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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how we kick out this dreadful 2023 and open our wonderful 2024 with hope?

38 replies

bornonvalentines · 26/12/2023 08:30

To me, it seems like 2023 has been rough. Like, really rough. The worst.

Instead of having a pity party, in the six days left, shall we share practical and spiritual ways to close the damn door and open 2024 with new hope?

Would love to hear your ideas. Hopefully I'll be inspired, too.

OP posts:
Errolwasahero · 26/12/2023 08:38

Sorry, I have nothing. Nada. Zilch. Joining you in hope instead.

Enko · 26/12/2023 08:40

Also joining in hope. 2023 has been awful. I need 2024 to be a bit kinder. No idea how to go about this.

MaryHinges · 26/12/2023 08:41

Apparently in the old days on the stroke of midnight, people open the back door (to let the old year out) and ask the first dark haired man to be seen to come through the front door carrying salt, coal and bread.

Oooooookey......

DelilahBucket · 26/12/2023 08:43

I've spent two years hoping, kind of losing the will now! If anyone has any suggestions, even witchcraft related, I'm all ears!

TreesWelliesKnees · 26/12/2023 08:45

I'm here for the hope too. I'm not one for new year's resolutions really, but on a day to day basis I think my wellbeing will be greatly improved if I get off my screens and walk in nature while listening to audiobooks.

Happyme2024 · 26/12/2023 08:45

A massive clean and clear out. Tidy home, tidy mind. Walk outdoors. Hydrate. All the basics.

Ella31 · 26/12/2023 10:07

Have had a terrible year too. Waving 2023 goodbye 👋

Original poster
bornonvalentines · 26/12/2023 18:49

Kind of confirms my cosmic bias that it has been a shocker this year.

I will collate the good advice at the end!

OP posts:
TreesWelliesKnees · 26/12/2023 18:52

Oh, another one. Limit the news.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/12/2023 18:59

I'm eating chocolate 25th/26th then tomorrow I'm back to none . Might have some on 1st Jan

Aim to be more efficient and leave work at 5pm,

Don;t wish my life away . Every day is a blessing (especially at my age )

Don't let people who piss me off live rent free in my brain.

Legendairy · 26/12/2023 19:01

2022 was pretty awful, something life changing happened in January, felt very emotional NYE last year just hoping 2023 would be better, within a few days something pretty awful happened again and TBH the rest of the year has been shit then ended with FIL dying a couple of weeks ago. I am dreading NYE, always feels full of hope but I have massive anxiety about what might happen in January.

I am not really sure how to feel better about 2024, perhaps by the end of January I will relax.

Thingsthatgo · 26/12/2023 19:09

It might help you to think about it a little differently; a year is just the amount of time it takes for our planet to go around the sun. Bad things and good things happen every day, all around the world. Bad things, good things and neutral things happened in my life in 2023, but I will not write off the whole year as awful or regard it as amazing. I will just try to celebrate the good stuff, take joy in the little things and be kind to myself and others when the bad things happen.

StoorieHoose · 26/12/2023 19:12

MaryHinges · 26/12/2023 08:41

Apparently in the old days on the stroke of midnight, people open the back door (to let the old year out) and ask the first dark haired man to be seen to come through the front door carrying salt, coal and bread.

Oooooookey......

It's called 'first footing' and still happens regularly in Scotland

NahHumBrag · 26/12/2023 19:14

Remind yourself to not vote Tory in the 2024 election.

KaitlynFairchild · 26/12/2023 19:28

NahHumBrag got there first.

Agreed - don't vote Tory.

noodles20 · 26/12/2023 19:33

StoorieHoose · 26/12/2023 19:12

It's called 'first footing' and still happens regularly in Scotland

Show quote history

Every year my dad would go out the back door with a bottle of whisky a few minutes before midnight. At midnight he would chap the door and be our first foot. It was meant to be lucky for the first person to cross your door in new year, to be tall, dark and handsome and carrying something (we always had a bottle but I've heard some use coal). Not sure what the correct tradition is and I'm not superstitious but we do the same every year for fun. My gran also did it and would clean her house from top to bottom to "see in the new year"!

Errolwasahero · 26/12/2023 22:17

I can do don’t vote Tory, not watch the news and don’t let the bastards grind you down; I’m also trying to be mindful, meet my yoga and meditation targets and not sweat the small stuff. But the big stuff keeps creeping in. Here’s to a better revolution around the sun!

ChiaraMontague · 26/12/2023 22:20

I started doing the Year Compass workbook a few years ago after I had a really tough year, it really helps me to put the old year to bed and focus on what's important going into the new year.
It's free to download as well.

Original poster
bornonvalentines · 27/12/2023 14:15

Loving some of these ideas. I do think the anti-Tories will get their wish, with a GE sooner than we think.

OP posts:
Locutus2000 · 27/12/2023 14:19

Enko · 26/12/2023 08:40

Also joining in hope. 2023 has been awful. I need 2024 to be a bit kinder. No idea how to go about this.

To be fair everything has been particularly awful since 2020. We won't remember this decade fondly by the end of it.

What we need is a competent government committed to improving things for the many. No, Labour won't be worse. That line died in 2019.

Enko · 28/12/2023 00:21

@Locutus2000 My best friend died in 2023. Several other things happened that have been tough on my family.

Politics is not one of the reasons why I find this year hard.

I have to say I find I find it rather upsetting to be quoted like that in a post and then have politics preached at me.

I am aware this is the AIBU however the post was NOT political whatsoever so your post seems completely out of line to me.

BTW I will NOT be voting Labour.

Original poster
bornonvalentines · 28/12/2023 08:23

Ok, as a generalisation, let's avoid politics.

I was thinking more along the wishy-woo line, as well as practicalities.

What do we think of journaling? A poster mentioned it upthread.

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 28/12/2023 08:31

We had an absolutely terrible year in 1994. At midnight on NYE we stood in the garden and shouted “Fuck off 1994!” It was very cathartic.

Hedonism · 28/12/2023 08:38

Apparently it's bad luck to do washing on new year's day. So avoid the washing machine at all costs on 1st January. This is a superstition that I can get behind.

DilemmaDelilah · 28/12/2023 10:29

For me - 2023 was the year in which I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have had 6 months of pretty gruelling treatment.
As of 2nd January I start back at work again, and I'm going to be starting swimming again now that my skin has healed. So that is my new start for 2023.