I don’t think I’ve ever waited so long to publish a blog post at the beginning of a new year. I can usually be found at my laptop on January 1st, raring to go and desperate to document my hopes and dreams for the coming months, but this year was different.
As much as I adore the internet, time spent offline feels like the ultimate luxury these days. As the Christmas break came to a close, all I wanted to do was hunker down at home without digital interruption.
I filled the house with fresh white flowers and silvery green foliage for this year’s festivities. Once the chaos of entertaining had subsided, they did a great job of making the place feel peaceful and serene. That is, if I managed to ignore the squabbling children and wayward Lego underfoot.
It wasn’t just leftover mince pies and a deep love of dozing on the sofa that have kept me away. To be brutally honest, my thoughts and feelings have been a little jumbled. I certainly haven’t bounded into the new year with my usual abundance of positivity and excitement. I’m still trying to figure out why.
Maybe it’s because there are big changes coming this year, some that we’re prepared for and probably some that we’re not. I’m trying to make plans and set goals for my business, but right now I’m struggling with the bigger picture. What do I want to accomplish this year? What are my priorities? What does my family need from me? Where should I be channelling my creative energy?
Sometimes I feel that blogging has become so focussed on people sharing their expertise, so crowded with voices of authority, there’s no room left for those of us that haven’t quite got our shit together. At the same time, I’m not sure I can face reading another blog post about ‘How to be the Ultimate Girl Boss’ and I think I’m done downloading e-courses that promise to help me ‘Dream BIG, Work SMART and Turn Goals into REALITY’.
These things have value of course {‘you do you’ and all that}, but they’re not what I need. I think I’d be better off with a notebook, a pen and a couple of hours alone with my thoughts. Clarity. Bring me clarity 2016.
Looking back…
With that somewhat jumbled introduction out-of-the-way, I’m going to launch into a tiny ode to 2015. Despite my current malaise, it was a good year, both professionally and personally.
I was lucky enough to work with some amazing clients and I’m incredibly proud of the projects I completed. I get such a kick from seeing my copy ‘out in the wild’ and the beautiful online homes of both The Rose Shed and Launcells Barton are two fabulous additions to my portfolio. I’ve also enjoyed creating a more diverse range of content over the last 12 months, including copy for print advertising, two e-courses and a digital brochure.
My work for The Wedding Reporter continued unabated in 2015. I travelled across the country, documenting everything from a wonderfully vibrant city wedding in Leicester to intimate nuptials held in a tiny village church at the top of a hill. It remains a form of writing that really excites me and, along with Emma, I devote a great deal of care and attention to the completion of these precious reports for our couples.
As a family, the highlight of our year was definitely escaping to Dorset for two weeks in the summer. I’m not sure I can put into words what that holiday meant to me at the time and how much I cherish the memories we made. I took my best photos while we were there and my mind was constantly fizzing with ideas. The break made me realise just how vital it is for me to unplug in order to stay connected to my creativity.
As ever, these three have been my whole world.
Looking forward…
Existensial crisis aside, here are a few things that are definitely happening in 2016…
- I’ll go back to being a ‘proper’ vegetarian instead of a slack one. Which is to say I already have.
- For the sake of my own sanity, I’ll attend Book Club every month and maybe even sign-up for a weekly Pilates class {read: leave the house more.}
- I’ll take a solo, non-work-related trip somewhere.
- I’ll create more and consume less.
- We’ll finish decorating our bedroom and finally buy a rug for the living room.
- Isabel will finish primary school.
- She’ll spend ten days travelling with my mum, visiting both France and Italy.
- We’ll all have a week’s holiday in Cornwall.
- Isabel will start secondary school.
- I’ll try not to cry/freak out.
- I’ll probably fail.
I’ll let you know when I’ve figured out the rest. Feel free to inspire me with your own goals and resolutions in the comments below!
Love Audrey xxx
I hope the things on your mind aren’t bad things Franky and that you and the family are well.
I love the fact Izzy is off with your Mum. As Graham won’t fly, I’m rather hoping the girls and I will do that sort of thing in future.
