Happy New Year and cheers to our first Unexpected Ever Afters blog post of 2022! To close out the past year and start anew, we thought we’d do something a little different: a joint post sharing gratitude for 2021, excitement for 2022, and a toast to the New Year. We are excited to share our memories, stories, and hopes with you. We hope you join with your own toast to 2022!
Continuing the Journey – Jessica’s Experience (Part 2)
As we approach our blogiversary, we discuss whether or not to continue our blog. Although the conclusion has always ended with a “yes of course we are going to continue,” the decision is never simple. We are two self-identified over-thinkers, and we never let a decision pass by unanalyzed. So, together, we contemplate the goal of the blog followed by a version of a cost-benefit analysis. We question if we still have stories to tell or if we have exhausted all of our topics. We consider if writing still brings us joy and if we feel like what we share still matters.
Continuing the Journey – Wendi’s Experience (Part 2)
Words have power. In many ways, I believe words have the ability to change the world; I know they have certainly changed me.
Reflecting on the Journey – Jessica’s Experience (Part 1)
We understood that genuine connection with others through shared vulnerability can make a huge difference in combating both comparison and isolation. After thoughtful deliberation, we determined we were ready to dive into a shared blog as an attempt to both share that feeling of connection with others as well as provide an outlet for our interest in writing. Despite my “stage fright” of others reading my writing, I felt a surge of confidence knowing that I was not entering into the journey alone.
Reflecting on the Journey – Wendi’s Experience (Part 1)
Whether it is navigating through writing as a tool to process my experiences and perspectives, sharing my writing with others looking for connection, or opening myself up to feedback to improve my writing, I have found one of the highlights of writing to be GRACE.
Upcoming Second Blogiversary
We are thrilled that in just a few short weeks we will mark our second blogiversary of The Unexpected Ever Afters! We have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share our reflections on this site and are grateful for the support and encouragement we have received. As we look back over two years of posts, it …
The Beauty of Reality
By focusing on reality as being an imperfect version of my daydream, similar to a reflected image being an imperfect version of the real thing, it occurred me that maybe I’m actually viewing it upside down.
Mistakes are Expected
Guest Post: I love that one of the basic items included with a sewing machine is this seam ripper. It’s like the manufacturers know you’ll need it. It basically says, “Hey, you’re not perfect. You’ll need to redo this. Often. Often enough that this is a standard tool expected to accompany the machine. It’s included—no extra charge—because the work itself will be hard enough. Mistakes are expected.”
Keep Celebrating
At some point, we seem to lose the excitement for celebrating another year of life. What would life look like if adults once again harnessed some of that genuine kid-like excitement of celebrating special days? And, of course, growing out of celebrations extends beyond birthdays, especially when considering the additional layer of when we expect things to happen. For example, reaching personal goals or completing educational and employment milestones.
Welcome to the Moment
I allowed myself to get caught up in the simple act of making plans, basking in the highly anticipated full schedule of activities and gatherings, that I almost forgot to stop making plans and start enjoying them.
the unexpected ever afters 