Grit and Giggles: Reflecting ... and Happy New Year!

On the last day of 2015, I thought it only fitting to head to the Barron Falls. A river and waterfall that have carved their own way through the landscape just as we all carve out our own journey through life.
Actually that sounds pretty good, very thought provoking. Really, I went just because I wanted to.

With all the rain around the falls are putting on quite a show to impress as the water tumbles and crashes down the rocks to the gorge below.

Obviously this post is going to get a little bit deep and meaningful .... and reflective, as per the title.

So many of the people I have talked to are excited for the new year and wishing the old away, saying "2016 is my year". I'm on the fence, I am actually sad to see another year pass but I also look forward to the next. Another chapter in my life's book yet with none of the others erased because they were needed to get the story to where it is. Just like that at midnight the page will turn and it will be 2016. Wishing away the year that has been won't change it.

Yes ,we have plans and dreams for the coming year, together ones and our own ones, but I don't want to write off 2015. Actually I wouldn't have minded if it had hung around a little longer, this year has gone way too fast. There have been ups and downs, good times and blah times. The good times wouldn't shine so brightly in my memory without the not so good to counter them. This blog has been written through the good days and not so good days which are often a result of missing family. I'm happy at the moment and reflective, as this time of year often is.

So 2015 hasn't been anything particularly spectacular but there were memories made, places visited and people loved that filled it to the brim. There were times with family and times without, there was a new niece welcomed to the family that came with the growth of my sister's family, there was the growing up, moving and achieving of my youngest sister, there was Mr Sparky by my side, there was travels and exploring, there were lovely moments and weekends together with family and friends, there was trying new things, there was the end of a job, there was the excitement of Mr Sparky becoming a proper sparky, there was the happiness of the long awaited wedding of my Aunt, there were card card games with my brother and there was laughter and tears and everything in between along with so, so, so much more. I never know what a year will look like (does anyone) but it is always lovely to look back at what has happened in a mere 12 months, to look at the photos, to recall memories, the see the changes and to see what shape the year took in the end. Every year is different. There are always new experiences to have.

Mr Sparky asked me if I had any resolutions for 2016. I'm not really one for New Years resolutions, who keeps them anyway, but I do have hopes and wishes for the next year.

I would like to share some of these hopes with you, some hopes for you and for me.

May you laugh, cry and do everything in between.

May you live your life by doing things you enjoy.

May you love and let those you love know they are loved.

May you work towards achieving hopes and dreams.

May you care for yourself just as you care for others.

May you enjoy the little moments, along with the big.
May you make memories.

May you be open to whatever 2016 brings you.

Something I want to do in particular is look after myself better. I need that. That, however, is more of a lifetime commitment. Mr Sparky wants to clean our home (meaning sorting his electrical and tool bits and bobs out).

Here is a brief look at my 2015.
All the photos are linked back to their respective posts.
Looking back has made me realise how much I have seen and done this year even though the year seems to have sped by in the blink of an eye.

January