A review of 2014

Well, since I haven't blogged in a while, and with a new year starting tomorrow, I decided to make my final post of 2014 a bit of reflection on the year just finishing.

And what better way to do this than with a questionnaire? Woo!

2014

1. What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?
I got a puppy!!!


2. If you had to describe your 2014 in 3 words, what would they be?
Exciting.
Challenging.
Calmer.


3. What new things did you discover about yourself?
That I really have a lot more patience than I assumed. I was still ridiculously grumpy about it but I found patience!


4. What single achievement are you most proud of?
While I'm proud of raising my puppy - I'm also proud that I didn't have another breakdown.


5. What was the best news you received?
When the phonecall came offering me the job that suits me to the ground. 


6. What was your favourite place that you visited in 2014?
This is the time in the questionnaire that I realise I can't really remember most of 2014. Not because I was drunk or anything - just because it happened over such a long period of time. Oh - I just remembered that I finally visited the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Gorgeous. 


7. Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?
My stubbornness. Others may disagree. 


8. Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?
My mum. Always. 


9. Which new skills did you learn?
I learned to touch icky things. I'm not looking forward to having kids because apparently you learn to touch even more icky things. Gross. 


10. What, or who, are you most thankful for?
I am most thankful for my parents. Thank God for them. 


11. If someone wrote a book about your life in 2014, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?
Much as I would have loved it to be a romantic comedy - unless I meet a hunky stranger this afternoon, that's not going to be true. But it did have elements of a montage scene from a romantic comedy movie so I'll go with that. (You know - like when the female lead decides to kick ass and does so to a catchy tune?)

 

The uplifting montage that is my life. Just minus a few things!!

12. What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2014?
Take time to smell the roses. And the grass, weeds, seashells, sea, rocks... 


13. Which mental block(s) did you overcome?
I haven't yet. Bring on 2015. 


14. What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?
It was exhausting but having time at home with Tilly while she was a puppy was brilliant. I also just love spending time in my own wee house and garden. Home is where the heart is. 


15. What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?
I'm going to say apprehensive which is a definite improvement on last year. 


16. Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?
Got a puppy. (I should really just answer 'puppy' for every single question!)


17. What major goal did you lay the foundations for?
I like to think that I took a major step towards doing some serious writing. 


18. Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?
All of them! But seriously, most of my worries were completely unneccessary. As per usual. *Sigh* 


19. What experience would you love to do all over again?
I'm not sure I would have any desire to do anything all over again. I wouldn't wish bad things on anyone but without them, you can't appreciate what you have or learn from your mistakes.


20. What one thing would you do differently and why?
I would worry less and just enjoy the moments. 


21. What do you deserve a pat on the back for?
Mentally making it through 2014 in one piece. Go me! 


22. What activities made you lose track of time?
Reading, writing and Pinterest. 


23. What did you think about more than anything else?
Finding love, writing a book, making sure my family are safe and happy, getting an income and my Tilly. 


24. What advice would you give your early-2014 self if you could? 
Everything is going to be okay. Just enjoy the moment, go with the flow and don't let the knockbacks get you down. 


25. What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?
I'm going to say (again) that Tilly has had the biggest impact on my life. I'm being completely honest when I say that she has not only changed my life but she has saved it. 

 2015

26. What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?
Health.


27. What do you want to see, discover, explore?
I want to discover myself and explore who I really am. I want to find my self esteem and self worth. 


28. Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?
My family, Tilly and hopefully my future husband. 


29. What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?
I want to work on my self esteem. It's not a skill, as such, but it's what I want so badly. I also want to learn to knit (for about the fifth time), crochet and improve my dressmaking and writing skills. 


30. Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?
Confidence, self esteem - whatever you want to call it, I want to be able to look in the mirror and not feel shame or hatred. I want to feel like I deserve to find love and that someone might actually love me for me. 


31. What do you want your everyday life to be like?
Happy, positive, fun and filled with love. 


32. Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?
I want to be healthy in mind and body. I know that it's something that will always be around but I really hope to kick depression in the butt in 2015. I'm hoping that improving my physical health will benefit my depression, anxiety, colitis, self esteem and, of course, the body itself! 


33. What do you want to achieve career-wise?
I want to continue with the job I have. I also want to hopefully make some money with my writing. 


34. How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?
I want 2015 to be the year. I want it to be year that changed my life in all the best ways. Love, health, happiness - I want it all. 


35. What is your number one goal for 2015?
Get some self-worth, girl!


Happy Hogmanay and all the best to everyone for 2015!

