Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!
I hope all y’all had a wonderful, blessed Christmas holiday. I can honestly say this was one of my best, if not the best! Surrounded by my kids. Followed some of our old traditions, started some new ones, and created some lasting memories. This Christmas was about the moments… our time together. Love, laughter, fun. My younger daughter and I made gingerbread houses with the some very special children who are finding their way through their first Christmas without their Momma. They are so loving to each other, and are loved by so many. They are blessed, and were a blessing to us.
Since my younger daughter was working at the vineyard Saturday, we decided to go visit her and have a wine tasting before watching the Carolina game back at my house (thank heavens we won!). Christmas Eve my older daughter and I got up early for a run. It was COLD y’all, but as I have said before, this child is the only one who can get me out running in bitterly cold weather. It was a great start to the day. I love running with her! We all went to a couple of breweries and ended up at one for lunch. Had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner followed by communion and a candlelight service at church, and ended with a late night of watching Christmas movies. Christmas morning started with another COLD but sunny run (to counteract all the eating!), brunch, and presents. Santa was very good to us this year. We spent Christmas afternoon in front of the fire, watching Christmas movies and working a puzzle, a BIG puzzle. Finished with a wonderful Christmas dinner. The best part of Christmas was being surrounded by my kids and watching them with each other – they have so much fun together. My heart is full and I am so very thankful for all the blessings in my life. There are many.
“The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”
Once my children left the day after Christmas, I was ready to move on in preparation for the new year. Remember, I start celebrating Christmas early, before Thanksgiving, so as soon as my children said goodbye, I was ready to say goodbye to this wonderful season. I packed up my Christmas sweaters (sadly) and put my house back in order. There was so much food to freeze! Recently, my sister looked in my fridge and said “this is so empty!” Well, it is packed to the gills now. I won’t cook for weeks! I’ll take down my tree and put all my decorations back in their bins this weekend. I like to start the new year clean and clear!
“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new beginning.” Carl Bard
And here are the final 5 days of the 25 Days of Christmas Sweaters. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.
Speaking of which, next Monday brings in the New Year – 2018! WOW! Do you feel as if the years are flying by!?!? Are you ready to say goodbye to 2017? The older I get, the quicker the years pass. Actually, I was anxious to say goodbye to 2016 and was happy to see it go. But not now. 2017 was a pretty good year for me. I am so much better off today than I was one year ago. Are you? I have come a L-O-N-G way this year. Now I am ready to enjoy each day to its fullest, to see what is in store for me. I am not going into 2018 with any baggage from 2017. Truly, I believe the best is yet to come! So, COME ON BEST! (Remember I am not patient!)
What does the new year mean to you? What are you looking forward to in 2018? What do you think 2018 will hold for you? I always see a new year as a new start. I am looking forward to much happiness in 2018. Trips to the beach (my favorite place) as often as I can. Special times spent with my kids and family. I want to read more books, one of my favorite past times. I want to learn to knit. I am going to take even better care of myself, because I am responsible for ME. Plus I am not getting any younger! I am going to remember all the lessons I learned from becoming SOLO, but plan to leave all the heartache behind. Truly, I am looking so forward to 2018 and hope you are as well. Remember, you have yet to see your best days!
“What the new year brings to you will greatly depend on what you bring to the new year.”
What are your plans for celebrating New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Can you stay up and usher in the new year? Have you ever celebrated in NYC, watching the ball drop? I have not and really have never had the desire to! I have to admit, I prefer a quiet New Year’s Eve. Remember, it is just a day and tomorrow you will wake up and start a new day. And a new year!
“And suddenly you know…It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
My advice to my kids for 2018, which I will share with you:
- Be thankful for all you have. “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” Sometimes it is harder to find, but it is there. Look for it every day.
- Be kind. Practice one random act of kindness every day. Every day.
- Be honest. Tell the truth. “You never have to remember anything if you tell the truth.”
- Don’t wait for life to happen. Go out there and find/make your own happiness. You are solely responsible for your happiness, only you.
- Take responsibility for your actions. When you have done something wrong, admit it and make it right.
- Stop worrying about what might go wrong and think positively about what will go right.
- Let go of negativity. No one wants to be around someone who is negative. Look for the sunshine!
- Do something new. Learn something new. Try something new. It is a NEW year after all!
- Trust that God’s plan for you is wonderful. Have faith.
- Spend time with your loved ones, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.
So remember… next Monday is the first day of a new year. As Brad Paisley says it “is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”
Happy New Year Y’all! See you next year!
Best,
Leslie
SOLO at SIXTY 
AWESOME!
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Great advice for the new year, Leslie. So glad you are happy! 💕💕
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So inspiring !! Thank you for sharing! I plan to post those 10 pieces of advise where I will see them everyday!!
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