2017 in three words

I know I am extremely late to this party, but I always feel that there simply isn’t time over the Christmas period for true reflection and preparation, but that is just me. I warn you this post is not New Years resolutions, per say. But rather my sentiment or attitude for the New Year.

Also can I take this moment to apologise as not blogging since CHRISTMAS DAY is simply disgraceful, I hang my head in shame.

Thoughts and reflections on my use of social media

What would happen if suddenly social media stopped working, do those three minutes here and there throughout a day actually amount to a significantly missed amount of time?

Five things that make me happy

Today I decided to sit down and make a list of ten things that make me happy therefore hopefully spreading some positivity at this very stressful time of year.

One: Taking my dog for a walk
Whenever I feel stressed or anxious and would greatly benefit from getting out of the house and seeing some daylight, I am able to take my dog Bella along with me. This is simply the easiest way for me to de-stress, she is always willing (unless it is raining) and also allows me to complete one of my chores for the day.

Two: Read through my favorite blogs
Whenever I am online I do find myself checking Bloglovin' and all the blogs I read obsessively. I have made a page of all my favorites here.

Three: Listen to some music
This is something I have definitely been doing more recently. After being super stressed all year I just stopped listening to or enjoying music but now I just tend to put my headphones on if I am out walking the dog or if I am driving somewhere for longer than 10 minutes.

Four: Talk to my friends
Whether this is face to face, text or on facebook messenger I have been talking to people from all parts of my life a lot more recently. Often about nothing in particular, but it is always good to have a good gossip.

Five: Read a book
I do not do enough of this. I still have a book from last year that I haven't read but now I have more time on my hands I am sure I will be reading more.

I have been trying to see life in a more positive light and by doing these small things it has really helped me change my mindset from being down and sad all the time. Do any of you have things that do the same? If so, what are they?

I have you have a wonderful day whatever you are doing. Thanks for all the comments and the followers, it is truly a shook to me that anyone had followed. 


(Inspired by AsiaJade's post)


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Why I'm not a huge fan of 'a night out' anymore

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Being in my third year at a British university, I have had my fair share of nights out to clubs. I would be telling a lie if I said otherwise. But in the fast year I have really not been enjoying going out.

In first year 'freshers' and to a lesser extent second year I really enjoyed going to pre-drinks getting drunk and then going to the student union's club. But as I have grown older and my workload has increased dramatically I have found myself drawn more to the desire to go to a pub, drink alcohol there and actually talk and appreciate those around me.

This is beginning to sound a lot like that bit in friends where they are in Central Perk, Joey and Ross order decaf coffee and Chandler orders lemon and water after they have experienced a club which they reflect on. I feel like at the ripe old age of 21 I am at that stage, sadly.

(Image Source)

Even the thought of getting drunk has such a small appeal to me anymore. I hate it when I'm drunk, it often makes me anxious, changes my personality and makes me feel nothing like myself. And all of these feelings combined terrify me.

I feel as though my approach to alcohol and my experience with alcohol has changed since I was sixteen and thought it was the 'coolest thing' to do. Now I just see it as wasting a day hungover.

This post is not for me to brag and say 'oh look at how responsible I am, I will never drink again' but rather I guess I wrote this post to ask people  do they / have they felt the same at any point? I will without a doubt have a night out in town with my best friend from home very shortly, but this is completley different from nights out at university to me. We will get a train into town, pre-drink at a pub then go to a pub-club which is a small venue and never gets that busy before catching the last train hope at midnight. I usually get tipsy but not drunk when I do this as I am fully aware that we have to be on that train come what may.

My days of getting so drunk I stumble home every week are firmly behind me. However, I really don't think that is a bad thing. 

So what if clubbing isn't really my thing, even though other people really seem to love it.

So I want to know, what are your feelings on clubs / clubbing? Do you enjoy it, or are you old and boring like me haha?

Hope you are having an amazing day, thank you so much for reading.


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Reflecting on my three years at university

 

 Picture by me, from a dog walk the other day

Do you ever just sit down and allow yourself to think about everything you have achieved? Well as I have mere days left before my final university deadline I have been doing exactly that. When I look in the mirror now I see a mature twenty one year old who has left a lot of her insecurities behind. Don't get me wrong, if someone handed me a baby or a house to run tomorrow I wouldn't have a clue what to do.
I suppose it is only natural, I have just finished three years of a university degree and am now twenty one, but even so I feel very proud of what I have achieved emotionally.

When my parents dropped me off at Staffordshire University three years ago I told my mum I don't know how she could leave me here she must be a horrible mother. At that time I was scared, terrified in fact. The University accomodation team had messed up my application and the two people I had met that I was to live with didn't speak very good English. But I am so glad my mum didn't get my dad to turn the car around when they got to the roundabout because, although never easy, my three years at university have been worth it.

Looking back I do think I was not mature enough to go to university. I may have been academically ready, but emotionally and in terms of my knowledge of the world, I was very naive and immature.
First year was okay for me, I lived with amazing people but most of them were third years who graduated that summer (booo).

Second year was hell, I hated who I lived with, I learned to hate my degree and became very disillusioned with even getting a university degree which was reflected in my grades. The only good thing about second year was I met my amazing boyfriend whose blog is thefostereffect (follow him he is a much better writer than me) who pushed me to get through second year and constantly made me laugh.

Summer between second and third year was just as bad, my hormones were messed up, I quit my job and basically had no interest in finishing my degree and just wanted to run away with my dog and eat all the chocolate in the world (don't go on the pill people, it ruins peoples lives).

I wasn't until about October/November of third year where I thought 'fudge' this, I may have had a terrible university experience but I have to make it count. Then my appendix burst ... oh cruel world. After being on anti-biotics until new years eve which zapped me of all life, I feel I matured the most. I learned to monitor my health because if it wasn't for my boyfriend who dragged me to hospital I could have died, I decided to play catch up with my dissertation and really challenge myself, I started feeling confident about myself, I realized that not every one is nice, and, most importantly, you have to fight for what you want.

Now I sit here in my childhood bedroom on the verge of so much change, but I am not the scared eighteen year old my parents left in Stoke three years ago. I am excited for all that is to come. My parents want to move out of this town, I want to work all summer and see my boyfriend as much as I can and then hopefully go on to do my masters.

For me the biggest and most welcome change in my life is my confidence, I had none growing up. I was bullied (I will make a post about this very soon) and I let the bullies win. But now, if someone doesn't like me, their loss I'm awesome.

I guess the meaning of this post was for me to say no matter what life throws you, as long as you come out stronger the other side and recognize that, you may find you will be better for it.

Sorry for the super personal post today, I have had thinking time for the first time in ages and it was refreshing for me to see that I actually have alot of confidence haha!

Hope all of you 107 followers are having an awesome day! Have you ever sat there and go a little too deep in your thoughts? Would you like a post about bullying? (I am more than willing to do one).


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