I rounded out my Seattle house sitting adventures with one more adventure to the mountains, and two more adventures to local eateries. I’m settled back into my small town dwelling and it feels good to be home.
It’s been a while since I got sappy on here, and because I typically blog what I know I’m feeling like an emotion purge right about now. When I started working in Seattle a couple months ago it was a nice shift in my life to distract me from the funk I was in.
Fast forward to today and I’m feeling myself sliding back into that slump, and realizing it wasn’t just my job that was causing these feelings. It was a myriad of things, and they are all becoming more clear as time goes on.
They say hindsight is 20/20, but I think hindsight is more like “perspective on steroids.” Your don’t need a perfect picture of it all, just a strong view into how you’ve evolved.
Food issues were at the top of that list, and I’ve been working closely with specialists to diagnose my health concerns, some of which are finally being solved. I think. I’m staying both positive and optimistic because I know everything works out eventually, and everything happens for a reason.
School/stress was another issue and I’ve realized that I am an emotional eater. Like WHOA. Give me stress for one hand and you’d better have a dozen cookies for the other.
School has been wicked stressful for me this semester, and I’ve wanted to quit 49385 times, but quitting is not an option. I’m only two semesters shy of finally graduating and you’d better believe when that moment comes I’ll be ugly crying tears of relief.
Realizing stress is a huge trigger for me to emotionally eat has been a huge eye opener, and helpful for me to avoid binge episodes. For the most part. Constant work in progress. 🙂 Caffeine and coffee are another trigger for me, and I mentioned a while back that I was giving it up, and it was an odd time for me given that coffee was a large part of my platform and my passion.
I’ve only recently come to a place where I no longer desire a cup.
It’s only slightly odd working in a building with over 30 kitchens filled with French presses, espresso machines, drip brewers etc and not partaking, but it’s becoming my new normal. That’s the thing with change – it takes time to get used to and in the beginning it can be hard. Really hard.
It’s also been hard to find things to blog about lately. I get the desire to blog, to connect, and to write, but then when I think about what to talk about it all seems jumbled and chaotic. This used to be so cathartic for me and was such a large part of my life, but the last year has been full of posts like this rather than posts with baked goods and running.
I am still sharing random cat shenanigans though. Some things never change.
Was time for a new blog photo too. Featuring my main man.
Long story short I think it’s completely normal when you know something is missing in your life, and things are confusing whether it be health related, job related, or personal, for everything else to feel slightly out of whack. Life is full of up’s and down’s, but we were born with ligaments for a reason. We can flex with these changes and adapt to each new situation to make them into something better.
We do what we know, and change what we know we need to. Accepting the change, accepting the struggle, knowing it’s not forever, and doing it all with a smile. If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place use your inner Gumby to bend your way out of the middle.
On that note it is officially October, and October is my happy place. I’m already swooning over the leaves changing and the rain.
Q: Do you live in an area that showcases seasons? Washington is gorgeous in the fall!
Blissfulbritt 
66 thoughts on “Between a Rock and a Hard Place”
danaelizabethx
Stick w school- I know how tough it can be but you will be soooo happy and relieved when ur done!!!
I remember u got a new bike awhile ago- maybe u can use that as a new stress reliever- plus it may give u something to blog about since u said ur in a slump- for me it really is a stress reliever! 🙂
Best of luck to ya and all ur blog readers will be congratulating u when u graduate!!! 🙂
Brittany
YES. I took the bike out for a spin a couple days ago and it was great. I need to find some good places to ride it. Thank you for the kind words! ❤
rootchopper
The DC area puts on a pretty good show. Leaves are just starting to turn. It will be 2 weeks before we get serious about color. Then it’s pumpkins, browns and yellows, gray skies, and crisp air. Life has its seasons too. Try to enjoy the one your in. Beats the alternative all to hell. 🙂
Brittany
I like that perspective, you are so right! Thank you. 🙂
ASipoftheCity
Yes! Upstate NY is a stunner this time of the year 🙂
Brittany
I can only imagine!
Anthony
Last year’s colours were brilliant here. Most “experts” don’t expect that this year, but I am sure I will find some standouts.
As for blogging. Whatever you write, and however often you write, I’ll be there to read it.
Brittany
Our colors seem to have sprung up sooner this year and are turning quicker! I will enjoy it while it’s hear because I anticipate it being a quick transition to winter. Thank you. ❤️
Marisol
I definitely miss living somewhere with all 4 seasons! Great blog; beautiful photography!
