Reflection and Hope
The start of the year is a great time to stop and take stock. So that is what I am doing in this post. I am looking back to last year and forward to this one. Here are 5 things I am grateful for, 4 things I am looking forward to, 3 challenges I am anticipating, 2 ways I plan to treat myself, and 1 hope I have.
5 things I’m grateful for
A period of rest and recovery. 2019 was an exciting year, but I was not as prepared for the work I set for myself as I thought. This resulted in a worsening of my CFS, and I am grateful I was able to get the rest I needed in order for my body to recover.
Time with my family. One of the good things that COVID-19 brought was more time with my youngest sister. As her university moved online for most of the year, she ended up spending a few months with us that she otherwise would have spent elsewhere. I am also grateful to have had both my sisters home for the Christmas holidays. The love and support of my family is invaluable.
Time with friends. Whether that’s online or in person, I am always grateful to be able to spend time with friends. It is refreshing and encouraging, and reminds me that life exists outside the walls of my home. I particularly appreciate being able to discuss challenges, questions, hopes and dreams. My friends help shape my thinking about a lot of different topics, and I don’t think I would have the courage to keep trying without their enthusiasm.
Toddler smiles! Honestly, does this one need explanation? Cabbage’s smiles are the most precious thing, and they always bring me so much joy.
Excellent writing in books and on film. I mean, really, the hours I spend in bed would be so boring without entertainment. I enjoy immersing myself in the worlds other writer’s create, and I enjoy analysing the way those worlds are created and the stories are told. The fact it will also help my writing doesn’t hurt either!
4 things I am looking forward to
Living independently. By the time this post is published, I will have moved out of my parents’ home and into an apartment I will be sharing with a friend. I am looking forward to being more independent, being closer to a number of my friends, having space for all my books and having a dedicated writing space.
I have a couple of poetry releases scheduled for this year, starting with A Woman’s World coming out next month. I am not in anyway exaggerating when I say I am more excited about this release than I was for my birthday. The collection contains a number of poems I am very proud of, and I can’t wait to be able to share them with all of you.
Reading more good books!! I am always looking forward to reading good books. Some of the books on my list for this year are ancient (literally. Sappho is on my list), some are modern, and some are from somewhere in between.
Researching for a new novel idea. I’m not anticipating being in a position to start writing this novel for another couple of years, but it is an idea I am very excited about, so being able to start of the research for it (which will involve, guess what? reading!) is exciting for me.
3 challenges I am anticipating
Sustainability of my schedule. Whilst I am going into this year with a better understanding of my health and limitations than I ever have before, I am still anticipating needing to re-assess and revise my writing and business schedule. I am hoping that the fact I am aware this will need to happen will make the happening of it less discouraging, but we shall have to wait and see.
I completed the first draft of a novel a couple of years ago. Since then, I have been struggling to know how to go about the next stages. I am aware that it needs rewriting, but have started and abandoned the process at least 3 times. I plan to double down on my efforts this year, and hope to have made significant progress by the end of the year. I have located a number of helpful resources and people I can call on for help, but I still expect it to be a challenge.
Starting at a new church and meeting new people. As much as I am looking forward to living independently, moving does mean starting at new places and new communities, with new people. Those things require time and energy to be able to properly invest in them, and whilst I have time in abundance, my energy resources are severely limited.
2 ways I am going to treat myself
For my birthday this year, my mum gifted me with a 3-float package for a local floatation therapy centre. Floatation therapy is something I have been wanting to try for a couple of years now, so I am very much looking forward to treating myself with this gift!
A new tattoo! I have asked a friend of mine to design a tattoo for me, and I plan to have it done sometime this year. I don’t have an exact date yet, but it will definitely happen!
1 hope I have
To really get involved with a writing community. Whilst I was briefly part of a writing community based in the States, the time difference meant it did not really work for me. Since then, I have felt adrift, without much by way of a community of writers around me I can turn to for support, advise and encouragement. I have already taken steps towards this, but shall have to see how well I am able to invest in and build meaningful relationships.