Life has a way of surprising you….thankfully!

Doesn’t it?

I remember when I was a single parent, living in a wee cottage right at the top of the hill.  It was tough starting again and making a home and living in such a remote part of the Highlands was no joke.  That said however life does often present you with an upside.  It was because I lived in that little cottage that I got to see the Northern Lights!

I’m studying now, but a couple of years ago I started and gave up because life was just too tough and I was coping with ill health. I’m back to it now and then some.  I’m on course for my BA/BSc Honours degree – just you watch me!

I always wanted to have loads of kids, but alas there is only Spencer.  Not quite. Our house is frequently full of kids, friends of his who arrive with their instruments and enormous appetites. It’s seldom quiet or dull. Life does have a way of providing – just not always in the way you expect.

I like to think of myself as older and wiser but this year, having ridden one with my son, I discovered that I am officially too scared old to ride upside down roller coasters!

Me and Spence - the AFTER photograph (and yes he was holding me up!)

Life and study certainly teaches you lessons along the way.  I’ve learnt that we don’t always see things the same way.  Study has also given me the confidence to acknowledge that neither would we want to.

Likewise we may all have our opinions and beliefs but it does no harm to spend a moment looking at things from another angle.

I spend oodles of time immersed in research, but sometimes there are things you accept as evidence because all the signs are there…..

And sometimes no matter what you’ve learned, what you’re dealing with or where you’re going – a gal has to just hold onto the dream that what she really wants to have hair like this!

So as we edge towards the end of 2011 here’s to life and it’s surprises.  To the things that life presents us with that we didn’t expect, to the things we learn from them and to the wee gems that fall into our life along the way.

Sure there’s the old, ‘you’ve got to paddle your own canoe’, ‘life is what you make it’ stuff.  For me though, this year the old adage that you’ve got to do it your way – whatever that is, has been the strongest.  I’ve really tried to follow my own path, find my groove and walk my path my own way – and aside from a few wobbles I’ve pretty much managed it.

So these are just some of my wee gems – what are yours?