Little Victories | October & November 2017
1st December 2017
I’ve decided to combine my Little Victories posts for October and November into one because I forgot to post my October one at the beginning of this month! D’oh!
I can’t believe it’s December already. This year has just flown by!
I’m happy to report that I survived November, which is usually my least favourite month and the time of the year when I struggle with my mental health the most. But this year I kept busy and gave myself things to focus on, and it’s honestly made such a difference to my overall happiness.
Now I’m looking forward to a month of festivities ahead. As always, I’m excited to go home for Christmas and spend a week or so with my friends and family. Oh and eat lots of incredible food because that’s what Christmas is all about, am I right?!
Without further ado, here’s my little victories from October and November…
October
- I managed to get my hands on tickets to see Billy Joel in Manchester next summer. I’ve booked a hotel too so we’re going to make a nice weekend of it.
- I also got tickets to see Kasabian in Liverpool in December. The tickets actually went on sale when I was in New York, but Tyrone wasn’t that interested in going. But in the end I decided to go with my friend Rebecca who is a fellow Kasabian fan, and now I cannot wait!!
- Tyrone and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary! It was on a Sunday and it was surprisingly warm for a day in October, but we went on a little road trip in North Wales.
- I (sort of) conquered my fear of going to the dentist after my last check up resulted in a panic attack. I moved surgeries and the dentist at this new one seems a lot nice. Unfortunately I’ve got to have two fillings in December!
- I finished my course of CBT and I’m actually noticing a difference in how I feel. But I was sad to finish because my therapist was so lovely!
- Tyrone celebrated his 24th birthday and I made him an incredible chocolate orange cake to celebrate. I don’t normally blow my own trumpet but it was so tasty!
- I started using the Five Minute Journal app again after purchasing it about a year ago! I didn’t get into it the first time around but I saw Pauline talking about it on her blog and I decided to give it another go, and I’ve found that it really does help.
November
- Continuing on with the theme of buying tickets for awesome events, I managed to get tickets for Electric Light Orchestra’s 2018 tour. I actually tried to get tickets for their last tour but it sold out straight away. This time I used O2 Priority.
- I also bought ticket to see Peter Kay! Yes, he’s not on in Liverpool until 2019 but we have incredible seats just 8 rows from the front and I cannot wait!!!
- I bought a new Dyson vacuum cleaner in the Black Friday Sales and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about such a mundane item! But seriously, it’s life changing.
- I also bought a Nintendo Switch in the Cyber Monday Sales. Can someone snap my bank card in half, please?!!!
- I had a load of annual leave left over to use it by the end of the year, so I decided to take a week off at the end of November (this week!). I just used the time to start my Christmas shopping a look after myself. It’s been wonderful!
One more thing before I finish! I’m doing a blogger Christmas card exchange this year. I put out a Tweet to announce this but I realised that I should have asked here on the blog too. I’m sending out most of my cards today but I also have time to post cards next Tuesday (December 5th), so if you’d like to get involved, just let me know in the comments, or send me a Tweet. The deadline is Monday December 4th!
How were October and November for you? Did you have any victories, big or small?
Little Victories is a monthly (or so!) series, celebrating the things that make life great, no matter how small.
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Hello there
I'm Holly and Empfire is my little slice of the internet where I share the various aspects of life that I am passionate about and that inspire me.
You did lots. I got a Dyson four+ years ago and it’s amazing, I can’t say much I love it. I would love to get involved in the Christmas card exchange, sounds fun. xx
Great! I’ll send you an email with my address. 😊
I enjoyed reading this post Holly, I’m so glad that you’re taking care of yourself – from annual leave to more positive habits like journalling. I’m so happy that the five-minute journal app has been useful! I have the book and the app and I interchange between them (when will there be a time when everything I write in a book translates to an app too?? 😆)
Haha at all the buying – #treatyoself right? And tbh, if it’s what you need and what makes you happy, then no one can say anything 😆
Have a lovely month!
Thanks Pauline! I did consider buying the paper version of the Five Minute Journal but I’ve found that I don’t have time in the mornings to write my morning entry before I go to work, and so I end up writing it when I arrive at work, so the app is perfect for that.
Haha I’m usually really bad at treating myself! It’s sods law that all my favourite bands/singers/comedians announce tours at the same time!
I love this series so much, Holly! It’s great to see that so many great things have been happening in your life, especially considering it’s a month you usually struggle with. I’m so happy to hear you’re doing well, and that CBT has been helpful to you. I can’t believe how few therapy sessions you get on the NHS though?! I know so many people who’ve had CBT and was astounded by how quickly it’s over. Hope the skills you’ve learned in the sessions work for you.
All the gigs/shows you’re going to sound great. I really wanted to go to Peter Kay, but it’s really the wrong time of year for me to be spending money on tickets. I still have way too many Christmas presents to buy! Hope you have fun!
I want a Nintendo Switch. I’ve been considering it since they came out, but I’m not sure how much free time I’d have to use it. They look amazing though!
Thanks Amy! Too be honest I felt like 6 sessions wasn’t enough, and I think my therapist realised this too. So I’ve been put on the waiting list to have counselling in addition to my CBT therapy.
Yeah November is a really bad time to be spending money! I actually decided to give ELO tickets to my mum, my dad and Tyrone for Christmas so that meant I got most of my Christmas shopping done in one go!
Congratulations on your recent little victories! Sounds like you have a lot to look forward to with seeing Kasabian, Billy Joel, and other artists. Major congrats on your 8 year anniversary! That’s a huge milestone :). Haha, I feel like you know you’re an adult when you’re excited about buying some home appliances. Hope you’ll have a nice December!
Thank you, Nancy!
Haha yep, I’m definitely an adult now!
Happy anniversary to you and Tyrone! 8 years is a long time! That’s also exciting at all the tickets you got for shows to see. Looks like you have several things to look forward to next year!
haha, I know what you mean about getting excited for a vacuum. I would actually love to get a Dyson some time. We recently bought new appliances, and I’m really looking forward to having them soon!
I think that’s great that you take actions to look after yourself and your mental health. Good job on surviving November! Taking a week off for yourself is also a really good idea. I did the same, and it was nice to have some time to myself. I hope December will be a good month for you!
Thank you, Cat!
Haha, I highly recommend a Dyson. We had a Dyson Ball before we got the hand held one which was great, but it was on deaths door after 4 years of picking up my hair!!!
It sounds like you had a lot of success in October and November. Well done'[ on getting all of those gig tickets! That’s very impressive – I wasn’t able to get Billy Joel tickets because of work, but my brother did; I’m very jealous!
Well done on overcoming your dentist fear, and for finishing your CBT. I’m happy that you’re noticing a difference as a result of it! Will you get to have little catch ups with your therapist?
There’s nothing wrong with getting excited by household items! I’d love a new vacuum! Enjoy your Switch, too! Have you downloaded Stardew Valley?
Congratulations on 8 years together! What a huge milestone! Here’s to many more =]
Happy anniversary! I totally understand… when winter time comes, it affects my mental health so bad. I stayed locked in the house for three days straight because it was too cold outside. This time of the year severely depresses me.