2025 the year I chose to shed

2025 the year I chose to shed

2025. The year I chose to shed everything that no longer serves me.

2025 is the year I made a conscious decision to let go of anything that no longer fits the life I want to build.

That included people, places, patterns, expectations, and versions of myself that were shaped by survival rather than intention.

Moving out of the family home was my choice.

Starting again from scratch was my choice.

Not because it was easy.

But because it was honest.

I am deeply passionate about what I want to achieve this year, and I know, without hesitation, that I can do it. I am not starting again because I failed. I am starting again because I have clarity. Because I finally feel aligned with where I am heading rather than where I have been.

I also know that the feeling of needing to start again can be terrifying.

It can come after divorce.

After raising a family and realising you put your own creativity on hold.

After loss.

After caring for others for years.

After life simply taking a turn you did not expect.

The reasons are endless.

And so is life.

If you are reading this and you are in your fifties or beyond, this is not the end of your story. It is not too late. You are not behind. And you are not done.

Experience is not baggage.

It is fuel.

Starting again later in life does not mean starting empty handed. It means starting with perspective, resilience, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters.

This year is not about chasing youth or proving anything.

It is about building something meaningful, on my own terms, with the wisdom I have earned.

Starting again is not just a mindset shift. It is practical. Sometimes uncomfortable. Often unglamorous.

This year also means being incredibly honest with myself about where I am and what it will take to get where I want to go. No sugar coating. No pretending I am further ahead than I am and I can only do all this through consistency and structure.

Things I am setting in stone for myself to achieve all this are:

Building a monthly budget and sticking to it. Knowing exactly what is coming in and what is going out. Making decisions based on reality rather than hope. This is about stability first, growth second.

Cutting off anything and anyone that drains me or doesn't champion my ambitions. That includes conversations, habits, and environments that keep me small. Protecting my energy is no longer optional. It is foundational.

Replacing entertainment with education. Less scrolling for distraction. More learning with intention. If I am watching or listening to something, it needs to teach me, stretch me, or support where I am heading.

Working on my health properly. Not as an afterthought. Sleep, movement, nervous system regulation, cold water, weights, breath. I cannot build something meaningful if I am burnt out or disconnected from my body.

Saving money, even when it feels slow. Even when the numbers feel small. This is about rebuilding trust with myself and creating options for the future.

And finally, I am focusing relentlessly on opening The Wellness Tavern, while making art to fund it. Because right now, I am starting from scratch. Zero funds. No safety net. Just skill, creativity, and determination.

The art is not a side project, it is part of the plan.

This year is about aligning what I make with what I am building. Letting creativity fund infrastructure. Letting purpose drive income. Letting consistency do the heavy lifting.

Join me on the most honest year of my life.

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17 comments

That was so breathtakingly honest, I cried.
So fucking brave xxx

Tracey Griffiths

Proud of your resilience, humour and just everything you do. Happy new year to you. I’m excited to see what 2026 brings for you.
Hope to see you in Cambridge soon for some jollies. Much love from another woman just turned 51 and divorced. Claire.

Claire Jarvis

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