Well hello there…long time, no talk….or type? Not sure how to phrase that, but you get the gist, I’m sure.

I’ve taken a long break from this blog, for various reasons, most of which are mundane and not worth mentioning. Some, however, took my full attention, and for good reason. When I last left off in the summer of 2021, I was entering Senior year of my Social Work degree. I was picking out which agency to do my practicum at, what job I would be able to manage while engaged in practice social work, as well as what classes to take to finish up my degree. Mostly, I was dreaming of the day I f i n a l l y had my degree & what my future career would look like. 

Little did I know, it would evolve and grow into something much bigger and stranger than I’d ever imagined. Not to mention, the journey that 2022 would turn into. Don’t get me wrong…I’m grateful for the opportunities & experiences it afforded me, but find myself even more grateful that that particular season of life is behind me.

A lot of things, I won’t be able to mention here for personal reasons. Family matters had me traveling extensively the first half of 2022. Once that settled down a bit, I was excited to finish my degree on the Deans’ List. I found a part time social work job that was in alignment with my values and morals. Because of that position, I also found another position that led to my current situation. I’m working two different, but very related, jobs, a total of 25 hours a week. These positions have put me in constant contact with people who really appreciate all the hard work I do. They’re also positions in which I’ve been able to be completely honest about my health conditions, and take the time I need to take care of myself. 

Enough about where I’ve been – which is gone from here, for far too long. Let me tell you what I have planned for Stumble Pup in 2023.

A new post, on a monthly basis. I know that it’s a far cry from how frequent I posted at the beginning of this blog. With everything going on in my life, it’s the only thing I feel comfortable committing to. If I post more often, that’s great. While managing a parish and directing a social services agency, I feel blessed to get one out a month, to be honest. 

I’ve got a few ideas so far of what I’d like to share with y’all. While traveling so much, I learned a lot of things that helped me keep my symptoms in check. An update on what my diet & exercise routine looks like these days. Some other hobbies I fell into that I feel keep my symptoms in check, like gardening and painting, along with the perks of Physical Therapy, staying regular in attending acupuncture treatments, and monthly mental health counseling. 

I’m really excited to be back. I feel more like myself today than I did the entire last year. I hope the last year and a half have been good to y’all, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting. 

As always, if you have any posts you’d like to see, please reach out, either in a comment or via email at bri@stumblepup.com – my inbox is always open to suggestions. You can also follow me on Instagram or Pinterest for more frequent posts. 

I’m hoping for a peaceful, renewing, fulfilling 2023 for myself, and for you as well. 

Until next time,