Good Morning Lovelies, 

When I was younger, I always dreamed of growing up. I wanted to have my own home, a husband and even children by the time I turned 21. Life definitely didn’t follow this path however! By the age of 11, I knew I didn’t want children, I had never even been kissed and all I wanted to do was make plans with my friends to have fun at the weekend and after school. 

Now, as I approach turning 31 this week, I have realised that there were many dreams I had as a child that I would actually still like to achieve. Some are really silly and simple, whilst others will take a bit more time to do. I have definitely changed a lot since those early days but my childlike ways have not. 

Therefore, as I get ready to say a fond farewell to my 30th year to welcome the new one, I thought I would share with you all what I am hoping the next 12 months brings me. Starting with an odd one that may need a bit of sneaking about to achieve…

A Blue Peter Badge: When I would watch Blue Peter as a child, I always wanted to do something that would get me a badge. Though, I never was able to. I wasn’t very creative and it was hard for me to send a letter. This next year though, I want to try and sneakily get one. I am not bothered about the free attractions, I just want to be able to say that I have done something that Blue Peter believes is good. 

Splitting The G: Even though I am a big fan of Guinness, I have never had a sip of it. I tried so hard last year to gather up the courage and take one. I couldn’t though. Yet, in my 31st year, I am going to do it. I don’t know where or when. I know it will be an alcohol free one. But I want to do it with my mum by my side and a massive middle finger in the air to my eating disorder.

Do What I Enjoy, Not What Is Expected: I used to have a diary when I was younger and in it there was a section that asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. I put that I wanted to be a check out girl. Still to this day, I find something so interesting about the job, yet many look down on people who work on the tills. We need them though and I always think that if you are happy within your job it shouldn’t matter what you are doing. This is what I want to do over the next year. I want to just do what makes me happy, like I did when I was little and didn’t have so many worries.

Travel The World: I am a creature of habit and have been so since I was little. Something I have learnt is down to my AuDHD, which I have only recently been fully diagnosed with. Yet, I have always found motivation in seeing or doing something new, especially when it comes to travelling. I want to go and see more of the world this next year. I want to be able to be intrigued by the world around me and not just the places I have been before. I hope that by doing so I will be able to see a whole new side of myself that will lead to a better overall life. 

Love: Not just restricted to being with someone romantically, I want to just feel and share love more. When I was little, I would always find joy in a simple hug from someone I trusted. Being wrapped up in the arms of something so comforting was all I needed. As we get older though, we lose that innocence. We want passionate, over the top love. I don’t think that though. Over this next year, I want to go back to being little, when the simplest of things could make me feel loved. 

Life doesn’t have to be about the big things or wanting them. As I get ready to celebrate my birthday this week, I am going to go into this new year with a determination to be better, do better and ultimately embrace the little things in life that make me happy. Something that I hope will be built and carried within me for many years after!

Joey X