1. 90% of my days I am content with myself, my dietary needs, and my “have to be mindful of everything I do” lifestyle, but the other 10% I get really fu@&ing mad about it. What I would give to eat without overthinking, to push my heart rate over 170 without my body rebelling, or to honor my cravings without repercussions.
2. Somewhere over the course of a few years my cat started to show signs of aging. By aging I mean he had one white whisker that stood out among all the black whiskers. One day, this white whisker fell out. I correlate this whisker loss with when human children loose their first tooth. So I saved the whisker.
The white whisker has since grown back, and I find great joy in looking at it.
3. When I moved back to America I did not have a handful of essential items. One item in particular was a laundry basket. Instead of buying a laundry basket, like a normal fully functioning human adult would do, I started using a box I had shipped my belongings in as a laundry basket. Seven months later and I still use the box.
4. I recently spent a full day with two amazing humans who I met while I was living in Germany. One girl lives about two hours away from me, and the other girl, who used to be one of my roommates, was visiting for the weekend. I still struggle relating to anyone with regard to my life living abroad, and spending time with two people who “get it” was refreshing.
We spent the first half of the day exploring Deception Pass, a beautiful area of my home state I had regrettably never been to.
That last photo has some strong Cliffs of Moher vibes…if you know, you know.
5. I changed my windshield wipers for the first time in…almost a decade. I’m one of those people who pushes their limits with life. Eating trigger foods, going for a hike alone, traveling to a new country by myself, jumping off a mountain with nothing but a parachute, leaving my windshield wipers on for far too long…you know, the usual.
My wipers were at the point where they were audibly crying each time I used them. When I was driving solo, it didn’t phase me. When I was driving with another human, it became annoying. With some motivation and help from a pal, a YouTube tutorial, and a trip to O’Reillys – the deed has been done.
Naturally the entire process was much easier than I anticipated.
6. DejaVu was in full effect on a recent hike I embarked on. When I chose a trail for my hiking pals and I to explore, I had a feeling I had been there before. Sure enough I had, and I blogged to tell the tale. A lovely, wet 10 mile tromp through the woods with two cool dudes.
7. In one month I am taking a two week road trip to Montana and Idaho, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m visiting Glacier NP, and hiking a bit in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Any and all recommendations welcomed.
8. When I was younger I spent two summers at Fort Flagler with one of my friends and her family. I remember this place feeling so far away, and it was possibly the highlight of each of those years. I have revisited this area twice in the last month, and it’s just as cool now that I am an adult. Instead of riding a cheap bike in circles around the camp site all day, I now spend hours lying on the beach frying my skin while eating entire packages of dried mangoes.
Just when I start getting complacent about living where I am, I am reminded of Washington’s beauty. Life is good.
9. I found myself applying to random jobs lately due to some regression in my mindset. I really enjoy the freedom I have working with REI, but I felt the societal pressure to “do more.” Why can’t I just enjoy the flexibility without the pressure to follow societies molding of success? I have since stepped back to remind myself why I choose to live the way I do. #societalnormsbedamned.
10. I have started running again. This is my favorite confession of the entire post. I never thought this day would come, and to be honest I wasn’t sure if I would even want to start running again. Towards the end of my previous running journey I got complacent. I no longer ran because I enjoyed the run, I ran to keep my body an unnaturally small shape. My running became a chore, an added stressor to my already overtaxed immune system, and ultimately a catalyst in my Sjogrens Syndrome diagnosis.
So I stopped running.
Over the last year I have had the itch to pick it back up, but this time for a much healthier reason. Nothing controls my anxiety quite like running. My mornings now start with a short (and slow) run just to shake out my brain crazies, and it makes my day so much better. I no longer care about distance, or pace, or comparisons, I just care about moving. It will take time for me to build my base back to where it was (or maybe I never will and that’s ok), but I finally enjoy running for the pure joy of running.
Q: What’s your confession?
Blissfulbritt 
24 thoughts on “Early Morning Confessions”
sharonmik
My confession: I struggle with adulting, too. The windshield wipers and laundry basket? Totally things I would do 😁
Brittany
Bahaha I’m glad I am in good company.
59thncb
Glad to read you are back to running! I got back to running back in March but haven’t blogged about it yet because each time I do I jinx myself and I end up NOT running. (HA!)
usabaker
Ops… posted from my other account —
Brittany
I know that story! Yay for us both.
fionajarrett
Beautiful pictures! Great post and happy to hear you have found running again and the joy of running 🙂
Brittany
Thank you, me too!
