Happy New Year, I really enjoy reading your articles. The change for me this year is yoga, I've tried it before when much younger and got bored and was easily put off thinking you had to be size 6 and twisting and turning your body in every other way. Now I'm 54 and I started yoga classes back in February and it just clicked for me. I get it now, it makes sense. It's about your body, not someone else's body. That change was big for me. I'm now doing classes three times a week. And those are three important hours for me.
Despite never feeling like a musical or creative person, this year I went back to choir and remembered how much I’d missed it, and I started piano lessons. Really loving both of them and glad I’ve found them
Love these very relatable reflections on how you’ve changed in 2O24 Annie. I’m midway through my own mullings and musings. I’ve found this life stage (I’m in my 50’s) to be both confronting and liberating. I’m working through how to find something of a groove to steady myself through it all. Finding interesting, likeminded, intelligent women like you and this community you have nurtured this year has been so good. Thank you for putting your honest thoughts and reflections out there in the world. They are needed.
learnt that I probably have adhd! to put a name on it after struggling through academia for years is a relief. i'm getting assessed in early January so here's hoping i can start the new year getting the help i need !
I absolutely love this. And I might just try it (making a list). Lists are Everest to me but also very helpful when done. A shifted definition of success particularly resonated. Happy new year, Annie ❤️
Thank you, you’re inspiring and today I will do my review of 2024. You write so articulately and with gorgeous vulnerability. Thank you for this. I wish you a wonderful new year, maybe less caterpillar and more butterfly, but sure look, we will take whatever it is with resilience and gratitude. Gra mor cailin deas xx
This post inspired me to jot down something similar as this year feels like a really big big big year in my life in terms of rewriting my story. Thanks for sharing and inspiring as always! My main things are working out what fun looks like to me now I’m in my thirties and doing things that bring me joy and not that have brought me joy in my past. It’s also redefining my idea of success, having just walked away from a big corporate managing director role to find something more simple and inspiring in my life. HNY x
Having long covid has changed almost every aspect of my life this year: where I live, how I spend my days, friendships, family relationships - all of it. I think what I’ve learned is to try to accept that so much truly is out of your control in life. Where I am now is not the only thing that defines me; I am who I am now, but also all the versions of me that have been before, and all those who are to come. Happy New Year 💛
I started HRT this year too and it has helped but not disappeared the impact. My world got smaller as I had to help my aging parents more but that also gave me the drive to self publish a poetry collection instead of waiting for permission. I have enjoyed your substack and podcast with Nick Grimshaw. Thanks & happy new year!
Loved this thanks for sharing so honestly! I set a goal to work less and that changed the way I see myself, force myself and allowed more rest, fun and a softening in me. Also went for bio- identical HRT and loving the feeling of being more in myself and not such a scatter gun.
I've been deep in the throws of adjusting to having our second baby and therefore juggling the real and emotional struggle of making time for my eldest. I say struggle, I think challenge is maybe more accurate as despite it being tough at times that's all surface stuff really and what surrounds that is a huge hug of satisfaction, growing love and wonder at our growing family that I (and my partner) are privileged to be responsible for. I did that! And I am feeling so proud of myself in a way I haven't felt before. If I could sum it up further I reckon I am starting to let go of the need for order and embracing beautiful chaos ❤️
I started the year so positively but then had a ‘breakdown’ of sorts in January which completely shocked and floored me! I’ve tried to give myself permission to take the time I need since then and like you, have tried to concentrate on listening to myself and what I need rather than succumbing to societal pressures or expectations. I’ve begun to accept the limitations on my life and spent a lot of the year processing them. My life is quite small and simple but I actually like it that way. It’s been a big year of change and processing. Like you, I’ve begun HRT and that definitely feels like the right direction and an improvement on how I was feeling at the beginning of the year. We are pretty much the same age and so much of what you write resonates with me. Taking time to reflect is important. Thanks for the prompt and a very Happy New Year to you Annie xx
Oof this was a big old changey year for so many of us! My biggest change was on the work front - starting a new job in January, and realising just how much I'd been consumed by my old job after 8 years there. I've managed to (mostly) retain the boundaries I set for myself when starting the new job and am finding myself caring less about work which is... refreshing? It's also freed up some time and headspace for a new hobby - I took a pottery course during the summer and got hooked. Mindful creative activity plus an array of new little dishes for picky bits! And, I started the slow process of unwinding my social media habit - finally ditching a bunch of apps and reducing my follower footprint a lot. Looking forward to more time in the studio and less time on my phone in 2025. And reading along here, too x
Gwan Catherine these all sound like such healthy and exciting changes. LOVE the pottery. I have just deleted instagram and feel an enormous sense of relief ..
I felt hugely compelled to come off Instagram this New Year and already loving it. In 2025 I’m aiming to be more mindful, to slow down and to soak up the precious life and people in front of me 🤗 p.s It was great reading your changes Annie - very inspiring! Loved what you said about success 💓
Happy New Year, I really enjoy reading your articles. The change for me this year is yoga, I've tried it before when much younger and got bored and was easily put off thinking you had to be size 6 and twisting and turning your body in every other way. Now I'm 54 and I started yoga classes back in February and it just clicked for me. I get it now, it makes sense. It's about your body, not someone else's body. That change was big for me. I'm now doing classes three times a week. And those are three important hours for me.
Gwan Joanne! Love this!
