Author: The Monday Diaries

Retrospecticus: A Look Back at 2015

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monday diaries retrospecticus

Apologies to The Simpsons.

I’m ready to push 2015 right out the damn door!

I repeated the above mantra to myself for most of December.

The last several weeks haven’t been kind to me, and I haven’t shown my best self throughout most of them, either. Based on those events, I had convinced myself that 2015 was a dud.

Except…it wasn’t.

After I took the time to reflect on the year that was, I realized that I was being, for lack of a better term, idiotic. Sure, I’ve hit a bit of a rough patch, but overall? This has been a year that was all too kind to me.

So what positive things happened for me in 2015? Let’s take it from the top:

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5 Lessons I’ve Learned About Blogging in 2 Months of Mondays

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It’s already been two months of Mondays.

This blog isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been posting my ramblings and rumblings to the Internets for as long as I can remember. I’ve maintained several blogs and blog-like things in the past, and most of those have gone the way of the dodo.

What sets The Monday Diaries apart from my other projects is that I’m actually sticking with it, frustration be damned.

In the couple of months I’ve maintained this blog, I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way:

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How the NHL Shoots & Scores on Instagram

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How the NHL Shoots & Scores on Instagram

Last week, NewsWhip published an intriguing piece on social media and the NHL. You can check it out here.

Their analysis focused on the heavy hitters of social media — Facebook and Twitter — and even touched upon the likes of Reddit, YouTube, and Snapchat.

Instagram, surprisingly, was absent.

Now, two of my favorite things in this world are hockey and social media. Personally, I use Instagram to check on my favorite team, the Philadelphia Flyers, quite often. Thus, I thought it would be fun to challenge myself to do some research and find out how, exactly, the NHL operates on Instagram.

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#17 Forever: Here’s to You, Mr. Brind’Amour

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(Updated to include video & thoughts on the Hall of Fame Ceremony from November 22!)

January 23, 2000 was the worst day of my barely-15-year-old life.

Rod Brind’Amour was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Carolina Hurricanes. And I was devastated.

I thank my lucky stars that social media didn’t exist back then, as I surely would have shot off rapid-fire hashtag-heavy Tweets expressing my sorrow and disgust, or constructed a grandiose tribute on Facebook complete with photographs and frownie-emojis. This is why I could never, in good faith, mock the young girls whose worlds were absolutely crushed when Zayn left One Direction. (Yes, I keep up with pop culture.)

Looking back on it now, I was a stupid teenage girl with stupid teenage emotions. But it’s also endearing, in a way, to think that before I became just another adult inundated with “grown up” priorities, hockey was practically my entire world.

Rod Brind’Amour was a huge reason for that.

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Motivation Monday: 4 Inspirational BoJack Horseman Quotes

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One of the realest series I’ve ever watched is a cartoon about a washed-up television star. Who is also an anthropomorphic horse.

BoJack Horseman is a comedy, albeit a dark one. It delves into topics that are an antithesis to its lighthearted character designs: depression, narcissism, social and familial dysfunction, the many flavors of addiction, and death. Just to name a few.

The brilliant writers of BoJack Horseman have dealt with these sensitive issues with much care and honesty. As a result, the show is more than a biting satire of Hollywood — it’s a source of excellent advice, especially for those who are embroiled in their own personal struggles. I can speak from experience, as BoJack Horseman has inspired me in times when I’ve been down.

If you’re in need of some motivation, look to these 4 BoJack Horseman quotes to get you going (minor spoilers ahead):

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The Monday Diaries, Volume 1: October 2015

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Monday Diaries Vol 1

Behold my stellar MSPaint skills

Happy Post-Halloween!

Yes, I know it’s not quite Monday (expect a new post tomorrow!), but it’s the start of a new month and I’ve a few things to share:

It’s been an exciting first month here at The Monday Diaries. A big thank you to all who’ve shown their support and interest as I get this baby off the ground. It truly means a lot to me. I’ll be thinking of all of you once this site becomes a huge success and the book deal & Netflix Original Series come into fruition. (Hey, I can dream.)

Behold the first-ever volume of The Monday Diaries — a roundup of all of last month’s stories. If you’re brand new to the site, here’s your chance to catch up on what you’ve missed! The month’s most popular post (as determined by page views) is indicated by a star:

The Monday Diaries, Volume 1: October 2015

October 5: The Tipping Point: When I Became Hooked on 5 Favorite Shows

October 12: No Longer Waiting for Gardot: A Night at The Town Hall with Melody Gardot

★October 19: From a Recovering Perfectionist: 5 Ways to Bounce Back from a Bad Day

October 26: Table for One: 5 Perks of Dining Solo

(Observation: I really like the number 5.)

I already have some ideas percolating for November, including a follow-up to the solo dining piece, courtesy of Loneeaters. If there’s anything you’d like to see in an upcoming post, don’t be shy — leave your thoughts in the comments, or shoot me an email at mondaydiaries[at]gmail[dot]com.

Remember that The Monday Diaries is on social media, too! Give it a like on Facebook and/or a follow on Twitter.

Thanks for reading!