New Year New Outlook

Yet again I've neglected this blog and have not written anything or posted for far too long. The reason being this time around is somewhat more cheerful than previous occurrences this year.

This year. 2013. Well, it's New Years Eve so I had better do the mandatory reflection hadn't I?

What has this year meant for me? To be honest I've not really liked this year. There have been a number of events that have taken place and most of them have left me feeling negative emotions rather than turning me into a happy bunny.

However, thanks to a certain someone, I am leaving 2013 feeling on top of the world.

It's funny how your life can seem to be on a set path and then have a few bumps and look like it's taking another. Before you know it you've then gone on a completely different journey and ended up back where you wanted to be. I'm getting a bit cryptic here, but this year has really shown me that everything does happen for a reason as I've often touched on before when things weren't so great. If things are meant to be I really think they will happen.

I did a lot of thinking with my head this year and rather than going with my heart and gut instincts I instead only seemed to use my emotions to cause me trouble.

It's pretty standard to make resolutions as you move into a new year, but as I've got older I've taken the view they are a bit pointless and nobody sticks to them. Is that because we put ourselves under pressure to come up with things, but they are not actually what is truly important to us and what we want to do?

And why is it we have to wait until a year ends to make them? Why do we find it so hard not to set goals and start new ones throughout the year?

I for one really felt I let 2013 pass me by. There were things going on personally relationship-wise, I changed roles which turned out to be a bit of a struggle, I let things overwhelm me a bit in general and as a result I ended up spending more time stressing out than actually doing anything. Yes me and my boyfriend did some fun things, but overall I feel I did a lot less seeing friends and moving my life forward.

Funnily enough I ended last year wanting to change and discover new things and I had an action packed start to the year as I did 'Dry January' and took part in a host of new cultural experiences - exhibitions, ballet, opera, serious theatre plays not musicals and many more things. However, I'm not sure if I 'peaked too soon' as it were as then the year gradually dwindled out.

I did go on some lovely breaks though - Spain, Mauritius and Dorset - all three were great in their own way. I think I've probably got closer to my family too.

This next year though is all about making things happen. Things that I find harder I am going to work on and instead of making lots of resolutions like losing weight (which coincidentally yet again I do need to do!) I am instead going to just have a new outlook. To see and approach things differently and use my emotions to drive me on instead of hold me back.

So let's see how long this approach lasts. If I truly do change it could be a pretty special year.

Happy New Year to all of you and if you also found 2013 wasn't so great I wish you a happier 2014 too!!

Happy New Year

Wake up feeling moody and down
Thinking of all the things this year that made you frown

For weeks pressure builds up to make your plans the best
Will you be having the most fun on a night better than the rest?

You feel sad over those loved and lost family
And disappointment at the friends who've let you down sadly

All day, shops are bustling as people buy their drink and food
Around you there's that buzz, such an excited mood

You spend hours picking that outfit and getting yourself ready
Look forward to the midnight chimes and a kiss with your partner or perhaps someone new if you don't have somebody

You end up waiting in a long queue in the freezing cold
Paying a fortune on entrance fees, drinks and cab fares, thinking for this I'm too old

Or you stay in and keep warm with those close around you
People you know who care and want a happy new year for you too

As the countdown begins you look forward to the new year in sight
Plans for the future, new friends, new goals, please make them all go right

The party poppers and champagne corks all go off with an almighty bang
Auld Lang Syne in big hugging groups is loudly sang

Ahead are weddings, babies, engagements, hen parties, big birthdays and of course the Olympics
New achievements and being able to see your resolutions list full of ticks

Whatever you do, however you may celebrate
Here's wishing you a night that in your way is great

Happy New Year to you all
Here's hoping 2012 is set to be a ball!

Christmas Crisis

So it's the day after all the Christmas celebrations and I've got the grumps.

It's so weird it happens to me every year at this time and I don't really know why. As the festivities end I always find that the whole thing has been a bit of an anti climax, all the prep, all the excitement in the lead up and then all of a sudden it's been and gone.

Rather than thinking of all the things I have achieved through the year and what the new year may bring I instead seem to focus on the bad. I know I sound a right miser but I really can't help it. I don't like this grump either!

We haven't arranged any plans either this year for New Years Eve - first time ever - maybe it'd help to have plans to look forward to. To be honest after the hectic month I am kinda swaying to a quiet night in the two of us though! Ha I feel so old putting that.

NYE is another time that annoys me though, all that pressure to have the best night of the year and see the new year in in style. Then you end up paying a fortune in cab fares, drink prices and feeling disappointed your night wasn't the extravaganza you'd imagined in your head when booking it.

Who knows perhaps this is the start of the Thirty Panic and I'm doing the whole judging my life thing early. Still a whole eight months to go yet though let's remember!

So many people have got engaged or have had/are expecting babies. I feel like I am going to be the last one left. I know, I'm 29, not an OAP but I feel by the time it comes to me everyone will have been there and done that!

I also feel like a hippo the amount of food I've consumed, so I am desperate to sort that out asap.

Apart from that I can't really complain, aside from desperately hoping my boyfriend manages to get a private ambulance job very very soon. Having no job doesn't really help with the whole moving your life on together plan... He is so desperate to get back to work though and when you see people with well paid jobs striking for what seem ridiculous reasons it makes me so mad!

So for anyone out there reading this, help me out guys! Please tell me I'm not the only one with the post-Christmas blues and I'm not just a whining whinger!

For now I guess I'll have to console myself with leftover Christmas sweets and snacks, sit in my PJs and watch some Christmas films...