I’m going to celebrate a big milestone this week when I publish my 400th blog post. I knew I would make it here one day, but the trip hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been difficult to come up with content much less find a device to write my content on. For the majority of the time I’ve been on this platform, I’ve been sending my blog posts from my phone as well as my tablet. I’ve been meaning to cut down screen time on my phone and I thought sending content from my Kindle would help address that issue but it hasn’t. When I was gifted with a laptop from my cousins, I knew it would be a big turning point for me.
I started blogging regularly under The Slippery Rock Toastmaster name in the Fall of 2019. Some of my favorite posts from then include the ones I wrote when I was struggling to hide the fact that I had a crush on a coworker at my old job. When I deleted this blog and opened my present blog in January of 2020, I took a few of those posts and put them on there. Since opening my platform as the Stylish Traveling DTM in January of 2020, I’ve undergone a few name changes and I think I’m going to change this once more to match my Instagram handle.
2020 was the year of starting over, after we were hit with the COVID-19 pandemic.
What was so great about the last year meant nothing after the pandemic put us on lockdown. Things like social distancing, hand sanitizers, and six feet apart became household terms. I had no choice but to start over. That year was devastating to a lot of people, places, and businesses. It taught us to think about what was most important in life. I got too overconfident after launching the blog and flamed out as 2020 went on.
2021 was a year of new traditions & routines in my life. An eventful year, for sure.
If there’s one word that sums up my 2021, it’s this. Change. From my health to my job, to turning over a new decade of my life, change was a constant for me. As for the blog, I continued to struggle with content early on but began to really catch fire once Summer came. I began to invite people in to my new lifestyle as I became non-binary.
My “sister” and fashion buddy got married and I was invited to the wedding. I had the best birthday of my life as I turned 40. My parents started the next phases of their lives as they retired from their jobs. Before all that, I dealt with a health scare that could have been tragic if not taken care of.
I left my job of 13 years and it was for the best. I walked away from the church because I didn’t feel comfortable being non-binary in that setting. However, I’ve been making a comeback. I published my 300th blog post at the end of the year. I hoped to build off that success as 2021 ended.
2022 taught me to love and accept myself.
I adapted to change in 2022, from my job to the rising cost of gas. I didn’t have my community to fall back on, and almost abandoned completely my gender nonconforming ways. My cousin came through and gave me some words of encouragement and everyone else began pulling for me. I would eventually come back around.
I dealt with mental health issues and depression in 2022, which were brought on mainly because of me and my insecurity and overthinking things. The new job and routine took some getting used to as well. I regressed with the blog because I felt I didn’t have much to say and also, because of limited resources. Despite my struggles last year, 2022 would end well.
Conclusion
2023 has been great so far and that break was just what I needed. There have been a few disappointments but I’m working through them. Taking one step forward and three steps back taught me something better would be coming.
I’m more dedicated to the blog this year because I’m able to budget my time more efficiently. Having a laptop helps too, and that also opens up other avenues as well.
I’ve overcome various roadblocks to reach this milestone. For that I am proud, and it’s only going to get better.
Stylish 🍒 