ACK!!!! It is almost December, people!!! When I look back at the picture I took on November 1 {see below}, it seems more like a year ago, not a month ago. So much has happened since I last shared what I learned, and I have much more that I crammed into my little noggin this month! I present to you...what I learned in November!
1. I appreciate a warm fall.
The Midwest was not entirely void of cold/rainy days this fall, but I have to say, we were quite {pleasantly} overrun with above average warm fall days, and
I loved them. Took this picture on November 1st, where I declared we had the best of
all the worlds. Stunning fall color on trees, sunshine, blue skies, and sleeveless dresses. Oh yes, please.
2. I am grateful I could vote.
I'm not an overly political person. I don't talk politics in real life or on the blog. And I know this year has been extra rough for
everyone on this scene. And my little votes {for all offices} may not have even mattered in the grand scheme. But when I stood at the polls and voted, I felt a sense of thankfulness that I had the opportunity to stand there and cast a vote. Whether or not those I voted for were ultimately elected, I know there are people all over this world who wish they had the opportunity to do what I did, and that was not lost to me in that moment. So I was grateful.
3. I do not miss raking. At all.
This month, my Facebook feed was overrun with pictures of raking parties from years gone by. We only had one tree at our old house, but it was big and
leafy. We would rake and bag, rake and burn, rake and mulch...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the raking. This year? No raking. Thank. The. Lord. {Also - I took a walk one day that led me to a cul-de-sac in our neighborhood, and about half the neighborhood was out dragging HUGE piles of leaves into the street. It's such a pretty little section of the neighborhood, but I immediately texted Ryan and told him I found the one downfall of that street: they have all the mature trees and they were paying the price.}
4. I need to learn how to curl my hair like a grownup.
I have been growing my hair out for a year. It is THE slowest process ever for me. As it's growing, though, I'm learning I have exactly two hairstyles: straight and crunchy curly. So basically, if you see me with crunchy hair, you know I was either lazy or in a hurry and didn't want to take time to straighten it. But you know what I cannot do? Soft curls. I don't own the right curling iron and my hair is SO THICK, I'm not sure it would work if I tried it. But I think it's time I learned to do my hair like a grownup.
5. Setting up a website is not for the faint of heart. Or the technologically challenged. I am both.
I decided earlier this year that it would be a good idea to create a website that is more of a business site, so I can use it as a resource page for writing and speaking. But my creativity does not bend this way, so the days I spent bent over my laptop trying to create this thing were very nearly my undoing. I needed naps and lattes and extra grace. And possibly an additional brain. Kudos to you who revel in website creation. You are my heroes. {For the record, this is
still in process and
still taxing my brain.}
6. Diesel nozzles don't fit in non-diesel cars.
Did you know this? I did not, until the day I accidentally grabbed the diesel nozzle at the pump. GOD BLESS THE PERSON(S) who came up with this idea and saved the Shaffer team from maddening car repairs this month!
7. Brussels sprouts grow on stalks.
Did you know this? I always thought they grew in the little netting bag I buy them in at the grocery store. {HA!} Ryan and I were walking through Sam's Club one day and there was this big old stalk of Brussels sprouts, and I just stopped right there on the spot and said SHUT UP. I had no idea they grew on a stalk!
8. A year can make a big difference.
Today is my one year "fixaversary." It was a year ago today that Ryan and I began the journey to clean eating, working out, and trying to be healthier in general. I remember that day so well, how daunting it felt, how frustrating it was to survive from morning to night without 18 cookies, and how much I HURT from the workouts. It's still a struggle. I still want the cookies, and some of the workouts still make me hurt. But I've learned MANY good habits in the last year, and when I look at the difference from last year to this year, I'm really encouraged. It will be a forever focus for me. This will probably never come naturally. But it can be done!
The pictures above are from last year's Thanksgiving and this November. The one from last year was the picture that was my final straw. I hated it so much, I decided to make a change. I'm not done changing, but I've sure come a long way.
