Publishing The Beautiful Book of Quotes and Reflections for Nurses has brought a strange mix of joy, pride and sheer relief. This book was an experiment for me. I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, and I usually focus on the historical narratives of nursing. Those stories are rich, inspiring and deeply meaningful, but they are not the same as opening up my own raw emotions and placing them on a page. This project pushed me far outside my comfort zone.

In many ways the process was fun, but it was also a huge amount of work. Editing, formatting, adjusting, reshaping. Fixing things I never even knew could go wrong. There were days when I felt like the pages were moving backwards rather than forwards. So yes, there is a genuine sigh of relief now that it is finally done. A proud sigh, but a tired one too.

And truthfully, I am looking forward to going back to my research. My reading. My deep dive into the lives of famous nurses as I start shaping my next book. That is where my heart has always been. This little quote book has been a labour of love, but returning to my historical world feels like coming home.

Self publishing has taken over my life far more than I expected. If anyone out there is thinking of publishing a book, my advice would be simple. Get help. Find someone to walk you through the parts that feel overwhelming. Because while it is rewarding, it can also consume every spare moment and every bit of headspace you have.

Another big change has quietly unfolded in the background of all this. I have finally finished working contracted hours in emergency care as an advanced practitioner. I am still there for teaching and bank work, but it was a very odd moment to step away from something that has shaped so much of my life. I am not even sure what I expected. Fireworks maybe. Tears possibly. Instead it was strangely anticlimactic. A quiet turning of the page.

I have always had contracted hours in emergency or urgent care and leaving feels frightening. It feels sad. It feels like the end of an era. But it also brings a sense of relief. One less thing to juggle. One small moment to breathe. It is impossible not to question myself in the current climate. With job freezes, rising living costs and newly qualified nurses unable to find posts, is stepping away the right thing? Maybe not. Maybe yes. Maybe the answer is something I will only understand with time.

What I do know is this. This Christmas I will be at home with my family. I will watch my child open his presents. I will cook Christmas dinner. I will be present for the moments that matter. And right now, in this season of change, my life feels truly blessed.

As for the future, who knows what next year will bring. All we ever really have is the present.
And maybe that is the greatest gift of all..