New Year - New You?

Tis the season for re-evaluating life, figuring out what is important and if/how things need to change.

I have just had possibly the busiest December since I stopped working pantomimes. Looking back it is mostly a blur and I now feel worse than I have in months.

To the extent that during December many old symptoms returned like over sensitivities - on one particular day I actually wanted to pull my hair out, so I shaved it off instead. My sleep patterns have become disturbed again, with night sweats, many many dreams and early hours waking. Not to mention some brand new symptoms. So it is definitely time now to rest and try and find my way back to a better place.

It was my birthday yesterday. As a rule I like birthdays, but I don't like having a birthday on January 3rd. The lull after Christmas is never fun, everyone getting back to work, bad weather. So first change, perhaps from now on I should celebrate my birthday in July?

Second change. I enjoy crafting, but I don't enjoy selling. I didn't much enjoy the craft fairs I did in December. I found them stressful to prepare for and to participate in. So perhaps this year all art and craft should be souly for myself. Which leaves me with the slight conundrum of what to do with the stock that didn't sell - but I see many random acts of kindness, abandoning projects in their future, which makes me happy.

I plan to revisit art journalling and give bullet journalling a go.

This time last year I wrote a bucket list, over the course of the year I ticked off kayaking, Segway at Leeds castle and made a start on my epic kickscoot the coast. I think I need to update the list with new ideas but I would like to tick a few more items off the list this year, perhaps rock climbing and snow tubing?

I would also like to get further in my scoot. So far I have covered 111 miles and have got to Bexhill-On-Sea.  The rest of the journey is going to be far slower progress the further away I get but I am very much looking forward to the challenge.

I discovered geocaching last year. I knew about before, but had never given it a try. I am still very much a beginner, but it has taken us as a family to places we wouldn't otherwise have visited and given us more time together and outside having fun. So this year my aim is to do more of this. There is a very social local group so I hope to join them for some get togethers too.

Be the change you want to see in the world

This quote means so much. It is so true.
Everyone complains about the world today, about how people don't have the respect for each other that there used to be, about how everyone is looking out for themselves and not others. Yet at the same time a lot of the people complaining don't go out there and try to change things.

Granted one person can't change the world, but one person can show others how to change which in turn could change the world.

If you go out there today and smile at people, say nice things to them, donate something to a food bank, do a good deed, I guarantee you will feel good and you will have made others feel good. And perhaps just maybe the other people touched on your journey will also go out of their way to make a difference.

There are so many small, simple ways you can change the way you live which will help so many people. Being kind doesn't have to cost anything.

Being ill has made me realise just how lucky I am to be alive, to have a warm safe home for my family, to be able to get out of bed everyday and to know that I can feed my family.

I am a firm believer in random acts of kindness. I have been researching ideas of things to do with my kids through advent, 1 random act of kindness for each day to try to teach my children that giving isn't all about presents and that it can be just as rewarding as receiving. I don't think my 3 year old will understand, but I think it is a valuable lesson for my 5 year old and I hope to turn it into a yearly tradition.

All through this year I have sent out random parcels to people, all with the intention of raising a smile, some items needed, all were appreciated. I have more in the pipeline and hope that these too will be received with a smile.

Could you smile at someome today? Compliment them? Lend a shoulder if they look in need? Could you donate something to a food bank (they are even appealing for presents if you have anything you could re-gift)? Could you donate some old bits and bobs to a charity shop instead of putting them on eBay? Could you volunteer some time to help a neighbour?

So think about it, what could you do today that could change someone else's day or even life?