Happy Hogmanay

Well, as much as I adore Christmas, I have to admit that I'm quite glad that it's over for another year. I feel like I've been planning it since September (and I have, if I'm honest!) so it's nice to have a break on the horizon.

  

I thought it would be fun to fill in a wee New Year Questionnaire. I'm not a massive fan of Hogmanay but I love the fresh start and possibilities that a new year brings with it. I feel like it's a time to change and a time to put things into perspective. Although some people don't like making resolutions - I'm the complete opposite. I like to put plans into motion, to feel enthusiastic about the challenges and changes to come. No matter how far I get, it won't be a failure if I at least try.

So, onto the questions...

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
I got a tattoo and got my ears pierced a further 3 times (taking the total to 5). I also visited a psychic which I had never done before. I'm sure I did other things, too, but I have a cold and my mind is fairly fuzzy as I'm writing this.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I haven't even looked to see what they were yet so I can't say for sure. But yes, I will definitely make more resolutions for next year. Love them.

3. What countries did you visit?
Erm - I'm not sure that I set foot outside Scotland to be honest.

4. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I would like to be happy and content. I would like the same for my family. I would also like to fall in love.

5. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Wednesday 10th July - our darling Rosie left us. :(

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Em - I think that I have two. The first is that I have managed to drag myself into a much better frame of mind than I have been before. It's been a struggle but I've come a long way. The other is to accept that some things aren't for me and just to walk away once the decision has been made.

7. What was your biggest failure?
I don't want to come across as all hippy but if you learn something - how can anything be a failure?

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Unfortunately, yes. Many and often.

9. What was the best thing you bought?
No one thing stands out above all others - I love everything I've bought!

10. Where did most of your money go?
Other than the usual - rent, food, petrol etc - most of my money has gone on books, clothes, shoes and Christmas.

11. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I get overly excited about many and most things from seeing a robin through to winning money on the lottery (not that I've ever won more than a tenner - but that's okay!). I also got super excited when Andy Murray won Wimbledon - was fantastic!

12. What song will always remind you of 2013?
'I Love It' by Icona Pop was a fairly big tune of the year and one that I quite enjoyed, too. Later in the year, Katy Perry's 'Roar' struck quite a chord. And who can forget 'Let's Get Ready to Rumble' by PJ and Duncan?

13. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
All in all, I'm happier although not happy.
I'm fatter yet not fat.
I'm both richer and poorer, if that's possible.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Smiling, laughing, baking, organising, doing more to be happy, sewing, crafting, reading, relaxing, writing and getting my business off the ground. Not much then!!

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying, nagging, crying, getting angry and caring about people's feelings when they couldn't give a jot for mine.

16. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and lovely it was, too.

17. Did you fall in love in 2013?
No but hopefully that just means that something fab is waiting for me next year.

18. What was your favourite TV program?
My usuals - Big Bang Theory, Made in Chelsea, Great British Bake Off, Family Guy, Real Housewives franchise and I'm loving Death Comes to Pemberley.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone but there are one or two people that have really shown their true colours this year.

20. What was the best book you read?
There were so many good ones that I couldn't possibly pick one. Nora Roberts, Sabrina Jeffries, Sarah MacLean, Molly O'Keefe, Julie James and a few others definitely deserve a mention for some fab books.

21. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I can't think that I've discovered any new music this year - not that I haven't loved a lot of the different types of music this year.

22. What did you want and get?
I got a little better which is good enough for me.

23. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to win the lottery and find love. Maybe next year!

24. What was your favourite film of this year?
I'm not sure if I don't have favourite films, music and the like or if I just have the worst memory in the world. I can't think of any outstanding films that I have seen this year!!

25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Funnily enough, I can't remember what I did on my birthday but I do know that I turned 31! I'm actually beginning to doubt that now.

26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 
Winning the lottery or, perhaps, having the superpower to mete out justice to those who annoyed me!

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
A little bit individual but heading towards scruffy!

28. What kept you sane?
Moot question. ;)

29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I was about to be all smug and say 'no-one' but then Henry Cavill popped into my head. Yum!

30. What political issue stirred you the most?
Politics is just a tin-opener for a can of worms and I just don't want to go there!!

31. Who did you miss?
My Rosie.

32. Who was the best new person you met?
Did I meet any new people? I don't think that I did. People that are still in my life, I mean!

33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learnt in 2013. 
A smile doesn't always indicate kindness. Not that I wasn't aware of it before but it was pointed out to me this year that people, by and large, are out for themselves only. They aren't necessarily against you (although sometimes they are) but they make their plans and their schemes for their own benefit regardless of what it does to other people.

And that's me for this year.

Happy Hogmanay and all the best for 2014.

I hope it's awesome!

J xx