Thankfully, unlike March, April has been a very productive month for me. The main reason for it is that I’ve started implementing the KonMari Method (read my intro to the method here if you’re not familiar with it). I’ve only gone through my clothes, books, papers, and toiletries so far, but it’s already made such a huge difference, not just in my home, but also in my head! I’ve felt a lot calmer and more comfortable since getting rid of so much junk.
If you’re interested in following my progress, keep an eye on the site in the coming weeks, starting next week, for some posts and videos detailing how I’m getting on and how much I’m getting rid of.
In other news, the site hit a few milestones this month:
- 150 ‘likes’ on Facebook, after I kicked up a stink at its refusal to promote my page because of “vulgar language” (yeah, fuck you, Facebook);
- 1,000 views on the first YouTube video (and I also posted a second);
- 6 months since the domain was registered and ‘How To GYST’ was born; and
- its first ever troll!
~ Mama, I’ve made it! ~
YOU are a part of the site’s success, and I thank you so very much.
The first post I published in April turned out to be the most popular one on the site so far. It was one I wrote out of anger and frustration and sheer defiance, and it’s a subject I feel very passionate about. (I know that because, when I think about it, there’s a lot of swearing in my head. 😉 ) Learning to accept yourself is a big part of getting your shit together, if not the biggest. It’s something I’ve struggled with, and often continue to struggle with, and I don’t believe 100% acceptance is actually attainable. But if you can get to a stage where you can calmly and self-assuredly think, “I don’t need to justify myself to you” when faced with an uncomfortable situation, you can collect your medal. It’s a piece I’m very proud of, and I’d encourage everyone to read it (click the link above).
Procrastination seems to be a bit of a pandemic these days. It’s one of those afflictions that just keeps hitting you again and again and you can never seem to get rid of it. Like herpes. I can’t give you a cream for that, but I *can* give you some helpful guidance on how to fight it (procrastination, that is. You’re on your own with the herpes). Read it if you want to learn how to stop procrastinating and start doing. (The site wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t done this one thing.)
I also wrote a post on how I remain productive as a stay-at-home parent. The aim of this site is to provide realistic advice to real people, so it’s important to me to share information that is practical and will benefit others. I think the productive parent post is a good example of that. (If you’re the kind of person who gets up at 5am to do yoga while watching the sun rise, and then meditates for an hour before eating a vegan breakfast, you can move right along. Nothing to see here.) And I got to put the tips to good use myself this month because it was just me and Scout in the ‘How To GYST’ household for the latter end of April. Sam flew to the States on the 21st to record some segments for various American football shows, including NBC’s Sports Network. Cue very proud wife moment.
Thankfully, he was home for our little girl’s second birthday. Yes, Scout is now two! I know people say that the time flies but, for me, it seems like a lifetime ago that I was pregnant. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!
Speaking of Scout, she ended up in the emergency room of Temple Street Children’s Hospital earlier in the month with a touch of viral gastro-enteritis. It was something of nothing, really, and our doctor only sent us to be sure she didn’t have an underlying infection. Thankfully, she didn’t, but it took several hours of waiting for her to pee in a cup to find that out!
She also had an appointment with an ophthalmologist. The good news is that her eyesight is fine; the bad news is that she needs to have an operation to open her tear ducts. The operation itself is quite minor, and the success rate is very high, but it means she’ll have to go under general anaesthetic. That won’t be much fun for me. Thankfully the procedure is very short (only about 15 minutes) so I won’t have to worry for too long. Her appointment in is 3 weeks’ time and, with any luck, it will be a success and she’ll have no more problems with her eyes.
As for me, I’m now off chocolate, sweets and desserts for 4 months. I never even thought such a thing was possible! I’m feeling decidedly pleased with myself. I won’t even be having any cake for my own birthday, which is next month. Feeling pretty smug right now! (Still stuffing my face with pizzas and ready-meals though, lest anyone think I’m abnormal. 😉 )
And, y’know, I bought more planners. *cough*
And that’s just about everything, I think. I’m still trying to fight the Facebook machine so, if you like the site, please head over and ‘like’ the page. Zuckerberg doesn’t need my advertising money anyway, so I’ll build this bad boy myself.
Thanks again for all your support; it means so much to me.
Dearest month of May, you’ve got big shoes to fill!
