Today, is January 1st, 2022 and I’m late in reviewing my year of 2021 – or does that really matter? I think not. Anyway, I was having my morning coffee reading my friend Deb from Deb’s World post wrapping up her 2021 – Her year of living BOLD (I loved her WOTY) and it started me thinking.
Most of our personal 2021 was taken up with what I’ve referred to as ‘the cloud’ that hung over us up until the week before Christmas when it was resolved. It made our year extremely stressful and although we are not 100% with the outcome, it is settled and Mr M and I can now accept the outcome and move on with our lives.
So I’m starting 2022 with a much more positive mindset and reflecting on my 2021 and also whether I lived up to my Word of the Year 2021 which was SELF.
For many, 2021 has been difficult, I know I’m not alone in coping with what life has thrown at us during another turbulent year.
I’ve taken a review of the highlights of my 2021 and surprisingly I did focus on ‘Self’ more than I realised. I have a theme of family, friends, staying healthy and remaining positive, despite the stressful situation we found ourselves in. It was such a lovely surprise as I had forgotten many of the good things that did happen for me.
Sometimes, we get caught up with the negative things that are happening and forget about all the positives that we do experience. It is also important to try to overcome the stress and remember what is important in your life and that is what I tried to do during 2021.
My 2021 a Year in Review
I’m sharing my highlights from each month. So here goes…..
A new year with new possibilities. As mentioned my WOTY for 2021 was ‘SELF’. I wanted to focus on how what I did, decisions I made were based around what brought me Joy and filled me with energy and letting go of what drained my energey reserves and sometimes that included people.
Blogging, the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast, my Women Living Well After 50 Facebook Community, my weekly Women’s Circle as well as my Online Bookclub and running with my Saturday Sisters and being a trainer in the Strong Healthy Women Virtual Studio, ensured I maintained my creativity and strengthened friendships. I met and interviewed some wonderful and inspiring women who shared their stories with me. If you missed episodes you can listen to the Podcast HERE.
My Online Bookclub focused on The Bronte Sisters books and we also introduced a fun element of baking together via Zoom at the conclusion of each book.
January
After losing Mr M’s Mum back in October we were started the year with a focus on ‘us’ and taking time to enjoy where we live by the ocean. There was also a 3 day lockdown so I had fun Facetime with my gorgeous grandsons and also spent some holiday time before Ethan started Grade 2.
February
My son was married in a quiet ceremony which was the highlight of our February. So much happiness and joy1
March
I ran in the International Women’s Day Run with my daughter and Saturday Sisters.
April
This month we celebrated two birthdays. My daughter, Rachel’s 40th and her son (my grandson), Ethan’s 7th birthday. I made birthday cakes for both of them. Rachel requested and ice cream cake and Ethan wanted a Minecraft cake. Note: don’t agree to make a Minecraft cake because you will be cutting little squares of icing for days!!! I love making my loved ones birthday cakes so it was a labour of love.
May
My darling, Mr M celebrated his birthday, Elliot turned 3 and it was also Mother’s Day. My Mother’s Day tradition with my daughter is to run in the Mother’s Day Classic in memory of my Mum (Rachel’s Nan). The event raises much needed funds for Breast Cancer Research. My Mum died in 1986 after a 10 year battle with breast cancer so this event is very special to us.
Mother’s Day Classic 2021 
June
We ran the Brisbane Half Marathon again this year. I love running with my Saturday Sisters for the friendship, motivation and to stay active and healthy.
July
School holiday time and I had fun exploring, baking and being with my two grandsons, Ethan and Elliot who are a constant source of joy.
Plus another Fun Run – Running up and down 5,000 steps in the Gabba Stomp which is an annual tradition that I run with my Saturday Sister.
August
Another year around the Sun brought me to celebrate my 64th birthday. Which prompted me to say;
64 seemed ancient when I was younger but now I know it isn’t
September
The highlight for September was running and completing my 4th full marathon with my Saturday Sister, Caz. I started running at 50, ran my first marathon at 55, and the other three at 61, 63 and 64. I was pumped that I had achieved this goal which we had trained all year for and wrote about it in my post Age shouldn’t be a barrier to your dreams – I’ve proven that!
October
My biggest achievement was attaining my Certificate IV in Fitness which enabled me to become a Personal Trainer to add to my Group Fitness Instructor certification. When I originally applied at 58, I was told I was too old! Can you believe that? It took me until I was 63 to re-apply and I certainly showed ‘you are never too old’ to achieve your dream. I work for Strong Healthy Women, taking classes for Women 50+ in the Virtual Studio and I just love it.
‘The Cloud’ was darker so I decided to take up a challenge for myself to Bring More Colour Into My Life. Colour has such a positive and uplifting effect so I took up the challenge to post 100 days of colour. It is surprising how much colour there is in life, if we just look for it. Here are some examples and the colour really does lift my spirits.
November
It was Grandparents’ Day at Kindy, I caught up with a dear friend who was visiting from Tasmania and we celebrated my son’s birthday.
December
‘The Cloud’ lifted and was resolved just in time to host Mr M’s children and grandchildren for Christmas and then spend Christmas Day with my family. I also had some fun times with my grandsons leading up to Christmas and certainly felt their excitement and joy.
I also had a catch up with my Saturday Sisters and visited the Van Gogh Alive Exhibition with a friend. Such an amazing exhibition and sensory experience.
The Van Gogh Alive Exhibition
New Year’s Eve 2021
Mr M and I celebrated in our usual manner – on our own with a seafood feast which he prepared.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for 2021 and to thank you for your support and friendship. Let’s do it all again in 2022!
