Here's to 2015

This year has been bloody amazing. For the most part I've really enjoyed myself, spending quality time with friends and family, doing things that make me happy, and doing a job I value and enjoy 99% of the time. Here's my year in review, and my hopes and idea's for what I'd like 2015 to bring.

2014

This was the best year for gigs, perhaps even better than seeing The Rolling Stones in 2013! I didn't manage to do any festivals, but I did see some fave's I've been trying to see for years. John Butler Trio, Ellie Goulding, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Eels. I had tears in my eyes more than once. 

Read all the books I wish I'd been able to read during my degree. This year I definitely made up for lost time & read more of what I wanted to. I also had the epiphany mid-March that I had indeed made the right decision in leaving Uni. I was on the wrong course, and I wasn't getting what I wanted from it, and I am thoroughly enjoying life right now. 

Visited lots of other Lush shops to support, and found it terrifying but so rewarding. I don't push my boundaries an awful lot, so this was a good experience of pushing through nerves and anxiety to go somewhere new and do something different. I also got to see a lot more of the UK thanks to my job including Leeds, Peterborough, York, Birmingham & Manchester. Who knows where 2015 will take me.

Completed Race for Life in record time of 26:55. Very proud moment as all the training paid off.

Went to two wonderful weddings. Both my cousin, and Toby's friend from Uni got married this year so we were lucky enough to go to two very different but very beautiful weddings. It's nice getting to dress up fancy, eat free food and prance around every one in a while.

In September we travelled to Moncayolle in France for Moz and Caroline's big party. Spent a long weekend near the Pyrenees camping, drinking, talking, playing volleyball for 6 hours, laughing & being around people I love. Had a fun birthday - went to the Lush spa in Liverpool for a Sound Bath with my Aunt Selina. 

I organised yoga in the loft at work to escape the Christmas craziness & it was perfect. I really enjoyed it, and it was a wicked bonding exercise. It's a shame it's over, but hopefully we can do it again next year. The lady who taught us, Emily, was such a gem. I've done yoga previously and never had such a kind, gentle, intuitive teacher. She taught us so much about listening to ourselves & our bodies, something I had never really experienced during a yoga class. In six brief weeks she taught me an awful lot about myself & I'm so grateful.

2015

I want to run more than I've ever run before. Obviously completing the half marathon is on my list, but I would love to cumulatively run 260KM as that's only a 5K a week which is definitely achievable if I run consistently. 

Learn BSL for work. I'd love to be able to offer deaf customers the same experience as others in store, and build on the sign language I have already learnt. 

Save up and go travelling in the autumn with Toby. We've talked about this literally since we met, and seeing as it's getting on 5 years I think it's about time we get round to it. We're both in a position to save money and be free enough to travel. I'd love to go to Bali and India, but I guess we'll decide during this year. I can't wait for this one :)

Play the guitar more. Whenever I hear anyone play I wish I spent more time with my fingers on the fretboard, now is as good a time as any to start playing more. 

Read and write more. Again just keeping up consistency much like with playing the guitar and running. It's all about using my free time more wisely to do the things that are important to me. 

What are your goals and ambitions for 2015? Did this past year bring you what you expected? 

Week Five: Rest

Christmas had flown by once again, and I've returned from my Mum's after a festive five days. I fully intended on running during the past week, as every week is crucial to get me closer to the half marathon in February, but I ended up spending more time sleeping, eating & playing Cards Against Humanity than I had anticipated.

I was pretty poorly the week before Christmas - and in fact totally lost my voice - so I needed a bit of down time. Mentally I really missed running this week, I needed that rest bite I get from the freedom of running, and the validation I feel after completing a run. But I wasn't well and it's important to learn to listen to my body when it's not right. 

I've since ordered a Garmin Forerunner 10 to help track my runs, and it should arrive tomorrow in time for a pre-work run (weeeee!) and I'm hoping to get myself some snazzy new running tights to keep me going through the cold. It's partly a reward for all the mileage I've already put in, and partly encouragement to keep me going long enough to complete the half in Brighton in 8 weeks. 

Things I've learnt over the past five weeks

• Running is just as mediative as yoga. I love the freedom I have to let my mind run as my body does the hard work. Sometimes it's much harder mentally than physically, when my brain doesn't want to run I've got to carry on anyway, which is something new to me. I'm learning a lot about my boundaries, and more than anything perseverance. My willpower and pain threshold are a lot greater than I thought.
• Eat properly before a run, otherwise prepare to be very uncomfortable. From eating too close to a run causing a bad stitch, to not consuming enough pre-run and having horrible jitters and sickness after a run, it's been a learning curve. Good nutrition is the basis of every good run.
• I won't always want to run, but that doesn't mean I can't run anyway. 

I hope you've all had a fun week relaxing with family and friends, health and happiness to you and yours for a brilliant end to 2014.