“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” – T.D. Jakes
Ick. I started a post with a quote. I vowed never to do that. But, when it’s too perfect and I’m feeling all mushy gushy and thankful and reminiscent, an exception can be made, right? (I love making up my own rules.)
One year ago, I was floating through motherhood, searching desperately and daily for the appropriate work/life/home balance and failing at it on the regular. Something was missing, but I couldn’t put my keyboard-obsessed finger on it. Last winter, I took my kids to a play area that I never knew existed in the Twin Cities and told some friends about it. They had never heard of it either. It got me wondering how many kid-friendly places and events like this exist in this massive metro and if it would be possible for me to find and conquer as many as I could, while spreading the word in a funny, honest and helpful way that would reach a larger audience than my intimate circle of mom-friends.
Challenge accepted. Blog started. February 4, 2014.
Fast-forward one year to today.
MinneMama Adventures has shared more than 50 adventures (along with some non-adventure “feelings” stuff), gained a contributing writer (my sister and best friend, but it totally counts), attended conferences and befriended some phenomenal bloggers, launched the Kindness in Chalk anti-bullying movement, figured out the science of giveaways and all the rules that accompany them, promoted some amazingly talented people, and grown a strong affection towards all of you – the readers who take time out of their day to share or like or comment or email me letting me know you’re reading and adventuring along with me. Nothing makes me happier than that.
I realize now, only one year after this journey started, that this is what was missing – Writing + parenting + a little bit of nerdy tech stuff = My Passion. I found it! And the things I’ve learned about myself along the way have been invaluable…to name a few:
- I trust people. Almost to a fault. But I like to trust people. Until I don’t. And then I get sad.
- I write my best stuff between 11pm and 2am. This is very unfortunate for my face (specifically, those expanding dark circles under my eyes).
- My passion will always make me rich. Not monetarily, but in my soul. The $.60 we made last year on Google ads is proof to that. Passion will always prevail!
- Family comes first. End. Of. Story.
- Kindness matters. Buying someone a cup of coffee, hugging your spouse after a hard day, standing up for someone because it’s what your heart tells you to do – this stuff matters. And I am going to use this blog to promote that until my fingers bleed.
- Life isn’t a competition. I’m doing my best at it and if I come in at a figurative dead last, I’ll look the finishers in the eye and say, “Never gave up, did I? Did it, didn’t I? I’m here, aren’t I?”
- I have a coffee addiction. Well, maybe not an addiction, but a very inappropriate relationship to say the least.
- I can make a difference. A big one.
- I still hold back out of fear – public speaking, putting myself out there, not saying no enough, letting opportunities slip through my fingertips and kicking myself later. #WorkingOnIt
- It takes a village. From parenting to teaching to growing and giving. Find a suitable village and get comfortable. You’ll thank yourself when times get tough.
Now I’m going to take three seconds to thank my village. My friends who encourage me. My siblings who support me. My parents (both sets) who are proud of me. My kids who adventure with me (they definitely have the easiest job). My husband. Oh, you guys, my HUSBAND. There’s not enough space on the internet to talk about what this man has done for me. Not just in the past 12 months, but in the past 12 years! No time to go into the latter, but this past year alone, he has single-handedly learned WordPress inside and out. He built my site from the ground up. He listens to my requests and complaints about how it could improve, knowing full well I’m hinting at him to fix it because, hey, I’m just the writer. He stays up late with me just to keep me company. He knows I prefer silence when I write so he resists music and TV during the midnight hours (which, let’s be honest, I could never do…not even for love). He makes me coffee and watches the kids when I go to meetings and researches every widget known to mankind so we only use the best of the best. He gives me ideas and fills me with anxiety because there’s no way in hell I’ll ever have time to implement them all. But I know it comes from a good place because there’s not a bad bone in his body. This man is my biggest cheerleader, my greatest supporter, my…wait for it…cheesiness forthcoming…EVERYTHING. He is my smart and sweet ball of everything. Thank you, Nate.
There. I didn’t break the internet with all of that, but sincerely, THANK YOU to everyone who has made this past year one of my favorites. I look forward to what is to come and ask that you stick with me on this bumpy journey of adventurous parenthood. We’re all crazy. So let’s just be crazy together.
Now moving on to the reason most of you probably opened this post in the first place…
Here are my Top 12 Posts of the Year, in no particular order and based solely on the fact that they made me feel good when I wrote them, they were honest and heartfelt and they were popular with all of you readers.
