You know those days where you’re feeling great, everything’s going according to plan, and you’re rocking your to-do list like a champ? Yesterday was not one of those days…
It all started when I left home to go to church in the morning. I was waiting for the elevator to show (running down stairs in heels is a big no no), and the doors finally opened to reveal a cute little chihuahua, just riding the elevator all by himself. Awwww. I thought it was a little odd, but adorable nonetheless. Little did I know that what I assumed to be a cute and innocent little doggie was actually a bloodthirsty killer…
[Source] – my attacker was a light tan.
So… doors open, thing starts barking and scurrying about, and finally decides to latch on to my pant leg. Cuuuuuuuute. It was all of three pounds so no damage was done (to my leg or pants), but it was certainly an interesting way to start the day. And things only went downhill from there…
For whatever reason, I started to feel really sick while I was sitting in church. Lightheaded, cold, tired – all sorts of dazed ‘n’ confused. Although I’m not 100% sure what caused it, I have a feeling it had something to do with the weather… Hear me out. I have chronically low blood pressure, which usually isn’t too much of a problem, but overcast/rainy days and falling atmospheric pressure can easily make it one. I managed to make it through church okay, but I really wasn’t feeling up for anything after that – I didn’t even keep with Sunday tradition and make a pit stop at the bakery to pick myself up a treat. Le boo. I did grab a coffee, which often helps when I start feeling that way… buuuuuuut yesterday it didn’t. Le boo times two.
And I’m going to stop there before this turns in to a full-blown pity party, because really, despite feeling kind of crappy and not getting everything I wanted done (besides grocery shopping, because… food… duh), I still had a pretty good day. So let’s take a look at the good things from yesterday, shall we?
There was breakfast…
The first bite is always the best. Why? Because it’s the most pleasing to the tastebuds (habituation kicks in after a while and things don’t taste as good) and you know you still have a whole bowl ahead of you to enjoy.
Time with J…
I think I found myself a keeper <3
Time on the mat…
Some days you just really need to stretch it out and breathe.
Time in the grass…
There’s something about laying out in the grass without anything getting between you and the ground that feels so good.
Kabocha…
Definitely pushing the limits when it comes to how much I can eat before I’m nursing a squash belly.
Mom’s apple coffee cake…
It may not have been a scone from Duchess, but it was still damn good. Mom <3
Aaaaand that evening bike ride through the river valley…
In retrospect, going for a trail ride while nursing a squash belly may not have been the very best life decision, but hey… a little bit of discomfort is good for developing character… or something 😯
So that’s that – the highlights of what was otherwise kind of a wonky day. You want to know one of the [many] things I love about blogging? It really forces me to look back and take notice of the positive aspects of my day. Since I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer and whine and mope too much, I try to focus on the positives when I write… and while all the talk of sunshine and rainbows may be one of the reasons that blogs can come across as being unrealistic, another side effect is that they just make you more positive in general – kind of like writing down things that you’re grateful for. Everyone has crap to deal with, everyone has bad days. But there are good things even in those bad days – it just comes down to noticing them.
What do you guys think? Does focusing on the positives make a blog unrealistic or a good places to feel inspired/motivated?
One of the best things I’ve done is write a gratitude diary – even when I don’t write it now, I still go through a mental tick list of good stuff before I go to bed and when I wake up 🙂
I’m sorry you had some tough stuff yesterday but hopefully today is better! I agree about focusing on the positive stuff! But I also think touh stuff shouldn’t ever be mentioned. I guess I think it’s about balance 🙂
I’m sorry you were feeling off and about that super random dog. That’s the WEIRDEST thing.
Glad it got better with the roses (!!!! I love J too – what a cutie!), dessert, and you time!
it is so true. I find it harder to write a fully negative post even when things seem so utterly crappy there is nothing else good about it. a great reminder to live in the moment and let those bad times roll off. or in your case – shake off (damn dog!)
I think we need the recipe for that coffee cake.
