A Whole Lot of Life Right Here.

October! Honestly, it is hard to believe that.

This month marks a year since I was randomly (nothing is random, by the way) diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.

Initially, it didn’t appear to be a big deal. Just “something to keep an eye on.” By February of this year, it became clear that it was potentially a very big deal and needed to be treated pretty quickly. In March, I had coils and stents inserted (into my brain!), and last month another procedure confirmed that the aneurysm was gone.

Gone.

Thank You, Jesus.

This month, I am determined to (finally) mentally process all of the “what ifs” and miracles surrounding the last year and firmly put the brain aneurysm in the past. Although I don’t think I will ever stop sharing this journey when God presents the opportunity to do so. There is just too much goodness in the story not to.

With the “all-clear” from my neurovascular surgeon, I am turning my attention back to my overall health.

After a ton of research and conversations with my doctor, I started a GLP-1 today. The growing research into benefits beyond weight loss is what finally convinced me. Weight loss, of course, is a big part of why I’m doing this, but I’m also interested in the potential benefits involving cardiovascular health, blood pressure, lipids, inflammation, mobility, and more. Some benefits are already well established, while others—particularly those involving brain health, dementia, and Alzheimer’s—are still being studied. I’ll be following all of that closely.

Along with starting a GLP-1, I’m getting back to meal planning, meal preparation, and logging my food and drinks. All of that becomes especially important because I want to stay ahead of potential side effects and, most importantly, make sure I’m eating enough protein and maintaining muscle as I lose weight.

I’m working on a four-week meal plan for Russell and me that I’ll be sharing with y’all in a downloadable format soon. Protein-heavy has always been my preferred way of eating anyway. I love veggies and fruit and will absolutely include plenty of both.

Gluten and dairy products, while I love them, are not and have never been my friends, sadly. We’ve tried to make the relationship work. It’s just not meant to be.

And then there are the phones.

Russell and I realized this week that we have really become attached to scrolling on our phones. So today marks Day 1 of putting our phones away beginning at dinner and leaving them there for the evening.

No scrolling.

I’ll let you know how that is going. 😂

Y’all know how I love books. And that I have tons of books. And that I should actually be reading my books. Somewhere along the way, scrolling started replacing reading, and that has to end.

So there you have a quick look at October.

I’m also working on my website right now and will be filling it with lots of fun things I love, use regularly, recommend, and want to share. Including books, of course.

But more than anything, October feels a little like turning a page.

For the past year, there has always been this brain aneurysm sitting somewhere in the background of my life. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes very loudly. Appointments, procedures, medications, waiting, wondering, and all of those middle-of-the-night “what ifs.”

And now it’s gone.

I don’t want to rush past what God has done or forget what this year has taught me. But I also don’t want to keep living as though I’m waiting for the next scary thing to happen.

There are books to read. Meals to cook. Walks to take. Muscles to build. Things to write. A husband to sit beside without both of us staring at our phones. And a little granddaughter who calls me Honey to love on.

There is a whole lot of life right here in front of me.

And I think October is a pretty good time to get on with living it.