Another new year has arrived.
Hello, 2024.
And wishing you all a Happy New Year, too!
I’ll keep it a teeny bit subdued, as when I get excited about something at the start, things have a tendency to nosedive…
It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? We end with awful atrocities still happening in Ukraine, the awful war between Hamas and Israel, tearing Gaza apart, and poverty on the increase in so many places as the cost of living has soared.
We had the new King’s coronation here in the UK in May, too. Another historic event.
Personally, things have been up and down. I had the release of my second book, Straight As A Jalebi, which was wonderful. I visited the London Book Fair for the first time, and to be surrounded by so many like-minded folks was unreal. I got to meet my publishers, face to face, for the first time, too!
My brother visited with my Finndian family and we had such fun! My best friend finally came to stay with her daughter, too, which was a long overdue visit.
Lil Man passed his A-Levels with fantastic grades and started his new job and apprenticeship.
But, along with lots of fun, we had dark patches. Some lasting longer than others. It’s not something I will go into here, but I will say that I would never wish that kind of time on any parent, ever. Thankfully, things are looking brighter, and hopefully, they will continue increasing.
As a result of the hardships, I barely wrote. Reading and books were my solace for a long time, as we battled through.
Now, as you are aware, I have chosen a word to accompany that year over the last few years, as I haven’t set resolutions.
- 2019 – it was SELF. And I am happy to say I have been pretty good at keeping that self-care up since then, too!
- 2020 – BELIEVE. Well, let’s all agree that 2020 was a kinda unbelievable year, all in all, with the pandemic and BLM… However, I did believe. And my beliefs meant that 2020 was the year I finally became a published author!
- 2021 – I chose the word HOPE. I think we all needed hope to pull us through what I found to be a tougher year than 2020 in many ways. I travelled through it, exhausted and worried about everyone and everything around me. But I did keep that hope alive, within.
- 2022 – my choice was CREATE. I’d like to think that I managed a bit of all that I had hoped to achieve!
- 2023 – I chose the word STRENGTH. I started with a different thought in my mind, regarding the meaning of that word. Reaching the end of this year, I know I have gained strength, but in ways I never thought I would be tested.
So, last year I centred my Word Of The Year aspirations on these five things.
- Build my strength up physically, as I know that will help me as I enter that middle-aged time of life.
I started off so well… I trained for a short while, daily, with a plan created by (not so) Lil Man, so I could build my core strength up. Then, I got ill and never quite got back to it. Oops!
- Have the strength to face all the ups and downs that will come because that is life.
I think I get the crown for this one. I am not sure I have ever lived the rollercoaster of emotions that we faced as a family, this year… But I am still standing, and currently, we are in a good place!
- Be strong for my family and have the strength to fight for what is right for them, not the rest of the world.
This one, I 100% did, and will continue to do. I have to be there for my children and the best decisions for them. And I have pushed for everything to make things right for them.
- Build my community around me, be it my physical friends and family or my online ones, as there is strength in numbers.
I think this one has worked too, as even though my blogging calmed down considerably after August due to circumstances out of my control, the blogily I have around me kept in touch with me and helped me through a tough time. And building numbers? Well, yes, that happened too, as SM changed, and Twitter went to X, we got Threads and Blue Sky… plus I made more and more firm friends through my publisher and groups on Facebook.
- Ensure I keep the strength in myself so that I never lose myself under the demands of my life.
This is a big one. We faced some awful situations as a family, this year, and one of the reasons I stepped back from regular blogging was to ensure I didn’t lose myself. Because if I did that, I wouldn’t have been able to cope with the needs of others, and I wouldn’t have been strong enough to cope with everything
So, which word do I add to my list for 2024?
I thought long and hard and came up with this:
Balance
- Create balance within our home life
- Balance my work/home life to leave time for my writing
- Balance time for myself along with time for others
And with this post, off I go to start that new year, filled with Self, Belief, Hope, creation, strength and BALANCE!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Jan 22, 2024 @ 09:49:25
Congratulations to Lil-Man. Now the whole world is open to him. You are definitely the Queen of Balance, Sis! 😉 Keep staying cool, the rainy weather will help. 🙂 Best wishes for 2024, to you and yours! It can’t harm to post it here too. 🙂 xx Michael
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Jan 22, 2024 @ 10:21:38
Thanks, bro 😊
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Jan 08, 2024 @ 16:00:12
A good and healthy life balance can keep us from teetering over the edge and being overwhelmed. Sending you some encouraging vibes to help you in maintaining your BALANCE throughout the year, Sister 💛
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Jan 08, 2024 @ 16:11:44
Thanks, Brother 💛
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Jan 08, 2024 @ 16:59:37
You’re always welcome, Sister 💛
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Jan 05, 2024 @ 15:18:11
Good word for the year. Something we all need.
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Jan 05, 2024 @ 16:06:42
Thanks. Happy New Year 💛
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 21:04:05
Congratulations on the book. This past year was a challenging one for me as well. You chose a great word.
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 21:06:13
Thank you.
