It’s funny how as we get older, the things we used to find so important lose their shine and eventually they lose our interest completely!

Last night, while waiting for the new year to roll on into my life, my amazing friend Maz and I had this conversation about how our needs have changed and how now, for us, being content is about being with our families and the people we love.

We spent last night on their farm, eating, laughing, drinking and watching our kids play together. 

I remember a time when all I wanted to do was go big, day in and day out. I lived to party!

I didn’t know Maz back then but that was her life too – funnily enough, at the same bars, with many of the same friends but never together!

We only met recently, thanks to this blog and then it turned out our husbands were old friends from “the scene” and so we started hanging out more and more. And now, our sons are inseparable and it feels like we’ve been friends forever! I feel truly lucky to have these people in my life.

As the times grows inevitably nearer to us leaving, I am more and more aware of the people that I will miss and the things that really matter to me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that life is so short and it’s just not really practical to keep doing everything you used to do with all the people who you used to know.

Instead, I choose to spend my time with the people who make me feel happy and that add value to my life as it is now. Sadly, that means that a lot of friendships grow apart but honestly, I think that’s okay too!

I can’t help feeling that life works out exactly as it should. 

This year was a long and hard year and we’ve had so many challenges. I wish I could say that we are going into the new year with all our problems solved but that isn’t the case.

We don’t know what will happen with our New Zealand application. I still don’t have a valid passport (though that’s a story for another time) but what I do know is that what ever happens, I’m ready for it.

I am so thankful for the husband, family and friends that I have.

The people who are constantly checking in on us and providing us with hope for the future. I am thankful for the kindness of people all across the world who reach out to me, offer their help, connect me with people they know in New Zealand and even invite us to join them for Christmas lunch in New Zealand so that we don’t have to be alone. Obviously we didn’t make it in time for that but I can’t explain to you how if nothing else, 2017 showed me how valuable the PEOPLE in my life are.

So many people, some that I’ve never even met in person, provide us with constant support and love and when life is tough, that’s all that keeps you going.

So 2017 might not have been the best year, our plans might have been put on hold for a little while but this year, with all the crap that happened, brought me an awareness of the value of people, love and true friendship. 

I don’t set new years resolutions but I will say that whatever this year brings our way, we are ready for it! I hope that means lots of wonderful things but the truth is, the magic is all around us. You just have to focus a little harder sometimes!

Thank you for being a part of my life and for being the magic in my year!

Happy New Year!

May you find the magic!

All the love

xoxo