While stumbling around the internet the other day {as I do!} I followed a link from an Aussie blogger I read often {Hi Ames!} to Deb`s blog in which she was launching a year long challenge titled “52 weeks to simplify your life” and I decided then and there that I NEEDED to do this. My original motivation was definitely thinking that I could get more organized, spend more time doing things I love and make 2012 a great year for me and my family.
I have high hopes for 2012 because 2011 was a rough year in which I really felt like I was struggling to keep my head above water and get through each day and be a good mum to my kids. We had premature births, earthquakes, lots of moving, another bout of depression {or PND}, and daily struggles with two kids under two. The first six months were hard in particular but in the second half of the year, after we moved and after I acknowledged the fact that I was depressed again and needed some more support things started to pick up. The second half of the year was much calmer.
I have lots of ideas, lots of plans, lots of enthusiasm…but I am still lacking the motivation to start on a lot of things and I am hoping that by doing this year long challenge that is where I will get to. I will be motivated. This is why blogging is such an awesome platform for connecting with other- I know that I will gain so much inspiration from others and in turn hope that somehow something I may write might help inspire someone else- just as reading through Deb`s blog has already inspired me!
I will be posting once a week from now until the end of the year for this. I have no set day but the plan is to get it up by Monday of each week.
The challenge for week 1 is to make to make a list of all the things that went right in 2011. As we start a new year I realize most people are looking to move on, start afresh, go forward and make resolutions {I know I did!} but I love the idea of looking back on 2011 and focusing on the positives.
My number one positive for 2011 was definitely the birth of Shion! While his entrance was dramatic he is a charming little fella who has completed our family. Perhaps his birth was not as positive as the day we bought him home {Feb 2011} and then watching him continue to grow, beat odds, reach milestones that we thought would be months off. We always wanted more than one child and while he was conceived a bit earlier than planned having my boys so close in age has turned out to be a blessing in disguise as they are so close in age {12.5 months apart}, and are already developing a strong bond. My kids bring me a lot of joy! Watching their relationship grow was also a fantastic positive that I didn`t really think much about before Shion was born- I knew having him would change things for me but I didn`t think so much about how it would change things for Noah.
We also finalized plans for our home. Set to move in April the plans are all done and building is underway. Finally seeing our dream of designing and owning our own home is becoming a reality. I am so happy that 2011 was the year that all started.
Lots of things made me happy last year- time with my family {one of the best days we had all together was a trip to the local zoo and also a family trip to Shizuoka to visit friends}, catching up with friends {I have a lot of great foreign wife friends here in Japan- one of the best catch-ups I had was late in the year when I went to the movies for the first time in 2.5 years. I said to my friend though at the time that everytime the movie got loud I wanted to say “shhh” fearing it would wake one of my kids who were not even with me!}- some a bit further away than others, time away from my kids {to recharge my batteries!} and the wonders of the internet {for allowing things like video chatting with my mum so that while she can`t see my boys in person she can still see them growing up and watching them play via the computer}
Another big positive of 2011 was moving closer to my husbands family. Having the extra help with my kids if I need it- and just knowing that people are close by is a big thing for me. After the earthquake in March I hated seeing my husband go to work because I was so worried that we would have another large quake and he wouldn`t be able to get home or that something would happen. Moving to Ichikawa in May makes me feel more at ease because I know that if there is another quake my in-laws are 100m away.
I have written a lot in the last couple months about how worried we were about Noah and possibility of ASD and speech delay. ASD seems less likley than we first thought and while he has an obvious speech delay in the last week of 2011 his speech really took off. This is a kid that a month ago still only had 10 words he used often {mainly for people} and now he has close to 50. It is a bit like he just decided he was going to start talking. I have been working with him more on over pronouncing things, giving him large pieces of food to chew and practicing lots of silly noises and Shun has too and already it seems to be helping a lot. I am not sure if it is just these things that are helping or if he really did just decide to start talking…
Reading with my kids is another big positive and something I am grateful for- I LOVE having my kids bring me books and snuggling up and reading before nap and bedtime especially. Doing Tot School with Noah last year was also a lot of fun {although frustrating at times too!}.
