As another year draws to a close, I thought it only right for me to muster some energy and do my annual reflection of the 12 months gone by.
It’s a rarity to find me on WordPress these days, I know, and I would love to say that 2026 will be all about creating more Small Town Girl content. But I’m not going to make any promises that I can’t keep. Being home full-time with two toddlers has definitely put the brakes on my writing, but whenever I do manage to string a sentence together amidst the chaos, the feeling is indescribable. It’s just so satisfying! I hope my passion for writing never burns out, because the feeling I get from doing it is unlike anything else. It’s always been my calm place: my sanctuary. Where I can put pen to paper (or rather thumb to phone 👀 ) and pour my heart and soul out. I sometimes struggle to verbalise my thoughts and feelings, so this blog is like my personal therapist.
Considering how the past 12 months have been, I really should’ve made more use of it!
In all honesty, the past few years have been more physically than mentally taxing for me. Of course there’s been stress, but what with pregnancy and postpartum, the physical has usually tended to outweigh everything else. This year however, has been the most mentally draining year that I’ve had in a very long time.
What I’ve learnt is that living in a joint family can work really well…until it doesn’t. And when it doesn’t, there’s no salvaging it. Home is supposed to be your safe place, your escape from the rest of the world, where you can switch off and just be. But when it ceases to be that and feels more like a war zone, what can you do? Where can you go? You just feel trapped and suffocated.
I’m big on energy and vibes and once they start to feel out of balance, my mind and body become frazzled. I struggle to adjust.
I also know that I absorb others’ energies too; when there’s bad energy around it instantly puts my mood off too. So I’ve learnt that it’s in my best interest to distance myself from it and retreat. Less exposure means less chance of it rubbing off on me! But when you’re trapped within four walls surrounded by negativity, how do you escape it?! I’ve spent the past 12 months trying to figure this out, sure there are temporary fixes like getting out of the house more, but how much can you really stay out?
The past year has taught me a lot about myself. For instance, I am not a turn-the-other-cheek kind of person; I do hold grudges. Once I’ve seen an unpleasant side of a person, on multiple occasions, I cannot trust them again. I don’t believe people change. I think people can be good at concealing their truth yes, but the mask will always slip eventually. What’s the saying, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice…yeah I am not the type of person to be made a fool of. So I choose to opt out of the game instead. To me, a leopard never changes its spots.
I’m also not good at keeping up appearances to maintain the status quo, AKA being fake. It goes against every fibre of my being to pretend I feel a certain way when I don’t. So again, I tend to just retreat and remove myself from the situation.
So yeah, in a nutshell, 2025 has been a year of toxicity for me. 😕
On the upside, I’ve watched my boys grow leaps and bounds this year. I’ve been astonished by the way they’ve spoken and behaved and I can’t wait to see them shine even more in the new year. They’re my pride and joy and as much as they drive me up the wall, I wouldn’t change a single thing about them😊. I’ve also felt much more in tune with my husband this year, it hasn’t been an easy one for us but we’ve stayed strong and remained a team throughout. So I’m proud of us for that!
Here’s hoping that 2026 is filled with less toxicity and more love and positivity. That’s all I hope for. No New Year’s resolutions this year, that’s my only wish. See you all on the other side!
Just A Small Town Girl... 