Brittany
Thank you! 🙂
Angie
Hang in there, Brittany! Everyone has their moments and struggles. Btw, love the pics. And I LOVE October. It’s my favorite month, but at the same time everything moves extremely fast after October, and before you know it it’s the end of the year… And some of my goals are not reached. Boo!
Brittany
Thank you love! October is my favorite too, I just swooooon.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I miss your face, and I want to hear more about these changes and self realizations. Message me. Did I already tell you I miss your face? 🙂
Brittany
I miss your entire body. Too far? Never! ❤️❤️
P
Two more semesters…you’re so close, you can do it 🙂 !
I can never get enough of your cat shenanigans, haha! I’ve come across so many cats lately in my new neighborhood, and I’ve gotten into the habit of taking pictures of them and sending them to my friends/family. I’m destined to be a cat lady 😛
Brittany
Haaahaha I love this, you must send the photos to me too!
Meghan
Yes!! I live in the DC area and it is finally starting to cool down here. Leaves will be at the peak in November. Can’t wait to run down the trail with a canopy of colorful leaves over head. On another note, Jw…What kind of food issues are you having?
Brittany
Ohhh that sounds magical! The food stuff is a very long story, but Cliff notes is that a year ago I started developing a myriad of intolerance symptoms when eating certain foods. Like 80% of the foods I was eating. I’ve been trying to find the root cause, and may have made some headway recently. I try to listen to my body, but I backslide often. 🙈
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
Trust me, once you’re done with school you’ll look back and wonder how the hell you got it all done! Hang in there and it’ll be over soon!
I am really loving fall in Washington. Fall in Ohio is amazingly pretty, but WA has its gorgeous spots too!
Brittany
I was able to travel to Ohio last September, but it wasn’t quite fall yet. I did go to an amazing apple orchard that made it feel like fall!
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
The apple orchards in Ohio are the best! I miss them a lot this time of year!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
You’ve got this, girl! Keep it up in schools and keep up that self care. And keep up the cat cuddles. Obviously.
Brittany
Thank you friend! The cat cuddles are my lifeline. 😝 things are movin and groovin.
Ellie
Oh girl I have been up and down the past few months and it stinks. I am also about to start dealing with health issues and other parts of my life are changing. It makes me less inclined to work on my blog, because I’d rather do things with people or work on school.
I think all these changes and challenges are good. Good things are coming, just ride it out.
P.S. Yes, I will come live with you 😉
Brittany
It’s in these moments that we grow right? It’s normal for our age to have these feelings and that’s what keeps me positive. This too shall pass, and I’ve got a hell of a lot to be thankful for. We got this! 👊🏻
Amy
I absolutely LOVE your posts like this Brittany!! So if this is your new normal, that’s perfectly fine by me. 🙂 I also know that stress totallyyyyyyyyy amplifies any stomach issues that I have (almost to an exponential degree), so if that’s you as well, hopefully you’re able to find some peace in the upcoming weeks! As well as answers from doctors. Time to write that medical book of ours! 😉
Brittany
Thank you sweet friend, these posts will definitely be scattered among the others probably forever! It’s just as enjoyable to share highlights as it is to share “not so highlights.” Yes, stress is HUGE for so many health problems so it’s essential for me to get that under control. I never realized the stress until recently. Running helps, and I plan to do a LOT more of that in the upcoming months. More on that soon. 🙂 ❤
dave379
Yeah we’re all doing our best and bending and adapting as best we can along the way 🙂 I too find that when one part of life is out of whack it often runs into the others. The awareness of it though can help, and the flexing.
And yes New Jersey’s got the seasons! I’m loving the finally cool mornings for running.
Brittany
I’ve only been to NJ once, many moons ago. I remember it being so much fun. I was a kid and we visited my moms dad in Wildwood. There was a boardwalk with so many exciting things for a child. Haha.
dave379
Yeah there’s a bunch of boardwalks in NJ. I’ve actually been going to Wildwood with my brother and his family for a weekend the past few years, and I can tell you my nieces would agree with you haha.
wanderwolf
I am a huge stress eater (my mom says, when I have a huge deadline, she sees it on my face… And my waist 🙂
Handsome man man!
And the only season Florida showcases is snowbird season 😉
wanderwolf
*main man
Brittany
Ha! Your moms comment is great, story of my life. 😂
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
i hope you get your health issues sorted out!
I’m so happy that i live in toronto – the leaves are definitely a gorgeous orange/red right now.
Brittany
Oh man. I need to visit you. Sounds similar to Seattle!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Good for you for sticking with school even though it is so hard! Only two semesters left – you’ve got this!!
And girl, I hope you get your health stuff figured out. I know what a wringer that can be to go through!
