Dropping in to brush the dust off my blog and wish everyone (if you’re still there) a happy and improved 2024. I had to make some changes to my lifestyle to try to manage my ADHD, jiggling things (such as my diet and eating times) around a bit, in order that I can use my energies to prioritise work. That meant resting my blog for a while, and concentrating on my Patreon page and Instagram. Hopefully now that I’m in a better routine, I can blog more regularly.
My mental health has been very bad this year, with the constant stress and the financial struggle to survive and keep the cottage going. In short, it’s been a difficult year. There will be a bit of a life change next year and having faced a lot of dragons in 2023, I’m back to painting at last. I hope this is an end to the artistic block I’ve had since moving here. As I write, there are fireworks going off far away and although I don’t celebrate New Year (for me, the year turned on the recent Winter Solstice), I am looking forward to turning the page on the old year and starting tomorrow with a new pink diary and calendar. A fresh start all round.
10 comments:
Here's to a better year for us all Gretel..
My brother had a horrific accident where he was thrown from his truck... months in hospital; most of it in induced coma ... severe physical injuries and residual brain damage...but, he is back to living off the grid as was his usual... we girls worrying about him from afar as any wrong move could leave him totally crippled. He crushed and fractured vertebrae in every level of his spine...
Then, my sister broke her hip and it was so bad they had to do a partial replacement and it didn't get done for days after the accident ...and then, 3 days after I flew there ... to get her from hospital, her idiot husband left her because she wasn't paying enough attention to him. Her son and daughter in law moved all of her furniture out and put a for sale sign on her house and she has since been living in a 'staged' house ...with no takers .... and, so ... she waits and exists... still limping around with one crutch as her hip in not healing well .....and, now she is taking care of said stupid husband from afar too as his Parkinson's went rampant without her babysitting him and he is in a senior's residence.
My blood pressure is up and down like a yo-yo .. and, I have decided I must somehow make myself realize none of it is my fault... there is absolutely nothing I can do for either of them... and, I must take back my own life.
Anyway... just to let you know ...you are not alone...we all have 'stuff' happening and must somehow figure out a good way to overcome and just march forward I guess.
here's to a happier and healthier year in '24....
I’m so sorry to hear that Vee, hope next year is better for you too. x
Hello Gretel,
I am praying for a better year coming up for you, and for all of us with challenges. I can relate so well to your health challenges because I share them. That said, my creative life is such a consolation to me.
I started needle felting about six months ago, and I've made and gifted quite a few items.I have felt, no pun intended, that I really don't know when to stop stabbing. Receiving your gorgeous fig bauble has answered that. It's beautiful and really speaks to me. I have gone back to pieces that I thought were finished and reworked the surface. Wow!!! With your fig as an exemplar, I have so much more confidence in finishing. So thank you so, so much, and all the best in the new year.
Happy New Year Gretel! It seems 2023 was a pretty rubbish year for a lot of people (I'm glad to see the back of it that's for sure!) so I wish you all the best for a great 2024, and happy painting!
Lovely to see you back blogging. I hope you have turned a corner in your life and I wish you success in 2024 so things will be a bit easier for you. We all have to try and remain optimistic but it's not always easy.
I understand...some days are just so difficult, I'm right there with you. I read a quote that I try to keep in mind: There is treasure on the other side, once you slay your dragons. Here's wishing for both of us that 2024 will find us slaying those dragons to find the treasure that makes us happy!
Happy New Year, Dear Gretel! Wishing you mush sunshine and inspiration in 2024! Your work has inspired me for years; well over a decade in fact. Time moves with our without us, but your artistic gifts have been a constant. I too have ADHD. (I actually typed "AHDH" at first!) Or does it have me? I found diet and exercise keep me pointed in the right direction. Usually. Nevertheless, you are admired by so many. We love you and your work. Thank you for being you all these years. *HUGS*
Nice to see a post from you again! It sounds like you made some positive moves this year despite the difficulties. Like you, I feel the new year starts with Solstice, but I am up for any celebration excuse!
Wishing you a good new year Gretal. I love reading your blog here and think your a wonderful artist and clearly a lovely person. I hope you have many more cosy nights at home and days to explore the countryside 🌿❤️ xxx
I'm sorry to hear that you've had a difficult year, but it's encouraging to hear that you're finding your way back to painting and seeking a fresh start. Art can be a wonderful outlet for expressing emotions and finding solace during challenging times. Embracing the symbolism of a new year and a fresh pink diary and calendar signifies hope and renewal. May this new chapter bring you peace, inspiration, and positive change. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this journey forward.
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