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?
Oh hon! I’m sorry to hear you were feeling so bad! Do you think it was the oats? 🙁
I think we’re all entitled to a little whining and complaining. If left to my own devices, I can let a bad day really wear me down, but I agree with you, sometimes when we look back on it all in word form, it doesn’t seem as bad as we first thought! 🙂
Nope! Not the oats, I don’t think. It was just one of those brain fog / mental slumps. They seem to come as mysteriously as they go.
Well, it stinks that you never know where they’re coming from but at least it wasn’t your precious bowl of comfort…I know you’d be sad to see it go again!
Haha the dogs name should be “Killer”! LOL! I have these days more then I should so I feel your pain! Some days I fly through my to do list with a question mark above my head, “Did I really complete everything”? Then most days I feel like if it could go wrong it does and if it wasn’t for shitty luck I might have no luck at all! Such is life 🙂
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
I think it’s good to focus on the positives, but I also like embracing when life is a little messy sometimes… it makes your blog feel more genuine and real.
I think it’s really easy to get bogged down with the negative things in life, but doing so basically means you are surrounding yourself with negativity, which just breeds further negatively. It’s harder, although certainly more worthwhile, to focus on our blessings and the positive things around us. I love that you do that. I love that you talk about being grateful and seeing the silver lining on even the darkest clouds. Even though I feel similarly, reading your posts is always a great reminder and refresher to stop and see the bright side. Keep doing what you are doing; I, for one, find it encouraging.
I totally agree- blogging forces you to look at the good things that happened in your day instead of narrowing in on those not so great moments of the day. Such a total positive of blogging!
wow, that’s not a good day. You need to tell us so we can cheer you up! is today better? I get the same aches from low pressure weather. I feel your pain, As or the small dog, i would have kicked it. oops.
It is really great that you are focusing on the positives. That something I really need to do right now to get myself out of the pits. I also have low blood pressure so I know exactly the feeling you are talking about. It can definitely put a damper on the day, but what bothers me most is when I don’t know whats caused it.
I too will try to focus on the positives! It’s a healthy practice, so whatever helps you do it, I’d say keep at it. 🙂
And then blogging over time is fun to look back and see highlights (and lowlights I guess). Although I still don’t get how chihuahuas have no concept of their size. Illogically ferocious.
Chihuahuas always sorta freaked me out. Sorry to hear you were feeling under the weather–literally.
I feel the same away about blogging. It really has helped me stay positive amidst my really tired, not-so-great days. It’s a welcomed side effect, I’d say! 🙂
That’s a tough question! I usually try to keep everything positive because I want my readers to leave happy. I do, however, appreciate when people are honest about what is going on in their lives. It makes them more real & relatable! Now that I think about it.. I should probably open up a little more to my readers!
The time blogging takes is the only major setback about the whole ordeal to me. Sometimes you just have to chose living life over blogging. I love blogging with my whole heart, but some days I shut down my computer and go for a long walk with my mom instead of commenting on other people’s blogs! This post really addressed my struggle with the whole ‘what am I missing?’ question. Whenever I don’t know what to blog about, I sometimes feel like oh I shouldn’t be negative, or I shouldn’t just write useless details of my life that nobody cares about. But, after reading this post, I was enraptured with your little details! Maybe you’ve changed my perspective 🙂
You’d be surprised how fun the little details can be to read! I run into the same problem sometimes with thinking that no one wants to hear about what seems so mundane to me, but it makes you a lot more relatable 🙂
I find that the blogs that become my favorites are the ones that are about both the positives and negatives in the blogger’s life. It makes me feel more connected to the person to hear about their struggles from time to time, rather than it being all positive all the time.
I don’t think it’s unrealistic to focus on the positives on your blog. I am all for venting once in a while, but when people talk about all their drama in full detail all the time it’s a bit much for me. I am all for honesty, but there is nothing dishonest about focusing on the highlights!! That dog story is scary and I would have kicked it. HAHA OOPS. I’m glad your day was positive overall!! Your bike ride sounds magical!
KABOCHAAA! So good drizzled with maple and cinnamon or coconut butter!
Looks like a restful Sunday 🙂
Ahhh they’re -amazing- with coconut butter. Definitely going to have to switch it up from AB next time around.
I cannot wait to get my mitts on some kabocha. One of the reasons why I love autumn.
It is so true that blogging makes us grateful for things we normally won’t think twice about. There is definitely such a thing as too much sunshine and rainbows, much just the right amount seems to have such a positive effect. I hope you are feeling better today, I’m sure that kabocha will make everything better, just watch your squash belly limits. 😉
Your ride looks lovely…ducks!
I think blogging can force you to keep positive, which I think is a good thing! I have a rule not to negative Facebook status update to my friends and family either, which usually stops me moaning and puts things in perspective. I like to think, would this matter in five years? The answer is almost always no! Honesty is good too though…we all have crappy days 🙂
Asking yourself if it’ll matter in 5 years is such a great way to put things in perspective, because you’re right… usually the answer ends up being no.