I was grateful for a good healthcare system {and top-notch care for Shion while he was in the NICU}, parks close by to spend time outside, spending Christmas as a family of four, my part-time work, a fab community of friends and family {so so so many people helped me out in 2011. One thing that especially touched me was all the support and well wishes we got when Shion was born as well as a lovely bunch of women who got together and made a beautiful quilt for Shion. Now, nearly a year later, i still smile EVERY time I see this quilt and know the love that went into it. Shion also received 2 other very beautiful handmade quilts.} and I am grateful for my healthy, happy family. Shun & I may not have been married so long but we have been together 7 years now and we still laugh with each other, joke with each and our relationship is good. Great even, most of the time. He grew into his role as a daddy even more- another joy to watch.
I have a lot of positive things from 2011 and a lot of things to be grateful for. It was nice thinking back about all the fantastic things that happened. What were some of the positives from 2011 for you?
Popularity: 5% [?]
I am just a twenty something Aussie girl living in Chiba, Japan with my Japanese husband trying to make sense of the crazy Japanese world we live in! We welcomed our first son in December 2009 (Noah) and a second son in January 2011, 2 months premature (Shion). I am working hard at raising them to be confident, bilingual, happy kids!
Sounds like a great idea. I definitely need to simplify my life too.
2011 definitely had some great positives for you. I am continually amazed at all the tot school stuff you do and it often inspires me to do more activities with my kids too so thank you.
Heres to simplifying things this year.
xxx
Hoping we BOTH have a simpler and less stressful year this year. Last year was rough xo
I need to do this too! 2011 was a very complicated year for me too (got engaged, moved house, changed jobs, broke off engagement, moved house again, changed jobs, out of work), so a simple life in 2012 would be great!
I did wonder what happened Katie- hard to get the whole story via facebook but am really hoping 2012 is a better year for you and simple and positive as well! xo
I love that you’ve managed to find so much positive in what was definitely a tough year for you – I should try and do this too because although compared to many my 2011 was a walk in the park it definitely tested me more than any other year has. Will have a look at the link and see if I think I’m up to the challenge
So glad that you are doing this challenge as well umebossy!
新年アケオメ！lovely reading all the great things that happened for you in 2011
hope that 2012 will be even better for you… good luck in the year-long challenge!
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
あけましておめでとうございます！ Hoping we all have great 2012`s- thanks for commenting! Are you doing the challenge too?
I’ll try and go through the challenge on weekends. Right now my bub is sick and just started preschool so I’m actually scheduling some posts heh.
Ai @ Sakura Haruka
Is preschool different to what she was doing before? Or did she used to stay in daycare at your work or with your family? Hope she gets better soon!
I’m glad you discovered Deb’s blog and her challenge. It’s a great start, looking back and acknowledging the good things, even though you had a difficult year. Good luck with the challenge!
Aww, thanks for stopping by! I enjoyed discovering your blog as well and am sure I will find many great blogs during the challenge- am loving reading through some of Deb`s archives as well.
Hoping I can continue the momentum throughout the year.
Found you through your link up with Debs challenge! What a great post – it sounds like you chose to keep a positive attitude despite some very challenging situations. Look forward to reading you through the year
Thanks for stopping by. I may not have been so positive at the time but now that I can look back objectively on the year i can definitely see some positives. Will have to remember as I go through 2012 that even if there are negatives {and of course there is sure to be as that is life} that their will be a positive just around the corner.
Best of luck with the challenge for you too.
Lovely to meet you via Deb’s blogging challenge.
You had a tough year! So glad you found some positive in it. I hope 2012 treats you well
Thank you! Hope 2012 is a great one for you too!
Oh Lulu, I’ve had this post printed out ready to read and comment since it popped up on my google reader. I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to comment.
Thanks for the shout out, I’m so glad you’ve joined the challenge!
Watching Shion grow and beat the odds by reaching milestones earlier than expected is such a strong positive! As is Noah’s speech improving. It’s wonderful you have a strong foreign mum support system and I do exactly the same thing in movies, it feels so strange! Thank goodness for technology especially services like Skype which make communicating via long distances so easy and free!