I decided last minute to go to a(n expensive) music festival 2+ hours away with my best friend. My boyfriend decided to stay at home. Music festivals mean camping and lugging my belongings up and down the hills of the Catskill mountains. I was already tired and trying to fight off a cough/sore throat I’d been dealing with for 3 weeks, but I never see my friend so I sucked it up and went. Unfortunately, my friend was also getting sick, and ended up getting sicker due to taking cold medicine, and deciding to have a drink, not thinking of the consequences. She ended up going to bed at 9pm, while the music lasted all night. I didn’t know everyone too well, but ended up hanging out with her boyfriend and some of the boys all night and had a ton of fun and made new friends.
Unfortunately, when she woke up, she was not okay, and couldn’t keep anything down. Eventually she begged to go home, so being the BFF that I am, I volunteered to pack all our stuff, hike back up the mountain and drive her home (she lives 2 hours North of the festival, I live 2 hours west). I had spent lots of money on the ticket, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I was sad to leave but being a trooper, but I couldn’t contain my emotions (hello, that time of month) when I got pulled over on the way through a small town nearby. I had forgotten to get my car inspected (5 days past due), so he gave me a ticket for that instead of “speeding” (I know I wasn’t speeding-grr). Thanks, I think? So after getting lost a few times, about an hour and a half away, she started to feel better. She felt bad about making us leave, and then “just kidding, I’m fine” 😉 , and the ticket and everything, but we decided to grab some food and head back to the festival . No harm, no foul, I was just glad she felt better and everyone was glad we came back.
Anyhoo, the point of my longwinded story is that even when life hands you a poop show, there’s always something to laugh about, some silver lining, and in the end, it usually gets better. Nothing in life is permanent, the good or the bad. Looking back, despite spending too much money, “wasting” a few hours driving to the middle of nowhere and back, and it was worth the memories.
Hope today is better than yesterday for ya. <3
And if nothing else, it just shows you what an amazing friend you are 🙂 But you’re right… it’s often all the screw ups that end up making fond memories… as soon as we can look at them a little more objectively without the attached emotions.
What a way to start the day!?! Geeze, haha. Very strange, but hopefully the dog found its way home alright. I appreciate honesty in blogs, for sure. We’re all human!
And, that coffee cake looks so. incredible. Yum!
I do like for people to stay positive, but if they stay positive all the time… I feel I can’t relate to them or I only know about half of the person. I like to have people who open up about everything because I feel as though I truly know THEM not just the things they want me to know about them… If it makes sense. Or you could be like me and share entirely too much 🙂 LOL
Gosh, your apartment must smell AMAZING with all of these flowers. If you didn’t live eons away, I would definitely come visit you and go to the bakery!
Ohhh if only. And you’d have to bring Elmo! There’s a doggie bakery really close to my favourite one 😀
Elmo said he’ll drive the [probably] 48 hour drive to come visit you for a biscuit! He’ll do anything for good food 😉
Aw, sorry to hear about you feeling under the weather – literally. I hope today’s going better for you already though the weather’s really been acting up the past days. Still, it makes me so happy to hear how – despite your original plans falling through – happy your Sunday was after all. Honestly, doesn’t a mom-baked cake is at least as good as one from the bakery :)?
Focusing on the positives is a good idea in general to me – but only if it’s not forced. As in: yes to sharing happiness but you shouldn’t feel pressured to do it. We do all have our funks and sad days. To give a true and whole picture our blogs should be a place where we can just let it all out: happy at times, grumpy at others. It’s perfectly okay and – most importantly – honest and relatable.
That being said blogs are a great positivity inspiration for me. In fact, it was Katie and her MIMM link-up that had me make a genuine effort to look at even the smallest upsides on crotchety days. That’s not to say I was an all-around negative Nancy before that but even my mum told me she noticed a difference in me being happier overall after a while. And if that isn’t proof enough of the amazing side effects of blogging I don’t know what would be.
Happy Monday!
Why was a chihuahua riding the elevator by itself? Haha that’s so weird! I think that it’s important that we balance the good and the bad on the blog world. It helps our readers realize that we are normal people. It’s not realistic to pretend that everything is all fun and games, sunshine and rainbows every day!
