3100 New Year, Same Old Chaos: A Glimpse into My January 2025

Well, here we are—one month into 2025 already. And… while everyone was out there making resolutions, I kicked off the year with a series of unfortunate events that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But hey, at least it’s been eventful, right?

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"One month into 2025 already. And..."

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Let’s start with New Year’s Day. I woke up to my nephew nudging me in bed, which was a sweet moment. His little voice was like a warm hug in the middle of my COVID/chest infection haze. I think this will be the first year that I started the year on antibiotics!

Not even a week into January and things were already so much fun! Of course, I had to call in sick to work because, surprise surprise, I was still rough from the dregs of COVID and a chest infection. Turns out a lot of the office had been ill over Christmas and new year, so I blame work, ha.

When I did go back to work, I found out that I had to meet with not one, but TWO directors at work. Let’s just say: that’s a bit overwhelming. I was already recovering and trying to stay afloat following last year's diagnosis (more on that to come) and being ill over Christmas, and the last thing I needed was a meeting with company bigwigs. But life has got a funny way of testing you, unfortunately. That’s week one back at work out of the way … And as if I hadn’t had enough drama, my car decided to break down on a Sunday afternoon. Ya know the day when all shops close early!

Luckily, my Grandad was just around the corner and came to my rescue and my dad followed shortly after to help out. We jumped my car and then Googled the closest open shop where I could buy a car battery. I did actually call one company on the phone who said that it could cost £230! So, I swiftly said I would ring back in a minute and found somewhere different. I am lucky, my Dad knows what he is doing when it comes to cars, so we found a shop with a much cheaper battery and headed straight there. It happened to be one of the coldest days of the year so far! Of course, with my recent diagnosis spending three to four hours in the cold resulted in lots of pain. That night the pain kept me up until 5 am!

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What a rollercoaster already, and we’re still in the first few weeks!

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But hey, I tried to balance things out with a bit of creativity. I finished crocheting my friend’s homemade Ravenclaw-inspired scarf, and in a burst of productivity, I also whipped up a pair of red mittens for my cousin’s daughter (or second cousin, technically... let’s not get into family tree confusion). Crocheting was my calm amidst the chaos.

By the 14th, I had my first meeting with a director, which felt so... strange. There’s something surreal about sitting across (via video) from someone who holds that kind of power in the company. But somehow, I made it through.

Fast forward to the 21st, and I had another director meeting, face-to-face (Ahh!). This one started a little rocky, I can’t lie. I knew right at the first 5/10 minutes that it was not going to be what I thought. As expected, I was portrayed as being ‘wrong’, at least this is how I feel about it. By the end of it, I was proud of myself for standing my ground and holding my own. Growth, right? Especially as someone who does not do well with confrontation.

This brings us neatly to something I really wish to work on. One of my main focuses this year is learning to take better care of myself. I’ve been working on saying no more often and setting boundaries—especially when it comes to running around after everyone. I’m tired of being spread too thin, and I think I deserve better than constantly sacrificing my time and energy. Small steps, but I’m getting there! I would also like to add here a little message for every single human out there…

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“Work is not worth your health. If anything compromises your mind, health or your morals, change it or get out!”

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In an attempt to balance the chaos, I made a hearty spicy chilli con carne for my grandad. Honestly, there’s something so comforting about cooking for family, especially when you’re trying to find some semblance of calm in the storm. With all the chaos I don’t get to cook from scratch these days but hopefully, I can get back to it. I want to make my favourite soup next.

I had another hospital appointment this month too. Not to be mysterious or anything but stay tuned if you want to know more about that, once I know more, I will be sharing my journey and diagnosis. It is so new to me that I don’t think I have the knowledge to share. It’s still a work in progress.

All in all, January has been a lot, and we still have a few days left. I am still waiting for the outcome of the second meeting. I’m hopeful for the rest of the year, even if it feels like it’s already tested my patience and endurance. I’m trying to stay grounded and remember that it’s okay to slow down, take things one day at a time, and be kind to myself. Let’s see what February brings. (Fingers crossed, it’s a little less eventful!)

What’s been going on in your January? Hopefully, it’s been a little less chaotic than mine!