This is so inspiring Joanne! 👏
Despite never feeling like a musical or creative person, this year I went back to choir and remembered how much I’d missed it, and I started piano lessons. Really loving both of them and glad I’ve found them
Food for the soul. Music is for everyone. I loved joining a choir last year - delighted for you Lindsey
Love these very relatable reflections on how you’ve changed in 2O24 Annie. I’m midway through my own mullings and musings. I’ve found this life stage (I’m in my 50’s) to be both confronting and liberating. I’m working through how to find something of a groove to steady myself through it all. Finding interesting, likeminded, intelligent women like you and this community you have nurtured this year has been so good. Thank you for putting your honest thoughts and reflections out there in the world. They are needed.
Thanks so much Lisa - love and very much relate to the combination of confronting and liberating x
learnt that I probably have adhd! to put a name on it after struggling through academia for years is a relief. i'm getting assessed in early January so here's hoping i can start the new year getting the help i need !
Good luck Max. I hope you get the answers you need x
I absolutely love this. And I might just try it (making a list). Lists are Everest to me but also very helpful when done. A shifted definition of success particularly resonated. Happy new year, Annie ❤️
Thanks so much Jordan. Happy New Year to you xx
all the love Annie & everyone here! Happy new year!
Thank you, you’re inspiring and today I will do my review of 2024. You write so articulately and with gorgeous vulnerability. Thank you for this. I wish you a wonderful new year, maybe less caterpillar and more butterfly, but sure look, we will take whatever it is with resilience and gratitude. Gra mor cailin deas xx
Thanks so much Claire 😭😭 Grá mór thú
This post inspired me to jot down something similar as this year feels like a really big big big year in my life in terms of rewriting my story. Thanks for sharing and inspiring as always! My main things are working out what fun looks like to me now I’m in my thirties and doing things that bring me joy and not that have brought me joy in my past. It’s also redefining my idea of success, having just walked away from a big corporate managing director role to find something more simple and inspiring in my life. HNY x
Wishing you all the best for this very exciting journey into the unknown..inspiration is around the corner …
Burrrr Burrr …dunno ? is that how a cruise ship turning sounds .. loving your writing thank you. BIG love for 25
Having long covid has changed almost every aspect of my life this year: where I live, how I spend my days, friendships, family relationships - all of it. I think what I’ve learned is to try to accept that so much truly is out of your control in life. Where I am now is not the only thing that defines me; I am who I am now, but also all the versions of me that have been before, and all those who are to come. Happy New Year 💛
Thank you for your email missus it’s so good to hear from you again. I’m so sorry you’ve been through it this year - happy new year to you xx
Thank you Annie, love you xx one thing I have done this year is write a shit tonne of poetry, can I send you some?
Oh and I also learned that I am for SURE autistic 😂
I started HRT this year too and it has helped but not disappeared the impact. My world got smaller as I had to help my aging parents more but that also gave me the drive to self publish a poetry collection instead of waiting for permission. I have enjoyed your substack and podcast with Nick Grimshaw. Thanks & happy new year!
Lisa this is brilliant - well done you - how we adapted and express through challenging changes is everything - you did what you needed to do xx
Loved this thanks for sharing so honestly! I set a goal to work less and that changed the way I see myself, force myself and allowed more rest, fun and a softening in me. Also went for bio- identical HRT and loving the feeling of being more in myself and not such a scatter gun.
I've been deep in the throws of adjusting to having our second baby and therefore juggling the real and emotional struggle of making time for my eldest. I say struggle, I think challenge is maybe more accurate as despite it being tough at times that's all surface stuff really and what surrounds that is a huge hug of satisfaction, growing love and wonder at our growing family that I (and my partner) are privileged to be responsible for. I did that! And I am feeling so proud of myself in a way I haven't felt before. If I could sum it up further I reckon I am starting to let go of the need for order and embracing beautiful chaos ❤️
Thank you for sharing this! Can relate to the vaules point, so true and the listening to my body. Looking forward to your writings in 2025✨
I started the year so positively but then had a ‘breakdown’ of sorts in January which completely shocked and floored me! I’ve tried to give myself permission to take the time I need since then and like you, have tried to concentrate on listening to myself and what I need rather than succumbing to societal pressures or expectations. I’ve begun to accept the limitations on my life and spent a lot of the year processing them. My life is quite small and simple but I actually like it that way. It’s been a big year of change and processing. Like you, I’ve begun HRT and that definitely feels like the right direction and an improvement on how I was feeling at the beginning of the year. We are pretty much the same age and so much of what you write resonates with me. Taking time to reflect is important. Thanks for the prompt and a very Happy New Year to you Annie xx
Ah sending love Lindsay x
Oof this was a big old changey year for so many of us! My biggest change was on the work front - starting a new job in January, and realising just how much I'd been consumed by my old job after 8 years there. I've managed to (mostly) retain the boundaries I set for myself when starting the new job and am finding myself caring less about work which is... refreshing? It's also freed up some time and headspace for a new hobby - I took a pottery course during the summer and got hooked. Mindful creative activity plus an array of new little dishes for picky bits! And, I started the slow process of unwinding my social media habit - finally ditching a bunch of apps and reducing my follower footprint a lot. Looking forward to more time in the studio and less time on my phone in 2025. And reading along here, too x
Gwan Catherine these all sound like such healthy and exciting changes. LOVE the pottery. I have just deleted instagram and feel an enormous sense of relief ..
I felt hugely compelled to come off Instagram this New Year and already loving it. In 2025 I’m aiming to be more mindful, to slow down and to soak up the precious life and people in front of me 🤗 p.s It was great reading your changes Annie - very inspiring! Loved what you said about success 💓
Fair play - that’s next for me. The incessant diet/gym/wellness ads since Christmas are the last straw…