Well, well, well. What a bloody year. Literally – blood, sweat and tears went into getting through 2017 and I did it (well, nearly – this bout of cold and flu has me literally limping to the finish line). And though there were times when I had no idea how I would possibly get through it, I feel like things are looking up, and I feel excited for the new chapters that will no doubt present themselves in 2018. I feel so incredibly lucky at the moment (flu aside) – sat in my little flat in Southampton with the Christmas tree lights twinkling away and Bodhi dog snoozing in his bed, and I wanted to take the time to reflect back on all of the things I’ve been grateful for this year. In no particular order, just as I thought of them… (and how lucky, to be able to think of 50 things to be grateful for).
- Bodhi the dog
- My family
- My friends
- Green tea (though I’m down to two cups a day)
- Bubble baths
- Podcasts
- Netflix
- The time spent living at my parents
- Walks along the beach
- The Danielle La Porte audio – Fight For Your Joy
- Tarot cards
- Rebecca Campbell – Rise Sister Rise
- CBD oil from CBD Brothers
- My very lovely GP and a prescription of Citalopram
- Milkybar Buttons
- My girls’ holiday to Crete
- My Audible subscription
- Sleep, sleep and sleep
- Heath and Heather Yerba Mate and Nettle Tea
- My aromatherapy diffuser (I have this one in my kitchen)
- Fresh air and walks outside
- My Handmade Apothecary book (this has not left my kitchen recently)
- Epsom salts and magnesium salts
- Lush bath bombs and Lord of Misrule
- Wahaca
- Yoga classes and stretching on the mat
- New tattoos and getting my nose pierced
- The ‘Shamanic Pathway Of Light’ weekend training
- Wayne Dyer – Real Magic (listened on Audible)
- Having an understanding boss and work colleagues
- Candles
- Plants
- Doterra aromatherapy oils and Gemma Sands’ guidance
- The Tenth Hole Tearooms in Southsea and all of the cakes I have tried
- M&S Veggie Percies
- The few runs that I went on (more next year)
- Five Guys on Deliveroo
- Duck down pillows
- Incense sticks
- Crystals (shoutout to rose quartz)
- Mindful walking and connecting with Mother Earth
- Having a boyfriend in the summer, even if it didn’t work out
- Learning about wicca
- Two very happy weddings
- Getting a matching tattoo with my Mum
- Poetry
- Writing, writing, writing
- Peaky Blinders (special mention: Cillian Murphy)
- Joggers and PJs
- Blogging and the lovely people I’ve met through blogging
I’ve spent so long writing this list that I’m now no longer sat in the flat and am now sat in front of the fire at my parents’ house (with an extra dog snoozing on the rug!) We’re all sat watching the Judi Dench documentary about trees (bloody love trees, they should have made the list!) and I have eaten my weight in stollen and am now enjoying a glass of Port, very civilised I know!
I feel like you can tell from the list that I’ve invested a lot in self-love this year, in the comfort of warm tea, long baths and early nights. And that’s been right for me – to turn inward and allow myself time to heal and have time with friends and family and the people I love. It’s been a slow year with not a lot achieved, but I feel that now I’ve established a good platform and base from which to push myself forward in 2018. I would love to travel abroad and perhaps even fulfil my dream of living abroad, although I’ll be renting my flat until October, so it will have to wait until then (and of course I have Bodhi to think about).
In the meantime though I’ll be spending the last few days 0f 2017 showing gratitude, squeezing the doggies and trying to fight off this horrid flu virus. Here’s to a tough but necessary year, and to all of the excitement and new chapters that may lie ahead.
