Playing Catch-Up and Saying Thanks

Greetings and salutations, dear readers!

First of all, allow me to apologize for my absence. I have been in the process of making very big decisions in my life over the past month and I allowed my writing here to fall to the wayside. I have recommitted to remedying that, and I hope that you will stick with me through this journey. Many thanks if you have been waiting patiently for this newest post and even more thanks if you are sticking around longer while we schlepp along this trek together.

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And now down to the nitty-gritty. What a month it has been. I am shocked at how long it felt but how quickly it passed. In the last 30 days, I have traveled to Florida, celebrated my 24th birthday, been in a wedding, read 4 books, made a commitment to something quite huge and exciting, and officially made the decision to move from Washington to Florida.

I know, I know - you're wondering why I didn't still post in the midst of these decisions being made. Believe me, I thought about it a lot, but I just did not feel that I was in the right headspace to create the content that I really wanted to. I would not have been able to provide you with the quality of production that I want to give you all, so I am resuming presence on the interwebs of blogging life and hoping to really get into a good groove.

So, I think the biggest thing I should cover right now is a quick explanation of how beyond thankful I am for the people who support me. I cannot express in enough words how important it is to have the right people in your life cheering you on and serving as sounding boards and sources of wisdom when you are most desperately in need of it.

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To be specific, those people are (in no particular order): My parents, my best friends, my sisters, and my mentors. I do not quite yet have permission to name names, but be assured they are real influences in my life and I would in no way be where I am without them. Dearest readers, whether your family is yours by birth or you have chosen them, I implore you to thank them for being with you. They are the unseen ensemble who make sure your step does not falter. Should something happen, they are (for me) the arms that catch me and cushion the blow. Their encouragement and unwavering love is something that should never be taken for granted. Unfortunately, I can say that there have definitely been times when I have taken them for granted - and for this, I humbly and sincerely apologize. I would not consciously continue such behavior and I will do my best to grow in expressing my appreciation and love for you (you know who you are).

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My parents are two of the strongest and most influential people in my life. They have been married 36 years and have weathered and stood firm through more than their share of life. Their love for one another makes me so happy, and it gives me hope that someday I may find someone to share life with in the same capacity. I cannot stress enough how much their example of unconditional love has made a difference in my life. I would not have the patience for many things if it were not for them. Mama and Dad, you are absolutely incredible. I know I was not an easy child, but I am so thankful for your patience and belief in me. I would not trade you for anything in the entire world.

My sisters are independent, opinionated, quirky, and loving. While we may not always get along 100%, I can say without hesitation that I would do absolutely anything for them. I will protect them fiercely, and always do my best to show them my love. We have too many stories and memories to count, and it is always easy to find laughter and comfort with them, whether it is through their physical presence or over text message stories together. If you have sisters or siblings, count yourselves blessed! If not, I hope life has at least provided you with friendships that are strongly akin to those of siblings.

My best friends are some of my most stable rocks. I have been immensely privileged to have friends from all walks of life who share their journeys, hopes, fears, and dreams with me. I even get to be a part of many of those items! I am so ecstatic to have people in my life who walk through the absolute crummiest of places with me, and who are always there to lend a helping hand or a supportive text or note. I hope that I am able to repay their kindnesses as life goes on. Best friends are something everyone should have, and I will never stop singing the praises of mine.

My mentors are those who have walked through life ahead of me. They are anywhere from 1 to many steps in front of me, but I am never in doubt that if I look up and need help in my journey, they will reach out and help with guidance and wisdom that I do not yet possess. They are peers and colleagues and bosses and even friends; and without them, I would not have the confidence to chase after many, if not all, of my dreams.

I am also so beyond grateful for those of you who follow me and encourage me from a distance. If it were not for your following, feedback, and investment (in my Instagram, life, etc.), I would not have the courage to keep going - I might get lost in the deep-seated anxiety of needing to make every little thing perfect and never post again! To all of you, I send a great big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Darling readers, thank you for letting me write this post. If you have gotten this far, you are incredible! I know it was rather sappy and not perfect, but I am learning to be okay with putting things out there that present my heart's thoughts. I will continue to push through the distracting thoughts and make myself put this writing out there, even if it is not always perfect, because it brings me great joy. I am so excited to continue sharing more details about the last month with you. I know it will be a challenging and wonderful learning curve, and again - I thank you for your patience with me as I dive further into this writing thing.

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Please, dear readers, don't get me wrong. I am NOT perfect. I am NOT a seasoned mental health professional, nor am I a licensed counselor (if I were, there would be letters after my name). If you are dealing with ANYTHING that I talk about and you need more than just the assurance that there are people out here like you, I urge you to seek out professional help. I am putting together a page listing many different resources for the help you may need. If there are more resources that you have found, please share them with me and I will add them to this resource list.