Friendship: Reflections on 2016 and hope for 2017

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks reflecting on 2016 and what to plan for 2017.  Did you know that this year is the end of a 9 year cycle and beginning of a new cycle.  The next few days are a good time to reflect on what you don’t want to repeat, and what was amazing and needs to continue into 2017.

Frankly 2016 was relatively shit.  It started ok, but there were huge shocks, stresses, betrayals, let downs and upsets; way beyond anything I could have imagined.  When that ‘last straw’ happened and I behaved very out of character, I was faced with judgment and rejection.

Definitely year of learning HUGE lessons about people and listening to my intuition more.

As someone said to me:

“It’s not your fault if you see the potential in people and they don’t live up to it.”

But to balance it friendship became a big theme for me; I am an extremely lucky woman!

Old school friends have visited, and good mates from over the years have turned up, always at exactly the right time.  A friend returned and now regularly brings bubbles and light heartedness.  New friends appeared, with fellow appreciation for cake 😉

There’s my friend across the pond, who I’ve never actually met, who has been there for me morning and night with little titbits of advice, healing and consistent support.  She even sends me beautiful cards, stunning hand made ear rings to cheer me up and this morning I received a a present of two things I really should have rewarded myself with, but had never thought of.

Then there is the friend who has basically ensured that I was able to get work done by helping with child care.  She even bought cupcakes for my kids, knowing full well there was no way I had the energy to make some for the school cake sale.  I know she is a huge believer in the fact that everything gets balanced out in life, but she must be storing up a huge bank load of help.

Or the lovely mum whose pragmatism and grounded nature meant I could turn up a sobbing mess early on a Saturday morning for a lot of tea and common sense.

So 2016 was the year of lessons, I only just survived, but where I came out with the best friendships ever.

Apparently 2017 is a ‘Number 1’ year – it’s a fresh start and time for change and moving forwards.  Good thing!

The kids are OK; Little Dimples is still determinedly trying to do things her way and is learning to not scream so much.  Curly Headed Boy is loving both dancing and in line hockey and enjoying the challenge of year 6 (he hates being bored).  The Hairy Northerner is currently juggling a couple of jobs and Wildbangarang – it seems jobs are like buses!

My Lyme disease is alright.  Not good – because I should be resting more.  But I’m better than surviving, and I feel I’m taking little chunks out of it on a daily basis.  I’ll do a proper update with my current ‘treatment’ in a few posts to see if there are any ideas that help.

How was your 2016?  What was good and what was bad?  What are your dreams for 2017?  Have a think between now and January 28th – it’s a good time for setting new intentions.

I’ve missed blogging, so I’m planning on doing lots more.  Do you have any preferences for what you’d like?  More light hearted ones?  Maybe some Facebook lives?  Or tips on what not to do in business (I’ve got oodles of them)?