February is my second favorite month next to December. It’s my time to shine. My birthday is the 8th and Valentine’s Day is less than a week later. I love that it’s still winter outside but that there are days that feel like spring. It can be freezing cold with the sun shining as if it’s July. I adore this month and all the love it has.
February doesn’t feel the same about me.
At least not this year.
It’s as if February skipped a couple of months and wanted to play an April fool’s joke.
I won’t go into the detail but it all started on the 1st of the month when I got some weird stomach bug and I spent the entire day after sleeping. I was literally asleep all day. It took about three days to start feeling a little better when I got my husband sick with the exact same thing. My parents were amazing and watched Ian for us while we sanitized the house and tried our hardest to evict all of the germs that tried to call our house their home.
I started to feel better the night before my birthday and woke up on my actual birthday with a sore throat. It got worse as the days passed and turned into my barely being able to speak, when I started to get my voice back I developed this obnoxious cough.
Fast forward to today, the last day of the month and I am finally starting to feel better.
My cough hasn’t quite gotten the message that it needs to leave, but other than that I am finally starting to feel ok.
There are 28 days in the month of February and I was sick for all 28 days.
Being sick reminded me of something that I really needed to hear this month, suck it up and be thankful.
There were so many times this month when I was discouraged and annoyed, being sick for four weeks straight will do that to you. I found myself not excited for much or just feeling blah. I had to remind myself (thanks to the awesome people in my life) of all the amazing things in my life and the reasons to be happy.
It seems dumb and repetitive. Why would you have to remind yourself of all the great things in your life? Shouldn’t you know all of this already?
It’s easier said than done.
Sometimes you need to sit down with a pen and piece of paper and just write down everything you have and everything you love. Really stare at that list and think about everything, take it all in and realize it’s not as bad as it seems.
I did that a few times this month and I found that it really helps when you’re struggling.
This month had some great moments too, don’t get me wrong.
My birthday was spent with some fantastic people and I received some awesome and thoughtful gifts. Ian’s daycare had him stamp a piece of paper with his little foot and it said “happy birthday mommy love Ian” that right there made me cry. I know it obviously wasn’t his handwriting but god it was so sweet.
Valentine’s Day was extra special this year because I had a new Valentine and Jason made me heart shaped brownies..brownies are the way to my heart.
I spent a day and a half at Lincoln city with my family and friends which was fun and much needed. Ian got to see the beach for the first time..not sure how much he saw but we’ll remember it!
I learned that I can paint as long as I have some cider by my side and my sister to laugh with/at.
This month I also took on a huge challenge of completing 27 acts of kindness for my 27th birthday. The plan was to start this on February 1st and do it the week leading up to my birthday. Obviously I got a late start but I completed it in five days and it was the most satisfying and uplifting thing ever. I am so glad I decided to start off my 27th year with that challenge.
February turned out better than I had expected. If you would have asked my on the 2nd I would have told you I wanted to completely skip it but I’m so happy I didn’t. I was reminded to persist and honestly just suck it up.
Bad days happen, it’s about how you handle it.
That’s my theme this month.
And when all else fails just put your big kid pants on and suck it up. That’s what you have to do. Sometimes you have no other option but to do just that. You can’t avoid things, you can’t give up and you can’t fail. You have to proceed with the faith in yourself and the joy of your life in your heart.
Some other things I have been loving this month..
Pizza.
The entire Post Malone “Stoney” album.
Burt’s Bees throat drops aka my candy of choice this month.
Teaching Ian to take selfies.
The Lady Gang Podcast.
Working out on my lunch breaks at work.
Gratitude lists.
Overall February turned out better than I thought it would be and I am excited to move on to the next month. With the track season starting and spring joining us mid-way through the month I think it has potential to be a really good month.
Soundtrack to February 2017:
Quote of the month:
“In any given moment we have two options..to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.”-Abraham Maslow
❤
Beyond 20 Something 