Uh-oh, Lent's coming again. Really soon. What am I going to do this year?
For some reason, everytime I realise Lent's just around the corner it sends me into a mild state of panic. What should I give up? Should I do something instead? I just don't know!!!
Okay, calm. This is not a time to panic, this is a time of purification, of sanctification.
A time to try and make yourself a better person.
Think New Years Resolution, but better (well, actually I've never been a huge one for NY resolutions, so that's not much of a comparison for me...)
It's a time to look at your life. What are you overly attached to? What do you feel like you couldn't cope without? Material things? Food? Maybe it's time to try and deal with that attachment.
Traditionally for Lent you should participate in fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Fasting:
I've already done a post on one idea for fasting, although of course there's always the ever popular giving up chocolate or cigarettes or whatever may take your fancy.
I've already given up quite a lot lately in terms of food, but this Lent I'm going to try and make sure I only snack on food I've made myself. It should be healthier, I'll hopefully lose some more weight, and save some money. And, of course, while I'm busy making food with my own hands, I can spend more time being thankful for the food I have, for the kitchen in which I can make it, and for the very fact that I'm able to make food.
Almsgiving:
Almsgiving is giving to the poor. Donating to charity. Doing something out of kindness.
So this could be a good opportunity for taking something up. Perhaps you could find a local soup kitchen and donate some time there. Perhaps you could just give some money to charity. Next time you walk past a homeless person in the street you could offer to buy them some food or give them a coffee?
This Lent I'm going to try and do at least one RAK (random act of kindness) per day. I've no idea what they will be right now, but I shall try and keep the blog updated with what they are and how I do.
Prayer:
As one of my 30 before 30 is to try and say morning and evening prayer every day for a month, Lent seems like the perfect time to start. Mind you, I say this often, and often fail fairly quickly, so let's find out whether having told you guys I'm going to do this will give me the encouragement I need.
As an additional thing, and I may do a fuller post on this in the future, lately I've been feeling a pull in my heart towards veiling during Mass and in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Whether this will be a long term thing I really do not know, but to help with my discernment, I have decided to ensure my head is covered whenever I go to church during Lent.
There are some fabulous blog posts around regarding this topic, and I've linked to a few of my favourites below:
http://www.lauramcalister.com/2013/07/16/should-i-veil-a-debate-between-me-my-brain/ - This pretty much feels like where my brain is at right now.
http://www.conversiondiary.com/2013/02/notes-from-beneath-the-veil.html
http://chastityproject.com/2014/05/veiled-sake-angels/
So how about you? what are your plans for this Lent?
Thursday, 5 February 2015
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Are you woman enough to give up makeup?
So this post from Life Teen on 102 things to give up for Lent came up on my newsfeed the other day and it got me thinking.
Now some of the things on the list I don't do anyway (spitting gum onto the pavement? Disgusting), so obviously can't give up, Others on there I don't feel like I need to give up (I mean Pizza? come on - and I don't eat it much anyway on account of the whole funny diet thing).
One or two of them were things I regularly do anyway. I regularly give up (most) makeup for lent, restricting myself to concealer, mascara (or for special occasions - although then I make myself have the mentality that it's the same as putting on pretty clothes. It's to look different to normal, not because I don't like the way I look.
This is something that I think we, as women, particularly in the modern world, struggle with a lot. And I used a huge number of commas in that sentence. My GCSE teacher would not be happy with me... Anyway, yes. Struggle. We are told so often that we have to look perfect. We have to look beautiful and totally put together at all times. If we're having a bad hair day, or have a breakout, or are larger than a size 8, or have an unusually shaped nose, we're just not good enough.
I went through the whole of my school career hating my hair. People constantly mocked me for it, and it has taken me a long time to come to terms with it. Even now I tend to have it tied up a lot if I don't feel like it's perfect when it's down - fun side of that though is that I've learnt a lot of new things to do with my hair, so it's getting to the point where I tie my hair up because I like the way it looks. For those of you who know me though, it's worth saying that this has never applied to the colour of my hair. I like my natural hair colour, I just prefer the various shades of red it's been over the past 7 1/2 years...
