What are you looking forward to?

[HarryMcGraw]

This was a journal prompt I saw, and alarmingly I can’t think of a single thing. It might be depression but equally it might just be being a mid-40s working single parent who is a bit exhausted.

What are you looking forward to?
I think there must be things I’m just forgetting or missing (due to aforementioned tiredness) but even fun things coming up, I would secretly be happy if they were cancelled.

Or they involve so much organisation/childcare that I can’t be bothered.

The best thing I can think of is a half hour lie-in at the weekend!
When did it come to this!?

That sounds a lovely thing to have to look forward to and I hope you have a nice time.

I think throughout our lives we have times when things are harder and more of a struggle than others.

I've never been a single parent but I do remember the difficult, tiring times with very young DC and also the struggle in more recent times with unwell elderly parents, work and a teenager. I now have a much more relaxed life.

Things I'm looking forward to are two nights out with groups of friends over the next couple of weeks, some day time Christmassy trips to see the Nutcracker and the Christmas market and a post Christmas holiday with DH, DS and his partner.

Seeing my sister on Saturday (she lives 2 hours from me).
Going out for a late lunch on Sunday.
Having my hair cut on the 29th
Going to a performance of Handel's Messiah on December 8th
Going to the pantomime on the 21st December
My daughter bringing the toddler to stay for Christmas
The whole family being here for lunch on Christmas Eve
Christmas!

I like to have lots of little things to look forward to. January, February and March tend to be a bit depressing so I must work hard to find things to look forward to then.

DD's birthday
A gig
5x Christmas parties/ events
Christmas
NYE
A house guest
My birthday
Another gig
A family of house guests
DS's birthday
Another gig
A weekend away with a friend
A UK family holiday
A foreign family holiday

As well as the day to day pleasures like dog walks, swimming, gym, coffee with friends, visiting my parents...

I'm 43 with incurable cancer. I spend over half my time in bed. I'm in constant pain. Sometimes I can barely stand. I'm at the hospital at least once a week.

I've always had a positive outlook. If anything I savour things more now.

Buying a new car. Going all electric, quite excited.

• Hosting a very close friend’s baby shower this weekend. It’s been a lot of extra work but she’s suffered several losses so this feels extra special.
• mid-month mini break to somewhere sunny for DH birthday.
• putting up Christmas decorations - DC are still small but old enough to get excited about them.
• hitting the gym this weekend - have had various injuries and work travel so have not been consistent.

@gamerchick big hug 🤗

@HarryMcGraw are you perimenopausal? I felt like you in my mid 40’s, oestrogen sorted that for me.

• Christmas. I am so ready for festive season! I have a nearly 3 yo and I cannot. Wait. I feel like finally my Christmas energy will be appreciated by someone and I am so excited for the next 10 christmases’ with a young child and to be the Christmas magic maker!!!

(Can you tell I love Christmas 😂)

• New glasses next week. Got my eye on two pairs from Jimmy Fairly.
• Getting my hair done a few times in Dec.
• Finish a renovation project I’ve been doing this year- got a few weeks left maybe.
• To redecorate our lounge and bedroom in 2025! The lounge is a long time coming.
• a yoga session im doing in about an hours time. My back is looking forward to it 😂 Love starting the day after deep stretch yoga.

Quite a few things for a change....
Finishing this week's teaching (Fri/Sat weekend)
Going to supermarket tomorrow (weird I know but we rarely get to leave the campus)
Leaving work and the country I'm in in 35 days
Being home just before Xmas
Seeing friends and family
Mince pies
Australia trip in Feb.

I bought an extra advent calendar to start in November as I find it a difficult month. It got me out of bed this morning to see what was in it and I'm going to be ready for work early so I can use the products.

I could list my own plans but want to know why you haven’t got anything planned? Can you throw a small party? Organise a Christmas lunch? Go to a Christmas market or a carol service? Are you too exhausted to enjoy anything?

I’m working from home today after being away for a couple of days. Looking forward to slouching about in joggers and cosy socks, picking through my emails and getting stuff done.

I’ve a chat planned with a good friend I’ve not seen in ages - she’s one of life’s radiators and I know it’s going to be lovely to catch up.

I’ve planned a nice dinner tonight for me and the kids which I’m looking forward to.

I’ve some bigger things planned too but I think it’s important to find small things daily that lift our spirits.

Going on safari and being so close to nature, and having my lovely dh to myself for a month.

Going on holiday next week, fingers crossed, after being rather poorly over the last 6 weeks.
Seeing son and his partner over Xmas

Big things - moving house early next year

Small things - going to collect my DC in 5 minutes and having a hug

Medium things - few days away (just somewhere cheap & cheerful in U.K.) over Xmas

Getting onto the age pension instead of the dole. Five years away yet.