England’s Green and Pleasant Land

image courtesy of geograph.org.uk

Some of you will be aware that my mum had been poorly for the last 6 months of 2016. Unfortunately, she passed away just before Christmas.  It was a blessed release really and although obviously devastating was what she wanted as she really had no quality of life left.  Mum was a Christian and it is reassuring to know that she is now with her Maker and at peace.  The funeral service was beautiful and we all said that we left the church feeling uplifted.  The vicar was so lovely and I cannot that the people at mum’s church who organised the wake enough.

So although there have been the obvious ups and downs, and I miss mum so very much,  I am starting 2017 feeling more positive than I have felt for quite a while.  I used to really look forward to making New Year’s resolutions. I am much more skeptical now I’m older – especially as I seem to make the same resolutions every year! But this year I am calling them “Intentions” and that feels a little better to me.

I am intending to get fitter, read more, get back to my creative work, push my comfort boundaries a little more, and watch less television.  I am also intending to treat myself with more kindness. We give ourselves such a hard time and yet we wouldn’t speak to our friends in the same way. So I am trying to learn from past mistakes and go easier on myself, to acknowledge that I am an introvert and that if I arrange to do too many things in a week it stresses me out and not feel guilty about everything. Perhaps that is the best intention of all.