Living a Bold Life
Posted on by Debbie

Please don’t say it’s over! My year of Being BOLD – #WOTY

Hello to all my bold and beautiful friends

Well, it’s finally come to this, my final BOLD post for 2021, hence my title – please don’t say it’s over!

My word of the year for 2021 has been BOLD and I’ve had so much fun with it – I now realise I was always a bit bold but I’ve taken it to new heights this year that’s for sure!

I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of finding words from the letters B.O.L.D. each month, that showcase what I’ve been doing in the way of being bolder in my life. It’s been a great WOTY!

My Word of the Year (#WOTY) for 2021 was BOLD. My original post – 60 years old and feeling BOLD – sets the scene for my bold year. All my monthly updates can be found here!

What did being Bold mean for me in 2021?

As I said back in my first Bold post the meaning of being bold jumped out at me and I wanted to try to be braver, more adventurous, imaginative in thought or expression, confident, take on new opportunities – and I really think I’ve managed to succeed at this and, more to the point, I’ve had fun along the way.

It also gave me something else to dwell on when travelling was off the table for another year due to Covid.

Someone who is bold is not shy or embarrassed in the company of other people.

  • brave, fearless, adventurous, 
  • valiant, brazen, courageous, confident, and ready to take risks
  • showing or requiring courage
  • standing out distinctly
  • conspicuous
  • imaginative in thought or expression
  • not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent: as in, she apologised for being so bold as to speak to the Queen.

So many people have left me lovely comments telling me how they love reading my posts and applaud me for my efforts, and how they find me inspiring, but as I say in this month’s post I’m just an ordinary midlife woman who took a chance and gave it a red hot (bold) go!

boldness quote
boldness quote

Showcasing my bold photo for December

Each month I have tired to have a photo that shows boldness. Sometimes it’s something I’ve done or witnessed but it’s always fun to share.

This month it’s my cheesy selfie because I’m bold enough, and old enough (now 61), to share it without being embarrassed! I was all frocked up on my way to the local Debutante Ball.

Cheesy smile
A cheesy and bold Debbie smile

My BOLD photos from throughout the year

Here is a gallery of all my monthly BOLD photos from 2021 – you might notice a few things:

  1. I’m smiling a lot
  2. I’m wearing bright colours
  3. I’m not afraid to make a goose of myself and then share it!
Debbie - 60 years old and feeling Bold
Angel Debbie at Eat St Northshore Brisbane
Bold Debbie 2021
Debbie looking happy on a fun bike ride
Be Bold
my fun face about to go down the slide
Bold jumper
red hills of home in Tumbarumba
Deb with Leo and Fox glasses case
Bold weather
heart shaped cloud
Cheesy smile
My year of being BOLD

So how did December go for being bold?

My words for BOLD this final month are Ball, Ordinary, Love and Debbie.

Ball – as in Debutante Ball! Yes they still exist! As I wrote in my post, Putting the Deb into Debutante Ball, these are still a popular fundraising event for small towns like ours. The Mathematician (and me by default) was asked to be the Guest of Honour and the eight Debs and their partners were presented to him, and I got to sash them up. Despite my personal feelings on this slightly outdated ceremony, it brought families together, raised money for the local school and gave everyone an opportunity to come together to celebrate something fun and light hearted, after the year we’ve had, we all deserved it!

Ordinary – I’m just an ordinary girl (I think I can still call myself a girl when I’m now 61??). I don’t pretend to be anything else, I’m authentic, honest, real, down to earth with a splash of ditzy thrown in. I love hard, I’m enthusiastic, positive most of the time and proud of my family and my achievements. I’m also adding bold to that description!

Love – My family! We don’t live near each other and mainly stay in touch via Facetime video calls and messenger chats. We haven’t all been together for quite some time now due to our various locations – one daughter is overseas, one is a three-hour drive away in ACT and the other one is interstate in Brisbane. Between them we have 4 grandchildren and this year we had 2 of our 3 daughters (and SILs) and 3 of our 4 grandchildren together for Christmas. It was a fabulous, noisy, hectic, loud, challenging time but we made it work.

with the bike trailer
Patrick and Eliza
Sarah, Emilia and Zach December 2021
Christmas pyjamas 2021
Granny Debs and papa G with three little ones
Eliza, Shawn, Patrick Christmas 2021
Eliza and Patrick on triobike - December 2021
Granny Debs and Papa G with Patrick at home in Tumbarumba

The cousins all got on together beautifully and despite the weather not being the best, we still managed to ride bikes, play at the playground, build sandcastles, swim, walk, eat and be merry!

