Embrace, Elegance, Excitement. My Three Words for 2020! xo <3
Pretty Pink Pastels. I love how flowers bloom. The breath of the trees, nature keeps me grounded. xo
To New and Beautiful Beginnings in 2020! The Future of the Unknown – Exciting to be starting a whole new chapter – one which can bring so much joy, abundance and grace. #myyearis2020 #yesitis #sayitwithme #love #lovelymoments #life #happiness #joy #peace #innerlove #innerpeace #writer #blogging #capturingmomentstotreasureforever #thisisme #ilovemylife #allofitandmore #watchmesmile x
This year has been full of ups and downs. Mostly ups, but lots of downs too. A year of growth, of learning to embrace each and every day with an open heart. A year of extra wisdom and learnings. Some of the year I saw coming, other parts not at all. The magic of life, never knowing what is next… Being grateful to wake up each day and have a whole new page to be written.
The year started with me graduating university (second time around) after going back to uni to study some social media subjects at my original university and to gain some extra insight and qualifications. From that experience, I made a beautiful new friend, which I am forever grateful.
I celebrated my Dad’s birthday, mum’s 60th birthday, my husband’s birthday and my sister’s 30th, a gorgeous picnic high tea for both special occasions for the special women in my life. Not to mention our gorgeous boys turning the big 4 and the big 2! A Toy Story and Dinosaur party.
Mother’s Day came and was a really lovely day. A day that means so much to me now. In May I also started something which I had wanted to bring to life for the past few years. A gift book to help other mums who had been through loss. Flutterby Baby Book was born. I am so very proud of all of the book project. So much so, I can’t wait to write another book. I even have the name of that book, ready to go and registered as its ISBN number. I also have lots of other books that I hope to publish in the future, kids ones included. I can’t wait to see where the journey of publishing takes me. I hope that my writing can continue to grow and flourish. I truly do. xo
July saw me celebrate my birthday with some friends. Some of those friends have been with me throughout the year, others have drifted off when I’ve needed them most. I have learnt a lot about friendships this year. More than ever. As you reach each birthday and get another year older, you realise who is important to you and who you consider family. There are only a handful of people who I consider my true, true friends. Who have been through life’s darkest and brightest moments. With social media these days, so many of us seek validation secretly from the platform, even if we don’t like to admit it. I have always been very candid and raw with my posting, perhaps even too so, but always try to beam positivity and light. Sometimes you help others and show them support, not expecting to get back what you give out, but hoping when the time comes, that people step up. Sadly, in recent months, people who I thought would be there for me more with my health journey, haven’t been. I get it though, everyone has busy lives, I think though that we often hold on to what friendships used to be, and you hope that one day they can be the same but in reality, friendships change, relationships change. If I could tell me 21 year old self something, it would be to never doubt yourself. I have always remained true to myself, always humble, always loyal, always hard working. Has it gotten me places? In some ways yes, in other ways no. Can I sleep at night knowing I’m a good person with a good heart? Yes. I truly can. But I also need to do a lot of work on myself in 2020. It’s a new decade, a new year, a new me. A new everyone really. For none of us are exactly the same person that we were yesterday, and tomorrow and the next day we will be differently people slightly again. For not matter what age that we are, we are all growing, all going through life’s ups and downs. Some people more than others. My beautiful Nan, who lives in the UK. She is 93 and still as sharp as an Ox. I love her and admire her so very much. She is one of my best-friends in the world. I miss her very much. I hope that I will see her again before not too long. Fingers and toes crossed. Xo
This year has most definitely been my most resilient yet. I’ve had to be. I had received some health news which scared me, it truly did. I am now okay, I am going to be alright. I am going to have regular monitoring to ensure that the future will be okay too. <3 xo Prevention and early detection is key. My body has been through a lot the past three months, emotionally and physically. The experience has made me review my life my closely. To work out what I want. The type of person I want to be. The type of people who I want to invest my precious time in. As all of our time is precious, we only get the one life. It’s no stage show dress rehearsal. We have to embrace each day. The good, the bad and the ugly. I sincerely encourage you to do the same as the near year draws closer. Reevaluate your life. What is important to you? What makes your heart sing? Who makes your heart smile? What dreams do you have to conquer, what bucket-list dreams do you want to tick off? It’s so easy to get caught up in the small stuff. To be so busy to miss what is important, right there in front of you. Family, watching your kids grow up. Being present for them and for yourself. I admit I need to work on that even more too. Trying to be a good mum, a good wife, a good friend, it’s so easy to spread ourselves too thin. We must release all that no longer serves us, for bottling it all up is not good for our soul. I sit here and am writing this as a new week is about to begin. I am taking a big breath and picturing a positive week. Not focusing on the time that has been wasted or the things that didn’t go right, for we learn from both the good and the bad times in life. The little mundane things to the very big things. We never know what is around the corner. I never imagined a lot of things that happened this year. Both with our family and to people we know also. It goes to show how precious life is, yet again. We never know the cards that we will be dealt. None of us can control the future. We just have to have faith, trust and believe that the universe has our back. For me, whenever I see a pretty butterfly. I feel calm. I feel like all is on track and all will be okay. It’s only been in recent years that I notice these little things more. I can tell when the moon is a certain phase about how I feel, or how it affects my sleep, or the kids sleep for that matter. I feel more spiritual than ever before, but I’m still yet to master meditation and mindfulness. Perhaps that is next on the big life list for me. To give myself more nurturing time. More self-love. To be guided by my angel numbers and dates that I hold so dear. To listen to my inner voice, my heart, my soul. <3 And most of all. TRUST. I am about to start a new job which I am so very excited for. A blessing that came as an opportunity just at the right time – a role I’m so very passionate about.
A piece of the old me coming back again – pre-mum and pre-wife. I hope that the next decade is all you hope for.. and more! Be sure to chase your dreams, to take the chances, to keep your cups and hearts ever so full! xo Watch this space, exciting things are coming, I can’t wait to share more with you soon. Thank you for following along on our journey, I am so grateful to each and every one of you. I look forward to hearing of you too, taking chances in life, following your dreams and most of all – following your heart. Letting life lead you to exactly where you are meant to be. Right now at this time in your life and embracing all you have to do, to get there.
Editor xo
Rachael, The Pink Jubilee. xo