I always try to think positively and there have been many positives in 2024 but equally it has had its challenges. I think living with physical and mental health problems you can deal with with it either of two ways you can wallow in it or you can try and be a warrior and face things; I’ve always been the latter. Yes I do have moments where I’m ’sick and tired of being sick and tired’ and I’ll sometimes have a bit of a cry but I always pick myself up and quickly dust myself off to carry on.
Reflecting on 2024
2024 has been a mixture of a year with some really amazing things and some really tough times. I don’t set New Year’s resolutions instead I often choose a word for the year and my word for 2024 was ‘enjoyment’ and on the whole it’s been an enjoyable year and I’ve done things for my own enjoyment. I began to be able to physically read books again so that was enjoyable and I’m spending far far less time on social media which is making my life more enjoyable as I don’t get the FOMO: Feeling Of Missing Out. I also got my Batec in August and going for Batec rides is me in my happy place and I enjoy being in the outdoors with the aid of my Batec; I’m now spending way less time sat in my PAs car drinking coffee so I’m saving money on cafés! I also love writing to, emailing and messaging friends. This Christmas I’ve managed to see family I haven’t seen in a very long time. I’ve also enjoyed settling into my home more and more and doing more to it to make it my home. I also ordered my new wheelchair which I’ll be getting in February 2025 which I’m so excited about! I think some of the harder parts of 2024 was when my mental health took a dip in June. I was struggling emotionally but I’d also gotten too ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’ but out of that and encouragement from the mental health team I wouldn’t have gone ahead and bought my Batec so a huge positive came out. Recovery isn’t linear, I’ve struggled with my mental health more of my life than I haven’t so inevitably I will relapse, but it’s knowing and having the courage to ask for help. I also have my bad days, especially with my M.E. and it’s been an uphill battle to get specialist services but I’m hoping in 2025 a referral will get accepted somewhere.
In my 2024 start to a new year post I definitely think I set out what I planned to do in 2024. One thing was ‘goals vs values’ so for example rather than setting the goal to read a set number of chapters (goal) I just read until I’d happily finished reading (value) the same with the number of blog posts I’d write each month some months I wrote 1 post other months I wrote 4 or 5 posts, what mattered was what I valued and enjoyed in writing all of those blog posts and some months I was more well or less well, or had more or less commitments going on in my life.
Another thing I focussed on was my limited energy and using it on things that are productive and helpful and positive. I think this led me to taking a big step back from social media, focusing more of my attention on my friendships and using what energy I do have in the day to do something I enjoy like writing a reply to a pen pal or doing something creative or blogging or going for a Batec ride - things that better benefit my emotional wellbeing.
I’ve also continued with my fundraising this year and raised £70.25
The start of a new year
I think for this year my word will be ‘kindness’.
I’m so excited to be able to say that my new wheelchair is being delivered next month! it’s going to improve my life immensely and make it easier to transport as well as use with my Batec.
I don’t want to set goals for the year but I’d like to engage in more self-care time and try and attend more Meetings for Worship to better connect with my faith and other Friends as Quaker when I’m able to both zoom Meetings and if possible try and make it to some Meetings in person if I’m ever able to and maybe get more involved like joining other events the Meeting House put on. I want to continue reading physical books but not put pressure on myself to read all the books I have on my shelf this year - I’ll just work to my body’s pace. I also need to get back into the habit of resting again listening to a soundscape and having set rest periods and having more structure to my day where possible to avoid the Post Exertion Malaise. I think though with the nature of having unpredictable health conditions I can’t plan too much, resting and having a schedule will help like it used to. Realistically I have to take each day, each hour at a time but I do look forward to trying to go to more Meetings, continuing with this blog (my seventh year of this blog!), enjoying the benefits of my new wheelchair when it arrives and more Batec rides with it and engaging in more self-care (which isn’t selfish). I also plan to continue with doing the 1 Second Everyday video project like I do every year and also my fundraising but I’m yet to decide how I’ll do my fundraising this year. There’s also my Jar Project that I’m looking forward to doing this year too.
Anyway who knows what 2025 will turn out like!