Another year almost over. As I get older I feel less significance with the calendar changing. I’m spending less time online these days than I ever have as an adult. I’ve stopped keeping track of trends and popular culture is doing just fine without me being acutely aware of it, but it still feels right to keep the tradition of the last ten(!) years and write an end of year (and decade) blog post. 

I started 2019 as I had the previous eight years, sitting at my desk looking at my inbox, feeling like there was no way I could spend the next 30-40 years of my life typing “apologies for the delay in getting back to you” (I was never truly sorry). Through a long chain of research, intuition, luck, circumstance, support and more hard work than I’ve truly put in for a long time, I end this year in a place where I’d never thought I’d be.

I have a job I love, one that I don’t feel the need to escape from or compensate for in my personal life. I have a beautiful home, a loving and supportive relationship and have maintained (the majority of) my friendships despite the distance. I’ve met more new people this year than I have for the last few years combined and my life is so much the better for it. I’ve added too many memories to count to the “fond memories” box in my brain. I’ve sold, given away or donated a huge amount of my material possessions. I’m making less money than I ever have as an adult but value a happy existence over a designer handbag. I’m learning and getting better at saying no, setting boundaries and knowing where to direct my energy. I wake up every day feeling energised and positive about the day about to unfold. Sunday night fear has been well and truly banished from my life.

Some highlights, firsts and small accomplishments (I highly recommend keeping a note on your phone and adding to it throughout the year – I’ve done this since 2015 and it’s so fun to acknowledge all the small things):

– becoming debt free

– (related) not purchasing any fast fashion items in 2019 

– getting a full time yoga teaching gig a month after my teacher training

– adopting a rescued kitten and having daily kitty cuddles

– leaving my law firm job for good 

– spending a month in mother Bali and making friends and memories for life

– reading 36 books (37 if I can finish The Children’s Book imminently)

– getting piercing no. 11 (a self gift for paying off my debts) and tattoo no. 3 (in Bali to mark good times and new friendships)

– celebrating two wonderful years with my all-round favourite person

– changing the name of my blog and all my online handles and moving my blog to WordPress (a somewhat bigger task than anticipated, Laura is your girl if you want a swish redesign)

– visiting two new countries, The Seychelles and Lebanon

– practicing yoga with the most amazing teachers and humans imaginable 

– still writing (albeit somewhat less frequently) this blog after over ten years

– nailing chaturanga (my nemesis yoga pose)

– studying holistic health with IIN – I graduate in two weeks!

Wishing you all a peaceful and wonderful new year! So grateful to everyone who still clicks on my blog, old and new readers alike. 

MY INSTAGRAM TOP 9