Hettie D.
Beautiful pictures indeed! I do not have any confession :), but I have a statement: I moved! And 3/4 of all the things already found the place in my home 🙂
Brittany
Oh how exciting!! I hope the move was a smooth transition.
Hettie D.
Not really smooth, but I survived 🙂
Josh dV
There is a lot in here.
Firstly: enjoy your trip and stay safe! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
2) Love the pictures as always.
C-Welcome back to running. I pray it remains a relaxing/mindful practice for you.
Finally, I get it. That societal pressure to do more. I have all this training and education I can use to help people AND they make it so hard to just do that and I know I’m being chewed up just to be spit out later. I’ve daydreamed about transitioning to REI or a local bookstore to you know, relax a little.
Point is, I feel you and I respect your decision to take care of yourself.
Brittany
I am so happy you’ve been more present here the last few posts, I truly appreciate your comments.
I can’t even imagine the stress you’ve felt as a nurse in general, let alone since this chaos began. You are truly doing so much for the good of the world right now. But as always, you must put you first. I hope time will bring more guidance and clarity on where to go next for you.
Taking care of ourselves is hard, but the moment my body started to shut down was the moment I said absolutely not. I will do whatever it takes to live simply and mindfully, while also being a responsible adult. 😂
Pam
So I’ve always been somewhat of a rebel, I never followed the crowd or had the need to be part of a click or group…..
When You allow others to dictate how You should behave or what choices in life You make then You loose….
The simplest way to put it , as an adult it’s Your responsibility to take care of Yourself…whatever job choice You choose is YOUR decision,
And it’s Your decision to make sure You can support Yourself, that said if You choose to work at any job, Safeway,Red Robin, Starbucks etc…
If You can pay Your bills and Your Happy that’s All that matters…..
The most important thing is have a plan , determine how to execute and then Enjoy the Journey 👍❤️ Life is not a dress rehearsal, You only get to do it once🏔🌲🌊💃
Brittany
I couldn’t agree more, I’m glad this slip into old thoughts didn’t last long. To hell with the mold of unhappiness! Thank you. ❤️
Katie
The hike to Goat Lake in Idaho is a great one! I love so many things about GNP- Many Glacier is a stunning view and great to rent a kayak.
Brittany
Goat Lake is on my list, thank you!
Amy
No.10 — YAY YAY YAY YAY YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, that’s AMAZING!!! So proud of you, Brittany!! I quit running a while ago (summer of 2015, maybe?) because I didn’t enjoy it anymore either. It’s inspiring to hear that you now run just to RUN, not to burn calories or eat more or compensate for anything food-related. Making that mental shift is NOT an easy thing for our brains to do, so it’s really neat to witness you doing that. ♡
PS My parents are planning a road trip to Glacier this summer too! Just in July instead of June. I hope you have a fantastic time!!
Brittany
I definitely stopped enjoying running when I finally decided to quit. It was necessary. I don’t know where this desire to start again came from, but I’m running with it. Literally!
I’ve decided your parents and I (specifically your dad) are one in the same.
gpavants
Brittney,
New seasons! Awesome! It’s like Solomon said, there is a season for all things! Keep on keeping on!
We are prepping for our summer cross country trip so I hear you.
Gary
Brittany
I hope your trip planning goes smoothly!
The SAD Creative
Big fat yes to turning your back to societal norms. I used to never care what people thought of me and wore whatever weird clothes in whatever style from whatever decade in whatever colour I felt like. That, along with my constantly carrying a guitar around, making music, was entirely ME. Then I developed extreme shyness and social anxiety and woke up fifteen years later wondering where my personality had disappeared to. So glad to be back to colours and patterns and music again!
Glad you’re back to running: such a great way to work with anxiety when you can forget about the pressures of running furthernd faster to reach some unattainable and perhaps detrimental goal that really doesn’t matter in the end. Nothing like running to appreciate how amazing our bodies and minds are! (Not to mention nature!)
What a lovely white whisker on your cat, by the way! (I’ve not saved my cat’s lost whiskers, but I did save her baby teeth… 😊)
Brittany
I love this comment! 🤗 I can completely relate to being yourself, loosing yourself, and then rediscovering yourself! I am entering into the rediscovery phase and I love it.
My cat has only lost teeth under medical supervision, and I didn’t get to keep the tooth. 🤪 Cat parents are odd, aren’t we?
Allie Zottola
Love your cat’s white whisker! ❤
Brittany
He’s my favorite.