As some of you might have noticed Pretty Young Thing hasn’t been getting a lot of action from me in recent weeks and with the new year approaching it’s given me time and space to reflect on the year that was as well as anticipate the coming year.
This year has been one of the most difficult and exciting of my life and through this series of ups and downs I feel I’ve come to know myself better. I’ve lost friends, made new ones, rediscovered the joy of writing, struggled with my limitations and discovered strengths I never knew I had.
February saw me leaving a toxic and troubled work place and begin work in a new flexible and supportive environment. Despite not always seeing eye to eye on everything (let’s face it, whoever does?), my new colleagues have had a greater influence on me than they know and their individual experiences have encouraged me to seek a more alternative approach to my health and wellbeing. It’s this approach that I hold responsible for my much improved health and happiness.
In May my husband and I moved into our first home. Anyone who tells you that building a house is a piece of cake is a liar, and likely not your friend. It was a difficult process, but very much worthwhile. Although, whether you buy or build I don’t think anything prepares you for the real expense of owning your own home. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I think the experience has brought my husband and I closer as a couple and a team.
September found me rediscovering my voice with the launch of PYT. Although writing was once such a huge part of my life, I abandoned it with the end of high school. As a teenager I’d felt convinced I’d make my living as a writer. Despite the initial excitement blogging brought me, I feel I’ve struggled to find my voice and be entirely true to myself. Feelings of jealousy and insecurity brought about by comparing myself to others, have also played roles in my short blogging story. My hopes for the new year are to improve my skills and continue to grow my readership as PYT is an area of my life that truly gives me a thrill.
November found my husband and I in Fiji, sipping cocktails and lying by the pool. It was our first holiday since our honeymoon nearly two years prior and the laid back, romantic setting was just what the doctor ordered. A week in the friendly tropics saw us unwind, have oodles of fun and create the kind of memories to keep forever.
By contrast, this last month has been more difficult than any other as I said goodbye to my cat, Chip. More than a pet, Chip was my best friend. I spent more time with him than anyone else and as ridiculous as it sounds he was not only a large part of my life, but also a significant part of my blogging process. Whether I was drafting in my notebook, testing products or typing up posts, he was right by my side cheering me on. Or more accurately, eating paper and knocking pens off the desk, but the sentiment was there. After a struggle with ongoing Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease we made the terribly difficult decision to put Chip to sleep. I’ve never hated being an adult more in my life and could not have managed without the support of my husband. He really is my rock and my soft place to land, all at once. I’m still not sure we made the right choice in saying goodbye to Chip and I miss him everyday.
Since then, my husband and I have welcomed Boots into our lives. A mere baby at only six months old, he’s keeping me on my toes with his endless boisterous antics. Boots and I are learning more about each other every day and while he hasn’t exactly filled the big cat-shaped hole in my heart, I’m looking forward to our blossoming friendship in 2014.
While I’m not one to make resolutions (I’ll never keep them to the letter, so why invite the disappointment?) I’m looking forward to making 2014 the best year yet with my emphasis on health, friends and home, as well as a particular focus on PYT. Within a few days I should have a fancy pants new bridge camera in my paws and am super excited about the possibilities. I’m seeing crisp images, outfit posts and videos in PYT’s future. My resolve to take a more work like approach to writing and blogging should hopefully see an upswing in the frequency of posts.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to say a super, big special thank you to those of you who’ve read my posts, taken the time to comment, or followed the blog, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter. From the very first follower to the hopeful few that hit follow during my recent hiatus, I’m grateful for each and everyone of you and only with your support, can we make 2014 a year of successes for PYT.
All my love and best wishes for the new year. Remember to party smart and take care of your best pals.
