Hello there lovely Buttoneers! It’s almost Christmas!! I am very excited – I really am a big kid amongst the pretty, twinkling fairy lights and the decorating of the tree, not to mention the Christmas songs and films and festive socks (that one is for you Saree!) I am already getting a bit carried away! More than anything this year though, I will be super glad of a little break. To be around family and friends. To just stop for a while and soak it all in. To put on the brakes, sit in front of the telly or knit and sew just for me…maybe pull out some Christmas crafting that isn’t just for the blog or snuggle down under a thick fluffy blanket with a good book. All will be calm. All will be still. Well, a girl can dream can’t she!? 😉 I can guarantee I will be bouncing around in my festive pyjamas waiting to be able to tear open prezzies and fill my face with turkey! Who’s with me!?
Well, What a year! It has been Crazy Pants with capital letters this year.
I for one will be super-duper glad, with jingle bells on top, for the new year to come around, so we can all start a fresh and grab hold of a bit of hope and possibility again.
As you lovely Buttoneers know, this year was a tough year for us – I wrote all about it in my post ‘It’s Not You…It’s Me (And Why This Isn’t a Break Up)’ so rather than go over old ground, feel free to pop over and have a read.
All of the negativity and stress and anxiety led me to lose the hold I had on my life. It all sort of knocked my legs from under me and for a long while I worried that I had lost my mind, let alone my creativity! But, alas! The ice started to thaw, time became a healer, I found ways to cope better with situations and slowly but surely I found my way again. Bit by bit I started to blossom with ideas and excitement and love for what I do again. Hooray!
I learnt a lot about myself. I learnt a lot about people. I learnt about what was important to me and what was not.
I learnt that to just show up, to just sit at my desk and type or make or paint or sew, to just start…was, some days, enough.
I found out that my brain needs as much care as my body (and that honestly, both need to improve!) I found out that I really love what I do but also found that I shouldn’t overdo it. I found that I have a fire inside of me that lights up at the mention of art, craft, design and adventure. I found out that I am strong if I put my mind to it. That I can get through the toughest of times if I just remember to turn on the light (Thanks to J.K.Rowling for that one) I found that people can be horrendous and spiteful and terrorise others BUT, that if you look closely you can sift out the good ones, you can spot the real ones, the ones who are full of love and happiness and have huge hearts. They are my people. I want to be in that tribe.
I learnt that no matter what, I have a support network of family and friends (including my ever so patient and understanding, superhero fiancé) My favourites, behind me and I know that no matter how tough it gets, no matter what bad decisions I make, or however much I hibernate away, they are there, standing next to me, holding my hand.
After I was shook through the sieve this year, I learnt who the pure gems are. I learnt where and what and who my gold nuggets are…
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