Debbie – it’s time to celebrate me. December is my birthday month and then there’s another big celebration too somewhere soon after 🙂 I’ve turned 61, I’m happy with my retired lifestyle, I’m busy but not too busy, I’m happy most of the time and I’ve made some stunning friends along the way. My family loves me despite thinking I’m a bit weird and ditzy at times. I’m an acquired taste and I am just trying to make the best of what I’ve got. There’s a lot to love about me 🙂

Playing catchies on the beach
Playing on the beach

This would have to be one of my favourite photos from our time at the beach together. It was taken by my daughter and shows my 3year old granddaughter chasing me around the beach – we are having so much fun and I can hear her laughter every time I look at the photo.

What else did I get up to in December?

Lots – so I’ll let the photos do the talking! It was mainly all about family as you can see!

Some of the family - December 2021
with Mum Christmas 2021
family together at the beach December 2021
Oasis on the Beach Christmas 2021
a brooding seascape
Christmas morning 2021
overcast day at the beach Christmas 2021
making gingerbread biscuits

It wasn’t always easy

December wasn’t always easy with many stresses making me wonder if we would even be able to get together, but it happened and now sadly it’s all over. I have the memories to hold onto and have had a stack of cuddles to carry me through to when I next see my grandchildren. I’m very fortunate and grateful for these moments. I feel for those unable to travel or see family.

I’m going to continue to live boldly!

WOTY for 2022?

I think I have my Word of the Year sorted for next year and I’ll let you know what it is in my next post. What are you planning?

I do hope you’ve enjoyed my last edition of Becoming Bold. It’s been a huge year in lots of ways and I feel I have grown more confident by being bolder.

Remember:

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

Dr Seuss

Thanks for stopping by, I have appreciated your visits and your encouraging comments, especially as I got my Bold on during 2021.

Happy New Year to you all.

Deb xx

You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

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Everyone has a story to tell!

Debbie - mother of a 40 year old

Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. You can read more of Deb’s story here

Copyright © 2021 debs-world.com – All rights reserved

39 Replies to “Please don’t say it’s over! My year of Being BOLD – #WOTY”

  1. Oh, poop!! I think I closed the window before my comment had a chance to post. If not, please forgive me for commenting again. But I have to applaud you for really doing WOTY right! You are the WOTY guru in my book. Enjoyed the year you chose JUMP and all of the jumping you did. And have enjoyed your boldness journey, too. Can’t wait to see what word chooses you this year. I have done WOTY twice, I think, but LIFE gets in the way and I become overwhelmed and forget to think about WOTY. Maybe my word needs to be LIFE??

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Of all the bloggers I follow, and of all who do WOTY, you are the guru, the champion, the head of the class. I have selected words a couple of years and start out with big plans but LIFE has a way of interfering. So as I contemplate whether to select a word and what that word might be, I need to bear that in mind. Can’t wait to see what word you select or what word selects you and how to discover it through every aspect of your life. Happy new year!!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Happy New Year, Deb – I greatly enjoyed following your year of being bold. You completely ROCKED this WOTY 100%! I love the photos that you shared above. What can be better than family time?!
    I greatly look forward to the reveal of your WOTY 2022!

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  4. Pingback: Just ‘Be’ – Living Life Your Way in 2022 – Lifestyle Trend Reports

  6. Happy New year, Deb! I admire your boldness. Although I will probably never consider myself bold, I’ll be working on being more confident. This year, though, my resolution is to be more positive, and optimistic, something that doesn’t come easily to me. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts in the upcoming year. Enjoy your family time. xxx

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    1. Thanks for joining me during the year Christina. Confidence is a form of boldness and what you are doing is certainly a bold lifestyle. I like the idea of being more positive and wish you well with this intention. xx

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  7. You certainly have lived up to your word this year and I’m wondering what word you will choose for 2022. Thanks for all the fun blog posts in 2021 –
    Happy new year!

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. I loved reading your last Bold post Deb, just as much as I have enjoyed every post during your year of Bold. You definitely chose the right word. It was beautiful seeing you step into your boldness as the year progressed. December looks like it was a great month for you. What a relief that you were able to spend time with your family. Here’s to great 2022 for us all.

    Liked by 3 people

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  10. Hi Deb – you rocked the heck out of your #WOTY and inspired us all along the way. I’ve chosen my word for 2022 and it’s a fun one this year (less deep than a lot of my previous choices). I even cite you as inspiring me because of how much fun you’ve had with BOLD. I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us with your new word. Happy 2022! xx

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  11. So pleased you all did get together for Christmas. I don’t think anyone will take family get togethers for granted again.
    I’ve loved your monthly bold updates. When I think of that word, I now think of you. Thanks for your friendship over the past 12 months and looking forward to more of the same in 2022.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I am so happy that it finally happened too Jo, after so many issues along the way! I have never taken family gatherings for granted, having lived away from my family most of my life but I agree many others are now understanding the need to make the most of every opportunity!
      I’ve had an absolute ball with my Bold posts and am thrilled you (and others) have enjoyed them too 🙂 Thanks for being there for me many a time during 2021 and let’s see what we can do in 2022!

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  12. Pingback: 2021 a year in review – did I live up to my WOTY? – Lifestyle Trend Reports

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