Skip to main content

Normal




Was 2019 a good year? 
It had its awful moments. 

Was it a spectacular year? 
It definitely had some amazing memories. 

And yet, I find myself looking back over this last year, asking myself, how well did I live 2019? 

Was it perfect, or a waste of my life? Or something in between? 

There were many times where I thought I'd for sure lose several different friends. There were several times where I just about decided to move out on my own. There were times where I had decided that. There were times I loved America, and times I wanted to go to some other country. There were times that I loved Germany, and times that I missed America so much. 

I saw old friends.
I made new friends. 

There were times where I thought I knew my future. 
And then something happened to change it and I thought, "Oh, no. That is my future."
And then something else happened to change it altogether so that I was back to a blank page. 

There were times where everything was perfect, yet I felt as if something were missing inside of me. 
There were times where everything was just plain awful, and yet my soul felt wonderfully at peace.
The many moments that makeup now have stood by me this last year. My Calendar Journaling has become a steadfast habit of my life now, and I've even convinced others to do it with me. Some days I know exactly what to write. Some days I don't know which blessing to record. Other days I have to think for a long time, to remember or find at least some glimmer of light that made that day worth waking up for. And then some days, I accidentally wrote on the wrong square. Oops. 

2019 wasn't what some would call perfect, because it was full of stress, fears, hatred. But 2019 was a good year for me. 
Me speaking to a little girl: Are you excited that your friend is coming over? 
Little girl: No. 
Me: Why?
Little girl: It is normal.
Me: And normal isn't good? 
Little girl: Normal isn't exciting. 
Me: But that's sad. Normal should be exciting. And if it isn't, all you have to do is choose it to be so. 


Me: Our timing is perfect, not too late, not too early. 
Little girl: Nothing is perfect. 
Me: How can that be? If nothing is perfect, then we wouldn't have a word for perfect. 
Little girl: *shrugs* 
Me: What do you think is perfect then?
Little girl: Nothing. 
Me: Then why do we have the word?
Little girl: It's like black and white. We call them colors, but they aren't actually colors. 
Me: But they exist. They are still real, despite what we call them, yes?
Little girl: Yes ... 
Me: And so perfect exists in just the same way. 
Little girl: It's impossible though. Because perfect means everything everywhere is exactly perfect. And that can't be. So nothing can be perfect. 
Me: Perfect things aren't ruined by imperfect things. Look at my shoes. See my shoe strings? I can have them tied just right. Perfectly. And all the while my soles can be falling out. Yet, though my shoes are falling apart, it doesn't take away that my shoe strings are tied correctly, does it? 
Little girl: *shrugs*
Me: And so, though the rest of the world may be falling apart, right now our timing is perfect. 
What saddens me the most about those previous conversations is that a child could have such a bleak outlook on life. 

That every day isn't a joy to live, that a moment can't be full in and of itself. 

It saddens me that she'll grow up never knowing what it is to fully love her life because she believes in order to love life she has to have something more, new, or different. And even then, nothing can ever be perfect. 

2019, to me, was perfect. Not despite the trials I had, but because of the many things that excited me. Because of going to a writer's conference with one of my best friends. Because of the blessing of waking up ten minutes earlier and writing that amazing scene. Because of going to that social event and meeting an amazing new friend. Because of my uncle coming to Germany and spending time with me. Because my friend let me call her at 1am her time ... crazy oversea time differences ;) Because I loved my work, and loved trying out new churches, and hiked almost every weekend, and listened to so many audiobooks and podcasts. Because, even when nothing was going on, I was content alone with my thoughts. 
Because I found I didn't need any real reason to smile. 

2019 was perfect because I finally learned to embrace now and love it more than what if. 

Stats:
I have twenty-two more blog followers than last year. I was really hoping to reach 100. But, I'm happy to have more, so shan't complain. But all you people who've topped 100, if you have tips for me and my blog, please let me know in the comments or email section ;) 

I also have about twenty-nine more email subscribers than last year. And I had 54,6457 views last year. Overall not, too bad. 

I also started my new blog, The Girl Who Doesn't Exist. It's been running since August and has fifty-five actual subscribers and almost 4,000 views. 