It's so easy to look in a mirror and point out your flaws, but that's not how we should be living. My eyes are too small, my nose is too big, my pores are too visible, the shadows under my eyes are too dark. Maybe if I slather my face in makeup these faults will be hidden and people won't notice.
The whole "no-makeup selfie" thing actually made me really sad. The idea that people are having to be brave to post a photo of themselves without makeup on is just... well, is that really how life should be?
I find that, from time to time, particularly if I've been wearing a lot of makeup regularly, I get to a point where I'm wearing makeup because I don't like the way my face is without it. The first time I really noticed this was shortly before lent one year, so I figured, since lent is the perfect time to give up things you are overly attached to, it was the perfect thing to give up that year. I've pretty much repeated the practise every year.
So here's my question. How attached to your makeup are you? Do you wear makeup because you prefer the way you look with it or because you don't like the way you look without it. If the answer is a completely honest yes to the first part, then feel free to carry on. If the latter, then maybe this is an area of your life you should look at.
Maybe this is the year you challenge yourself to be woman enough to give up makeup for lent and learn to love yourself for who you truly are.
Hmm... this post went in a completely different direction to how I originally planned, so I shall just have to do another one soon!
Now some of the things on the list I don't do anyway (spitting gum onto the pavement? Disgusting), so obviously can't give up, Others on there I don't feel like I need to give up (I mean Pizza? come on - and I don't eat it much anyway on account of the whole funny diet thing).
One or two of them were things I regularly do anyway. I regularly give up (most) makeup for lent, restricting myself to concealer, mascara (or for special occasions - although then I make myself have the mentality that it's the same as putting on pretty clothes. It's to look different to normal, not because I don't like the way I look.
This is something that I think we, as women, particularly in the modern world, struggle with a lot. And I used a huge number of commas in that sentence. My GCSE teacher would not be happy with me... Anyway, yes. Struggle. We are told so often that we have to look perfect. We have to look beautiful and totally put together at all times. If we're having a bad hair day, or have a breakout, or are larger than a size 8, or have an unusually shaped nose, we're just not good enough.
I went through the whole of my school career hating my hair. People constantly mocked me for it, and it has taken me a long time to come to terms with it. Even now I tend to have it tied up a lot if I don't feel like it's perfect when it's down - fun side of that though is that I've learnt a lot of new things to do with my hair, so it's getting to the point where I tie my hair up because I like the way it looks. For those of you who know me though, it's worth saying that this has never applied to the colour of my hair. I like my natural hair colour, I just prefer the various shades of red it's been over the past 7 1/2 years...
It's so easy to look in a mirror and point out your flaws, but that's not how we should be living. My eyes are too small, my nose is too big, my pores are too visible, the shadows under my eyes are too dark. Maybe if I slather my face in makeup these faults will be hidden and people won't notice.
The whole "no-makeup selfie" thing actually made me really sad. The idea that people are having to be brave to post a photo of themselves without makeup on is just... well, is that really how life should be?
I find that, from time to time, particularly if I've been wearing a lot of makeup regularly, I get to a point where I'm wearing makeup because I don't like the way my face is without it. The first time I really noticed this was shortly before lent one year, so I figured, since lent is the perfect time to give up things you are overly attached to, it was the perfect thing to give up that year. I've pretty much repeated the practise every year.
So here's my question. How attached to your makeup are you? Do you wear makeup because you prefer the way you look with it or because you don't like the way you look without it. If the answer is a completely honest yes to the first part, then feel free to carry on. If the latter, then maybe this is an area of your life you should look at.
Maybe this is the year you challenge yourself to be woman enough to give up makeup for lent and learn to love yourself for who you truly are.
Hmm... this post went in a completely different direction to how I originally planned, so I shall just have to do another one soon!