Do let me know when you go to Cornwall and where.. maybe it’ll be the same time we are there, and maybe we’ll be close!
xx
Thanks lovely, we’re all grand! It’s just not my favourite time of year, as you well know! I will message you privately about Cornwall. I’m also going to be back in Exeter at some point, so let’s make plans!
xxx
Oh, and yes to travelling solo with the girls one day! As my parents were divorced, we had a lot of holidays with just our mum. They were ace!
Lovely post, and I completely understand where you are coming from. Sometimes I feel I can’t post unless I’m including instructions or a how to, but actually all I want to do is share some pretty pictures of a lovely moment, maybe something as simple as a dog walk. These are the things I love to blog about most, but am least confident to post. I’ve challenged myself to post anything I feel excited about this year, so let’s see how that goes.
It seems like you’ve had a very successful year – my goal for 2016 is to find some of that for myself in my fledgling freelance career. Going part-time last summer and leaving my law career behind made 2015 a pivotal year in my life (that and buying a house and getting engaged!) and I am excited to see where this year takes me.
And I intend to spend as much time in the West Country as possible (I’m originally from there), I love it. Happily both my sister and I are marrying at Mum and Dad’s so I’ll have lots of opportunity to go back home.
I wish you a wonderful year, and don’t worry about the lack of enthusiasm – the whole ‘new year, new you’ thing gets a bit much sometimes, and frankly, if you’re doing great already, who cares?!
Anna x
Thanks so much for commenting Anna. I love the challenge you’ve set yourself! When it comes to blogging, I think we can all benefit from spending less time looking sideways at what everyone else is doing and more time creating the kind of content we actually enjoy creating.
It definitely sounds like 2015 was a big year for you! I suspect 2016 is going to be even more exciting! I hope you are able to build on that and achieve the success you’re striving for. Totally agree about the whole ‘new year, new me’ rubbish! Wise words.
xxx
I think we’re all a bit guilty of it! I love the way you focus on experience though, I’m definitely going to keep that in mind as I write posts. Thank you for the good wishes! There’s nothing wrong with a good cry occasionally!
xxx
Hi Franky. Do you know why you happen to be one of my favourite bloggers? It’s because you write in such a way that has me wanting to enjoying every word instead of skimming over them. You write from the heart. You share with us the good and sometimes the not so good. You are a normal lovely person with a gorgeous family and a talent for writing and taking fab photos. January is a month of long gloomy days and winter is still stretching ahead. The excitement and bright lights of Christmas is past and it’s easy to come down with a bump and feel a bit glum. Last year was great. This year will be even better. Yes there are changes that are a bit scary. Isabel going to secondary school is one of them, but I promise you it will be fine. It’s an exciting time for her. Make it an exciting time for you too. I joined a book club. Best thing I did last year. Take that solo trip. I wish I had the courage to do so. Grab opportunities and don’t be afraid to to give anything a go. I didn’t and have huge regrets now as I feel that age is against me. Although 56 is hardly ancient! I tend to write as I think, and tend to ramble, so if none of this makes an ounce of sense then please just have a giggle and delete! xx
Thank you so much for these kind words Brigette, they really did make my day when I first read them.
I’m doing quite well at making January exciting! I made it to the pub with my book club friends and we’ve planned our programme for the next six months. It’s nice having a huge pile of books to look forward to! I also made it to the cinema twice, once with a friend to see The Danish Girl {amazing} and once with Mr L.A. to see Star Wars {also amazing}. To top it all off, I’ve booked tickets to the theatre in February. All these things have lifted my mood!
I really don’t think it’s too late for you to give anything a go! Make a list and start ticking things off! xxx
This was a really great post -I appreciated the honest way in which you presented the struggles of maintaining a blog as well as your own business. I really admire you -you’re doing exactly what I’ve always wished I could do: make a career as a writer. Your blog is such a joy to read. I agree with one of the other commenters: you write from the heart. 2015 was a difficult year for me & my family and your blog was a welcome distraction for me. I’ve greeted the new year with a fair amount of trepidation, I won’t lie. I hope you have a fantastic 2016! Hopefully any challenges you face (especially the ones you’re expecting) are easy to manage and over quickly.
Thank you for reeading and for leaving such a lovely comment Rachel. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the blog over the last 12 months.
I’m sorry to hear 2015 was tough for you and your family and I hope 2016 is already living up to your hopes for a better year.
xxx