2016!

It has been a wonderful year full of surprises with lots of sport to enjoy, but tinged with great sadness too with the loss of a very dear friend and a work colleague.

I have written about the majority of the highs throughout the year and there have been moments of reflection too.

The last few weeks have found me climbing out from a very dark place, and with the love and support of family and friends I feel strong enough to clamber over the edge and look forward to 2017 and all that the new year may bring.

I have been cross with myself for letting my mental health suffer and allowing things to get so bad. On reflection I have realised that there has to be balance in life you can’t be all things to all people.

Having lost loved ones has made me more aware of my mortality, how some people unduly suffer, and face up to it with serenity. I have wondered whether this is a late mid life crisis: irrational I know, as I have a wonderful family, a wide circle of good friends, a home, a job and the benefits that culminate from all of the above. But that has not stopped the feelings of anxiety, the fatigue and the utter hopelessness.

But I am lucky and I have improved over the last few weeks and the feelings, whilst not completely gone, have sufficiently retreated so that I enjoyed an awesome family Christmas.As we see in the New Year later this evening I don’t want to make any unrealistic resolutions, that if unfulfilled, will only disappoint and dishearten me.

So I will face each day as it comes, enjoy the moments that take my breath away and be more aware of my mental wellbeing and that of those around me.

I have a trip to Australia to arrange/organise for the latter part of the year and lots of delightful treats to look forward to. My inspiring parents will celebrate their 💎 wedding anniversary in September, and that is no mean feat!

May the hopes and dreams of all those I love and cherish come to fruition and 2017 provide more fun, laughter and love!