Recently I have returned to the cast recording of The Notebook, which I was extremely lucky to have seen on Broadway –

Sidenote: When is it transferring to the West End?????

Returning to the album has meant that I have really listened to the lyrics, and some have really hit home. With the dawn of 2025 and the enthusiasm for what the new year will hold I have decided

“I want to live a life

Where I am allowed to say

That I’m proud of the way

That I spent my days”

There are two elements that hit home about this short musical phrase. The first is the choice to make each moment matter and the second is giving yourself permission to celebrate your own choices. 

It has certainly felt, that for periods following the pandemic, that I have been stuck in a rut! Going through the motions with a lack of energy and direction. I think this is fairly common – I mean to say, that I am probably not any different to a lot of other people. But it can feel very lonely, and building motivation from nothing, is a big task.

When I am low or lost, I lose the ability to make decisions, and instead go into shut down. How I have always lifted myself out of this position, has been time, kindness to myself and then decisive action. Get to the end of each day listing what was the one thing I did for myself, whether that was personal growth or  just for fun, you have to make yourself a priority. 

I spend my days getting a balance of work, social and family time. And each of them is as important as the others. I can’t let any of those spinning plates drop, because people are reliant on me – sometimes that can feel like a lot of pressure, but most of the time it actually fills me with a sense of purpose and gives me a reason to be.

Life has given me many blessings. I am so fortunate to have my freedom of choice and the freedom to make mistakes, to learn and to grow from them. It has taken resilience and inner strength but I have got there. 

In this new year I will be proud of how I spent my days because I am giving myself the space to succeed. Whether miniscule in size or life-changing, I know this year will have promise for all of us, providing we all ourselves the space to do so, and treat ourselves and others with a little more kindness.

I love a musical that makes me feel real thoughts. 

If you haven’t already… check out Joy Woods singing My days…

TIB