Happy New Year!

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
- If so, what are they?
- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?


Prize: Answering all questions will earn you 3 mill HPD!
(One Worded responses will not count, a little sharing goes a long way!)
- This activity counts towards your participation tracking for An Added Bonus For Activities! Jan-April, 2024!


This Activity Closes Monday January 8th at 11:59pm HP Time!

:D

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

Yes!

- If so, what are they?

I would like to get myself (and my kids, preferably) outside for at least 20 minutes a day. Not even to be active (although that would be nice!) but to just get fresh air (and hopefully some sunshine). 

Also, not something I’m going to consciously track but just something I want to personally be more of for my own sake, but I want to drink more water every day.

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

n/a

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

My youngest, currently two, has been behind in his speech. A year ago he could say mama. Sometimes. Not very often. Last March we started speech therapy, and now he’s talking in full sentences. He has some pronunciation issues (he tends to drop the last syllable from words). It makes him hard to understand – but you CAN understand him. Seeing how far he’s come, and knowing that he can express himself, makes me tear up.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Random stuff, I guess! 

I want to see at least five shows this year. Most likely they’ll be touring productions of Broadway shows that come out my way, but whatever. Something live.

I want to be more present with my kids, and just be there with them. They change so much, so frequently. They’ll never be this young again, you know?

To make more time for my husband, who works so hard to provide for us.

And on HP, to have some fun with the mascot contest with the entries I have planned!

1. I didn't make any but I did decide to start the gym back up to get into shape for my wedding! (3yrs from now so I've got time!)

2. One positive from 2023 was my wonderful daughter being born January and getting engaged in October!

3. If I could do anything this year it would be to achieve my goal of losing weight! :)

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
- If so, what are they?

Charge my phone overnight outside of my room, and wait until 11am the following morning to check it. Keep the ringer on incase I get calls, but I'm trying to create more of a detachment from it and instead start my day saying a prayer and greeting my chickens outside! I've realized that the way you start a day often determines the day, or at the very least, it determines the attitude you have throughout.

Also, I need to read but I haven't finished a book in 5 years. I'm a writer who doesn't read... go figure, lol. So, I'm making it a goal to read three this year! Doesn't sound like a lot, but for me, it is! Hopefully I can read even more than 3 =)

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

I'll be honest, 2023 got me so rattled that I'm not placing expectations on this new year. However, I did get an agent for my memoir and we'll be shopping it around to publishers, so I'm really excited for that!

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

My childhood heart horse is 100% sound. It's been a 3 year long journey to get him to this level of comfort. He was taken from me when I was 19 and I spent 10 years trying to get him back. When I finally did, thank the Lord, he was malnourished and was in so much pain he could barely walk. I did everything I could for him, but was only able to get him 95% sound on a good day. In 2023, however, I met a trainer who took him under her wing and took care of ALL his vet care I couldn't afford and got him special shoes! In return, she just asked to use him in lessons once every two weeks which he absolutely LOVES to do! He is doing amazing now, has way too much pep for the old man he is, and even wants to jump again! I know he does because when I hack, he purposefully veers us into jumps. =) In his prime he loved jumping more than ANYTHING in the world. I've never met a horse who loved jumping more honestly. Now, at age 27 going 28... he wants to do it again, even at low level. My vet has approved so right now we're training up to join my trainer's lessons =)

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Jumping Cartier, my horse, and being able to afford weekly lessons with him! 
Get more financially stable. We make rent each month by $20 or $40. I know the Lord provides and all but... yikes xD
Publish my memoir I've been working on for 5 years! 
Hopefully be able to get our own piece of land to have all our animals (17 chickens, 8 sheep, and a place for Cartier to retire whenever he chooses to!)
Draw more and read more!

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
I did not, but I'm looking forward to visiting Rowan as soon as Herbie stops wounding himself. (I swear he's doing it on purpose)

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

Rowan was born on April 18th

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

It would be to visit one of my good friends other than just Rowan this year, I was able to fit the visit in last year because Rowan was a state away from her but he is now on the west coast while she lives on the east coast. I'm hoping to fit a visit into my best friend when I go to visit Rowan though! I haven't seen her since 2019.

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

Yes the same one I make every year

- If so, what are they?

To NOT make any New Years resolutions! It is the only one I can keep haha!

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

I am looking forward to surviving another year and maintaining my Akhal-Tekes on the game!

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

I got my puppy Bailey and she saved me from depression when I might have simply retreated into myself and disappeared.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

I would like to get a job and have an actual income! 

Happy New Years 2024 style may it be better than last year!

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

Nope! Life has a way of making things go wildly awry, and I've learned that the best way to deal with it is to roll with the punches and just hope that at some point you stop rolling and hop back up again - or at least roll in roughly the right direction!