I have -no- idea. His owner was looking for him on the main floor, but I don’t know how you accidentally leave a dog in an elevator…
We have a little chihuahua next door to us, and it sounds JUST like the one you were describing in the elevator. It’s all cute on the outside, but it’s really a little monster! That thing scares the crap out of me. Ha! So sorry it was kind of a rough day… We all have ’em from time to time! Hopefully today will be better! As for blogging, I like a good mix of positivity but also “real-ness”. You have a great mix! 😉
People forget that blogs don’t represent our lives in their entirety. If I tried to that, I would never be able to actually go out and live my life. I say write what makes you happy. And keep including pictures of yummy baked good, please.
xo
Aww Amanda I’m sorry your day started out crummy and what the heck is with that dog?! Like you said, no damage done but still, that little bugger would have scared the bajeezus out of me. I have heard people say the weather can really effect their health (not just old people with their aching limbs and joints ha), and leads to feelings of illness. Too bad the coffee didn’t help too much and I hope you are all better today of course 🙂
I know what you mean about blogging and I know when I start writing, starting out as a pity party for me, I am often humbled a bit by my own words and feelings. Then I allow myself to see the big picture and realize that the world has indeed not ended
I thought it was weird finding a raccoon on my balcony, but finding a mouthy little chihuahua in an elevator wins out I think. How weird! I hope he found his way home though!
And my blood pressure is on the low side, but I don’t think I’ve ever had any symptoms like yours, that’s intense. I hope you’re feeling better today! And your mom’s apple coffee cake looks amazing…and I’m not even the biggest coffee cake fan.
You have officially inspired me to break out the bike again. I’m going for a bike ride through the park in a little while!
As for blogging and positivity, I think I always appreciate a balance. We all have bad days and it’s unrealistic to act like we don’t, but it’s also nice to keep a focus on the general positives of the day. Acknowledge the bad stuff happened, and then move on to the happy stuff 😀
Yesterday just wasn’t a good day for random small animals in Canada, it seems! And I’m pretty sure he found his way home considering I met his owner on the main floor and told him what floor his dog was terrorizing. Now what I wanna know is what kind of guy keeps a vicious little chihuahua for a pet 😯
I’m glad to hear the chihuahua didn’t do any damage. That picture you found is hilarious!
At least your bike ride was pretty and you got gorgeous roses! Those are definite positives.
I love your idea to write down the positives. I think it’s a great reminder to be happy for all of the good things in our lives!
So sorry you didn’t feel good, but it sounds like a pretty positive weekend in spite of feeling under the weather. I can almost smell those roses through my computer screen….. definitely a keeper!
I hope today gets better for you 🙂 Sending my love.
Hope you feel better today- I too have low blood pressure and can randomly be affected. When the weather is iffy and the pressure in atmosphere is screwy, I don’t feel so great either – headachy and just off…We are both the kind of people that look for the positive so I agree that blogging helps sort it all out and you find the positives. Have a great Monday – I know how you love Monday!
I have a tiny fear of dogs/animals attacking me so I probably would have started hyperventilating even with a tiny dog coming at me. I love the perspective of blogging making you take a step back and looking at the positives. But on the flip side, sometimes it’s nice to hear that everything isn’t happiness and rainbows because it makes me feel more connected on a human level. Have a great Monday! And I still contest that the last bite can be the best 🙂
But… but… how do you deal with the whole “it’s gone 🙁 ” mentality?! It’s like… be sad that it’s over, or happy that it happened?! 😉
Wow, what a start to your day! The dog sounds like a little terror! Yikes!
At least the rest of your day was better! Those flowers are gorgeous and your mom’s apple coffee cake looks scrumptious!
I think always talking about the positive, while not bad, can make things seem a bit unrealistic from time to time. We all have negative events that happen in our life, and I think talking about them helps me relate to you or any other blogger and makes me feel like I’m not alone. I think it’s all about balance.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better! Isn’t it crazy how looking at all the positives instantly makes you feel better? I do like reading blogs that are positive and don’t dwell on the negatives. Sometimes it can portray they have a perfect life but I remember no one does.
Sounds good to me! Wonky… but good. 😉 I know what you mean about blogging bringing out the positives. I had my share of that last week, and I’m sure it will continue. Always gotta’ look on the bright side…
Oh no!! I hope you are feeling better today! Crappy days can do weird things to my body as well.
