Have you ever felt unsatisfied even though you know that what you have is exactly what you once wanted? There’s a term for that: hedonic adaptation. It refers to how the momentary happiness of something new wears off quickly, and we adjust to our changed circumstances. The thing we wanted becomes normal and unexciting once we have it for a while.
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Today is my two-year blogiversary. As someone with a lot of ideas who often doesn’t see them through, I’m proud to have stuck with this project for two whole years. Thank you for joining me on this journey and taking the time to read what I write!
Here are some of my favorite posts from the past year, in no particular order:
What to Do with Your Tax Refund Instead of Buying Stuff
Keeping the Weeds of Life from Taking Over
I Challenged Myself to the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Here’s How It Went.
What I Learned from Reading My Elementary School Report Cards as an Adult
On Matrescence, the Transition Into Motherhood
Why I Don’t Hate My Student Loans
Understanding the Declining U.S. Fertility Rate
To My Parents on Their 50th Anniversary
Social Anxiety and Learning to be Ourselves, Comfortably
I’m Happy To Be a Working Mother. Really.
Do you have a favorite post from the past year?
Trigger warning for those with eating disorders: This post discusses dietary restrictions.
I’m a big fan of 30-day challenges, and I’ve done a bunch of them throughout my life. Project 333, the Minimalist Game, Whole 30, a month as a vegan, 30 days of daily yoga, meditation, writing…you can make a 30-day (or 3-month, or 1-year) challenge out of just about any goal. I also frequently impose rules on myself, like the time I didn’t allow myself to buy any more clothes until I had worn every single item already in my wardrobe at least once, or when I tried the Every Other Day Diet or becoming a vegetarian. So why do I keep doing this stuff? We live in a free society! Why not just let myself do whatever I want to do in the moment?
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New Year’s Eve/Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. It’s an occasion to reflect on what has been and look forward to what will be, to process the past and leave it behind before making a fresh start. I love the hope that January 1 brings. Now that the winter solstice is behind us, I find myself getting exited about the days growing longer, the weather getting warmer, and all the adventures that lie ahead.
2018 was a year of transition for me, and also a year of joy. I spent most of the year settling into parenthood and finding a new normal, so until very recently, I haven’t been setting many goals or tackling new challenges (aside from the big and obvious challenges of caring for an infant and managing to keep the machinery of life chugging along). I now feel ready to reprioritize some of my former goals and begin moving forward again.
Read moreMy sweet boy Brutus died this morning. He was such a loving, affectionate cat. I adopted him and his sister at the age of 8 in 2011. Their former owner was moving and couldn’t take the cats with her. I agreed to foster Brutus and Chloe, but we formed a bond in those first few months and I knew before long that we wouldn’t be parting. When I first brought him home, Brutus hid in a corner for a good week or two. Then all of a sudden, one evening he came downstairs, hopped on my lap, and started purring like crazy. He was a snuggle bug from that moment on. Brutus was with me for seven and a half years. We lived in five houses together, in three states. He was great company during some difficult times in my life. Rest In Peace, Brutus. We’ll miss you.
