Don’t Ass-About With New Years

When it comes to New Years celebrations I often think people are facing the wrong way.

Like so many others I can remember in high school thinking about what direction my future would take and wondering about things like if I’d ever have a family.

I mean near as I could tell having kids generally involved sex and that was proving to be particularly elusive.

And now here I’ve become a grandparent in 2016!

Wow! What a year! WHAT A LIFE!

My younger self would be chuffed.

But it’s not over yet.

Not only have my testies proved themselves to be overachievers, as you know we’ve sold up our bits and bobs, rented out the house and become gypsies – just like Brad Pitt in Snatch. Only without the fisticuffs. Or death threats. Or general air of filth, squalor and foot fungus.

Interesting fact I shall be homeschooling the hell out of with the kids: did you know the word gypsies came about because Europeans mistakingly thought they were from Egypt? (They were actually from India).

I’m telling you, my inner younger self thinks I’m so totes cool right now. Best teacher eva.

As for health and well-being…well again, wow! Because we’re still here. Still in love. Still loving life.

Which is my whole point.

I loved 2016. LOVED IT!

Of course, there was a lot to dislike. There were also bits to hate. There have been personal challenges to face, and even community mourning for celebrities who helped shape the memories of my youth – like Bowie, Prince, George and Carrie – and even shared memories with our kids – like, sigh, Alan Rickman.

But the fact is it was another year on this great journey through Life with the people I love. That makes it special. That makes it wonderful.

Sitting back tonight, watching the kids desperately attempting to stay awake to see the new year in, I’m going to remember to appreciate the previous 366 days and focus on some very special personal milestones which have made my life ever more amazeballs, such as little Izzie, Tracey’s last successful operation, finding our beautiful bus and purchasing a very useful tent to take with us on our Big Lap.

Again, on that last point, high-fives from my younger self.

You should know, I’m grateful for you too. You, who’ve once again clicked over to read my ramblings. You’ve become such a big part of my life through this blog and I can’t thank you enough for the joy it gives me each and every day. The means to be creative, and especially the interaction with y’all over on Facebook, is something I love. LOVE!  It brightens my day. I hope it brightens yours just as much.

So again, thank you for being such a big part of why I loved 2016 and I’m having such a lovely time right now sipping tea and reminiscing.

Which brings me, in an ‘I’m talking diamonds and thinking coal’ sort of way, to my point here.

I wonder if maybe the biggest negative with New Years celebrations are the resolutions everyone tends to focus on: things they dislike about themselves or their lives and want to change.

Instead, I think everyone should focus on why the year we’re seeing out was worth the time we all put into it.

So here’s my challenge to everyone: in the comments, either below this post or on the Facebook link, share with us the one or few things you’re grateful to 2016 for.

Happy New Years!!! Chat again next year x

Raising a family on little more than laughs