I know I haven’t shared nearly as many of these monthly infographics this year as I had hoped to, but it is one of my favorite posts of the month when I can remember to squeeze it in. Now that Blogtember and Write 31 Days are over, I’m trying to get myself back in a regular routine and a monthly recap post filled with fun stats is certainly going to be a regular affair.
Things I’ve learned this month:
- Loss is hard, even when it’s “just” the family pet. I know I wrote a little bit about this earlier in the month, but we are still very much in the grieving process. There are days when I forget about her altogether and that just makes me feel guilty. There are other days when she’s heavy on mind all day long and I just want to pull the covers over my head and pretend October didn’t happen. Ella has taken the loss very well, but there have been several days when she made herself physically sick with grief. Sophie has been much more emotional and she will cry at the mention of her name. I hung B’s collar and tags on the rear view mirror in my car and sometimes that makes Sophie smile and other times it brings tears. Josh and I are still discussing whether or not to get another dog at some point in the future, but I’m guessing it won’t be any time soon.
- Committing to writing about a single topic for 31 days might not be the best idea for me. You know that I loved my topic and when I shared (all 17 times) it was straight from the heart, but my life just might not be conducive to daily posting. Even though I loved the increase in traffic, I think I’m much more suited to a 3-4 day posting schedule.
- Friends come in the unlikeliest of places. After vlogging about friendship in September, I got many texts, calls, emails and Facebook messages. This is NOT an exaggeration. I’ve been mourning the slow death of a friendship for months and I think it kept me from seeing all of the amazing women that I have in my life. I have had some really wonderful conversations with some of my favorite girls this month — some in real life and many via text message — and it has mended my heart in ways you can’t begin to understand.
- Sometimes God says no and you just have to pull up your big girl pants and move on.
- After a conversation with a good friend last month, I drafted a really long (and probably divisive) post about the “social media mom” phenomenon. My feelings were hurt and I was frustrated with a few situations and I didn’t know of another way to express myself. I’ve since reread the post and realized that it isn’t at all for public consumption, but it was good for me to put my thoughts into words. Then I read this AMAZING post by Rachel and realized she had expressed all of my frustrations in a truly beautiful way that wasn’t nearly as emotional as my attempt. Here’s my favorite little snippet: “Here’s the thing. Social media isn’t the problem. Instagram isn’t the problem. We all know that, right? Our sinful hearts are the problem. Our jealous, envious, wicked little hearts are the problem. The fact that we willingly put these people in front of our face every day and then complain about them? That’s the problem.” I have a little more to share about this, but I’m saving it for another post later in the month!
So many truths in October. It was a good month. Full and bursting at the seams, exhausting, overwhelming, depressing and just good. I’m looking forward to a month of thanksgiving and seeing all that God is up to in this season of life.
Kristin is married to her high-school sweetheart and the mother to two daughters. Professional by day and creative by night, she is a family lifestyle blogger who writes about faith, family, and fitting it all into a busy schedule. At Taz + Belly, you’ll find healthy recipes, children’s party ideas, tutorials, DIY projects, and more. Click Here to Read More About Kristin
