WHO CARES? Keep saying yes after the Year of Living Dangerously
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Well, that’s the end of 2023. And off we sail into 2024 with lots to be thankful for, but lots to worry about if you consider what’s going on in various parts of the world. All I can do is look inwards and consider how I fit into the grand scheme of things in my tiny part of it and try to do the absolute best I can for the people I love – and that includes myself.
Last year was very much a year of rebuilding and rediscovery for me. At the end of 2022, I turned 59 and having finally come to terms with having survived cancer, I decided that it was time to really live the life I always wanted. I called it my “Year of Living Dangerously” and I set about having adventures and experiences that fulfilled me and gradually over the year improved my physical and mental health immeasurably.
I’ve written about most of my year in real time in this column, so if you have followed me on my travels, please forgive me a small recap. I have been to London twice, once with my sister and secondly on my own. I have rediscovered my love for live performance and so now haunt the aisles of Eden Court regularly as well as taking my place in the audience of the local live music venues as much as possible.
Re-entering the Market Bar crowd after having been a regular in my late teens and 20s has been especially entertaining, and I can highly recommend being so close to a live band that you can feel the passion in the music and have to squeeze past the drummer or a guitarist on the edge of the stage as you make your way to the bar.
Of course, the big highlight to my year was driving round Silverstone in three supercars in August, having travelled there on my own and doing the whole thing just for me – a real revelation. But there were many smaller moments that have gone into the making of Karen 2.0 – the sequel. Lots of them were when I stopped for a second and just thought “Wow, look what you just did!” and realised that by saying “yes” to something instead of “I’ll see how it fits in round the family”, had resulted in an incredible experience that had enriched me in some way.
So, as I have now entered my 60s while having regained the energy and passion of my 20s and being fitter than I have been since then, what does 2024 hold for me? Who knows? But one thing is sure, I am in a far better place than I was 12 months ago. I have a fantastic bunch of friends who are firmly in my corner cheering for me with pompoms flying, the boy is doing well and is about to receive his first self-earned money ever from his YouTube channel, ZZ9 Productions, and I am happy, healthy and have recovered my self-confidence after years of being at the bottom of the list.
Therefore, I intend to continue to say yes to as much as possible, continue to live dangerously and take every opportunity to engage with talented, passionate people wherever I find them. And of course, I will share what I discover on my way with you readers of this esteemed paper for as long as they will publish it!
Karen is Mum to an autistic son in his twenties and campaigns for the rights of unpaid carers to be supported in their caring role and involved in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of the people they care for. You can find her on twitter and Instagram @Karen4Carers.
