1. One month ago I had my best run since I started running again. I didn’t run far, and I didn’t run fast, but the combination of my distance and my pace showed progress from when I first restarted back in March. I was riding a high my entire drive home, and I was excited for the runs to come.
2. Just a few short hours after this run, I was helping my mom clean out her garage. I was feeling amazing, and I was very motivated to get a lot done, so my movements were quick and I wasn’t being very mindful. I attempted to lift a bag of concrete, immediately causing me to keel over from a twinge I felt in my back.
One slipped disc, endless days of sciatic pain, a week off of work, lots of dark moments alone with my thoughts, and 4 weeks later I am finally able to walk without pain.
I’d be lying if I said taking a month off of running (or anything physical) didn’t make me incredibly sad, and the thought of having to “start over” again is overwhelming, but I know if I did it once I can do it again. Don’t forget to lift with your knees kids, and don’t ever attempt to lift a bag of concrete.
3. About a week before my back injury I went for my first solo hike in a looonnggg time. It was a trail I had done many times, and it wasn’t anything crazy, but I had forgotten how therapeutic it is for me to walk in the woods alone.
4. I’ve been home from my vacation for a month and a half now, and I already want to go on a another one. Sigh.
5. Speaking of vacation, I spent so much time focusing on Glacier and the Sawtooth’s I never shared the very first hike I went on in Kalispell, MT. A cute little backyard hike with a cute little view.
6. I think a couple of my coworkers dislike me, but I have reached the point where I genuinely don’t care.
7. The master technician at my work has a liking for slugs the same way one would have a liking for cats, or dogs. Anyone who knows me knows I have a phobia of slugs, so you can understand my struggle each time I walk into the shop and am met with a slug calendar.
Month after month I am forced to avoid eye contact with these grotesque creatures, all the while dodging laughs from my coworkers about my unique phobia.
It’s all in good fun, and while I truly detest the calendar, I thought it would be funny to play a prank on my coworker. The last day of July I printed a photo of my face to put onto the slug body for the month of August, so that when he flipped the page to see what he considers to be “cute”, he would instead be met with my face. It was unbelievably difficult for me to actually touch the photo, but it was so worth it.
8. Someone once told me putting bananas in the fridge helped to prolong their life. Makes sense, so I started doing it. I can now only eat bananas if they are fresh out of the fridge. The flavor change of a cold banana is unbelievably delicious. Cold bananas > room temp bananas.
9. I went for my first bike ride in over a month last week after my back finally started feeling better, and I was honked at by an asshole driver. I was already having a rough week, so this hand to the horn gesture might have made me cry. I will neither confirm nor deny that…Either way it was great to get back on the saddle.
Five days later I rode 22 miles. I’d say we’ve officially healed from the above mentioned chaos that was a back injury.
10. I’m sick of summer. I am so ready for cooler weather, pumpkin patches, crunchy leaves, and sweater season. Fall please hurry up.
Q: What’s your confession?
Blissfulbritt 
34 thoughts on “Early Morning Confessions”
Martin C. Fredricks IV
I love the honesty, deep feeling and, yes, levity of this post. All the best to you as you continue your healing journey. 🙂
Brittany
Thank you. The deep feelings posts are my specialty. 🤪
Atheria
I’m so sorry you hurt your back. I can vouch that chronic pain sucks. I did have to laugh at the slug calendar joke. Ha! Slugs deserve love too. 😆 And, yes, I refrigerate bananas and they do taste better and I like the texture better. The older you get (wait until you’re 54) the less you care if people like you. It’s awesome!
Brittany
I am most definitely enjoying this part of the aging process. Caring less about the little things.
Whoooo another cold banana lover!
capost2k
My confession is you reminded me about the frozen bananas I forgot in my freezer; now I have to find the recipe I downloaded from a foodie’s blog that I follow and I cannot remember how I saved the recipe nor the blogger I got it from!! 😨
Fortunately, they’ve only been in the freezer two weeks!
Brittany
The good news is that bananas in the freezer last SO long! And there are sooo many things you can do with them. I hope you find the recipe you had your heart set on though!
capost2k
Found it, but then Anita said it was too cool for ice cream tonight. So maybe another day. Thanx! 🙂
Rosemary Welch
If worse comes to worse and you never find it, try YouTube. You can find videos of any recipe you want! Praying you do well.
rootchopper
We visited a friend in Laguna Hills Ca once. The entire outside of his house was covered in slugs. GROSS!
Glad to hear your back is better. Typically these things happen from an accumulation of stresses. So the concrete bag was the straw (albeit a big one) that broke the camel’s back.
Gotta try the bananas thing.
I stopped caring what people thought of me a long, long time ago. Trying to please others all the time is exhausting. Be yourself. Simple.
