Happy blogging anniversary to me! I just received a notification from WordPress letting me know I started my blog one year ago today.
I remember that day quite well. I actually planned on starting it sooner but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to tell the world all my mental health issues, especially the embarrassing things I did because of my ocd.
I was embarrassed and nervous to tell my story. Last year, besides my doctor and therapist, only a few people knew about my ocd. Starting my blog meant everyone would know. No longer would it be a secret. A secret I kept since I was a teenager. (I am 51 now) So I called one of my best friends and told her I wanted to start a blog and talk about ocd. Her encouragement was what helped make up my mind. And so, WebbBlogs was created.
Writing this blog is one of the best decisions I have made. It has helped me mentally more than I thought it would. Plus the added bonus is the awesome responses and positive feedback I receive.
If you include my email readers, I have around 400 subscribers. For some reason WordPress doesn’t count them in their stats. 400 people took the time to follow my blog. I know they all don’t read it, but I also know a lot of them do. And for that I am thankful.
Thank you everyone for welcoming me into the blogging community. Thank you for all the wonderful comments and emails. And a huge thank you for helping me spread awareness on a mental illness that is often misunderstood.
Have a wonderful day!
If interested, here is my very first post OCD AND ME.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please Reach Out, Speak Up, And Ask For Help.
Good morning everyone! I wanted to share with you that I did a guest post today with an amazing blogger. I am super excited about this.
Please check out my post on Pete’s Page and when your done don’t forget to check out more of his blog. Not sure if I should admit this but I can honestly say I have stayed up way to late reading some of his stories. I am hooked. He is an awesome writer. Here’s where you can check out his stuff. http://beetleypete.com
Just popping on to say hello and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
I have no plans as of yet, but I am getting out of the house today. The sun is shining and I actually want to get out and enjoy it. As most of you know, because of my anxiety, I always prefer staying home. This sudden “change of mood” is very rare. I better act on it before my mind changes.
What are your plans this weekend? Would love to hear about it in the comments.
Always remember, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, Reach Out, Speak Up, And Ask For Help. Nobody should go through it alone.
Do you ever just sit and wonder about people? Wonder what goes on in their lives? What goes on in their head? What are they thinking? Are they worried? Scared? Nervous? Or are they excited and happy? I know it may seem a little strange, but I am guilty of this. Very very guilty. I always find myself wondering what it’s like in someone else’s mind.
Whether it be someone I know, or complete strangers, I wonder if they are experiencing the same things as I do?
I WONDER IF…..
The couple walking their dog in the neighborhood, do they count silently in their heads? Or maybe they are repeating verses quietly with each step they take without the other one even knowing? Is she looking at him wondering if his head is “normal”? Is he thinking the same thing of her?
I WONDER IF…..
The man playing ball with his child, or the woman playing in the sandbox with her toddler, are their brains telling them if they don’t do this or don’t do that, then this or that might happen? Are they secretly worried of the “what if’s”?
I WONDER IF…..
The man that was driving behind me, was he terrified that he just hit someone even though he didn’t see anyone? He didn’t feel anything hit his car, but did he turn around anyway just to make sure? Even though he made sure, does he still think he hit someone?
I WONDER IF…..
The young woman that lives around the corner with her parents, is she scared to leave her house? Is she worried she will leave and not make it back? Does she stay home because she thinks home is the only place she is safe?
I WONDER IF…..
Could it possibly be that I am the only one that wonders these things? Am I the only one that has experienced some of these things? Is it possible there is nothing scary or questionable going on in anyone’s mind but my own? Are their thoughts normal? What is normal?
I WONDER IF…..
Is everyone “normal” except for me?
I WONDER IF…..
Is it quite in people’s head? Complete silence? No congestion, no noise, no worries, no stress, and no thoughts? Is it just SILENT?
I have been jealous, angry, and confused. Why does that person have good health, a normal life, and most of all a normal brain?
I have thought about this things so many times I lost count. I have asked myself these questions numerous times. This is what I finally came up.
We don’t know what others are going through. We don’t know if it’s good or bad. We can’t assume someone has a perfect life just because they look happy. They might be good at hiding it. They put on a smile and go about their day.
They could be worried about a cheating spouse, a health concern, an addiction thats out of control, a very important decision that needs to be made. They might be hurting physically. And it is possible they might be suffering silently with a mental illness.
We don’t know what somebody else is going through. They may seem happy and full of life, while deep down they are hurting.
So we can’t compare ourselves. Don’t wonder what is going on in their life, in their brain. It will not solve your problems and it won’t solve mine.
Appreciate your life. Appreciate LIFE. There are plenty of things to appreciate and plenty to be grateful for.
We need to work and focus on our own issues and find ways to improve our situations. Lets work on ways to find our happiness and most of all lets learn to love ourselves.
Have a spectacular week and start writing things you are grateful for. I started doing this and I find it very helpful. Today I am grateful for Life.
I also want to say a special thanks to my mom. Thank you for pointing out that sometimes things are not what it seems, nobody is perfect, appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t have. Very good things to remember. ❤
If you or someone you know is struggling, Speak Up, Reach Out, And Ask For Help. Nobody should go through it alone.
Even though I didn’t participate in anything adventurous or anything exciting, I do want to share what I am grateful for and what made me smile this week. Today I am grateful for……….
MY FAMILY
I often think back, back to the days when my kids were little. I think back and wonder if there’s anything I could or should have done differently. Could I have been a better parent? Could I have done more with my kids? Should I have thought more about a career so my kids could of had the best of the best? Should I have worked harder so I could have afforded summer vacations? (To this day, I still have not been on a family vacation).
The could I and should I questions are endless when I sit and think about it. I can think of a few things I could have done differently and a few I should have done differently.
I raised all my boys as a single parent. I couldn’t afford fancy things and I definitely couldn’t afford to take them on vacations. But my kids never went without the necessities or the important things. As parents we just want the best for our children and we want to give them everything great life has to offer. Unfortunately, some of us can’t afford the fancy materialistic things and it can leave us feeling a little disappointed.
But then soon as the disappointment creeps in, I am reminded of the positive things I have done for my boys. The positive things that money couldn’t buy. The positive things I taught them. I, as a single parent, struggling with mental illness, taught them. And as I remember these things, I smile. I smile because I did okay, I smile because I am proud.
All 3 of my boys are amazing. I’m not just saying that because I am their momma. I am saying it because it is true.
I taught my boys to be honest, trustworthy, and to always let loved ones know that they are loved. Each one of my boys holds these special qualities, plus many many more, and it definitely shows.
When I question myself or feel guilty for some of my decisions, all I need to do is look at my boys and I am immediately reminded of the wonderful men they have become and are becoming. And that is what brings a smile to my face. My boys are what makes me smile.
Our family is very close, but there are times we get busy and don’t visit as often as we should. But our closeness, our bond, our love for eachother, will never change.
Take a moment out of your day and think about what makes you happy. What makes you smile?
I enjoyed participated in this week’s Weekly Smile .
Have a great week and don’t forget if you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please Reach Out, Speak Up, And Ask For Help. Nobody should go through it alone.
Webbblogs/Ocd and Me 