Grabbing Life By The Balls In 2024

We’ve all learned the hard way over the past few years that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Many of us strive for the same things in life; good health, a decent job and a safe, comfortable home. What starts as an inspiring (albeit sensible) dream, can very quickly consume us though and leave us in a rut. No longer do we have the time (or finances) to chase our other dreams! The pandemic however has acted as a catalyst to shake things up; people realised that they could lose everything they’ve worked for overnight, that good health is not guaranteed, and that what was always normal is no more. Over the last few years we saw businesses closing, people losing their income, we saw the cost of living rocketing and people becoming homeless due to a lack of housing and increasing financial pressure. I know this paragraph is a little heavy, but stick with me here! It’s a huge lesson for us all to make the most of life and to adapt to this new ‘normal’, where nothing is normal!

What has inspired me greatly over the last few years is seeing how people have changed their lives for the better. We watched people moving away from big cities for a better way of life and with many of those now working from home or forging new career paths. We’ve seen people selling up their homes to buy something cheaper and to get rid of their mortgage for more financial security. We’ve seen renters buying their first homes to protect their long term future. We’ve seen many businesses starting during covid lockdowns that are now thriving. We saw many podcasts and YouTube channels starting where people were trying to keep each others spirits up when we were isolated, as well as people showcasing talents to their friends and family on their own social media. Many people have become more resourceful and started chasing their passions in life. I am not going to lie and say it’s all rosy - while I saw the best in humanity during these tough times, it also brought out the worst in many others, but what a great time to have a clear out and surround yourself with the better things in life! Onwards and upwards!

Anyhoo, I’m wittering a bit here, someone take my wine off me! JK, it’s 10am! My point is that we must live life, we must chase our dreams (and not just the sensible ones!). I love how the start of a new year is used as a reset point. We really nail the bad habits in December (as one should!), and then BOOM! January hits and we all flock to start afresh and to have our ‘best year yet’! There has never been a better time change things up and even to live an unconventional life. If you hate your job or you are fed up of being stuck in Manchester (sorry, first place that sprung to mind while typing!), then sort it out! If you don’t change things, then nothing changes. There’s a few questions that I think we should all be asking ourselves:

If money were no object, how would I be living life?

What’s on my bucket list?

What is most important to me in life?

What are my long term goals?

What stories would I love to tell my grandkids?

What would be my ideal day?

How can I make it happen?

You may not tick every single thing off your ‘I would like’ list, but some things are more important than others. It is not too late to start 2024 afresh and kick some serious thrill seeking arse!