Brittany
No. Absolutely not to your friends house. I would have moved so fast. My front steps have slugs in the morning and evening, but it’s “manageable.” I still have to pause while I figure out what route I want to take to pass them. 🤦🏻♀️
My body has clearly been stressed. As has my mind. This injury was a good reminder to slow down.
Day by day I get closer to caring less and less what others think of me. The beauty of getting older.
Puffetic
Gosh, I get honked daily on my bike in Melbourne… it’s a great thing. It means the driver has actually seen you, instead of watching their phone and trying to kill you. I usually give them a quick wave and say “thanks for noticing!”
Brittany
That’s a nicer way to look at it. I’d have been ok if it were a single honk of acknowledgement, but the pressing on the horn for extended time was unnecessary. They were very clearly agitated by my presence on the shoulder.
BERNADETTE
The slug calendar page is absolute genius and hillarious.
Brittany
Thank you. 😂😂
Chris
I agree 100% on #10. Summer needs to go away.
So glad you’re feeling better and getting on the bike! That bike looks awesome by the way. Pay the @$$#013 drivers no mind, they shouldn’t get to dictate how an otherwise awesome ride would be.
Brittany
It’s supposed to be high 90’s again this week and I think I might actually die. 🙄
I’m impressed with your symbol word creation, I’ve never seen one so spot on. I have been a bit more sensitive than usual lately, so that horn hold just rubbed me wrong.
Rosemary Welch
Hi Brittany. My confession is this. I used to have a phobia of darkness and still have claustrophobia. After getting stabbed in the back, I was frightened to go into dark places. One night at a candlelight AA meeting I prayed to God to help me. I moved clear to the other side of the room! Near the back. I sat down, and I was no longer afraid of the dark. Close spaces is a different story, but I thank God I can now be ok in the dark. Maybe if you try closing your eyes and pray, you can get past that stupid calendar? Just a thought. 😊
Brittany
Wow. What a story, and thank you for sharing. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through. I’m with you on tight spaces, I cannot do them.
Once the calendar photo has been up for a few days after a new month, I seem to be slightly desensitized to it. But once a new month is up I have an adaption period of discomfort. 🤪
Rosemary Welch
I empathize with you. That was over 31 years ago, that story. It was so powerful to me though. God works in so many ways. I pray He is an anchor for you also. 😁
Sam Hankss
Beautiful blog and thank you for sharing. Good luck with the recovery!
Brittany
Thank you!!
Amy
Oh man, injuries are the WORST!!! Especially when it feels like something as “silly” as cleaning the garage and lifting something heavy. 😦 So glad to hear you’re feeling better and able to exercise again!!
It’s so true about cold bananas. There’s something about the temperature, taste, and texture that tastes incredible. That’s usually how I prefer mine also! Cold pizza, cold cornbread, cold bananas… Leftover cold cooked sweet potatoes too. I might be weird, but I don’t care — they all taste so good straight from the fridge! 😉
Brittany
DUUUUDDEEE. Cooked, cold sweet potatoes taste like pudding. SO good. They don’t make me feel great, so I don’t eat them often, but I used to eat them ALL the time. Oh man. Cold anything is so much better.
Amy
YESSSSSS!!! Topped with a little cinnamon… The BEST.
Pree
I’m surprised I’m not too sick of summer yet! I thought I would be by now 😂
Brittany
Man, I am sooo over the heat. Granted, we don’t have AC where I live. Most Washingtonians don’t. That definitely makes it a struggle.
dfolstad58
I connected with the comment about the driver who honked. I have had those thoughts about drivers who are (words fail me). I think those persons must have sad lives, they drive and live in a state that lacks peace or empathy for anyone else. Peace to you, and I hope you continue to heal and write excellent posts like this one.
Brittany
They literally left their hand on the horn for more than five seconds. It was incredibly obnoxious and felt aggressive. I think you have a good outlook on these types of people though, something I need to remember.
Allie Zottola
So glad your back is feeling better! I can’t believe the view from that hike… gorgeous! These are my favorite posts of yours!
Brittany
These are fun to write. 🤗
Pam
So I’m afraid of heights…..looking over edges without protective barrier doesn’t happen, went to old iron bridge and couldn’t get beyond the point where there was no earth below, crawled back to road😱
Given current climate of idiots in the world be careful when on Your Own🙏 Love the insert of picture on calendar 😂😂✋
You’ll never please everyone, nor should You try……be Yourself and let the good in You shine❤️ As You get older, strength,stamina,and agility is Your best friend, small steps in each direction has GREAT benefits
All the Best🙋♀️
Brittany
Comment full of wisdom and love as always! ❤️
jesseschaefer
Love the humor and honesty here. I’d add SOUP to the list on #10!
Brittany
Thank you! 🤪