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I hear you. The last 13 months TBH have had it in for me. My mum died unexpectedly right at the end of November 21, which changed my life dramatically (I was her carer around work, there was a long history of wider family challenges before that, and she was the last of my true family, so it's just me now).

Muddled through handling the loss, winding up her estate, selling her house etc on my own, with enormous gratitude to a fantastic employer and a patient non-cohabiting partner, until September when someone pulled out in front of me on an A road, writing off the new electric car I'd bought with some inheritance money as a pick-me-up. It would have been the end of me had I not been driving something with every safety feature going, so I was quite glad really. Also made me fundamentally re-evaluate my life, and quit the MA I'd started just before Mum died, that I was stupidly trying to keep on with.

That was also when I finally accepted that I needed a proper break from work, so I'm now on a phased return. There was a hiccup at my first attempt with that too, going back and being hit with a management / team issue pretty much on the first day, which made me realise that aforementioned "issues" with wider family had left me not best placed to handle people management, even if I am pretty good at it.

I decided in the end that Sh1tsville can have 2022 to do its worst, but that it can bl00dy well do one in 2023 - I'm having my newly-designed life back!

That was a overly-long way of getting to my take on it. I chose not to see it as giving up. I see it as acceptance. Life has its own special way of pooping from a great height on our best laid plans. If you stop trying to fight it, you can then start finding your way through and out the other side. Here's to 2023! Rest up, and get well soon.

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I'm so sorry to hear this, what a tough year! Sending you lots of love and hope 2023 is everything you want it to be and more x

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And the same to you, and I hope your flu clears up soon x

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Firstly, get well wishes Harriet. Flu is no joke and so hopefully with rest and time you’ll soon be back to feeling more like yourself. Secondly, I do think there is something to be said for letting go and giving in. It doesn’t mean farewell to your plans and dreams but just a pause until you feel able to meet them again. As a freelancer myself it is hard when work can be up and down but it’s oh so rewarding when the slack picks up and the chaos of deadlines ensues once more. Wishing you a peaceful New Year -- even if your plans aren’t quite the ones you’d originally had -- although sometimes the comfort of you pj’s and some good TV with snacks and your fav beverage is all you need. :-)x

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Thank you! And I love the idea of letting go and giving in just being a pause, it's exactly that x

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