It’s been a busy year for the Maloney family. Without apology, I’m sharing our yearly wrap-up. 2022 was a good year for my little family, which has been about 8 years coming.

I share with empathy, though, knowing that our best year may have been someone’s worst. If you’re reading this and that’s the case, hang in there. Life can be shit, but it can be great again, even if the shit can’t be completely wiped away. Life really is “just like a box of chocolates”. Thanks, Forest. And if you’re alive, believe it or not – (I think) you’re winning, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

For us, the year started with a family wedding in January. The best way any year can start. February 6, our much-loved cottage sold. It would have been my 23rd wedding anniversary – if my husband hadn’t died 5 years earlier. The sale was exciting because it allowed me to plan a bucket list adventure – a month-long trip around Italy with my kids in tow. Including 4 exciting days trackside at the Monza Grand Prix (on the 100th anniversary of the track). And a day trip across the Italian border into Switzerland. My heritage on dads side is Swiss/Italian.

There were too many amazing things on our trip to write about, but two were profound. I lit a candle for my husband on the 5th anniversary of his passing and for my mum, whose 3rd anniversary was the following day, in Santa Maria Maddalena Church in Rome. My maiden name is Maddalena. Emotions were high. The second was visiting the Pantheon, where I experienced an unexpected surge of energy that put me off balance the entire time I was inside and left me nauseous. Being in Rome changed my life. The rest of our holiday was the icing on the cake.

Only weeks after returning from Italy, we sold our business. My sisters and I created The Shed Luxe from loss, love, and need. The year Brendan died. Now we (or me anyway) were looking for more flexibility. And some downtime. So we proudly passed on our popular, turn-key store to its lucky new owners to pursue new dreams individually. I’m working on a couple of passion projects, which is exciting. Semi-retirement sounds good, but it is far from the truth. Lucky for me, working from home is like a holiday when you live where I live.

It’s been a big, happy year, and I’m very grateful.

Today on the eve of New Year’s Eve, I wish everyone the hard-fought-for peace I found in Italy this year. And lots of love, happiness, good health and prosperity ahead for all of us in 2023.