Grateful is the UNDERSTATEMENT of the year!

When I reflect on 2021 and the end of the year, I can not help but feel so much gratitude for so many reasons. 

2021 was the year we all knew as COVID. It sure started out that way and my gosh did the media make it known. 11am became the new coffee time and we watched what felt like a nightmare on repeat for months.

My heart went out to so many people who:

• Lost loves ones 
• Couldn't see family (including myself being in a regional area)
• New mums who were doing it tough, feeling isolated or had to birth alone
• Parents homeschooling their children
• Children in general, being socially isolated and having to learn in new environments (my 2 year old son holds his hands out for sanitiser everywhere we go, strange huh)
• Teachers having to work twice as hard to produce content and help assist parents as well as recreate lessons to now suit online learning 
• All the medical staff that worked in hospitals and are feeling the pressure
• The government (yes I know, I have a really big heart) facing such tough decisions and were never going to make everyone happy
• People that were stranded in other countries
• People that lost their jobs and were financially affected
• Small business owners and the changes that they faced, if not closure
• People that aren't vaccinated, for whatever reason and were facing division even from their own families and
• My sister, who has tried to get married 4 times! (and every other bride for the past 18months)

I really could go on and on but I think you get the point... we all were impacted in one way or another. 

I am a huge empath and this was consuming me. There was a day, I turned off the TV and said enough. I couldn't bare to hear it anymore and it changed my life, literally!

I started to think what is life beyond COVID. I'm here missing family, feeling sorry for myself that I am locked in my own home and really not being allowed to do everyday things. But here is the silver lining.... we were safe and COVID simplified our lives and made clear what was important. 

We got time with each other that I don't ever think we will have that again. We spent our days simply growing veggies, going for family walks or bike rides, preparing meals and wearing nothing but pjs and activewear (don't we know it now!)

My husband works so hard, but we also got such precious time with him that I know my son will never forget. We created such wonderful memories that only time could give us. Isn't that what it is all about? 

I kept thinking about this and how much we valued what we had. This was one of the huge reasons I wanted to setup Hey Hunter. I knew from the bottom of my heart, I always wanted to have time for my family but I felt so guilty not retuning to my 9-5pm hours or work in general.

Being in the Hunter, I also knew we were so lucky to have the fresh air we did and to be in such an amazing town who had each others back. But I also saw so many small businesses doing it tough and many even faced closure. 

The time I had at home, I wanted to use wisely. I wanted to represent the Hunter for all the wonderful ways I saw it. Everything we sell is made here, supports so many other small rural businesses and celebrates the essence of family and bloody hard work! 

This Christmas season will be extra special for us as we will also be welcoming another member to our family in 2022. We are forever grateful for 2021 and what it has allowed us to achieve. 

In 2022 be kind to each other, you never know what somebody else is going through, support small businesses and encourage others to push further than they think is possible. I know my husband has always done this for me. 

That's the last of our blogs for 2021, until next year!

Much Love,

Josie