To ask what have you done this year that you're proud of?

[Sparklfairy]

Just musing this morning as I sort some last things out before Christmas, and it occurred to me how different my life is from 12 months ago. Whilst nothing I've done would be noteworthy to anyone else, I've had some small wins that I feel pretty proud of. Reading all the Christmas threads here lately, I think it's easy to get caught up in all the crazyness when really when we look back on 2019 we've got things we could and should pat ourselves on the back for.

I'll go first:

• I've spent my first full year ever living completely alone and independently. For the first time, I am in complete control of my life. This is a massive deal for me and my MH.

• Again for the first time ever, I spent 2019 (and half of 2018) single. I've bounced from bad relationship to bad relationship and been a serial dater, and (partially thanks to MN!) actually decided to take a time out from all of it, and get to know myself. I now actually really enjoy my own company and space (something I never thought I'd say). I've very recently started dating again, and it's amazing to realise shit that I would put up with or red flags that I would ignore. Don't settle.

• And finally, on a more lighthearted note, this terrified-of-heights MNer flew down the world's fastest zipwire last week

So what are you proud of for 2019?

Written a successful lottery bid for charity I work for securing £300,000+
Promoted at work due to above plus other smaller successes
Got through the year between October 2018 when my beloved Dad had a stroke and October 2019 when he died
Managed to keep most of my 5.5 stone weight loss off
Becoming more patient with DM who has Alzheimer’s
Keeping all my financial balls in the air even though sometimes it’s only just!

I finally started to work on getting fit. I have various health issues which means there are very few activities I can safely do, but I found and started two different fitness classes (both new to my area so I signed up as soon as they launched) as well as working on a healthy diet (something I pretty much did anyway but just paid a lot more attention to it for the little naughty things that had crept in here and there.)

I've lost approximately 1 stone in weight this year (had been hoping for more) but lost a lot of inches all over, still a long way to go thanks to medication and inactivity causing a huge weight gain before this, but I have actually been able to come off one medication completely and lower the dosage of another (with doctor's advice there of course) so hopefully the weight will start to shift a bit more next year. I know it won't likely be a fast loss due to a third medication which I will never be able to come off but I'm going in the right direction anyway with no plans to give up.

Doubled my hours at work, saved ALL the extra I earned and saved enough to buy a house along with my husband

Finally got over my marriage breakup.
Got out of toxic post-marriage relationship.
Feel myself again.

Not flown anywhere!

Get off all medications! This time last year I was on Prozac, Valium, beta blockers, had a breakdown. At one point the thought of killing myself was an option, I didn't want to die, but I couldn't live feeling so so horrendous. I remember one night phoning my husband saying please come home from work I think I'm losing my mind. Then I phoned my MIL and asked her to come over. I felt like I had a monster lurching over me, it was the worst feeling I've ever had! They both came over. But it took a good 8/9 months to actually be free of medication. I have two kids, and I think after my second I just took a really bad episode of PND.

Oh gosh not a lot actually

I think just about sorted out my ibs problems that have plagued me for a lot of my life...I still have the occasional hiccup ..so I’m not completely there yet but going 100 per cent gf and df sinCe July has been a real eye opener and it’s been quite a rocky road.

It’s been Good to have the support of dh, who has also been on the same journey.
He loves French bread and cheese.. vEgan cheese doesn’t cut it for us...
So it’s been doubly difficult.

So nothing earth shattering for this year im afraid.

I feel like I’ve turned into one of those useless eaters
I can’t even say I mind the grandkids...because they are all at an age when they don’t really need minding.

Gosh this thread has pulled me up with a start
Now I’m feeling so much better maybe I need to learn to speak to fluent Spanish for our trips to Tenerife
Or finish the book of my life..for the grandkids that I started 7 years ago
Start a business.
Cor, am I just letting life slip through my fingers?

I had a home birth with DD2.

I wouldn't bloody do it again but I'm proud of my self all the same!

Some lovely posts on here. Nice to read. Well done to you all.

Mine are

I had a baby. My first.

My partner and I bought our first home.

Great thread idea OP.

I'm proud of giving birth to DS1, and (mostly) recovering from a difficult birth. I'm proud of sorting Irish citizenship out for me and him before he was born, so we have a get out of jail free card from Brexit island, and I'm proud of being confirmed and having DS christened, and for finally sorting out a provisional driving licence.

Lots more to do next year, but I'm proud of what I've done this year :)

So mine starts in 2018. I completed my 1st level 1 module for my teaching degree while going through a difficult pregnancy.

I completed and passed my end of year assessment with pre-eclampsia. I was hospitalised 2 days after I submitted for 2 weeks before I was induced a month early.

We wanted another baby so planned the birth for the following summer, which we were blessed.

I finished my second level 1 module with a new baby and another difficult pregnancy. Soon after submitting I gave birth via complicated emergency c-section, a month early!

Started my level 2 module with 2 babies... 😅 But I'm most proud of my babies. They are amazing!

Given this some thought... 2018 was a big year for me so took some time to thing about 2019.

I think it was taking the kids (5 and 10 at the time) abroad on my own for a holiday for the first time (not that long divorced). Was a big deal for me, and we did some amazing stuff like going out in a hired speed boat with a driver, and saw some beautiful sights. Kids had a fab time and the little one especially keeps talking about it.

Also just carried on through the year as a single parent!

I went to London on my own,twice.been as a kid but now living in Midlands.
I bought a handbook,read up on the tube and how to do it(!)and planned where I wanted to go. Even getting a train was new to me!

The second time I booked a theatre ticket just for me and had a fantastic time.

Wonderful thread OP!

I took the bull by the horns and got my debts all sorted out through the debt charity Step Change so by Feb next year I’ll (have a v. Bad credit rating) but will be debt free.

I have sorted out DD’s sleep so I now get lovely, long sleeps and an evening, so good for my mental health.

I have left a religion I’ve been part of for years because it was more like a cult.

I have lost one stone doing low carb boot camp on MN!

Just quietly and steadily I feel like I’m gaining more control.

I have put myself outside my comfort zone in a job where I have had to put up with horrible abusive behaviour from the MD (my direct boss). All to be able to get on the property ladder for my DD and I.

It's been hard and my mental health has suffered but I'm proud I've got through it!

I started this year, utterly heartbroken. I genuinely didn’t think I would ever ever get over the breakdown of my relationship with a 4 month old baby. I spent the weekends she was with her dad crying and feeling so low I didn’t want to wake up the next day.
3 months ago I decided enough was enough, I moved to a new house to make new happy memories, I started up my own business which has given me a sense of worth, I started exercising more and fit myself a car. I can thankfully now see the sun through the clouds and I’m so proud that I didn’t let the situation become bitter.. I managed to avoid and ignore all attempts from him to case rows and hostility, and now we’re ok with each other for our daughters sake. I realised this year, I’m far stronger than I though 💓

Oh such congratulations @needtowalkmore ! You absolutely can beat it! I’m 15 years on from the start of my recovery and I promise it really can get better. Wishing you everything good and waving my support pom-poms!

Learned how to be a mum of 3 kids under 5 practically on my own.
My DH is military and deployed when our youngest was 3 weeks old.
I feel like if I can make it through that, I can make it through anything!!

This year I finally went self employed doing something that I love after years of working crappy jobs that I hate and with crappy people to boot. I’m not rolling in money but at the end of Year 1 things are ticking over nicely and I’m looking forward to next year :)

Well done everyone

I got offered (and accepted) a lovely new job at 55.

Had lost a bit of confidence with my old job so I had my concerns but I'm thriving and soooo happy to go to work.