Sorry your morning started off kinda bumpy, but it looks like it turned into a wonderful day! I loved reading about the blood thirsty killer (aka chihuahua) in the elevator. Def something that doesn’t happen on a regular basis. Or ever.
Aw, sorry about the somewhat crappy day! I think that it’s great to hear a bit of the positive & a dash of the negative… you’re only human & even bloggers have bad days.
I have at least one wonky day a week – and your Mom’s apple cake looks completely divine. It made me excited for faaallll (we’re still experiencing high summer temps). I’d love if you headed over to my little ‘ole blog to see what I’ve nominated you for!
blogging really does force you to look at the positives in life! I had never thought of that before. I hope you are feeling tons better now friend! xoxo
Sorry to hear the day didn’t start off well but glad you made the best of it. And I wonder what the dog was doing alone. Does he know how to walk himself? 🙂
😆 That would be pretty useful, but I honestly have no idea. His owner was looking for him on the main floor, but I’m not sure how you lose a dog in an elevator?
You know what I had this weekend? Kabocha! It was pretty good but sweet potatoes still own my heart. Although it was nice to switch it up. 🙂
I have to agree with you on looking at the positives. Blogging has really opened up my mind in SO many ways. It’s been therapeutic and I couldn’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t started a couple years ago. I get it though, no one is peachy 100% of the time but It’s very important to remind ourselves of the good over the bad.
Mum’s coffee cake > scone from duchess. Mum’s have a knack of producing baked goods out of this world- must be the added love. Or butter. Either or.
While the first bite is always a highlight, I can’t help but save the last to be the one filled with the most nut butter/good toppings…must be the weird way I eat around my bowl of oats!
When it comes to blogging, as long as your genuine, I don’t see anything wrong with being a debbie downer… it shows you as human. I’m not a fan of blogs who are all rainbow and sunshines 24/7. Not realistic!
Ugh, I’m sorry you weren’t feeling well! I hope everything’s back to normal today. I love your attitude about looking at the positives. 🙂
I’m sorry that you weren’t feeling well! It sounds like you are feeling better (right?)
The only positive thing I can think of for that is I have a new fave expression – le boo! Thanks for making my day (x2) 😉
Hehe! I warn you… it’s kind of addictive one you start saying it 😉 And yes, I’m feeling back to my normal self today, thanks!
Aw boo on the crummy day, but it sounds like you were still able to get in some good moments too!
I definitely like the positive part blogging has played in my life. I used to be a SERIOUS debby downer, and I feel like blogging helped to change my perspective to really focus and see the good parts of each day. It sounds weird that blogging would play a part in that, but it seriously has!
Hope you’re feeling better today! I feel you on the low blood pressure – I have it too and sometimes it totally screws with the day!
I actually think you do a really good job of balancing positivity and reality. Using your blog as a place to inspire people is important but it’s also crucial to be honest and open when you’re not feeling 100%. Life isn’t perfect and, therefore, our blogs shouldn’t have to be either.
I’m sorry to hear that you had such an off day though- I know how that goes. But it sounds like you made the most of it…plus, when you get flowers like that, how can you complain?! (:
Ahhh I’ve only had Kabocha once and I liked it but it’s SO hard to find! I totally need to hit up the asian grocery store again, because I think that’s the only place around here that has them!
Really? Awwr sad face! I think I take kabocha for granted because we literally have it around all year, and it’s basically in every grocery store. Hard to imagine it being hard to find in some places!
im sorry about the sick feeling.. i have never tried kabocha everyones talking so much about it…have a wonderful Monday
I need some kabocha back in my life. My grocery store better get with it and get some in ASAP!
So I am not the most patient of blog readers. I will almost always read a post in its entirety, but I’ve been known to skip around to get there. Take today for example- I read the title, saw the dog, and then immediately started scanning the post for where you were acting like… said dog. Haha. I assumed that you meant that you were acting like a rabid little pooch (which I kind of found hard to believe because of how nice and calm you always seem to be. However, people change 😛 ). Good to know that my initial impression of you was correct and you are not a yippy little puppy dog.
Speaking of dogs though- did you freak out when it latched onto your pant leg? I would have absolutely freaked. I don’t care how big the dog is (well, I guess a Great Dane WOULD scare me more than a Chihuahua…) if it starts to growl, bark, bite, whatever I’m outta there. Call it traumatization from dog bites as a young middle schooler but there is no way in chance that I am getting surgery again from one of those things! Lol.
Now it sounds like I hate dogs. I don’t. I have two at home that I adore. Just had to put that out there.
I didn’t actually freak out too much because it was so tiny and the whole situation was just too absurd. It definitely didn’t strengthen my love for little doggies though 😉
Ahhh I saw that apple crisp on instagram and drooled over it for a good few minutes
Yoga always makes things better 🙂
Yikes, I hope you’re 100% better and that the rest of your week going way better as well 🙁 Hang in there! And I think that positive posts should still be reality – not the sugar-coated world that some bloggers tend to live in (or post about). Your blog is always real and you’re genuine.
Awwr thank ya, love <3 Today is much better, and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that the weather is more or less back to normal... eesh 🙄