Ross Raymond Nunamaker

Not exactly my first post of 2026, but the first in a new weekly series. Last year I posted regularly in my The Resilient Seeker Series regarding why and how I changed my approach to life. I posted regularly on topics related to J.R.R. Tolkien, aptly titled Tolkien Thoughts. And I posted about the benefits of life coaching.

In January as I wrapped those up, I considered where I was at and what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to maintain the routine of a weekly post. I had planned a substack and outlined a content strategy for six months with topics and drafts, but decided I wasn’t committed enough to it.

I was committed to my writing. In January I renewed my membership in the Tolkien Society, I joined the Greater Lehigh Valley Writer’s Guild, and through them I heard about a local writer’s group in my home town, so I started going to those meetings.

Now I have my own ‘Writing Wednesday’. At 5 pm I go to the Library for an in person writers’ group for an hour and then at 6:45 pm I join online for the Writer’s Cafe, a read and comment group.

Having done both two weeks in a row, I can say it is a fun night and I get a lot out of it.

Where does that leave me with my posts?

I decided I don’t need a theme and will write something each week based on a thought I had during my attempt to engage in scholarship each day, which means to read, write, research and think creatively.

Since I had a long intro or premumble, I’ll make a second post today on ‘Does Normal Matter?’ to really kick things off.