In 2020 I published 47 blog posts. Everything from parenting to small business ownership to relationships to fitness. My goal for this year was to write one blog post a week and I got pretty close. Life got in the way from time to time in 2020 (no surprise there!) but I’m really happy with the content I put out in what was one of the most challenging years of my life.
Blogging is something that takes time and consistency. I’ve put countless hours into creating, writing and editing posts to give you, my readers, content I think you’ll love. I truly appreciate each and every one of you that have supported me and Forty Young this year. It doesn’t go unnoticed!
I’m ready to close the chapter on 2020 and move forward, but before I do, I want to recap my top 5 posts of this past year (maybe you missed one!)
This post has been viewed almost 50k times. You seemed to love it because it details the huge changes I made back in August by taking on 75 Hard. It was something that forced me to refocus on what I could control. I think it resonated with a lot of my readers because they were feeling the same way after many, many months of feeling like life was out of control. It ranks 3rd on Google, something I’m very proud of. It was a huge win for me as a blogger. It gained me a bigger audience and fueled the Facebook group I started for the challenge that now has almost 550 people.
Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m just treading water. The other day Rob mentioned something to me about starting a fitness/wellness program to shake things up. I was reluctant. I actually flat out said “hell no”. Then I got to thinking, maybe it was exactly what I needed. A new purpose, something to work towards. Something with a begin and end date andan exact process to follow.
This Friday, August 8th I’m starting 75 Hard. It will push me well beyond my “comfort zone” in many ways. I’m ready for it though. In fact, I’ve been needing it for awhile but just didn’t know what “it” was until Rob brought it up. Have you been feeling like you need a little “kick in the butt” lately? Like you need to get back on track? Like you gained the “Corona 15”? Like you need something to push you to do more? Or maybe you’re making your overall health and wellness a priority for the first time. 75 Hard is for you too.
This was a follow up to my popular post of the year so it’s no real surprise that it came in second!
There were many days during the 75 Hard that I didn’t want to do the workouts but I did them anyways. In life, you’ll always have to do things you don’t want to. It’s called being an adult. The more you practice by forcing yourself to do the things you don’t want to, the better you’ll get at doing things you don’t want to. You might even start to like those things.
This post was from the third week of March. It’s actually one of my favorite blog posts ever. I launched Forty Young around my 40th birthday and one of the main reasons was because I wanted to give women over a 40, like me, a voice. I wanted to inspire other moms or women in midlife to go after what they want.
I saw a video from Gary Vaynerchuk while I was in the early stages of developing Forty Young I will never forget it. “A Note to my 50-Year-Old Self” lit a major fire under my ass. It was like he was talking to me. It’s for the over-40 crowd that has this relentless nagging voice or thought in their head about taking the first steps to start a business but they’ve convinced themselves they’re too old, inexperienced or don’t understand how to use social media. This video from the Gary Vaynerchuk YouTube channel was exactly what I needed to hear during a time in my life when just about everyone was questioning why I wanted to start a business online and telling me not to move forward with it. I needed that video to show up in my Facebook feed at that time to remind me I wasn’t losing my mind by pursuing my dreams.
I get countless DMs and emails from women thanking me for this series on my breast augmentation surgeries. You tell me that not a lot of bloggers are comfortable talking about it, and you appreciate my honesty. You can read my other post in the series, “So You’re Thinking about Breast Augmentation Surgery” too!
I’d had my breast implants for just about 10 years when I went to my yearly mammogram in February. The test informed me that since my mammogram the year before, my implant volume was different on both sides with the right side being significantly less. I had noticed that my right side was considerably smaller but I just wrote it off as “aging” and went about my life. A month later, I had less than a “handful” on my right side and a very big “handful” on the left side. My right silicone implant either had a very bad leak (I was told later it could be the valve slightly open), or it had ruptured completely.
This post was loved by young and old, attached and unattached alike. Romantic relationships are tricky and knowing the signs of when a guy “is the one” or “isn’t the one” are so important!
I am part of several “girl” groups on Facebook. We talk about “girl” stuff; plastic surgery, husbands, skincare, makeup, friendships, boyfriends and hair removal (you get the point). There seems to be an underlying theme in every question about boyfriends, “situationships” and dating. It goes something like this, “I’ve been seeing this guy for a few months. I’m really into him. He tells me he really likes me and wants to see where things go but he a) didn’t return my texts until Sunday afternoon when I texted him Friday after work, b) wouldn’t drive 30 miles to see me or c) the guy says he likes me but doesn’t want a relationship, and he doesn’t want me dating anyone else…of course.
What do you guys want me to write about in 2021? Send me a DM on Instagram or use the contact form here to let me know! I’d love to give my community more of what you’re looking for from me in the coming year!
