Loving… my nose piercing! I finally did it, friends. I got my nose pierced. I went with Bri on Friday night and now I have a delicate little stud in my nose. I love it so much! I am hoping to get a hoop in a few months, once the piercing has healed fully. I’m going to be completely honest and tell you that this piercing hurt like hell. I mean, duh. They’re stabbing a needle through my nose cartilage, of course that’s going to hurt! But whew… it was painful! I teared up a little from the pain but managed to hold myself together. Is it more painful than a tattoo? I mean, I’m willing to get more tattoos but not sure I’m willing to get more piercings so take from that what you will.
Loathing… this upcoming political year. I’m not excited, friends, and I know that’s a sentiment shared by so many of us. It’s obvious that Trump is going to be the Republican candidate and it’s terrifying to think he could be back in office in 2025. I am not looking forward to all of the political ads and texts and mailers. Or the debates and fights and spats. Recently, I started listening to Pantsuit Politics, which I heard about for years but I was committed to my Pod Save America bros and didn’t want to listen to two different political podcasts. But I needed something that was a bit more hopeful than PSA can be, and PP has definitely delivered in that regard. You can feel their anger at times, but they also deliver the news in a much more straightforward way that I need right now.
Reading… Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, which is the second Christie novel I’ve read (I read And Then There Were None a few years ago). I think I’m going to watch the movie after I’ve finished this mystery. I don’t know if it’s a great adaptation, but I think it will be fun to see it captured in film. (I’m also still listening to Cover Story by Susan Rigetti, which is riveting.)
Watching… The Traitors! I am so glad this series got renewed for a second season. If you haven’t watched the show, I highly recommend it. The premise is that a group of people are brought to a castle in Scotland to participate in a reality TV show. A handful of those people are chosen to be “Traitors,” which means they “murder” one contestant every night. The rest of the group are known as “Faithfuls,” and they must work together to figure out who the traitors are. But if any traitor makes it to the end… the $250,000 is all theirs. It is a game of intense strategy and social skills, and it’s so fascinating to see how the game affects people differently.
Listening to… Guts by Olivia Rodridgo. I have a 2024 goal to listen to one new album every month, and I started with a great one! During my first listen, I was kinda “meh” on it and wondered if I just couldn’t vibe with a Gen Z singer, but I gave it another few listens and I’m loving it actually. Her songs are just fun to sing along to, even if I can’t totally relate to the words anymore. Heh.
Anticipating… some really fun plans in February! I’m going to a strawberry farm market with friends this weekend, have my annual Galentine’s date with Bri, and I’m doing a game night with friends later in the month. Plus, there’s the Super Bowl and restarting family game night once football is over. And Bri and I are finally going to get our moms behind the mics for the podcast, and I’m looking forward to that. It should be a really good month!
Thinking about… routines. Developing a regular daily routine has been a constant struggle for me, as is well-documented on this blog. I really want 2024 to be the year where I finally figure out a daily routine that works for me. Is it starting my day with a long walk (even if it’s dark outside)? Is it starting my day on the couch with coffee and games on my phone to slowly wake up? Is it hopping onto my computer early to clear out emails and set my to-do list before starting my morning routine? Honestly, all of those sound nice, ha! It’s a work in progress.
Buying… not much these days! I have a few things in my Amazon cart (a new computer bag, a sling purse, a kitchen organizing rack) but I haven’t pushed purchase on anything yet. And that’s because I am only allowed to buy things from Amazon if I earn an A or B average with my weekly habits. Sometimes, you have to treat yourself like a 5-year-old with a sticker chore chart in order to get things done. On this habit list is taking five walks a week, taking my meds regularly, doing my skincare routine morning and night, doing one 15-minute standing session per day, and get to bed by 10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. I have yet to earn an A or B, so I’m a work in progress but it just means it’s going to be really exciting when I finally do get to buy something special from Amazon!
