In January I suggested we “write a book together” in 2024 and pitched the idea of assigning each month a chapter title.
So far, I’ve had:
- January – Steady: Finding Solid Ground After a Year of Drowning
- February – Busy (with Intention): Making Time for Things that Provide Joy, Energy, and Thrill
- March – Up and Down: Trying to Enjoy the View from Life’s Rollercoaster
- April – Spring Cleaning: Unpacking My Bags and Tidying Up (Oh, and Look At Those Pretty Flowers!)
- May – Reflection: Another Trip Around the Sun – Let’s Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
- June – The Murky Middle: Saying Goodbye and Looking Ahead
- July – Unexpected: When Plans Go Awry, Life Still Provides Happy Moments
- August – Summer Adventures: Seeing the World and Coming Back Home
- September – Underwhelming: Fiascos with Enough Fun To Stay *Mostly* Positive
I didn’t have to sit and ponder very long to come up with this month’s title:
October – Whirlwind: My Beautiful (Busy) Month of Visiting and Visitors. So many fun things with mostly the right amount of margin but it was busy! Travel (a week with my parents)! Company (my father-in-law; KYRIA!!)! An especially busy month of work for my part-time university gig. The timeless wonder that is fall foliage. A more solidified extracurricular routine.
True to form, October won my Favourite Month of the Year Award. I suppose I shouldn’t declare a victor until the end of the year, but I’m quite certain it will remain at the top…
Your turn. How would you label Chapter Ten (October 2024)?
Header photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Discover more from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
mbmom11
October- Answers with no solutions
Background music: Unwell by Matchbox 20.
I mean, there are always some good things going on, but the big themes right now are hard.
I’m so glad you had a great October. You’ve had a bumpy ride at times this year. Keep taking care of yourself.
Elisabeth
Sigh. It has been a long, tough year for you and your family.
October was such a restorative month for me. Sadly, November has been a bit more…bumpy. But I suppose that’s life? Sigh again…
iHanna
October: is it already over?
Elisabeth
I agree! October flew by. I’d kinda like to go back and relive it. November hasn’t been my favourite month so far 😐
Jenny
October. Why can’t I remember October??? Literally nothing comes to mind right now. I’m sure I’ll look back in my planner and say “How did I forget THAT huge event/fiasco?” I’m glad your month was beautiful!
Elisabeth
Ha! Best chapter title ever: Why Can’t I Remember October??? Love it.
Birchie
I haven’t updated Chapter A Month since April, so let’s catch up.
January: New Year, New Puppy
February: 25 Days of Puppy Snuggles, 4 Days on the Beach
March: Hikeapalooza
April: The Escape Hatch
May: Wisconsin Dreaming
June: On The Road
July: Same Old Same Old
August: Same Old Same Old, Continued
September: New York Roaming
October: Hikeapalooza II
Elisabeth
These sound like awesome song titles for a country album!! Just sayin’ (Maybe not February, but honestly – it’s not a stretch to imagine that as a country song either…)
ccr in MA
Well, so much for what I had planned for October! Mine is “October: Hurricane Blows Plans Apart (but fortunately not my home)”
Elisabeth
Ugh. You had so many fun plans and goodness – the weather was just horrible. I love how you quality it all with the fact your home stayed intact. Definitely something to be grateful for in the middle of a very upsetting, scary and disappointing (your trip was going to be so fun) month.
NGS
January: It Happened
February: CBBC, Tornadoes, and Snail Mailpalooza
March: SAD Lamp Needed
April: Denial…It Ain’t Just a River in Egypt
May: On the Road Again
June: Rainy Days and Rainy Nights
July: The Hospital and The Olympics
August: The End of Summer Suck
September: Routinely Fine
October: Terrible, Thanks for Asking – COVID, A Radioactive Cat, and No Halloween
You know what, Elisabeth? This exercise is reminding me that this year really has been SUCKY. LOL. Will the last two months of the year turn this ship around?
Elisabeth
Engie, what a hard year for you. On SO MANY LEVELS. I mean…tornadoes and radioactive pets and days in the hospital with Dr. BB and COVID and…
Enough, already. You are due for two peaceful, healthy, lovely months. I am rooting for you <3
Daria
January: Chapter One: Rest and Relaxation.
February, chapter 2: spring awakening+more energy
March, chapter 3: anticipation and je t”aime Paris
April, chapter 4: garden and community
May: overwhelmed + busy
June: convalescing and camping
July: rest for me, camp for kids
August: Bella Italia + Back to School
September: Over My Head
October: Still Over My Head but At Least There’s Halloween
Elisabeth
This fall has had a lot of tough moments for people in our blogging community. Sickness, major weather events. Sigh. I’m really hoping November and December offer a bit of a reprieve. And that we go into the new year starting strong with some renewed enthusiasm. It can be hard to get our “mojo” back after a stretch of tough stuff. Hugs <3
Kyria @ Travel Spot
Yay, it’s my favorite time of month, plus I am going to be featured in your book! How lovely! I will name the tenth chapter of Traveling With Bob, the Book of Bikes: Chapter Ten — October: Unwinding. This is because of all the days, I only rode a few of them, and spent the others visiting, catching up on things and finally getting back into a (different) routine again. The bike trip is unwinding and soon I will be starting a new book!
