Welcome back! I’m here with our third prompt for Just Jot it January 2025. Today, our prompt comes from the great mind of Kaye. Thank you, Kaye! Please be sure to visit Kaye’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 3rd, 2025 is “meander.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list and what’s to come, you can find the list HERE.
Meander
Meandering mind Time travelling - good old days Missing those we lost
Meandering mind Old places - good memories Wishing for return
Meandering mind Future - days we want to see Dreaming of those smiles
Meandering mind Grateful for the here and now Perusing blessings
Hello! And welcome to our second prompt for Just Jot it January 2025. Today’s prompt comes to us courtesy of Liz. Many thanks, Liz! Please be sure to visit Liz’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 2nd, 2025 is “slingshot.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
If you’d like to see what I have so far on your prompt list and what’s to come, you can find the list HERE.
Hey there!
So, I am going to try and join in in as many of these prompts as I can, this January, in a bid to get writing, again!
And today’s word is slingshot.
You know, I immediately thought of a cocktail, but upon a little research, I was actually thinking of a Singapore Sling, however I did find a couple of ones called Slingshot! But, I’m pretty off alcohol now so no point in writing about them!
The second thing to come to mind is that little weapon… you know the one!
I never had one. I would have been a terrible shot. It would have wounded me more than anyone else, if I had tried to operate one to be frank!
Yup, a new year has begun. A new chapter in the book of our lives.
2024 has brought additional strife, worldwide, with war and politics
We have a new government, promising all sorts, but not doing much yet.
Personally, I’ve had many positives.
After a year of not being able to write, I finally finished book three, and In God’s Hands was published in November.
Lil Princess passed her GCSEs against many odds, and started 6th form with a much more positive outlook on life.
Lil Man passed his driving test, so half my mum taxi duties are now retired!
Meeting lots of lovely writers folk at the RNA Conference, and book events!
Though, there have been lows; with my own health, seeing precious ones around me with health faltering.
Work is getting tougher. I don’t know if getting older makes it harder, but demands on teachers are high. Children changing, the world changing, but curriculum and expectations staying the same make life at school pretty tough.
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.
2024 was BALANCE. I was determined to being more balance to my life in all aspects.
So, last year I centred my Word Of The Year aspirations on these three things.
Create Balance in my home life
We are still working on this as a family, but everyone is trying hard to do more, so we share the load, meaning Mummy isn’t responsible for everything. Also, giving the others responsibility for their choices, means I don’t feel responsible for absolutely everything.
Balance mywork/home life to leave time for my writing
I did manage this, I’m happy to say! Once my writing mojo reappeared, I was focused on making time for my passion for words. Then I took a break. I’ll continue to put this as a priority, because there are many more stories in me!
Balance time for myself along with timeforothers
Yes! Forever, the needs of everyone else took precedence over mine. There was no balance. I was always at the bottom of the list of priorities. I feel like I have, over this year, begun to put me first sometimes, now, but I’m a work in progress!
So, which word do I add to my list for 2025?
I thought long and hard because 2025 is the year I turn 50!
So many words spun around my mind, but this one just came bouncing bsck, every time:
Change
Change my priorities to ensure I am near the top
Change my lifestyle to suit the everchanging needs of my health
Think about about a big Change I hope to make with my work life in the next couple of years
And with this post, off I go to start that new year, filled with Self, Belief, Hope, Creation, Strength, Balance and CHANGE!
You know, this time last year, I said I’d creep into 2024, because the last few years have steadily brought tougher challenges in or lives, and though I’m a positive person, I didn’t want to overdo the optimism, but cautiously bring the new year in.
And I did. We crept into 2024, hoping it would bring a better world for us all.
Creeping was a good plan, because look at what is happening around us. There is still war and atrocious conflict in Gaza and the Ukraine. The UK got a new government, yet nothing has changed. Cost of living has left more people in poverty or living on the edge of it. The US brought ‘that man’ back.
Still, there were good moments. 🎉 My third book release 🎉 My baby girl overcoming so much to pass all her GCSEs and embark upon her A-Levels 🎉 My son doing so well in his Apprenticeships 🎉 Welcoming crazy kitten Minnie Kaur into the fold 🎉 Went on my first proper abroad holiday (as in beach, and no other commitments!) in 20 years with my daughter 🎉 Attending the London Book Fair, again,and being surrounded by all the bookish folk and spending 3 days at the RNA conference, meeting so many kindred spirits
😢 And we’ve had our own ups and downs, too. Work has been tough. Certain elements of personal life have meant changes along the way that felt hard initially. My health, and that of others close to me, has suffered.
✨ But still, we finish the year, again, in a much better place than we were.
✨ I finished book three, and published in, and took a break from writing words (as requested by my little girl!
✨ I took time for myself, in different ways, because if I’m not in a good place, I can’t be there for others
And so we come to the Eve of the year 2025.
I feel we can’t live being cautious forever, so I’m stepping in, with a little more confidence.
We have good things to look forward to.
I have new, exciting ideas for my writing.
I’m going to hit a half century, too! Eeek!
And my wish for you, all, and myself, is that 2025 is a better year for all.
Have a happy new year, everyone! See you on the other side, when I’ll add my Word Of The Year!
But I Smile Anyway... 