I’m sharing this for #SundayStills hosted by Terri at Second Wind Leisure
22 Comments
I love the positivity in your post Sue and although ‘The Cloud’ was hanging over you all year, you came through it all with your sense of self intact and your beaming smile brightening our screens. I love your word and can feel the joy in your words when you found my happy moments that weren’t entirely expected! The word really suits you and your lifestyle as you attempt to help us all navigate through our midlife years. You are certainly rocking it at 64 and I love being in your circle. Can’t wait to see where this year will take you. happy New Year to you and Mike xx
PS. Thanks for the link to my post too!
Thanks Deb, it was an excellent exercise for me after the year we’ve had. It is so easy to just see the doom and gloom and forget about the good things that have happened. I was pleasantly surprised. I’m so glad you are in my circle too. Looking forward to sharing 2022 with you. xx
Hi Sue – well it’s been a full and interesting year for you. I can see from all the pics that there were a lot of happy memories created to balance the tough bits. We’ve been very fortunate here in Australia to escape a lot of the covid stress, but who knows what 2022 will bring? I’m sure the good will far outweigh the bad if we choose to look for the silver lining. Welcome to another year – you’ll be rocking it I’m sure ! x
If I hadn’t taken the time to write a review I would have thought that 2021 was just about the big black cloud hanging over us. When I took the time to look back I was pleasantly surprised at all the positive things that I experienced. It certainly made me feel more positive in mindset and grateful for what I have. Happy New Year to you and Ross.
Hi, Sue – I greatly admire how you accomplished so much and stayed posiitive during a very difficult year. You are a true inspiration to all. Wishing you and Mr. M. a happy and healthy 2022 filled with peace, joy and love!
Thank you, Donna. As I mentioned to Leanne and Deb, if I hadn’t taken the time to look back and review I would have remembered 2021 as just a big black cloud. I’m so pleased I took the time to rediscover all the positive things that happened. x
Hi Sue your photos show that your Word of the Year was a great success. With the issues you’ve been dealing with during the year, I think Self was the perfect word for you. Often our Self and self care can get Left behind when times get difficult. Happy New Year. I look forward to more inspiration from you in 2022.
Hi Jen, thank you for your support and kind words. Happy New Year to you and I look forward to sharing 2022 with you. x
Congratulations to you both on the settling of what made a very very stressful time a large blot on the landscape of your retirement life. There is no doubt about it, the stress of family and future is awful. And often very unnecessary and just not right.
You have managed a huge year with an incredible range of celebrations, hard work, taking time for you and helping many.
You are travelling well in your goal to help others.
Well done Sue.
I haven’t done a round up for the year, my word was smile and like gratitude from the year before, these words will accompany me in 2022.
Denyse,
Thanks Denyse, not quite the outcome we were hoping for and my faith in the legal system has been tested that is for sure. However, writing the review made me appreciate the many good things that did happen in 2021 for which I am grateful. x
You are truly remarkable snd a high achiever. We are blessed that you take your own precious time to inspire us to get off our couches and live life to the full. Thank you I love your posts and aspire to being like you one day .
Thank you so much Kristina for taking the time to leave me this lovely comment. I love what do but it I still appreciate feedback such as yours because it shows I’m on the right track. Wishing you and your husband and very Happy New Year and I hope his health improves. x
Happy New Year, Sue! You are a fighter and an inspiration! Wishing you all the best for 2022 and beyond.
Deb
Happy New Year to you Deb and thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I’ve just scheduled my What’s On Your Plate? post for the coming week! xx
So much to look back on with gratitude despite the cloud. It really was a multi-textured year. Thank you for your continued support and friendship throughout it – it’s something I’m grateful for.
Your post inspired me to look back at my 2021, Jo so thank you! If I hadn’t read your post and taken the time to review my own year I would have written 2021 off as the year of the ‘cloud’. I certainly did have many things to be grateful for which I had pushed to the back of my mind. Happy New Year! xx
Happy New Year, Sue! I think we all had a weird cloud hanging over our heads, even for the last 2 years! Despite it all, your 2021 was productive, enriching and inspirational, especially to us who strive for better fitness. Congrats on your fitness trainer cert–what an accomplishment and you are the perfect person to lead others to their fitness goals. I’m sure you will be amazingly successful! SELF is a great word and you embodied the idea to perfection. I hope you consider linking this post to Sunday Stills this week as we are looking in the rear view mirror at 2021. https://secondwindleisure.com/2022/01/02/sunday-stills-2021-in-the-rear-view-mirror-nothing-like-the-present-the-future-is-ours/
Hi Terri and Happy New Year to you! I’m so pleased I decided to write a review otherwise I would have looked back at 2021 and just saw the ‘cloud’ which stressed us out no end. Doing the review made me realise how lucky I am and to relive some of the good times from 2021. I’ve linked up with your Sunday Stills but the link didn’t work. Never mind, I will try to get to some of your Sunday Stills in 2022. Wishing you health and happiness for the year ahead. x
Happy New Year to you! You’ve made me think about how I am embracing living near the water! I really want to be more intentional about that this year. Thanks for the nudge.
Hi Pat, I just read your Action Plan for 2022 and your 22 in 22 list – fabulous idea! x
I adored your festive Christmas portraits or selfies. And your 100 days of color were a gift to us all. So thankful you aren’t going into this shiny new year with the cloud hanging overhead. I think we are in a pretty good place right this minute, too. I hesitate to even say such a thing because that usually jinxes things. Always in awe of your running achievements. My spine doctor and physical therapist have suggested I give up running. And I did for a few months, but nothing feels better than accomplishing a run. Hopeful that in 2022, El Paso can return to having in-person runs. Happy new year, dear friend.
Thanks Leslie, after a very tough year it was good to feel carefree and enjoy each other and our family. Happy New Year, my friend and enjoy your new grandson. xx