Starting Over and the New Normal

I have a confession.

I’ve been failing as a blogger. I’ve been sorely ignoring my duties to the public. I’m supposed to deliver money-saving advice, provide guidance on profitable side hustles, and even offer an empathetic viewpoint of how challenges can be thrown at you when you least expect it.

Forgive me, Readers, for I have been absent. It’s been awhile since my last blog post, and I am seeking forgiveness. And no, it won’t be an easy thing to achieve penance. Y’all are a tough crowd — smart, yet fair.

But as they often say — out of sight, out of mind.

How many new personal finance blogs have emerged over the past few months? Probably many. So many newbie PF bloggers who have no idea who I am, or that I ever even existed. (In addition to the seasoned bloggers who were out there already, but also never knew I existed… )

I’ve been shirking these duties, burying my head in the sand, blissfully ignoring this platform that I sculpted and sweated and struggled into existence several years ago.

This living being that I attempted to breathe life into.

This blog that became my one true voice, at a time when most everything in my world was uncertain and uncomfortable, only I didn’t want to admit it.

Challenged by issues with money, debt, and conflicting relationships. It would all come to a head, but I was doing my best to resist it.

And then my world kind of splattered — kaplooey — only it was the best thing to possibly happen.

And then what did I do?

How I Got 5 More Minutes with My Mom

This may sound like a strange statement to make.

If you don’t know me, then this might seem totally random, and not a big deal.

And if you do know me, then you’d know this is a complete impossibility.

Bear with me here —

My mom passed away when I was in high school. She battled a long illness that I didn’t know much about at the time.

And being a teenager, let’s face it — I didn’t really care to know the details.

I just knew things in our family were different. For as far back as I could remember, my mom couldn’t do what other mothers could do with their kids. It was just a fact of life.

Other kids had moms who could take them to the park, monkey around on the jungle gym, play dress-up or have dance parties. My mom couldn’t do any of those things. On her best days, she could walk slowly while holding onto the walls. As her disease progressed, she became wheelchair bound. And eventually, she became fully immobilized, 100% bedridden.

She died when I was a high school senior, while I was taking my SATs.

But a short time ago, I was granted five more minutes with her.

And it was amazing.

Advice from a Middle-Aged, Former Over-Achiever

Next week I will be attending my very first personal finance conference.

This is important for two reasons. First, because I will be moving one step closer to my dream. Getting my finances in order. Solidifying my future. Expanding my education by learning more about investing, saving and creating smart financial goals.

The second reason is because I will be taking this excursion entirely on my own. No friends or family to lean on. Navigating an airport, ground transportation, and a ginormous resort hotel. By. Myself.

To those of you who actually know me, your jaws have probably dropped to the floor by now. Because I barely leave the house, much less travel across the country.

via GIPHY

I’m a remote worker, faithful Amazon Prime member and loyal user of Peapod grocery delivery service. I prefer to have things come to me.

More importantly, I prefer not to go out in public. At least not very often.

So the fact that I’m stepping out into the “real world” and leaning into my discomfort, is extremely surprising to those I know.