Taking Stock 20 – January 2025

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve stopped in here. It’s fascinating going through your old blog posts, or journal entries – things that show you a past version of you. Sometimes it can be difficult to recognise the person that you used to be. I’ve just gone through the back catalogue of my posts on here, and it’s like I’m looking at someone else. Someone I no longer recognise. But that’s ok, you know? I’m well into my 40s, and the older I get, the more clearly I can see how much we change over a lifetime. Well over half a lifetime.

Over the years, I’ve done posts of things I want to do for the coming year, things I don’t want to do. Let’s do a little bit of that now. But first, my intention for this year is to step lightly. It’s to be kind to myself, and kind to others. To lose the judgement of all. We’re all doing the best we can at humaning on this big ol’ rock flying through space. So let’s just learn what we can, love much, and recognise that if it doesn’t bite you on the arse in this lifetime – it might get you in the next one. 😉

Goals for the year, to make. Make what? I’m not sure, just make. I’ve had desires to make art, and to write, and to photograph for a long time. But different life stages, and emotional evolutions can interfere with that. I just want to make things. And it’s not about what I’m making, it’s about the process of making, and the feeling while making. I want to keep making good food. I hope to be more diligent with our vegetable and herb garden this year. This summer was a bit of a bust as I was sick a lot, and my dear one had a sore back for quite some time which put a damper on the garden bed preparation. But if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.

I wish to spend more time doing fun things with my family. I want to ask for help more. I want to spend time with good friends. Those goals feel good to me, so I’ll leave it there.

Making: abstract watercolours from an Andrea Nelson tutorial.
Cooking: Pork patties
Drinking: Hot water with honey and ginger – this never changes
Reading: Romance and romantasy – right now I’m reading Sara Cate
Wanting: To feel energised
Looking: At old blog posts
Playing: Learning to play Jolene on guitar. I started learning in September 2023, and recently started learning finger picking
Deciding: To start making things again
Wishing: The California wildfires are controlled soon
Enjoying: The Big Bang theory
Waiting: Nothing right now. It’s all here
Liking: My clicky keyboard – even if I can’t use it while I’m on the phone with clients because it’s too loud
Wondering: What’s coming this year?
Loving: Kindle unlimited – my TBR is huge
Pondering: Time, does it exist?
Considering: How to get strong with a body that doesn’t always co-operate
Buying: More books!
Watching: 
Big Bang theory
Hoping: My fingers start co-operating better when I’m playing guitar
Marvelling: How much I enjoy playing
Cringing: Everything most politicians say
Needing: To declutter
Questioning: Everything, everywhere
Smelling: Delicious food. Tonight it was curry
Wearing: Flowy dresses
Following: Delicious food bloggers on instagram
Noticing: There seems to be two types of people around at the moment
Knowing: Reading is great for zoning out for a while
Thinking: That life is fast and slow at the same time
Admiring: People who write for a living, and love what they do
Sorting: Papers in the office – starting to clear it out to start this year fresh
Getting: Tired very easily
Bookmarking: Recipes
Coveting: Leather working tools
Disliking: Censorship
Opening: Bills … always bills
Giggling: Booktok reels
Feeling: Warm. This time of year is so lovely.
Snacking: Trying not to
Helping: Organise a market
Hearing: Brain.FM, and audio books while I’m doing the ordinary things

To find the original taking stock, head over Meet Me At Mikes and visit Pip.