I love when blogs focus on the positives but I also appreciate when bloggers (like you) admit to days not being perfect all the time!! Blogs that are happy-go-lucky, sunshine and rainbows ALL the time are just not realistic at all. I like being able to relate to people and it’s easier to do when they are more “real”.
Now I would like some of that coffee cake and also a clone of J. Okay thanks.
Trade you a clone of J for a clone of Princeton
I think aside from the few small interruptions to your day (weird chihuahua story) you did pretty good! I know what it’s like to feel sick randomly, that’s no fun. Glad your day got better though. 🙂
It’s funny because when my morning starts off on the wrong foot, I know that without fail the rest of the day will follow. Goes without saying! I do think that thinking postively helps get you through those moments, and I love when bloggers write about stressful moments and show how they get through them, which you do very well! 🙂
Ahhh yes 🙂 I love this way of looking at it, girl! Sometimes I worry when I write that I’m creating a seemingly perfect life, but that’s not my intention at all. I try to focus on the positives rather than dwell on the negatives, which is a HUGE help to me, since it’s very easy to look at things and be like, “well this sucks, i’m in a crappy mood, and i can’t do anything about it.” By looking at the positives, you show yourself that things hopefully aren’t as bad as they seem and there is still a ton to be thankful for 🙂 I hope you feel better today, love!!
Oh my goodness – that dog! How frightening. I have a thing against “little” dogs… don’t get me wrong, some are definitely okay but most of the time they are more terrifying (let’s call it, small dog syndrome…) than their larger counterparts! And I feel you on the low blood pressure – I have the same problem and feel light-headed and faint about 50% of the time. It always like to creep up at the most inappropriate times as well… before a big presentation, meeting new people… fun times. I hope you’re feeling better today! Oh and to answer your question – I don’t think being positive makes a blog unrealistic, especially when you mention and discuss the not so good parts of your day.
I feel the same way about little dogs! I think they’re cute to look at, but I don’t think I could ever handle owning one – they seem a little neurotic, whereas big dogs are just so chill.
Drooling over that apple coffee cake. I’ve actually never known anyone who has chronically low blood pressure; that’s really interesting! I definitely agree that a blog is typically a place people come to for positivity. I’ve actually unsubscribed from a few blogs because they turned into complain fests every single day…I get that people have good days and bad days, but no one (or at least, I don’t) wants to hear someone complain every.single.day.
I think you’ve gotta have a little bit of both sides – when people seem too positive and their lives seem too perfect, it doesn’t come off as very real and can actually be the opposite of inspirational! But you’re right, you don’t want to be on the down side too often. (oh, and… I may be the only person in the world that doesn’t know this…but, what is squash belly?)
Very true – a little bit of balance is key. And squash belly is just the uncomfortable bloated/full feeling that comes with eating too much squash. Nothing serious, just annoying.
Little yappy dogs actually terrify me! I am so glad you enjoyed all those other wonderful things. No, I don’t think focusing on the positives is unrealistic. You acknowledged what was not so great but you are showing your readers to move on and focus on the happy. I love it!
I also have low blood pressure so I can totally relate! I never really connected it with weather, though. That’s interesting. I feel it the most when I stand up.. blacking out, dizzy spells, ugh. Anywayyy yes I love that blogging makes me look at positive. Obviously sometimes writing about my bad day or somethign that happened helps, I try to turn it around 🙂 Hope you are feeling much better today! Stop at the bakery today and eat something yummy for me, mmmk? 🙂
I definitely agree with your approach on focusing on the goods and making your blog a positive space. It’s almost a domino effect i.e. reading about your ups from yesterday despite feeling less than stellar makes me want to do the same about mine :). I think it becomes more of a problem when a blogger tries to exaggerate their ups constantly to the point that it becomes unrelateable. While we all have issues & problems of our own, I think we are all blessed with small joys too- the difference is that some people tend to not acknowledge them and only focus on what’s going wrong.
Hope you are feeling as good as new today, Amanda!
