Welcome 2016

Here's to a year I hope will be prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, energetic and extremely happy.

great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic and extremely Happy New Year 2016 - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/happy-new-year-2016-24-inspirational-quotes-and-greetings-to-start-the-year-on-a-happy-note/#sthash.Eoz6EpNH.dpuf

great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic and extremely Happy New Year 2016. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/happy-new-year-2016-24-inspirational-quotes-and-greetings-to-start-the-year-on-a-happy-note/#sthash.wCwDkwF1.dpuf

great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic and extremely Happy New Year 2016. - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/happy-new-year-2016-24-inspirational-quotes-and-greetings-to-start-the-year-on-a-happy-note/#sthash.wCwDkwF1.dpuf

The End

I get excited about writing "The End". Usually it's because I've reached the end of my 72,000 words and the draft is finished. A very huge moment in the life of a manuscript.

In this case, though, the end is about finishing my study. I'm sticking my head up after staggering through the peak essay and exam period at the end of semester. A rather horrid time to go through, with lots of 'you must have been nuts to do this', but once it's over there's a tremendous sense of satisfaction (until the results come in, lol).

I haven't completely finished. There's still a practical assessment (over 1 day) to go. But with nothing to do beforehand, or to take away after that day, it is, for all intents and purposes, done and dusted.

Of course, everything else in my life was left in a great big pile of 'to do' lists which I am now slowly but surely making my way through. With luck, by Friday I'll have caught up and the 'to do' lists will be back to normal length.

Just (Don't) Do It!

When you are looking after others, don't forget to look after yourself too. This is something I've learned the hard way this year. Over the last few years I've had my hands full with the family, house renovations, working very long hours in the day job (even working 2 jobs for a while), heavily volunteering for organisations I've been involved in (5 positions including vice-pres and secretary), helping with everything the Barbarians have been involved in (scouts, basketball, school, music), playing in a local community band and trying to write. An overload that is hard to stop - everyone's heard the saying give a busy person a job and it will get done.

Something had to give. In the end that something was my health. Earlier this year I got (really) crook and it's only seven months later that I feel healthy again. During that time things had to give because I wasn't capable of managing them. It was a revelation. A chance for me to think about how rushed life was and to reassess how I'd like my life to be.

Now that I'm feeling healthy again the risk is I'll end up back where I started. You start, take on more and get a bit busier and slowly but surely it creeps up. It can be really hard to refuse to do something when you know you can fit a little more into your schedule.

I have set my priorities and I need to stick to them. I have to learn to say no. I'm off to a wobbly start but I have fantastic support from friends and family who are helping me maintain my perspective. I can do this and I know life will be better for it. I just have to say no.

Is saying 'no' something you struggle with?