A hope-filled start

Welcome to 2015! It’s a new day; a new year; a new opportunity for happiness and joy! And as always, I’m choosing to start the year off with hope!

Last year, I told you how I hoped to take charge of my life and prioritise me. Sadly, I didn’t succeed to the extent that a Hollywood film would have portrayed, but I do feel that I learned a little bit about myself – and that I learned how to accept myself for who I am a bit more. (There is still work to do, but some works of art take time to perfect!)

This year, I’m going to do some more of that “self-help” rubbish once again. Only rather than trying to fix “me”, I’m going to try to improve my outlook on my life.

This year, I’m going to work a little harder at being hopeful. I’m going to attempt to rekindle some of the naïve optimism I had before widowhood turned me into a cynic.

I doubt that I’ll ever be as optimistic and blissfully hopeful as I once was, but I’m hoping to find (see that – hoping already!!) a little more of the girl I was before my husband died. Of course, he would have told you I was way too optimistic and hopeful before, so maybe it won’t be too bad a thing if I keep a little bit of the cynicism with me.

So there you have it: I am resolving to be more optimistic and hopeful in 2015!

I hope to run some great races – and I’m optimistic that I’ll improve my times.

I hope to begin the empirical research for my PhD – and I’m optimistic that everything will go relatively well. (The realist in me expects a few hiccups. But that’s normal!)

I hope to spend more time with friends and family – and I’m optimistic that I will enjoy strengthening some of those relationships!

I hope to learn how to sew a simple skirt – and I’m optimistic that it will be something I’ll gladly wear in public.

I hope so very many things – and I am optimistic that I will have many successes over the year.

And, of course, I hope that you have a wonderful 2015, too.