Goals As I Head Towards 46 (and 16 Years Blogging)

I’m taking up a weekly art class again from next month to reconnect with painting, my first love. I exhibited many moons ago and visiting the exhibitions Renoir and Love in London and Cezanne et Nous in Paris, recently, ignited the desire to pick up a brush, again. I want to paint for the fun of it and who knows…

My greatest joy is found writing and broadcasting respectively.

Throwing myself into a year of reserach and writing my children’s book Greek Myths, Folktakes and Legends for Scholastic UK (8-12s) was a stimulating, joyful experience, only matched by meeting the many children on school book tour who seemed to resonate with my retellings.

My next event is a family day at the exquisite Leighton House Museum in London on November 21st.

My TV and radio work provides me with that mix of dopamine (hello live broadcasts) and intellectual stimulation, where I am required to deliver my opinions, an intelligent arguament, and research articulately and clearly in a short space of time (usually minutes). There’s nothing more thrilling.

This blog is still a great love. My main income and a space where I can write freely, personally and candidly, without gatekeepers or editors, and that reaches so many through longform.

This is my family archive and most monetised platform.

I suppose my goals are to push myself a little more. Not to play it so safe.

To finish projects I started but abandoned due to back issues or the juggle.

To utilise my time better, to be more productive when my children are at school and to stop second-guessing myself.

To say ‘yes’ more as whilst it might not seem it, I’ve declined a great many opportunities since I had Florence: press coverage, TV opportunities, campaigns and more. Many times because I didn’t feel confident in my skin. I’ve lost weight slowly over the past year thanks to adopting a low carb way of life (and initially calorie counting) so coupled with that and the fact I feel more myself (postpartum is real and long, folks), I’m ready to put myself out there more!

Healthwise, I’m detremined to stick to regular yoga and pilates classes (a minimum of two a week) because I know how important feeling mentally and physically strong is.

I adore travelling too and want to prioritise that more! I’ve started to save for trips so send your suggestions in the comments!

I want to hang out with my wonderful friends more, another area of life that feels more squeezed thanks to my obligations as a parent and work. It’s time for more fun, bring it on. Hello 46, I have a good feeling about you!