Chapter One – January: Everything Must Go!
Chapter Two – February: The Life Changing Event
Chapter Three – March: A New Beginning
Chapter Four – April: An Unquenched Hunger
Chapter Five – May: The Next Province
Chapter Six — June: From Freezing Snow to Burning Sunshine in Three Days
Chapter Seven — July: The Path Less Taken
Chapter Eight — August: The Great Expanse
Chapter Nine — September: Taking A Step Back
Chapter Ten — October: Unwinding
Elisabeth
Awww. Love this. What great chapter titles. You definitely have a book in here and look at that – I’ve already helped you sketch out your basic outline. You all ready to pitch your proposal. Seriously! I’d love to read a book about your adventures. And your chapter titles would definitely pull the reader in. Perhaps I will feature in YOUR book; October was the month we finally met in person. Woot, woot
Gigi
For me October was Uncertainty and What’s Next?
Elisabeth
I feel like the soundtrack to Jaws could be playing quietly in the background. Sigh. I really hate periods of being in limbo and not knowing what is coming next. The planner in me withers a bit in those situations.
Alexandra
Oh I love this idea, though it’s true, my chapter headings would probably be very boring. But what a great way of rounding up each month in a single sentence.
Elisabeth
I’ve really enjoyed the exercise! It’s been fun and grounding. I don’t think I’ll continue it next year, but I’m really glad I did it this year!
Alexandra
Definitely a fun but one off thing.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I am in love with these fall leaves. Such a gorgeous view.
Elisabeth
Me too. I’m pretty bummed the leaves are basically all gone (well, aside from the ones blowing everywhere on the lawns and streets), but it really was a gorgeous season here in Canada.
Michelle G.
2024
Part 1: Eye drama
Chapter 1: January: Stressful beyond belief – Ocular Melanoma recurrence
Chapter 2: February: Stressful beyond belief – Preparing for treatment
Chapter 3: March: Stressful beyond belief – Proton Beam treatment
Part 2: Recovering from trauma
Chapter 4; April: Resting and recovering
Chapter 5: May: Resting and recovering
Chapter 6: June: First eye checkup – resting and recovering
Part 3: Too hot!
Chapter 7: July: Too hot, and still resting and recovering
Chapter 8: August: Way too hot, and still resting and recovering
Chapter 9: September: Second eye checkup. Feeling pretty good
Part 4: Not yet titled
Chapter 10: October: Walking, feeling good and happy
I have to say that 2024 has been a very challenging year for me. But, October was a very good month and I really enjoyed it!
This was a helpful exercise, Elisabeth!
Elisabeth
You have had so much going on – so much HARD stuff. I’m glad you’re nearly through to the end of the year and emerging healthier and happier than you started it. Medical issues are so, so stressful and I’m so sorry you had to walk through such a difficult time.
And through it all you have spread light and joy on the internet.
Ernie
I’m stumped. Um, I think I’d label it a whirlwind of tailgating and volleyball (even though or biggest tailgate involvement was in Nov.) and settling into a new school. I feel a bit like Jenny though . . . I don’t really remember and part of me is still having a hard time processing that we’re in November. Tomorrow is Coach’s bday, so I guess it is November.
Elisabeth
It does feel like November really crept up on me this year.
Tailgating isn’t really a “thing” in Canada (or it’s NOTHING like the US version), but it sounds so fun and festive!
San
I loved this month for you 🙂
Stephany
Yesss – okay, I had to go back to just about all your posts to get all of my chapters in one place (thank you for your easy URL structure, haha).
January: Settling In to a New Year
February: The One With All of the Appointments
March: Everything’s Coming Up Stephany
April: The Diagnosis
May: Highs and Lows
June: Battling My Social Anxiety Demons – and Winning
July: Spending Less, Doing More
August: Transitions & Depression
I didn’t do one for September, so let’s make September: The Unexpected Goodbye to Gladys since I lost her during Helene at the end of the month. And for October: Another Hurricane?!
Very glad normal life has resumed after a very rough September/October.
Elisabeth
September and October were ROUGH for Floridians (and so many other Americans). It’s not like November 6th was a walk in the park either, sigh. 2024 has been a tough year for a lot of my readers. Onward and upward to 2025?
Stephany
Dang it – my comment didn’t save! Anyway, I had to go back to your old posts to find out what I had given the other months so I can have it all in one place.
January: Settling In to a New Year
February: The One With All of the Appointments (it feels like I had multiple appointments every week!)
March: Everything’s Coming Up Stephany
April: The Diagnosis
May: Highs and Lows
June, Battling My Social Anxiety Demons – and Winning.
July: Spending Less, Doing More
August: Transitions & Depression
September: The Unexpected Goodbye to Gladys
October: Another Hurricane?!
Very glad normal life has resumed after the craziness of September/October