Hello 2025

Is it really the second week of the new year already? This year is flying by and I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished as much as I would’ve liked, a frequent feeling that reminds me I need to give myself some grace as well. No one times the wave on her way to the shore; she gets there when she gets there.

I’ve been drafting a post that’s taking longer than I would like to finish, so in the meantime I’ve been neglecting other posts. Isn’t the whole point of having a blog to give myself the freedom to write whatever I want, rather than restricting myself to a self-imposed schedule that no one knows about except me? The goal is to write MORE, not less. So here’s some random thoughts to kick off the year before I post my long diatribe against working in the corporate world with its nonsensical push for returning to the office.

I enjoyed celebrating the holidays with family until my youngest daughter decided to run away again just before the new year started. We’re currently on day 21 of her being away from home, and much as I hate the waiting and worrying, I need to stop letting it keep me from doing the things I love. I can’t let it stop me from writing, stop me from feeling ashamed that people will think I’m a bad parent who can’t keep her kid at home. (Please, if you know of a way to keep a rebellious 15-year-old girl at home without chaining her to the bed, let me know.)

On a more positive note, I haven’t let the situation bring me down into a depression hole like I have in the past. I’m continuing with my own mental health treatment even if my daughter wants to run away from hers. I graduated from my intensive outpatient therapy program at the end of the year, I’m starting individual therapy this week, and I’m looking into a mood management group that meets weekly to further support my mental health journey. Instead of letting life’s circumstances bring me back into dark places, I’m proud of myself for being able to keep seeing the light.

My physical health is a large focus for me coming into 2025, with most of my goals for the new year centering around living a healthier lifestyle. I have successfully continued my nicotine abstinence despite stressful situations making me want to cave into the cravings, but that’s another topic I’ll eventually make into its own post. I’ve done yoga every day this year, just fifteen minutes, but that’s better than nothing. As the year continues, I hope to build upon the healthy habits and keep eliminating habits no longer serving me.

I’ve also started making progress on a small business for my crochet creations, a very new endeavor where I have no clue what I’m doing but I’m learning and figuring things out as I go. Yes, I could just start selling my crochet without going through all the efforts of starting a business. I’m just the kind of person that wants to do things the right way. Unfortunately, I have no clue what the right way is to start up a business that’s really only about me making stuff, so I’m learning a bit about that along the way too.

For all that bad that’s happened in the past few months, I’m glad I’m still able to look for the bright side and continue pursuing the things that make me happy, even if sometimes the play feels more like work without a day job to compare against. Did I mention I’m unemployed for the first time since I turned 16? We’ll talk about that more in my next post. All I know is I’m thankful I can still find the silver lining in shitty situations, and the next great opportunity is right around the corner.

Hello to a new year full of healthy choices and manifesting positivity.