Bookish Breakdown No. 33: September 2021

Last Updated on October 4, 2021 by ThoughtsStained

Hello, lovelies! Welcome to another Bookish Breakdown post, my monthly wrap-up where I talk about last month’s reading, as well as life musings, blog hopping links and intention updates!

Well, September solidified 2021 as the worst year, for me. You can see reflected in my stats below, where everything I usually do and love dropped dramatically. But, in the span of three weeks, I:

• Was exposed to COVID at work and had to quarantine until I got a negative result (four days later)
  • Our office also didn’t have any policy in place in case this happened (!!) despite working at an university, so navigating this scare on top of uncertainty was…fun.
• The Sunday before I was supposed to return to work, my back spasmed so bad I had to go to the ER on Monday and couldn’t properly walk until Friday. Two weeks, one MRI, lots of pain meds and daily stretches later, I can finally move without pain, but still awaiting results and answers.
  • I also had to apply for FMLA at work for the first time, which is just as complex, complicated and confusing as you can imagine.
• The same day I was at the ER, I found out my Grandpa’s life expectancy went down from the previously told four-five months to three days. He passed away that Friday and, because I couldn’t move, I couldn’t visit him in the hospital, nor be with my family while they grieved his passing.

Yeah, so September can just fuck all the way off. My medical debt is through the roof. I’ve been struggling with my mental health, especially since I can no longer afford therapy. I haven’t gotten to read or write in weeks. My day job is crushing (but, rare hope might be on the horizon, according to our supervisors? We’ll see). 2021 has been really bloody hard. So, like I mentioned on Twitter, I am manifesting positive vibes, events, emotions and more the rest of the year. Lord knows I need it.

Let’s check in and see how I did creatively this month (spoiler: NOT MUCH, fam).

Reading Breakdown

What I Read

I’ve given up on my goal to read 50 books this year by this point, but damn if I don’t need a book to just floor me and bring reading back into my life.

Reading Challenges Update

Blogging Breakdown

What I Posted

This is the least I’ve posted in…gods, I don’t even know how long. I *did* manage to reformat some series, though, so I am proud of that!

Read Around the Blogosphere

Looking at Feedly, I have almost 500 unread posts, since I haven’t blog hopped in over a month. Prepare for October’s lists to be OFF THE CHARTS.

Intentions Breakdown

I’m one of those people who loves to write out intentions at the beginning of each year. I’m also one of those people who doesn’t do the best job of keeping them. Here, I check in each month and see how I’m doing!

Looking Forward

Very grateful September is over! We are officially in my favorite time of year. October, November and December are my favorite trio of months, always. From holidays to birthday celebrations, to gorgeous fall weather and wrapping up the year, I just love the energy, mood and reflection that comes with this time of year. I hope it’s even more special and is even better this year, after 2021 has just been so trash for me personally.

I hope you’re all doing well. I really, really missed blogging last month, and I hope to get back into the swing of things, however slowly! Let me know how you’re doing! 🖤