Ahh exaggeration drives me crazy as well. Positivity is infectious, but too much just makes me want to roll my eyes… and I seriously hope that I don’t come across as being disingenuous with mine 😕
Sorry your day didn’t start great but glad there were some positives later on. You are 100% right, everyone has things going on, ups and downs are a part of life. I like reading blogs that showcase both. I don’t want to read someone who whines all the time but a blog that is most positive with a few “human pieces” in there makes it more relatable. I like your blog because it’s relatable:)
So true! That is what I love about the Marvelous Monday party, I always retrospect my weekends and share the most beautiful things. When I look back a few weeks later it makes me all smiley and happy inside.
Hope you feel better today and your J is around a bit longer? Have a beautiful Monday, lovely!
Sorry to hear about your evil attacker. I’m glad you survived! Other than that it looks like you had a good weekend with beautiful flowers, kabocha 🙂 and a nice ride. I know its always good to focus on the positive. Thinking positive helps you to feel positive! I like when bloggers focus on being true, and sometimes there are bumps in the road and we all have them so there is no reason to pretend that everything is always perfect. Because that just isn’t life.
A perfect looking weekend! I have chronically low blood-pressure too but never realized that those days when I feel like I’m going to pass out have anything to do with weather! Good to know…I add salt to everything to try to raise it! And coffee helps too.
Tried kabocha finally and my mouth LOVED it…but my stomach was no a fan 🙁 Any tips??
p.s. definitely a keeper 🙂
😆 My doctor actually recommended lots of salt and caffeine… Basically what everyone else is -not- supposed to be eating. And with the kabocha, I just try to keep my portions reasonable and make sure I’m not taking in too much fiber with the other parts of my meal. Also, balancing it out with fat/protein is a good idea. And I haven’t tried this yet, but I heard that digestive enzymes make a huge difference. Oh! And I avoid eating the skin as well… that does a number on me.
I couldn’t agree more with you – everyone does have good and bad days and bad things that happen on good days – and good things that happen on bad days – I think focusing on the positive is very important and one of the reasons I so love your blog! I don’t think it’s unrealistic – but find it incredibly motivating and inspiring! Takes a lot of character to be able to see the good in the bad … all those bike rides with a squash belly are working wonders! 😉
Your mom’s apple coffee cake has me wanting it for breakfast!
And your elevator story – oh too funny – little dogs and their big egos 🙂
Hope you have a marvelous monday!
Oh girl…..I am SO with you. After returning from my bike tour last night I felt completely down. We all have these days, we’re human and this is life – we just have to go with the ebbs and flows of it. I think, that blogs which also talk about the bad days, are more relatable – because I can not imagine a life with ONLY sunshine and rainbows – besides that, wouldn’t that be a bit boring? As tough as some days may seem, they give that pinch of pepper and strength to our characters and make us strong.
I am so glad you found some positive and good moments in your day, this is all what counts!
I was just thinking about this the other day. I came back to Australia after my vacation in Canada, and was feeling slightly down in the dumps. But after writing/listing the things I am grateful for here in the land down under, I felt a million times better.
I think that you could definitely hide behind rainbows and sunshine on a blog, but I think readers will see through that in time. I think if you write for yourself, even if it means focusing heavily on the more positive things in life, then it’s win-win for everyone (blogger included). Happy Monday!
PS- That Chihuahua story is out of control !!! hahaha
No, it makes you more relatable when you talk about shitty things. But I see what you mean about finding that balance of great vs. not so great stuff. Man, that sucks at the LBP & the weather. Who would’ve thought?! I get migraines from the low pressure sometimes. Not fun.
I’m so excited squash belly season is among us! You should give it it’s own hashtag! 😉
😆 At this point I think I’m going to have to. But I’m going to take your advice and see if the digestive enzymes work. Fingers crossed!
Aw, sorry to hear your day started off so crummy. :/ But glad to see that you have some happy highlights, too! Yoga is always a win, no matter what. It always helps me just feel so relaxed and at ease. Whenever I’m super anxious or stressed, it pulls me back to my center and helps me mellow out. Love it! I also love laying out in the grass…especially when it’s a warm day and the grass is still cool from the night (usually only in the early mornings).
Plus, fresh baked goods are always, always, always a sure-fire way to feel better! 🙂