Today marks the two-year anniversary of A Momma & Her Pen. Holy shiitake mushroom sauce! Two years?! I can’t believe it—where has the time gone?
The older I get, the faster the years seem to fly by and that terrifies me. On the one hand, I want 2020 to vanish with the speed of light, but on the other I want these quiet, intimate moments with my family to last forever, at least through the holidays. And then there are all the things I want to accomplish over the next few decades … a time frame that feels infinite in this moment but will assuredly be over in an instant. I’m reminded of a quote by Dr. Seuss: “How did it get so late so soon?” If that isn’t the truth for all of us, I don’t know what is.
The past two years have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. I’ve spent a lot of time soul-searching about my life (as a momma and as a woman), my place in the world, and what’s ahead on the next leg of my journey—both personally and professionally. Through it all, though, this blog has been the one constant (not counting my husband—my rock—and my kids, of course). Quite honestly, it’s been an absolute godsend and one of the most important things I’ve ever done for myself. And that has never been more apparent than during this tragedy of a year. If someone had told me back in October 2018 that A Momma & Her Pen would turn into my biggest saving grace of all, I never would have believed it.
When I first started this blog, I had intended it to be not only an outlet for my deepest thoughts, fears, and insecurities, but also a way of seeking solidarity among other parents who feel the same way I do. I was lonely and unfulfilled and desperate to connect with other moms (and dads) who, of course, love their children with every fiber of their being but who also miss their autonomy and want something more out of life. A passion, a purpose, a calling. It didn’t exactly pan out the way I had originally intended (hellooooooo out there?!) but then 2020 happened and within that isolation I felt like my eyes were opened for the first time. Through my mindset, my thought processes, and my writings this year, I came to discover that I already had everything I needed. The only thing left was to give her the space and the confidence to shine. And I’m not sure I would have gained that clarity without A Momma & Her Pen.
One thing is for sure, though: This blog kept me afloat during the long lonely months of quarantine by providing the impetus, the inspiration, the outlet through which I was able to channel this burning desire to stay positive, to write the good, to find the silver linings in the overwhelming chaos I was living through back then (and even now). It gave me a reason to keep slugging along day after dreary day when I felt like I couldn’t last even one more minute. And I am beyond grateful for that.
But it’s not just that. This journal has been beneficial for my psyche in other ways, too:
- It gives me a purpose and an identity outside of being a momma.
- It’s a fun, challenging, and engaging way of flexing my creative and professional muscles.
- It keeps my writing and editing skills sharp, focused, and current.
- It allows me to work with some amazing and talented individuals, without whom my “Friends With Pens” project never would have seen the light of day.
- It gives me the confidence and the incentive to forge ahead with my other goals and dreams.
And I know she’s got so much more yet to give! So, here’s to you, A Momma & Her Pen. Thank you for being the friend, the confidant I never knew I needed. And thank you to all my subscribers and those of you who have supported me throughout this crazy adventure. It’s been a blast and I look forward to many more years of keeping it raw, keeping it real, keeping it me.