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Confirmation Classes, Ten Ten Theatre and Love
This weekend sees the kick-off of the confirmation course for my home parish. I've been involved here since I came back home after my year at SPEC (well I couldn't let my skills learnt there go to waste now, could I?)
We've had to start off a little differently this year. Normally we head off to the fabulous SPEC who up until last year were based not too far away from us. Sadly they have moved (although their new home grounds are beautiful) and are currently unable to provide residential retreats. Instead we invited TenTen Theatre to come and run a retreat day for us.
The day was spent looking at love. How we learn about love, how love affects us, what is and what isn't love.
Although it wasn't mentioned all day (at least as far I know, there were a couple of points during the day where us catechists were kicked out for discussions) I kept thinking about 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. You know which one... Yeah, y'know, that one. The one that's all sappy and lovey-dovey and over used for weddings. Yeah, the one that's all about love being patient and kind etc etc. Yeah, that one. The one about how beautiful and easy love it.
Except it's not. It's really not saying that love is easy. Pretty much the opposite in fact.
Fun fact for you. As a child I was in the church choir. We sang at loads of weddings. I used to love it. Partly because we got paid (which is always fun), but also because I just love weddings. I love looking at the dresses (and would occasionally draw my dream dress on a piece of tissue/scrap paper), deciding what music I wanted at my wedding, and deciding what readings I was going to have. Or more to the point, deciding which were way overused and would just be tacky. Right at the top of that list was 1 Cor 13:4-7.
Then I went to a retreat at Ampleforth Abbey. And you know that expression "Mind Blown"? Yeah, that pretty much sums up my attitude towards that passage.
The monk (and much to my shame I have forgotten which one it was) told us that whenever a couple come to him wanting this reading, he tells them to go away, read it again properly, and then come back to him. It's not about love being sweet and pleasant and easy, it's hard and tough and difficult.
Love is always patient, Love is never jealous, it is never rude, it is always ready to make allowances.
Not just when you feel like it, not just when you're in the right mood. Not even just when the situation deserves it. Always and Never.
Always and Never.
So now, I want this reading at my wedding (y'know, if it ever happens). Pretty much anything else is up for discussion (well, as long as it's a Catholic Mass), but that has to be a reading. Oh, and I want the priest to discuss that in the homily.
I once heard someone very wise say that when you can replace the word love with your name, you are truly love. So although I fail (and I fail often), I aim to be able to say "Ann is always patient, Ann is never jealous..."
Always and Never.
We've had to start off a little differently this year. Normally we head off to the fabulous SPEC who up until last year were based not too far away from us. Sadly they have moved (although their new home grounds are beautiful) and are currently unable to provide residential retreats. Instead we invited TenTen Theatre to come and run a retreat day for us.
The day was spent looking at love. How we learn about love, how love affects us, what is and what isn't love.
Although it wasn't mentioned all day (at least as far I know, there were a couple of points during the day where us catechists were kicked out for discussions) I kept thinking about 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. You know which one... Yeah, y'know, that one. The one that's all sappy and lovey-dovey and over used for weddings. Yeah, the one that's all about love being patient and kind etc etc. Yeah, that one. The one about how beautiful and easy love it.
Except it's not. It's really not saying that love is easy. Pretty much the opposite in fact.
Fun fact for you. As a child I was in the church choir. We sang at loads of weddings. I used to love it. Partly because we got paid (which is always fun), but also because I just love weddings. I love looking at the dresses (and would occasionally draw my dream dress on a piece of tissue/scrap paper), deciding what music I wanted at my wedding, and deciding what readings I was going to have. Or more to the point, deciding which were way overused and would just be tacky. Right at the top of that list was 1 Cor 13:4-7.
Then I went to a retreat at Ampleforth Abbey. And you know that expression "Mind Blown"? Yeah, that pretty much sums up my attitude towards that passage.