Grateful… to have graduated from therapy! I have felt ready to end this round of therapy for a few months now, but kept scheduling appointments because a) I’m an Enneagram 9 and didn’t want her to be mad at me for ending our sessions and b) I wanted to feel really, really sure it was time. I am not someone who needs continuous therapy. I like going when things start feeling unmanageable and my usual coping skills aren’t working anymore. I have been seeing this particular therapist for almost two years now, and I finally feel in a good spot to handle life without these regular check-ins. I know my anxiety—and especially anxiety about my mom—will always be a part of my life, but I have better insight around why I have this type of anxiety and how to challenge it when it occurs. I will still see my psychiatrist regularly (I have those appointments once a quarter) but it feels good to be in a stable place after feeling so unstable in 2021 and 2022.
What’s something you’re grateful for today?
LOVE the piercing!!! It looks great.
Thank you! I keep forgetting it’s there and wondering why there’s something inside my nose. HA.
The piercing looks great! I always think of nose piercing people as fun people; I know that is a stereotype in my mind, but that is what I think of! Not that you weren’t fun before, but now you are really fun! I had my ears and my tongue pierced in the past and don’t remember them hurting a lot, but it has been a long time for both so maybe I just blocked it out! I remember my tattoo just being a constant pain vs the quick one of the piercing, but don’t really remember if one hurt “more” than the other.
I weirdly do okay with tattoo pain. I don’t know what it is! My most recent tattoo took so much longer than my piercing, but it feels like the piercing was so much more painful! Ha.
Love the piercing. I am such a wimp for elective pain and don’t think I could handle an ear cartilage piercing let alone my nose!
Also, I didn’t know Kyria had a tattoo!
I wasn’t even thinking about the pain until I saw the needle, lol. Oh yeah, this isn’t going to be fun, is it?! It was worth it, but boy was it painful!
The piercing looks so good! And, I love the goal to listen to one new album each month. I’ve gotten in the habit of just putting “new” random songs that I like on a playlist, but I never explore the artist more. I might try that goal out!
It’s a fun goal! I highly recommend doing it!
The piercing looks cute! I’ve made it this far in life without getting anything pierced so I probably never will but I like how they look on other people.
I don’t think that the adaptions are ever as good as the books for Christie, but they’re so much fun.
I am not sure I’ll get any more piercings, but never say never!
I’m excited to watch the movie adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. It was quite the ending!
Your nose piercing looks wonderful! Please keep me updated about how it’s healing, what your aftercare protocol is like, and everything. I think I might get my nose pierced this summer and I want to know what I’m in for!
So, I don’t listen to much “modern” music (read: made after the year I graduated from high school), but Miley Cyrus and Olivia Rodrigo are so great! I love to hear you listen to Olivia, too.
I am four days out and everything is healing perfectly! I’m using a saline wash twice a day to just keep the wound clean. The nose was pretty sore the day after (even slightly twitching it hurt!) but now it only really hurts when I’m cleaning it and moving the piercing around. I think that should improve, too, within a few days. I’ll keep you posted!
The piercing looks wonderful. Yay to you for doing it. I won’t listen to any political podcasts this year. I just cannot, cannot, cannot… As an English major I studied Agatha Christie in college, mostly Miss Marple. I haven’t reread Murder on the Orient Express in years, but have seen the movie with Kenneth Branagh. It was well done.
I don’t blame you for steering clear from political podcasts. It’s going to be ROUGH. I am not looking forward to all of the ads we’ll be subjected to, ugh.
Love love love the nose piercing!!! You look fabulous.
I have also read two Christie books – mystery is not generally my jam, but I liked them!
Murder on the Orient Express was pretty good! I enjoyed it and I’m excited to read more.
Oooh, I like the nose piercing! When my daughter got her septum pierced (sigh) people were saying it wouldn’t hurt- and she said that was a big fat lie. It hurt!
Yeah, this upcoming year is going to suck. The last election was so stressful, this one is going to be worse, and I’m seriously, seriously worried about the outcome. I’m going to try Pantsuit Politics and see if it makes me less stressed.