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

I am hoping that my health continues to improve this year and that I will be able to get out and about more, as I was pretty much stuck at home for the entirety of 2023 and I really, really miss regularly going on lovely long hill hikes with my partner and our puppy.

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

I've had to learn to be very philosophical about certain aspects of my life being taken entirely out of my hands and away from my control to influence, and that letting them go - at least for now - is the only way to move forwards (however slowly). And above all to be very patient and just accept that sometimes it's better to go slow and not try to force things than to try and push through and inevitably end up sending myself 100 paces backwards. Sometimes the slow road is actually the only real road there is.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Get out of the UK! In healthier times, it was a very rare year that I would be grounded at home for long. But I've been stuck in this miserable, grey, soggy country for a year and a half now and I am in desperate need of getting the hell out, even if just for a week. xD

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

I don't really officially make resolutions but I definitely have some goals for this year

- If so, what are they?

Trying to eat better, work out a little more, and spend less money!

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?
I am getting another puppy so really looking forward to that

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?
This is hard because honestly this year was really tough. I did recently get into showing dogs though and that has been really fun.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Hoping to get Blair out to more shows and get her some points towards her championship

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
Less resolutions, and more of goals! Go on a hike or two a month, read a book or two a month, get my raised garden beds assembled, filled, and planted, and more crafting!

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?
I had a babyyyyy!

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Pay down my credit cards a considerable amount.

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
Unfortunately, no. I have hopes, but I don't like making resolutions. It seems the more I pressure myself with a resolution, the less likely I am to accomplish it.

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?
I am looking forward to getting clearer answers regarding some health issues I'm experiencing lately.

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?
I learned to take better care of myself mentally this year. I set more boundaries for myself and I've been much happier because of it.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?
I want to learn a new hobby this year and actually stick with it. Right now needlepoint is my top choice, but I'm also considering painting! I never had the room to comfortably paint until I moved to my new house two years ago. I'm also hoping to pursue some certifications for IT to bolster my resume.

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

Yes

- If so, what are they?

Get debt under control

- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?

I'm looking forward to new beginnings

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

Two of my neices are pregnant

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Pay off all loans

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

- Get rid of toxic relationships in my life and find good ones

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

-got a new job and higher pay! So far i'm very happy!

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

-travel more…tropical places preferably! 

New Years Resolution - not to set expectations for myself or for others. Learn to just be happy where I am and attempt to be better each day, but be okay with the days that I am not ❤️

Positive thing from 2023 - Lost my dad, but gained the BEST guardian angel 😇

One thing this year - Do ONE thing every week that is 100% for my own happiness 

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024? Yes!
- If so, what are they?

Drink at least one of my water bottles' worth of water each day. Do a fill-in puzzle each day.
- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year? n/a

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

This will probably jinx it, but I finally feel like I'm in a good place at both of my schools for work. Busy, but in a good place.

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Get closer to moving out.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

I don't do resolutions, but I guess I set goals? My first is to ticket my two foals to 10mill without bankrupting my family. I want to continue to be the best mum I can be (some days I feel that's not that great). I am coming back off maternity leave and really want to see how good my future can be. I got the marks required to enter a PHD program, so that's something to explore. 

What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

The birth of my son, Riley. Not many people know, but I almost died giving birth to him. I was in hospital 10 days with serious complications. I missed out on so much of his first weeks as I was mostly unconscious. BUT, we got there as a family, and now I am so happy and grateful to be alive and get to watch my boy grow.

i couldn't have honestly done that without the RL support of Rosa and Uta who have both been there for me in person and on the phone. 

If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

See my mum. She lives in New Zealand and since having Riley, I feel myself drawn to be around her. Our relationship has always been a bit tricky, but I want to move past stuff that happened 20 years ago and have her as an incredible active part of my life. 

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?

- If so, what are they?

I didn't make any firm resolutions, per say, but I do plan on being more active again and have somewhat of a plan in place for that. 

* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?

I got a new job!

* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Find our "dream" house in the country!

<sup>* Did you make any New Year's resolutions for 2024?
- If so, what are they?</sup>

^{To improve my health and fitness, and maintain better discipline in my studies.}

^{- If not, what is one thing you are looking forward to in this new year?}

^{I am looking forward to seeing my family at the end of the year.}

^{* What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?}

^{Finished some long overdue house renovations.}

^{* If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?}

^{Make some positive mental health changes.... and see whales in the ocean.}

What's one positive thing from 2023 worth sharing?
Getting to go see the 98th annual pony swim on Chincoteague Island!!!

If you could do one thing this year, what would it be?

Go back to being a stay-at-home Mom!