I hope this year is much better for you 🙏🏼
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 13:14:48
Happy New Year, Ritu. Won’t make comparisons, but can relate to dropping out of sight – not that I was particularly noticeable online – in the last year. I wish you well for 2024. Who knows, maybe I’ll get round to organising that get together I promised a year ago! (I don’t do promises any more – broke too many last year…) Take care – of yourself as well as the family
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 14:29:08
That would be good, G!
Happy New Year!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 23:46:07
Good choice, Ritu. Balance is critically important.
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 06:03:06
Thanks, Day! Happy new year !
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 23:40:10
Happy New Year! 🥳🎇🥂🎉
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 06:02:27
Happy New Year !
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 23:08:35
I love you Sis, I believe in you! I am sending you all my strength…. You can find your balance you will find your balance 💜💜💜💜
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 06:02:47
Thank you, Sis. Love you, too 💛💛💛
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Jan 02, 2024 @ 08:26:04
💜💜
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 19:45:38
I’m always wanting to know everyone’s WOTY. I haven’t quite settled on mine yet, but balance makes total sense! Happy 2024, Ritu!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 20:58:12
Happy 2024, Rebecca!
I hope you are well 🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 18:25:26
A perfect WOTY! May 2024 be kind to you and your family. xo
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 18:28:39
Thank you Darlene 🤗 Happy New Year to you too 🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 15:59:29
Happy New Year, Ritu.
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 16:14:59
Happy New Year, John!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 15:33:12
⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙✨ ꔠᗅPPY Ⲛⴹ⨈ YⴹᗅɌ 🥂
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 16:14:36
Happy New Year !
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:27:13
Happy New Year, Ritu!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:29:07
Happy New Year Alethea 🎉🙏🏼
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:38:00
Thank you 🙂
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:13:46
Balance is a most excellent word. All the very best to you and your family in 2024, Ritu. ❤
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Jan 14, 2024 @ 12:02:37
Thakn you my lovely friend! Sorry for the late response, somehow your comment ended up in my spam folder! Happy New Year to you and yours, too. ❤
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Jan 14, 2024 @ 16:02:24
That reminds me, I should check my spam folder too. I’ve had SO much trouble commenting lately, I’m really not surprised it ended up there. Thank you, Ritu! ❤
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Jan 14, 2024 @ 16:14:08
I rescued you!
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Jan 14, 2024 @ 17:47:36
Haha! That’s what it feels like, doesn’t it? 😀
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Jan 14, 2024 @ 18:26:16
😁😁
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 13:40:02
I like that idea of selecting a word for the year…Have to think through this today. Many blessings on the difficulties! Congratulations on the second book.
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 13:41:19
Thank you so much! I’ve found the word more powerful than resolutions!
Happy New Year 🎊
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 13:42:14
I like it! Same to you!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 11:58:51
I like your new word for 2024! Best to you in the year ahead, Ritu. May the dark patches diminish and the light shine. 💕
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 10:14:13
the perfect word choice for this brand new year, and I’m certain you will find it. you’ve been through a lot in the past year ,a d here you are, still standing, a testament to the strength you hoped for and needed last year. this year, you will learn to balance, even if it’s only on one foot at times, and you will master it. so good to see you here, Ritu.
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 10:19:33
Thank you, Beth. Here’s hoping that can achieve it.
Happy New Year 🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:40:18
we need a little more strength, Ritu, and definitely more balance for a better year…
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:40:52
Absolutely, my friend. Here’s to a stronger, more balanced 2024 🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 18:50:48
I will definitely drink to that, Ritu… 💖
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 19:09:34
🤗🎊
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:34:41
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda Ritu. May this year be kinder to you and may the World finally see sense and bring about an end to all the suffering currently happening. Huge Hugs
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:35:49
Thank you so much David 🤗 hugs right back at you, and a very Happy New Year 🎉🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:33:31
Wishing you a better 2024! xx
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:34:36
Thank you my lovely friend. Happy New Year to you, too 🙏🏼🎉
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:49:35
Hi Ritu, I am sorry to read this post. I knew you were having some family issues but I didn’t realize they were so serious. I thought you had just overdone it and were
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:50:06
Oops! Tired. Here’s to a better 2024 🥂
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:06:27
Thank you, Robbie. Maybe, one day I will be able to talk about it, but right now, things are raw, but beginning to heal. Here’s to a better 2024, indeed 🙏🏼🎉🤗
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 14:14:41
🤗🥰
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:45:13
All the best Ritu. A great choice my friend.
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:04:51
Thank you, Sajde. Happy New Year! 🎉🙏🏼
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:43:47
❤️❤️❤️
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:17:21
May blessings of balance be yours in 2024, Sis! ❤
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:04:30
Thank you, Sis. Happy New Year 🙏🏼🎉
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:15:45
Balance has been my word since I retired. Life take its toll on us physically and emotionally when things are out of balance. Hoping you to find that balance in 2024, Ritu.
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 09:04:12
Thank you Pete. Happy New Year!
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 06:09:48
Happy new year Ritu, have a wonderful balance ahead
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Jan 01, 2024 @ 13:11:10
Happy New Year!
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