New Year, Same Steph

When it came to the new year, the only resolution I made was to remain the same and to still be Steph. Pretty simple.

Today, 13 days on, I have done some thinking and have come up with a few more, which, obviously, I have decided to share with everyone who reads this blog.

1. A couple of weeks ago, I was prescribed with Baclofen in the hope that it will relax the muscles in my hand enough to improve function. It hasn't worked yet, but I still hold hope. despite the hope, I can't just expect Baclofen to do all the hard work for me, and so my first Resolution is to up my physio and actively see to get more function out of my hand (whether it likes it or not!).

2. Buy my own Samsung Galaxy tablet. This may seem a strange one to many people, as I am basically saying "indulge yourself in some new technology", but at the moment, I am typing this blog on a borrowed (from my other half's workplace) iPad. My little laptop, which lasted me a good 4 years, is now a well established old aged pensioner, and is so very very slow. Why not buy an iPad you ask? Because I like the Samsung models more, and I don't really like being restricted to apple.

3. I am the proud owner of a Kindle. This said, in the last few months, I have not really set aside any time to read. So my 3rd resolution is to read more. This is where I need help of anyone who kindly reads my blog. Please, please, please help me to gather together a book list for me to work through, by letting me know of any good books that you think I should read. I literally read anything, and will give anything a go, so it doesn't matter what it is...

4. Around 4 years ago, I had a once in a lifetime holiday with my family to Florida, which will be a holiday I never forget (mostly the looks from members of the public when they saw a then 19 year old was riding around on a hired motability scooter). I brought home many memories and many souvenirs. One souvenir I came home with was a cross stitch of Mickey Mouse self portrait. My fourth resolution, after starting it today, is to finish it. This resolution is not just for this year. It is massive and is the most complex cross stitch I have ever attempted. It will take me years. But this is a promise that I will finish it...at some point.

5. My fifth and final resolution is to try not to be concerned at the things I can no longer do. I have learnt, very recently, that age has an effect on Hemiplegia. I have also learnt the hard way that not everyone in this world will help me, and they don't all care. I have a hopeful, but very trying year ahead of me, and I need to learn to be happy with what I can do. This has been a problem of mine recently, which has lead to me feel frustrated and down, and I need to try and pick myself back up again. It isn't an easy task, but I need to do it... Again, any tips would be useful.

So that's it. My goals for this year. I'm sure they won't be easy as the were to write in a list, and I'm sure some people would think that they weren't adventurous or interesting, but it's a journey I am going to embark on.

I wish everyone a prosperous and happy new year. I hope whatever you do brings you all great happiness.

Xxx