21 things that brought me joy in 2021

You all know by now that I’m a huge fan of gratitude - I truly believe that it’s one of the most important tools we have in building a joyful life. At this time of year, one of my favourite ways to practice gratitude is by looking back and savouring some of the most special memories of the year, feeling truly thankful for each and every one of them.

So that’s exactly what I’m going to do in this post - I’m going to reflect on 21 things that have brought me joy in 2021. And I’d encourage you to write your own list - because there’s something oh so powerful about getting those memories down on paper (or in a Google Doc!) and reflecting on all of the beauty and joy that the last 12 months have brought.

2021 hasn’t been an easy year by any means, but there has still been joy - so much joy - and it’s important to celebrate that. Here goes...

1) Meeting my beautiful baby niece, Lyla, for the first time was definitely my most joyful moment of the year, but getting to watch her grow and change every week since has made me feel like the luckiest Auntie ever.

2) Being reunited with family and friends after the lockdowns. Every single hug and in person catch up has been so special, and I haven’t taken a single one for granted. 

3) Spontaneous day trips to the seaside - we had a few of these this year, and they made me feel so lucky to have the freedom and flexibility to seize a sunny day and eat fish and chips on the beach.

4) A beautiful visit to the Lake District back in May. It was our first little trip away after a long winter lockdown, and I remember how free we felt walking in the fells and meeting friends for a pint outside a country pub. 

5) Swimming outdoors as much as possible! I’ve enjoyed some lovely dips this year - from long swims to cool off during a heatwave right through to quick strokes in a freezing cold sea pool in November, and I’ve enjoyed every single one.

6) The monthly book club I have with my pals. It’s been one of the constants amidst all of the chaos of the pandemic, and finally getting to do some of our monthly meetings in person over dinner and lots of chat has been wonderful.

7) A long weekend spent camping in the Welsh mountains with our friends. We sunbathed, paddleboarded, BBQ-d and played more games of Molkky than I could have counted, and it was great. 

8) Volunteering at my local foodbank. I’ve been a regular volunteer for two years now, and I really do love being involved in my community in this way. 

9) An incredible week spent eating delicious things in London and exploring the south coast in a campervan. It felt like the first proper holiday we’d had in a long time, and we made so many happy memories. 

10) Getting to spend some quality time with my nephew before he started school. Nothing screams joy like a 4 year old at a trampoline park!

11) Quiet weekends at home with my husband and cat. Realising how happy a simpler life made me in lockdown has given me the push to keep on prioritising these.

12) Celebrating the wedding of our beautiful pals in the September sunshine. Dancing, eating and laughing with friends never felt so good.

13) Getting to experiment with new things within my business. I’ve been able to do some really fun things this year, from supporting organisations with their wellbeing strategies, to headlining an in person retreat, and I’ve loved it all. 

14) Quality time with family. We’ve really prioritised this this year, and I feel really grateful for the fresh memories we’ve been able to make with those closest to us.

15) Saying yes to things that would usually scare me has definitely been a theme of the year - from taking my first surfing lesson to signing onto a pretty huge work project, getting out of my comfort zone has been something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. 

16) The return of live music and shows. Especially watching Tom Jones play to our tiny local venue here in Leeds!

17) Celebrating the good news of friends. There have been pregnancies, promotions, engagements and new businesses, and I have felt like such a proud pal.

18) Moving into my very own office space and making plans for the future of my businesses - there’s so much excitement on the horizon. 

19) Getting to watch my husband play a live gig again for the first time in almost two years - made even more special by getting to watch people react to the new music I’ve listened to him write throughout the last few years. 

20) Graduating from my Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology with a distinction, and getting to celebrate with some of the people who cheered me along the way. 

21) All of you lot. Thank you so much for all of the support you’ve shown me and my business this year - I feel so grateful to share this community with you all. 

What’s brought you joy this year?