I a little sad there’s no football this weekend- but I think you said your brother is a 49ers fan (?) so he must be happy. I was rooting for Detroit but oh well- now i can root for Mahomes in the Super Bowl : )
One friend said the nose was the least painful piercing she ever got! So I’m like, “Dang. That’s it for piercings then.” Ha. I’m a wimp!
Yes, we will again have a 49ers/Chiefs Super Bowl, and I will be rooting for the 49ers even though I love Mahomes. But I want a SB win for my brother’s sake, heh.
Your piercing is so cute! It looks perfect on you. I was going to ask about the pain so thanks for being honest. Ouch!
Your February sounds fab. Especially having your moms on the pod!
I am curious to follow your routine development! Having a routine really helps me but here is the rub (and something I want to work on in therapy) – I struggle BIG time when I am off it. Like, I don’t turn into a whiny baby, but I just throw all caution to the wind. It’s odd. (Or maybe it’s not?)
Congrats on graduating therapy!
Today I am grateful it’s warm enough to wear my light coat to work.
Love seeing pics of the girls!!!
I totally understand where you’re coming from about routines! I think my problem is I find it SO HARD to get my day started. I get up, feed the girls, and then sometimes just sit on the couch for 20 minutes playing games on my phone. I’m trying to start my day with a walk so at least I’m moving my body first thing and then it’s easier to get my day started. It’s a work in progress!
Love the nose piercing! It looks great on you! But it does sound painful. I had laser hair removal done in January and WOW that was PAINFUL. I consider myself to have a pretty high pain tolerance but this was rough and I’ll need to go back for another appointment in March. I am not looking forward to it!!
I’m grateful to be back home! I had a great trip to CA for the sales conference but the days were so so so long and it was so much talking and socializing and trying to be “fun” so I am happy to be home and sleep in my own bed and hug my boys and Phil is VERY happy to have me back, too.
I didn’t realize laser hair removal was so painful! It would be great to have it done, but it doesn’t sound like a fun experience.
Hooray for being back home! Your trip sounded intense!
I like your nose ring, very cute! My daughter had one for awhile, but she eventually let it close. Same with her belly button piercing.
Congratulations on graduating from therapy. Nice to know you can go back if you need it, but it’s great to have the tools you need to live with less anxiety. <3
Thank you!
It feels really good to be in a place where I can do life and manage my anxiety disorder without continuous therapy!
I already told you what I think about the piecing. Hasn’t changed. I prefer studs over rings though but I am looking forward seeing a picture when you try it.
I had to smirk when I read your system of holding yourself accountable. Stickers and A and B. Love it. The things we do to get shit done. It is hilarious in a way. Rooting for you.
Congrats on graduating therapy. And that you are feeling more stable and settled now. I never officially finished mine because I started a new job out of time and wasn’t in Berlin for my spot. And then I didn’t show up for so long that I let anxiety to reach out again. The one time I did it was the answering machine and she never called back. But at times I feel like there are some loose ends that I would have liked to tie.
The one thing that is so hard about having a mental illness is that it can feel so overwhelming to reach out and get help. I understand that feeling completely. You know you want to go to therapy but finding a therapist + getting an appointment is difficult. I hope you’re able to find someone!
Love the piercing!
I secretly want one, but now I don’t know if the pain is worth it… (don’t have tattoos so can’t compare). What do you say? 😉
I am with you on loathing the political year ahead… I cringe every time I turn on the news. I cannot look at his face anymore… (or listen to what comes out of his mouth). GAH.
The nose piercing WAS painful, but now that it’s been a week, I can say that the pain was pretty minimal all things considered. It wasn’t FUN, but it’s doable because it only lasts a few minutes. Do it!
Oh, man, I wish I were the kind of person who could get a nose piercing. You, Engie, and San will look awesome with them. I would look like a poser. 😉 (And I love it! Just in case it was not clear…)
I want Lisa to write a post about her laser hair removal. I had no idea it could be so painful!
And, your February sounds great. Can’t wait to follow along!