2023 Goals & Words #WednesdayHodgepodge (5)

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Ours was a little different this year, as my mum is in hospital and we’re still waiting on a diagnosis. Thankfully, she was allowed out for Christmas Day and then re-admitted that evening. We got to see her in the morning, then went to my in-laws’ for dinner in the afternoon. Boxing Day was a relaxed PJ day, then we had a buffet lunch at my Dad’s yesterday.

Here are this week’s Hodgepodge questions, which are encouraging us to reflect on 2022.

1. Did you set any goals for the new year this time last year? Did you meet them or miss the mark? Tell us more if you’re comfortable sharing. 

I was overambitious with my 2022 goals and only achieved a handful of them. It was a really hard year for me and I didn’t get as much writing or reading done as I was hoping. But I am proud of achieving the following:

• Delivered my first creative writing workshop at Boston Book Fest.
• Joined a choir and performed in public 6 times.
• Gained 36 newsletter subscribers.
• Successfully completed the Blogging from A-Z Challenge.
• Wrote 67 blog posts.
• Learned how to use my daughter’s new Omnipod insulin pump and Dexcom to manage her Type 1 Diabetes.
• Took my family on a lovely holiday to Rutland Water.
• Faced my phobia of the dentist.
• Finished and submitted a short story.

2. What are three words that might describe the kind of person you were this past year or describe in some way how your life looked? 

3 words to describe me this year: stressed, tired, determined.

3 words to describe 2022: challenging, stressful, relentless.

3. What’s something new you ate, saw, heard, or experienced in 2022? What did you think? 

My sister introduced me to a couple of new TV shows: Bridgerton and The Orville. I really enjoyed them both.

4.  Oxford Dictionary has announced it’s word of the year for 2022, and it’s this-goblin mode. Huh? Have you ever heard this phrase? Used this phrase? It’s defined as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.” 

This year they allowed the public to choose amongst three finalists. You can read more about that here. If you were in charge, what word would you declare word of the year for 2022? 

I don’t recall ever hearing of or using the phrase “goblin mode”! If it was up to me, the word for 2022 would be “clusterf**k”.

5. Any special plans for an end of year celebration in your house or town? 

The travel channel says the world’s best New Year’s Eve celebrations will happen in Copacabana Beach-Rio de Janerio, the Orlando theme parks in Florida,  London, Sydney, New York’s Time Square, Edinburgh Scotland, and Paris. If you could attend any one of these which would you choose? Tell us why? 

On New Year’s Eve we tend to stay in and watch Jools Holland’s Annual Hootananny. I’m having my sister and brother-in-law over on New Year’s Day for a roast dinner, which I’m looking forward to. Then heading to Grimsby to see my brother and his wife the day after.

If money was no object and I could teleport there, I’d go to Copacabana Beach. I’d love a break from the miserable British weather. We do enjoy the London fireworks on TV, but I’m not a fan of huge crowds.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It’s my daughter’s 7th birthday tomorrow, so today I’ve been busy prepping party bags and games. She’s having a unicorn-themed pizza party. Sadly, some of her friends can’t make it due to illness. I’m hoping that she still has a fun day.

Are you doing anything to celebrate the New Year? What was 2022 like for you? Let me know in the comments!