I can’t wait to see the final stages of your house, when you move in and that wonderful journey. I’m so glad you had so many positives to outweigh the negatives in 2011. I look forward to joining you on your journey in 2012.
xxx
Thanks Ames! I am so glad that I read about the challenge on your blog- I am really looking forward to getting stuck into it further. It is getting me writing/journalling again which has been so sporadic for me in recent years but I ALWAYS go back to it {as the box of random journals upstairs can attest too}
I think 2011 was a rough year for many doing this challenge which is why it is such a great idea to start with positives from last year to help guide us through 2012 as well.
Best of luck with working through the 52 weeks as well! Hopefully we can both simplify our lives a little!
You’ve managed to look at so many challenges in such a positive light. I’m sure you’re going to get a lot out of this project, and I look forward to following your journey. x
Thank you! I really hope so- I know that with this kind of thing you get out of it what you put in so I am hoping I am up for putting in a lot!
Wow! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I can see lots of similarities between us too. You have drawn so many positives from what was obviously a tough year for you. Well done!
I look forward to catching up alone our SYL2012 journey! x
Thanks for returning the comment love
I look forward to following along with you as well and hoping we can simplify simplify simplify! x
This was great to read! Even with having such a hard year, you were able to reflect and draw out the positives! I think that being able to do that is what keeps us mommies sane
I cannot imagine how the earthquake in Japan would have made me feel- I would hate to have that feeling of being so vulnerable! I am happy that you are able to find comfort by living closer to your husbands family!
Wishing you the very best in 2012!
Hi Esty, thank you! Writing out the positives certainly helped me and I know that when I am having hard days with the kids I should stop and think about the positives before I lose my head
While the earthquake was a big shock I think I am now more prepared which can only be a good thing {supplies, emergency kits etc}. It is a bit sad that Noah {although I don`t think he remembers now} knew when we had earthquakes that he would usually get to go outside {we sometimes had stuff fall so it was easier to go outside into the open space outside our old apartment}….when the building would shake he would put up his arms to be picked up and carried out.
Hope 2012 is great for you as well.
That sounds like an incredibly tough year! But the toughest of all is finding the positive experiences, congratulations on coming out the other side! I hope 2012 is full of kawaii, kireii and ii (hahaha, my japanese is very rusty – but I wish you cuteness, beauty and goodness).
Thank you for commenting on my blog too – another unexpected joy from 2011
xXxXxXx
Thanks Zoe! I enjoyed discovering your blog and reading more about your adventures overseas this coming year. Your Japanese is not bad! You mentioned in your post you had eight languages! WOW! Impressive! I have two…and a couple of Maori words from my kiwi mother.
What a year! It is great to find so many positives amongst the hard times.
One thing I am aware of is how many people with PND (current and survivors) are in this challenge – there are quite a few and I hope that some connections are made where people at different points in the PND journey can find some solace or inspiration amongst each others posts.
I am so glad Ames led you to the challenge – she has been a big support for me since I started blogging – love the connection through her.
Thank you so much Deb! I am already loving this challenge and I hope that I can get as much out of it as you are obviously putting into it. My depression was around long before I had kids but I do think that after S was born it was more PND related- with my history it would not be surprising and while I tried to seek care in Japan with an English speaking psych it did not work out. I now go to a local doctor just for a script each month but I do not actually see the doctor…It is a bit of a strange set up! Hope to see my GP in March when I am home in Australia to have a chat with her though. Trying to get a bit fitter this year and hoping that exercise may help me a little as well {although I have never really been a fan of exercise at least not in recent years}.
Ames rocks! I can not believe I had not discovered your blog before now though as I am also from Brisbane originally! Small world!
Thanks for stopping by to comment I am sure you are busy visiting everyone else participating as well! Best of luck!
I had bouts of depression before PND as well (suffered a couple of traumatic events in my teens). Exercise is a key part of keeping it at bay now – i do best when i can manage 2 days of exercise at least and notice the difference this summer with the kids at home, my mom here and the blog stuff – only been once in5 weeks and i feel the difference in my coping with stress.
you probably had not seen my blog because it is only 5 mo old hee hee
What a year! Sounds like you have so much to be grateful for in your life. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Teri. Thanks for making the time to come by and read and comment.
Not really reading often, these days, aren`t I?
makes me want to join NOW.
But thinking about it, I don`t even have a blog…