Brittany
Totally, and it’s all about my mindset. I got this 😝
fionajarrett
Hope you figure your stuff out & good on you to be so open and honest. And oh yes, I’m ready for October – the leaves, the pumpkins, the lot – bring it!
Brittany
Yassss October is the besssttt!
Josh dV
I’m sticking around to celebrate your graduation. Just be honest with yourself.
To thine own self be true, thou canst not then be false to any man.
Brittany
The party will be off the hook, I’ll probably even stay up until 11 pm the day I graduate. Hahaha.
Josh dV
Whoah, whoah whoah whoah………whoah. Keep it coot hotshot.
Josie @ Literature Mistress
You gave up coffee? I can’t believe it!
Well…I hope it’s worth it, because it sure doesn’t sound like fun!
Brittany
It wasn’t fun, but it was worth it. The caffeine was making me sick in more than one way.
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Two semesters is NOTHING! I mean, I know it feels like a whole lot of thing when you’re in it, but it’s such a small little blip in the grand scheme of things and it’ll be over before you know it. And you better believe I’m a stress snacker. I feel like I’m always nibbling on something when I’m anxious, and it takes my stomach problems to a whole other level of complicated. Feel better soon!! ❤
Brittany
Thank you friend!
Angela
Two semesters, you can do it!!!!
I’ve been in a bit of a funk myself with life lately but as long as you identify those thoughts and feelings then you can change them or fix them!
Most of my posts are jumbled and chaotic a bit like myself, haha!!
I worked in a coffee shop while I was studying and as much as I loved the smell of fresh coffee, I mean loved, I was obsessed with the smell but I hated the taste of it, I only started drinking it in the last year or so mostly to keep me awake haha!
Keep smiling xo
Brittany
I adored the stuff, like it became my life for a solid year. Studying the process and science of coffee was so great. Alas things change. Such is life!
Melanie
I always love all of your posts and love how open and real you are! That’s great that you only have 2 semesters of school left! That will be a HUGE stress reliever!!!
I also think that is absolutely amazing that you’re not drinking coffee AND working at Starbucks! You go girl! I hope it helps you! I am a major stress person too and am always tweaking things in my life to relieve the stress. It’s tough.
I also have to say that that first picture you posted is UNBELIEVABLE! So gorgeous! ❤ ❤
Brittany
Thank you for your love my friend!
Christina Does It All
*Hugs* That’s SO exciting that you’re so close to graduating, friend! So proud of youuuu!
Brittany
YOU too!!!
Allie Zottola
Love the new blog photo of you and your main man. He is handsome as can be!
Thank you for always keeping things open here on your blog. I love, love, love that. Also, ahhh, you’re so close to being done with school! YAY!
Brittany
The words just come out, I can’t help but keep it realllll. 😉
Darrell Otteson
I can so relate to your blogging problem. I had a blog for years but found it harder and harder to come up with relevant topics to write about. Now, I just have my online journal that I can babble into and now worry about anyone else’s opinion. And thank you for reminding me about the season changing. My life tends to become one big DAY and I forget to stop and smell the season. Thank you for slowing me down
Brittany
Writing in some way is definitely important, so it’s good to have that journal. This time of year is my favorite, and it brings me back to life a bit. Stop and enjoy the color changes if you can. 🙂
stateeats
Hi Britt – you can do it! Stick with school, you are almost to the finish line! And keep blogging, even when its hard. Esp. when its hard. You are a great writer – Kat
Brittany
Kat- thank you so much, this comment meant a lot.
Luv What You Do
We definitely have seasons in Chicago! Come visit! But in the fall : )
Brittany
Ohhh yeah! Chicago is definitely on my list!
Kelsey
Your words are beyond inspiring and connect into my own life in such an odd way. It can be so crazy to think we are so alone in how we feel. But by sharing it with the world, you have the power to let someone else know they are not alone. Minnesota has seasons for sure, with some longer than others, but I love it so much. Autumn is my favorite, but I wish it would just stay around with its pretty leaves a little longer. I know you’ll be able to finish out school; the universe doesn’t give us what we can’t handle. I’m also in a weird place with blogging, so I decided last night to pull away from social media until November 1st so I can stop using it as a form of procrastination. =)
Brittany
If you ever want to talk it out shoot me an email, none of us are alone! School is so much better this round, PRAISE! Your social media break is great, I often tell myself I need to do that.
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Girl I am right there with you on the emotional eating front! I am the worst! You got this school thing in the bag. Wham bam thank you maam!
Brittany
Thanks boo bear, this round of classes is SO MUCH BETTER! PRAISE.
robbieluxford
Great read!
Brittany
Hey, thanks! 🙏🏻