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Original poster

What are your biggest (non-parent, non-spouse related) achievements of 2019?

57 replies

BigYin · 31/12/2019 18:29

Not things related to to your role as parent or partner. What have you achieved as YOU?

Mine ...

Got a promotion! Still in shock about it.

Submitted a short story to a writing competition. Didn't place but it was an achievement to have finished something and send it out to be read.

Big or small - why are you proud of yourself this year?

OP posts:
Isadora2007 · 31/12/2019 19:23

@CockerShark I’m so jealous- currently working on my first year pre dissertation review thing and it’s murder. Cannot ever imagine writing something that would be published or recognised as good. So well done!!! 👏🏻

I’m proud of managing to start my Masters in Nursing despite it being a pretty hard time in my family life. More proud of my family I guess for pulling together so well that I can be free to do it though...

Proudpeacock · 31/12/2019 19:24

Sorting out the house. Not done yet but getting there. New kitchen etc which doesn't sound like much but I actively enjoy spending time in the house now. It feels like a home after 13 years. Also housework actually feels worth doing to keep it nice.

RudolphIsMySpiritAnimal · 31/12/2019 19:28

Got into drama school to do a post-graduate acting course - something I've wanted to do for more than 20 years. Grin

AveAtqueVale · 31/12/2019 19:34

I finished medical school and started work as a doctor. Finally have a real job aged nearly 30 Grin.

katmarie · 31/12/2019 19:35

Finally got paying tenants into a property which has been undergoing sporadic renovations since 2014. It's gone from draining money to bringing money in. And means we can look seriously at building a property portfolio as a side business rather than both relying on working 9-5. For my DH's mental health that is massive. (I also had a baby which I'm pretty proud of, sorry couldn't resist!)

eenymeenymineymo · 31/12/2019 19:38

Travelled to the other side of the world on holiday. I'm in NZ & was 60, & a great procrastinator so this was huge for me.
Scared of heights too, so some parts of the trip really challenged me.

newbingepisodes · 31/12/2019 19:40

Completed my second masters degree 3 days before I gave birth to second child.

LivingInLaputa · 31/12/2019 19:52

I was just going to start a “what are you proud of” thread so I’m glad to see this! Nice idea being non-parenting/spouse related too. Focusing more on myself as a person in my own right rather than just mum is definitely a theme this year.

Mine are:

Started therapy. I’ve had therapy from CAMHS when younger, but this year I decided I really wanted to work hard on my mental health and past trauma. I found a private psychologist specialising in working with autistic adults. I’m working really hard with her.

Started drawing again after over 15 years avoiding it. It’s become very important to me and my confidence is increasing.

Joined the gym. I have a lot of physical issues so my swimming/gym sessions are very gentle but I’m there and I’m doing it and my mental health is definitely better when I go.

I’ve been much more open about mental health and being autistic. This has helped other people too and led me to make some amazing friends.

And a much smaller one - started using a menstrual cup (I was nervous about trying it for a long time) and have now ditched disposable products altogether.

This has been the most difficult year of my life so far for sure, a lot of crap stuff going on between me, DH, two autistic children and a toddler. So it’s nice to look back and think I’ve actually made some progress.

I’ve not changed the world, I’ve not earned money and TBH spent most of the year feeling entirely useless, but I have done things that are important to me. :)

LivingInLaputa · 31/12/2019 19:53

Wow that was a long post sorry Blush

thenewaveragebear1983 · 31/12/2019 19:55

Ran 1000 miles
Ran a half marathon in under 2 hours

Returned to work after 4.5 years off and actually enjoying it and doing well

BuddhaAtSea · 31/12/2019 20:02

I’ve finished a post grad course that had me sweating blood and tears.

I lost a stone after trying for many years (turns out I just needed to eat less).

Saw some awesome gigs this year too.

ExpletiveFairylighted · 31/12/2019 20:03

Taken on significant new responsibilities at work.

Finally sorted and properly backed up 10+ years worth of photos.

50th blood donation

New volunteer role (sorry, parenting related, but it is relevant to my career).

Went on my first political march.

DrCoconut · 31/12/2019 20:04

My MA.

PermanentTemporary · 31/12/2019 20:08

Met up with a family member I thought I'd never speak to again. Extremely hard as he hurt me very deeply and he was also in pain. The original wound remains but we can now meet without causing ourselves or others difficulty.

Took on a pre-Masters.
Learned so much about my sexuality I feel like a different being.

justgivememulledwine · 31/12/2019 20:12

Lost weight and got my first martial arts belt 🥋

teddyneedsawash · 31/12/2019 20:12

Absolutely aced an interview at my temporary work place and got a permanent position. Bought a house on the back of this, organised a loft conversion and moved us in.

And (I'll grant you, this is being a parent and spouse related) did all this at the same time as keeping us all afloat while DH went through 30 sessions of radiotherapy and 5 cycles of chemo (he's basically spent the last 4 months in bed) for his incurable brain tumour. And the kids have been amazing so I must have done something right.

bimbimbap · 31/12/2019 20:13

changed career Smile

StillMedusa · 31/12/2019 20:15

Small thing...but I always wanted to learn classical guitar.
I can now play a fair number of classical pieces and I love every moment of learning.

PermanentTemporary · 31/12/2019 20:27

Bloody hell teddy. Respeck.

Newyearnewme2020 · 31/12/2019 20:40

Went back to work after mat leave while I have postnatal depression. Thought it would be for the best to try to get back to normality, but still was a massive accomplishment for me to actually go back.

maddiemookins16mum · 31/12/2019 20:43

Employee of the Year.

I still can’t believe it.

We have an employee of the month thing and in December the department get to vote the overall winner for the year.

I actually cried. My colleagues are the loveliest bunch of people.

Rhapsodyinpurple · 31/12/2019 20:45

I had my first ever driving lessons and passed my test at 49
I changed jobs after 14 years and got a promotion

Rockbird · 31/12/2019 20:45

Getting a proper job after being out looking after children for 8 years. And how easily I slipped back into it. I was convinced all my brain cells had leaked out but it turns out I can still do things!

happypotamus · 31/12/2019 20:52

Survived. Work was crazy, my mental health was very wobbly, I gradually took very small steps towards being able to sometimes let one person at work know when I wasn't coping and admit I wasn't ok, went to work on days I really felt like I couldn't and took only 2 days off sick (I am definitely not suggesting that this is the right thing for most people but remain convinced it was right for me), didn't give up, finished a course I should have finished about a year previously. It has been a really tough year at times but I made it.

FranKubelik · 31/12/2019 20:58

Thanks for starting this OP and great to hear of so many brilliant achievements.
For me, I can think of two;

  • accepted onto a course where only 4% of applicants get a place
  • started yoga. Beginning with the YWA 30 days in January I’ve managed to keep it up 2 or 3 times a week for the year.
In many ways this has been a crappy year so it’s good to remind myself of the positives
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