union passed. Why exactly do we have to abide by European laws?

Anyway, I’m pretty sure I don’t have a single subscriber or commenter from across the pond. I’m safe. Yet, I’m studying websites and watching Youtube videos to figure out how to add a check box here and a privacy policy there. And be an upstanding, law-abiding, EU respecting citizen.

Another Lesson Learned from Failure

This whole thing has knocked me down a few notches. Saturday, I spent three hours trying to change a sign-up form. Please note the sign-up form in the sidebar and feel free to subscribe!

Three hours. I don’t have that kind of time to fight with technology and be reminded over and over that I’m a failure. Chances are high no one’s going to use the form anyway. Why should I even bother?

Why Bother?

That’s the question, isn’t it? Do you ever ask yourself this? Like when you’ve already tried to stick to the diet or get the job or have a lasting relationship, and so far, it hasn’t worked out. Why bother?

Why do we bother? Maybe this really is as good as it’s going to get.

Don’t believe that.

Thank you to Elizabeth for this encouraging snap that brightened my Saturday afternoon!

The Best is Yet to Come

I think there’s a better answer. It has to do with hope. We bother because deep down we know there’s something better.

Hope gets breezed over. Faith and love are big, but hope, isn’t it like wishing? Not at all. Hope is trusting in what God has said will happen. We bother because we know there’s something better, and it’s meant for us.

Now, this is a hard truth to wrap my not-famous-at-all-writer brain around. Of course, maybe my objective has gotten a bit skewed. I keep having people ask me what my definition of success is, and I keep telling them success will be when I can write full time. Does God have that in mind for me? I can’t answer with an absolute yes.

What I can say is he’s in the business of growing us up to be like his Son. That may or may not include a three-book deal for me, but either way, it’s going to be good. And with hope, I can fight with technology for three hours and walk away with my cup full, knowing that even a lost afternoon can be used for good, somehow (or a blog post).

What’s your struggle? Well, let me be the first to tell you, “It’s all good! And you’re not a failure! You’re a warrior! One battle does not make the war! You got this!” Keep the hope. The best is yet to come!

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Tammy

4 years ago

I’m with you sister! GDPR is crazy! Good luck and keep the hope!!

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Mary Beth Dahl

4 years ago

Reply to  Tammy

I’m trying! You inspire me!

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