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Just Frances

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Tag: self-reflection

Posted on1 January 20255 January 2025Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

2025: Review, rescope, refocus

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2025: Review, rescope, refocus

I am a goal-setter and, mostly, a goal-getter. But sometimes I set too many overly ambitious goals, and I struggle to meet them. It’s not…

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Posted on31 December 20244 January 2025Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Goals 2024: A review

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2024: A review

For 2024, I set out to breathe new life into old things, and I managed that – although it will be an ongoing objective as…

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Posted on31 December 202431 December 2024Musings & Ramblings

2024 in the rearview mirror

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2024 in the rearview mirror

As I sit on the entrance ramp towards 2025, it’s time to look back at the road I travelled in 2024 and all the goodness*…

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Posted on16 October 202419 December 2024Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

She/Her: International pronouns day

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on She/Her: International pronouns day

Today is International Pronouns Day, so please let me introduce myself to you, again. (And again.) Hello, my name is Frances, and my pronouns are…

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Posted on26 April 202424 September 2024Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

The years in between

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The years in between

Today marks 15 years since my husband’s death and that means I am doing a lot of reflecting. Some of that reflection is about the…

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Posted on7 April 20247 May 2024Everyday Life

Castle Ryan: A home of my own

by Just Frances7 Comments on Castle Ryan: A home of my own

Welcome to Castle Ryan, my new house that I hope to transform into a home. It was about 16 years ago that I last made…

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Posted on1 March 20242 July 2024Musings & Ramblings

Anchoring time in a COVID world

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Anchoring time in a COVID world

Time is a funny thing. It can fly by at supersonic speeds, or be slowed to a crawl. And sometimes, it feels like both speeds…

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Posted on21 February 202429 December 2024Fitness & Exercise

The great running record reset

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The great running record reset

Regular readers will know that I am a runner and have been one pretty much my entire life. From a little 5K jaunt to dust…

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Posted on21 February 202417 April 2024Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Now entering the quinquagenarian zone

by Just Frances1 Comment on Now entering the quinquagenarian zone

And so, it begins. I am now a quinquagenarian; more commonly known as a human in their 50s. This is not a bad thing to…

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Posted on24 January 20241 July 2024Musings & Ramblings

Lessons in grief

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Lessons in grief

Today marks two years since my mother died and I am still heartbroken. She was my friend as much as my mother and her absence…

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Posted on31 December 202313 March 2024Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Goals 2023: Recapping my successes

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2023: Recapping my successes

My overarching goal for 2023 was “simply me”. The objective was to focus on my needs and to prioritise them a bit (something I have…

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Posted on31 December 20231 January 2024Musings & Ramblings

A quick review of 2023

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A quick review of 2023

With 2023 slowly crawling to an end, it’s time to reflect on the year so that I can step boldly into 2024 in just a…

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Posted on18 September 20236 May 2024Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

An expat’s home dilemma: 22 years later

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on An expat’s home dilemma: 22 years later

Twenty-two years ago, I arrived in Scotland to begin a one-year study abroad programme. It is sometimes hard to believe that it was that long…

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Posted on26 April 2023Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

The lingering pain of widowhood

by Just Frances8 Comments on The lingering pain of widowhood

Another year has passed without my beloved husband and my heart aches from his absence these 14 years. Yes, the pain is softer now. But…

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Posted on20 February 202318 June 2023Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

On the cusp of ageing

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on On the cusp of ageing

I found a photo of Mum a couple of months ago, taken the day after her 48th birthday. As I looked at it, I smiled…

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Posted on31 December 20227 January 2023Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

With 2022 quickly making an exit, it’s time for my annual goal wrap-up and review. And then, I am ready to move on! My overarching…

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Posted on10 December 202210 December 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Travelling traditions

by Just Frances2 Comments on Travelling traditions

I am on my holidays… again! It’s a little odd making my third big trip back to the Homeland in less than 365 days, after…

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Posted on1 December 20224 December 2022Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings

Rebel runner: My lifetime of running for bling

by Just Frances2 Comments on Rebel runner: My lifetime of running for bling

I am a runner, as I’ve declared on countless occasions. Indeed, I am a varsity runner, as evidenced by my varsity letter from my high…

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Posted on16 November 202219 November 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Meet the 123s and ABCs: Ordinal-linguistic personification

by Just Frances6 Comments on Meet the 123s and ABCs: Ordinal-linguistic personification

In my world, letters and numbers are alive. OK, maybe not quite “alive” but they do have animate properties. Things like genders, personalities, and interpersonal…

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Posted on5 November 20226 November 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Rebel diarist: My journey from “Dear Diary” to a life record

by Just Frances4 Comments on Rebel diarist: My journey from “Dear Diary” to a life record

I have long kept a journal or diary of some fashion or another. Indeed, I began dabbling in the art of journalling as a young…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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Keywords

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