I can’t remember the last time I wanted to say goodbye to a year as much as I have for 2022. It comes to something when you actually think the years of living through the pandemic were actually easier. I don’t know if I set myself up to fail as I thought 2022 had to be better as we were released from covid restrictions. But every week of 2022 wanted to challenge us in some way. Not with small challenges like running out of milk but big stressful challenging moments. It started to turn into a bit of a bad running joke. We did make some great memories and go on some great adventures in 2022 but for me, they sometimes felt masked with sadness and stress. As we step tentatively into 2023 I wanted to share my highs and lows of 2022.
My Highs and Lows of 2022
1. What was your happiest event?
I feel like people will expect me to say moving into our new home was my happiest event. But everything about it was stressful and we are still really adjusting to this new home and the change of routine it brings. I asked Little E what her happiest moment was and she said our trip to Woburn Forest Center Parcs in the February half term. I have to say that I have to agree with her. We were able to spend time with my brother and his family on holiday. I think the last time I have done that was for our wedding trip to Walt Disney World. We were able to relax and I got the chance to experience some activities with Little E. As I’m writing this I have just remembered that we even had issues during that stay. We were due to leave when a bad storm hit the UK. Which did mean we had extended time in our lodge. But it sums up the theme of the year. Always something to overcome.
2. What was the saddest thing to happen?
My dad passing away during the easter holidays.
3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?
Moving house. At times it felt like everything was against us and it wasn’t part of our plan at the start of the year. But we moved.
4. Who let you down?
I don’t think anyone let us down to that extent but I spent many weeks chasing people in relation to our move. Many times I did wonder why I wasn’t getting paid any fee for the work I put into getting the move finalised!
5. Who supported you?
This was a stressful year for me and when that happens I normally go into a kind of hiding. This is probably something I shouldn’t do but it’s how I cope. So my support network was small this year, me and Darren against the world mostly. Oh and some phone calls full of tears to my mum when things got too much.
6. Tell us what you learned?
Life is testing and things can really change in a blink of an eye. Things that I knew already but it really hit home this year.
7. Tell us what made you laugh?
The irony of life had me in quite a few fits of giggles this year. Probably when I wasn’t that far from being totally pushed over the edge by the latest challenge.
8. Tell us the things that made you cry?
Obviously my dad’s passing. But we also had to say goodbye to our cat of 18 years. This happened the day before we left for our summer holiday trip to Disneyland Pairs. There were tears on that journey and tears on entering the Disney parks. It was a real feeling of mixed emotions. I also cried trying to sort out our mortgage offer. They really have made buying houses a lot harder than it was ten years ago!
9. Tell us three things your child or children did to make you feel proud.
When we were invited to go on the PGL Family Holiday I wasn’t sure if the children would take part in any of the activities. They tried most of them. More than me. I was so proud of them both. They had a great time and loved their PGL adventure.
When we first talked about moving I didn’t want Little E to have to move schools. I thought that covid had already put her through enough. But it was clear the daily commute to school would be too much for us all. So she moved schools. If I’m honest it happened a lot quicker than I was expecting. Little E has taken it all in her stride. There have been a few wobbles, and I’m sure there will be a few more but she has been amazing through all of the change.
We couldn’t tell Ethan about moving until we knew for sure that it was going to happen. Ethan did get distressed when we started to pack up our old house. But mostly the transition between houses has been quite smooth for him. He does ask about our old house and sometimes asks when we will go back. We ask him if he doesn’t like the new house but he always says yes. He also says he loves it. So that is positive. Moving could have been much harder for him.
10. Tell us the things that made you proud of yourself.
2022 was going to be a good year. The year to come off my anxiety meds. And I did. And I’m proud that with everything 2022 threw our way I didn’t go back on them. There were times I thought I should but I stuck it out and will hopefully continue to do so in 2023.
11. Tell us the challenges you overcame?
2022 was our challenge. I couldn’t list everything we have had to overcome. I don’t think I could remember them all. It was a year of fighting fires in one form or another.
12. Tell us the things you would like to change about your life in 2023.
I could write the normal, I want to lose weight and be fitter. But to be honest, I just want to feel settled in 2023. I’m hoping for a year without weekly dramas. Just a year of normal. I would even take boring at this point.
Wishing you all of the best for 2023. I hope it’s much better for you than last year. I hope you are happy in your new home. Good on you for coming off your anxiety meds. That is a great achievement with everything that 2022 threw at you. x