My posts with the most views are:

My posts with the least amount of views are usually those that tags or my Susan of Narnia serial (super sad, y'all!) gathering between 73 - 110 views or so. 

My posts with the most comments are:
The Colors Of My Life 55 comments 

I think this is the first year where every one of my posts had at least four, if not eight comments on average. Previous years I was happy to get just one comment. Not saying, I'm still not grateful for every comment. I am beyond excited whenever I have interaction with you all. I don't like just posting stuff for myself. Bloggers really do love the community (at least I do). So, keep on commenting and make my day over and over. This is what I call a good normal. 
 
Favorite posts: 
How do you pick a favorite when you wrote over seventy-five posts and loved them all???

But, here are a few to sum up my 2019 blog. 

My Quilt: A Year of Spare Moments Stitched Together because so much of this represents so much of my life of where I've been, and then it's been there to give my hands something to do as my mind processed where I am now and where I'm going. 
"They say I've lost my mind—Scary thing is, I'm starting to believe them" because I loved this flash fiction, and I also loved these monthly updates I did over the spring and summer. And I can't wait to return to them when I'm back in the States! 
How My Polls Accelerated because this is a perfect example of how my crazy thoughts aren't always enough for just my brain ... I have to see how other brains react to them, too! Polls are just so fun, to be honest. 

I love how I have a place to share satire like my Poison Ivy Essential Oil (though I'm surprised more people didn't buy it, haha) and my weird fashion loves. I love how this blog is a perfect place to share my philosophical journeying, and yet morphed easily into my traveling posts
 
I love most of all how you all stick with me through the huge variety of it all!

I love reading your thoughts and your posts, too. I love how we are like this web of ideas destined to shape a better future, of distinct individuals who seek to thrive in their daily lives. 

Really, if you can't tell already, I love blogging, and I loved 2019, and I'm so excited to see how that year dumps into 2020, and to continue sharing about everything. From the not-so-funny satire to the sometimes almost offensive yet very honest ramblings of yours truly. 

Here's to all of us making wise choices that will please the one who saw fit to place us on His Earth, and here's to enjoying that life, every twist and turn and valley and hill. To laughter and to tears, to a community who edifies and accepts instruction from one another, and to you. 

P.S. One of the ladies from my old German course in Stuttgart is looking for an Au Pair. If you're interested in going, email me and I'll get you in contact with her. 





Comments

  1. I love everything about this post!! Thanks for sharing about your 2019! Also, I heard of calendar journaling just the other day and thought it was a really cool idea. Unfortunately though... I just went out yesterday and bought a very small, compact planner that doesn't leave much space for journaling. But I'm not thinking of new ways to use my planner to not just plan my weeks and months, but also how to record the good and the bad of each week and month too.

    www.melodypersonetteauthor.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for reading and enjoying! Hey one can do more than one method of journaling. I do three or four. So don't give up on the calendar journaling;) also, where did you hear of someone else doing it? I haven't heard of anyone doing it except one girl I knew ling ago, but I still do it different as I record what makes a day special and worth living.

      Delete
  2. Ahh...happy new year, Keturah!! I adore your outlook on appreciating life and am so glad to hear that 2019 was a perfect year for you ;)

    Wishing you a beautiful 2020 <3333

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year, Ash! Thanks so much, you beautiful soul 💙

      Delete
  3. This post is so beautiful! I'm glad you had an overall good year, and I pray that 2020 will treat you well!

    Also, after your deep-sounding thoughts about your calendar journaling, "some days I wrote on the wrong square. Oops" made me laugh. XD

    theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Emily. Prayers are always appreciated and ad much as I love life, sometimes I don't ;b

      Lol, always gotta lighten the weight with a bit of humor ;) glad you found that line ;D

      Happy 2020!

      Delete
  4. Love to hear about your year! I really need to catch up on your Susan stories...
    I'm looking forward to what 2020 will bring.

    Hope you have a awesome new year!

    astorydetective.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rakayle. And I need to catch up on your entire blog.

