Shine Sunday.

Today is the last day of my two-week summer holiday. It's been great to have a decent break from the office but, in truth, I haven't had much of a holiday. I took on two big editing projects, which were amazing, and I did a lot of work towards setting up my editing business. But still, it wasn't a holiday.

My problem is that I have trouble relaxing these days. There's always something that needs doing - and it's always me that has to do it {at least, that's how I see it}. It doesn't help that 2016 promises to be one of my busiest years yet, with a day job to hold down, study to do, and a business to launch.

Anyway, all this got me thinking ... what would it be like to have one day a week in which I allow myself to do whatever I want? One day to sleep in, read a book, walk on the beach, work in the garden? It sounds very appealing!

So I'm starting today. I'm going to try and make every Sunday "Shine Sunday" - my day to relax. It won't always be possible. Next Sunday I have to work; and there may be some Sundays where I choose to work on a project with a tight deadline. But I have promised myself Sundays will be free of housework, study, and business work.

So what's my plan for today? Once I've finished this, I'm going to take the dogs {Monty and Lisa's dog Harry} to the beach for a walk, since it is a glorious day. I'm going to paint my toenails. I'll read some more of this book. I'll write in my journal. This evening I'll watch football on television with my husband. And have an early night, since I have to be at work tomorrow.

What's your favourite way to relax?

Anne-Marie x

2016: Joy

It's the new moon today, and I have finally decided on my word for the year: JOY.

I have to say this word took me by surprise. When I think of 2016 and what I hope it will hold, I think of the short but amazing list of goals I want to achieve. For me, 2016 will be about a lot of hard work. It will be about getting things done.

I see JOY as a healthy balance to my goals. What's the point of achieving my goals this year if, in the process, I become a miserable, uptight shrew? {Some days I feel like I'm already half-way there...}

I know JOY will not always be an easy word for me. When it's winter, and it's raining, and I've trudged to work and trudged home to do more work, and I've had a disagreement with my husband, and the house is a mess ... on those days, JOY will probably be the last thing on my mind.

But I believe there is always something to be joyful about in my day. It might be as simple as taking the time to write in my journal, or my dog's enthusiastic greeting when I arrive home from work. {I love it how happy dogs are to see you, every single time!} I also believe that the more I use my "joy muscle" the easier it will be to find JOY in my life.

At New Year I started a practice of recording my everyday joys. Every evening before bed I take a small piece of paper and write on it at least one thing that has given me joy that day. Then I date it, fold it up, and put it in a special jar. At the end of the year I'll be able to open the jar and read about all the JOY I experienced in 2016.

So here's to 2016: a year of hard work, of stopping to smell the roses, of relaxing, of laughing, of enJOYing the good things in life.

Anne-Marie x

PS. Find out more about word of the year - and choose your own word - here.

2015: a retrospective.

Number of books in 2015: 53.

Best books read in 2015: The Marriage Of Opposites, by Alice Hoffman; The History Of Loneliness, by John Boyle.

Number of Pagan festivals celebrated: eight.

Amount of time on Earth: 43 years, 6 months, 0 days.

Number of years married: two and a half.

Number of years in my job: nine.

Number of tattoo hours in 2015: 19.

Number of diplomas started: one {this one}.

Number of assignments completed towards my diploma: four {eight to go}.

Number of copy editing projects completed: eight, all since the middle of October, including one thesis.

Best memories of the year: I have three. In January, John and I spent a day watching cricket at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. In June, on Midwinter's evening, I met for the first time with the women of my Pagan community. And, one morning in late August, I was lying on the settee feeling like death warmed up with the 'flu, when John came in with the post, which included all my course materials for my diploma.

Bring on 2016! I'm ready for you.

Anne-Marie x