Happy (belated) New Year!
We didn't manage to get out and celebrate in the end - torrential rain coupled with my surf-life saver husband involved in the rescue of two young men down at the beach (the third not so lucky, sadly) put a dampener on plans.
So... much time for reflection during a sleep-deprived week camping up North with the masses (including the design flaws on our new tent).
Looking back at 2023, I unearthed little nuggets of gold amongst the coal that I hadn't stopped to celebrate and experienced a big dose of gratitude.
Perhaps this might be the case for you, too, as you ponder these questions.
Reflecting on the year that was 2023, what comes up for you...
Every year, it is inevitable you will experience some type of loss...
Often, we forget to celebrate the small things and our small wins. Reflecting on these reminds us of our personal growth.
It was a year of ups and downs, but ultimately a good one with lots of learnings for me to take into this year, and I'm excited for what lies ahead.
I hope you have managed to get some rest and downtime this holiday, and wishing for you the best that 2024 has to offer (with a whole lot less rain).
...a friendship enthusiast helping single women in their 50s build real friendships for deeper connection, by sharing personal experience, curated expert advice, tips and thoughtful, no-fluff stories delivered to your inbox each week.
I've been MIA the past few weeks in case you hadn't noticed. I decided to take a well-deserved two-week, guilt-free holiday 'cos I felt a little burned out. Then, the universe decided to enforce my resolve with two back-to-back head colds, which left me bedridden, doing nothing of any substance, wondering if I had COVID-19. (I didn't.) It was frustrating, but it offered a rare but much-needed rest. It took a while to adjust to being 'unplugged,' but I've developed a taste for it. It was so...
It's not that I didn't want to go. The spirit was willing, but the body wasn't feeling it. Even the chance of a cheap, last-minute ticket through a friend wasn't enough to move the needle. But I loathe regret. Judging by the tsunami of Facebook posts the next day, missing Pink in concert would have had me pink with envy. Overwhelmed by decision fatigue, I left it to fate... if the ticket sold on Trade Me, so be it; it wasn't meant to be. And with two hours to go until gates opened, it wasn't...
My energy was zapped as the days puffed into March. All attention was diverted to teenage woes in the home and the necessity of donning my oxygen mask first. As I crashed on the bed that swallowed me whole, feeling delirious from the 4.30 a.m. start to beat the traffic, my reality was stark. I was in desperate need of respite. Running away was not an option, so this was the next best thing. Allowing me to melt into the moment and do nothing else but "be" in a testosterone-free zone. And I...