      I hope 2020 is blessed beyond spectacular for you ;D

      Delete
  5. That little girl had such a pessimistic view of life! I think that you were able to give her something to think about, though. I'm glad that you enjoyed 2019 and I hope that you have a brilliant 2020!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope I gave her something to think about, but I'm very afraid I didn't ;/ this is where one must just leave it to God.

      Thanks so much, girl! Same at you ;D

      Delete
  6. Beautiful post, girl! Thank you for sharing your heart. I hope 2020 is a marvelous year full of abundant blessings for you! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Sarah. I hope the same for your year!

      Delete
  7. This is such a beautiful post!!! <3 I especially love what you said about learning to embrace what's happening right now and love it more than the "what if." That's definitely something I've been working on lately, and that was such a lovely way to put it into words. :)


    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thanks Alexa! I'm definitely always working on it myself... It's so hard to embrace moments fully when you're also being tugged toward the future ;)

      Delete
  8. I love that your posts are so varied and different. Their a lot of fun to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's why I move blogging... love creating something new and different ;) Thanks!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Living Like The Amish: Interviews With Three "English" Families PART I

Many people are obsessed with the Amish. I know at one time I was as well, and to a degree I still am. But my perception  has changed with experience. It started a long time ago when my family went to an Amish-held auction (no, it's not a place where you can buy Amish children, but a place where you can buy things from the Amish). I was eleven years old and enthralled to be surrounded by so many Amish. I loved the cockscomb flowers they sold everywhere. I bought a whole box for $2 and dried them for seeds so I could plant my own. But then I experienced my first reality shock concerning the Amish. I had assumed since they lived a simpler life everything about them was completely old-fashioned and natural. Imagine my horror when I saw Amish walking around with soda cans and store-bought ice cream. " Mom ," I said. "He's drinking soda!"  Left to right, back row: Jonny, Jonathan (Dad). Front row: Jacob, Keturah, Rebekah (Mom), Jonah (on Mom's

How Bad Can I Be?: Lyrics That Make You Go "Wow!"

How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just doin' what comes naturally How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just following my destiny How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just doin' what comes naturally How ba-a-a-ad can I be? How bad can I possibly be? Well, there's a principal of nature (principal of nature) That almost every creature knows Called survival of the fittest (survival of the fittest) And check it this is how it goes The animal that is has got to scratch and bite and claw and bite and punch And the animal that doesn't (well the animal that doesn't) winds up Someone else's lu-lu-lu-lu-unch! (I'm just saying') How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just doin' what comes naturally How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just following my destiny How ba-a-a-ad can I be? I'm just doin' what comes naturally How ba-a-a-ad can I be? How bad can I possibly be? Well, there's a principal of business (principal of b

Peace During Patience

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” - Philippians 4:6 My family and I were sitting around the breakfast table several months ago. Mom had just read this verse. One of the kids laughed incredulously, “What is it saying? Be careful for nothing – live recklessly?” “No,” I answered quickly. My tone was very matter-of-fact, blunt, as if I were all-knowing. “It means do not worry.” The kids all nodded among themselves and life continued on for them. But for me life paused at my words. I had heard this verse soooooooo many times. I had always known what it meant. But now? Now it really meant something . “Do not worry.” This path I've chosen. I can not see it. I can not feel it. I do not know where I am. I have chosen to follow God, and no other. But why did He hide the light from my eyes? I must take a step forward. But I do not want to. How long w

Inside The Land Of The Free

Hello. My name is Greg.  I have a lot of time to think. Too much time. Sometimes I think about my life - why I am sitting in prison. I wonder what I could have done different - my life plays before my eyes. "If only..." But even I know that no amount of good works would have stopped tyranny from finding fault with me. It is cold. My clothes are thin. My stomach is empty - occasionally filled with food of no sustenance.  I hide my face in my knees - as if that will somehow protect me from the horrors of this dark cold dungeon.  They keep it cold to freeze me, this I know. It is a part of their game - to drive a lesson into me. As if I have a lesson to learn solely because I was convicted. Convicted, but not  guilty. Years.  68 years for standing against injustice. How many years have I sat in here? I have forgot. All I know is this question, "Was I fated for this? Did God grant my birth