Doesn't time fly! (Day 25)

Baby Kaori!! 

It's just come to mind that we've skipped past the half way point for this year. How did that happen so quickly? Excuse the cliche but doesn't time fly?!! How often do we say this phrase too? I know that I remember hearing my parents and other adults saying it when I was young, usually along with 'wow haven't you grown!' Now I find myself saying exactly the same thing to my friends and their kids too! Eeek, what would the child Kaori have to say about that I wonder?

I do find it mad how it so frequently feels like we've blinked yet so much has happened. It doesn't seem yesterday that I was finishing school (who am I kidding it was a long time ago now, well 18 years but who's counting?!) and then there's the fact that we've been married for ten years this year, hang on... what?!! Also, once you have children there's an invisible force that actually speeds up time. What, you didn't know this? It's true. Well, I don't know for certain but it flipping' feels like it. How is my baby about to turn four and start Primary school in two months? How?

Anyway, this brings me to a little short but sweet recap of 2015 so far, as I think it's really important to step back and take stock of what you've been up to and what you've achieved at regular intervals. I was once told a story about a guy that was brought up in a very poor family and as he got older he became determined that he wouldn't continue to live a life of poverty and had a massive goal to become a millionaire. So that was that and he got to it, head down, working like a trojan towards his goal. In his case he literally didn't come up for air and before he knew it people were talking to him about how he planned to celebrate his 80th birthday! Yep, without even realising it he'd had his head down working hard for so long that life had zipped past and he was only twenty years shy of becoming 100! This took him back a bit and he took stock, sadly a little too late because he realised that he'd actually reached his goal of being a millionaire by the age of fourty but because he didn't sit back and look at what he'd achieved to enable him to reward himself he'd just carried on and forgotten to enjoy life and really lap up the luxuries that he had been able to afford for so long. So yes he'd made it to being 'rich' but what kind of life had he actually had? No family, no loved ones and not a great deal of partying either! Loads of money in the bank but nobody to spend it with... This story makes me really sad and determined to constantly review my goals, ensure I pat myself on the back (or more likely, take myself to a spa or for a slap up meal) if I've done well and most importantly allowing myself to recognise where life has shifted and what has become more valuable to me since the last time I set myself any kind of targets.

So on to my 2015... it has been busy for us so far and the main achievements I suppose have been

Bedroom 4 - during!

Bedroom 4 - before

settling into our new house and village, where we moved end of November 2014. Already, just since Christmas, my amazing husband has ripped out and completely refurbished three bedrooms and is currently in the midst of the fourth along with the en-suite. He's done all of this in evenings and weekends as has his own building business which takes up most of his time Monday to Friday. It's looking fab and he definitely deserves a trip to a spa but most likely he'd rather opt for a take away! Ha, ha men are from Mars and all that! Personally, I feel that I have achieved a lot when it comes to work. My big one being the biggest presentation I've ever given, in front of 500 CEO's in London and following on from Google as the social media professional!

I loved it though and am keen to do more like this! Within my business the team has grown and I have created a pretty strong business plan for this, as well as plans in place for my other entreprenerial ideas that I should be starting in a couple of months time. I think overall though I have achieved something that I wasn't ever sure I would (prepare yourself for some cheesy stuff now!)... a path to peace. Something has happened to me since I moved into this place and despite crazy weeks with work and my hubby and I passing like ships in the night with a lot of individual work and home juggling, I feel so comfortable and in love with my surroundings. The house and garden themselves, walks to school, the wonderful group of friends that I have made already (mainly thanks to my little friend connector! You know who you are!) and all the fun I can imagine that we will have as a family over the next few years. It's simple stuff but for me it's everything and to feel so satisfied is not normal for moi, trust me and if you don't ask my husband! I always want more! Of course this doesn't mean I've accepted this as our forever home or anything daft like that, in fact most people will know that it gives me shivers talking too far ahead but for now I'm really happy and I can't wait for my Daughters Primary school childhood era to play out (as slowly as possible though please invisible force!). I know you can't count your chickens but today we're healthy and happy so long may it continue please!