The monk (and much to my shame I have forgotten which one it was) told us that whenever a couple come to him wanting this reading, he tells them to go away, read it again properly, and then come back to him. It's not about love being sweet and pleasant and easy, it's hard and tough and difficult.
Love is always patient, Love is never jealous, it is never rude, it is always ready to make allowances.
Not just when you feel like it, not just when you're in the right mood. Not even just when the situation deserves it. Always and Never.
Always and Never.
So now, I want this reading at my wedding (y'know, if it ever happens). Pretty much anything else is up for discussion (well, as long as it's a Catholic Mass), but that has to be a reading. Oh, and I want the priest to discuss that in the homily.
I once heard someone very wise say that when you can replace the word love with your name, you are truly love. So although I fail (and I fail often), I aim to be able to say "Ann is always patient, Ann is never jealous..."
Always and Never.
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Valentines is coming...
In many previous years this time of year has made me incredibly sad. Well, a combination of feeling like wallowing in tears and wanting to throw up at the extreme soppiness that's around. Big red hearts everywhere: "Buy me for your loved one!" "You need me to make your relationship last!" "You're not worth anything if you're not in a relationship!"
Okay, I don't think that last one is the intention, but it certainly seems to be the message implied. It almost brings love down to the level of "he who loves the most, will buy the most." If you don't buy me expensive gifts, you clearly don't love me enough.
The teddies and cards and flowers and tea infusers (yes, Paperchase is selling valentines tea infusers - they have a tag on that says "You're just my cup of tea" - If I liked tea I would probably be unable to resist buying it for myself...) are all very lovely, but what do they actually say about love?
Is love, and should love be shown through gifts? Well, perhaps if you're a gifts love person (I'll try and do a post about the 5 love languages at some point, but in the meantime, go google! It's fascinating), but then you're all about the thought, and not about the money. Should Valentine's day even be all about couples?
Now I seem to be perpetually single, but right now I'm perfectly happy with that. I'm learning how to love myself, so that, if marriage is in my future, I can love better. Learning to know myself so that I can learn more about what I need in a future husband.
So this year, instead of all the valentines decor making me think "I wish I had someone to buy that for me" or "I wish someone would send me a dozen red roses" it's making me see the love everywhere. (Well, okay, I'm probably never going to stop wishing someone would send me flowers, but hey, a girl can hope, right?)
A couple of years ago there was a bit of a campaign to make Singles Awareness Day a thing. Celebrated on the 15th February, it never seemed to me like a great idea. People who are unhappy about being single, and make more unhappy by Valentines Day, aren't going to suddenly be made happy again by a day which draws even more awareness to it...
To my mind, the better thing to do would be to try and make Valentines Day about all forms of love. Familial love, friendship love, love for a stranger.
Why not challenge yourself to show an act of love and of kindness to someone you might not usually. Give a "You're beautiful" card to someone alone in the street. Visit the elderly neighbour who lives by themself. Send a note to a work-colleague with something you admire about them.
So what are my plans for this single yet again Valentines? Well, I'm going to spend some time with Jesus, some friends, and a whole load of other Catholic youths at Youth2000 in Leeds
So how about you? Single? Coupled up? Happy with how you are? Any ideas for ways to spread the love on Valentines? Let me know in the comments below!
Okay, I don't think that last one is the intention, but it certainly seems to be the message implied. It almost brings love down to the level of "he who loves the most, will buy the most." If you don't buy me expensive gifts, you clearly don't love me enough.
The teddies and cards and flowers and tea infusers (yes, Paperchase is selling valentines tea infusers - they have a tag on that says "You're just my cup of tea" - If I liked tea I would probably be unable to resist buying it for myself...) are all very lovely, but what do they actually say about love?
Is love, and should love be shown through gifts? Well, perhaps if you're a gifts love person (I'll try and do a post about the 5 love languages at some point, but in the meantime, go google! It's fascinating), but then you're all about the thought, and not about the money. Should Valentine's day even be all about couples?
Now I seem to be perpetually single, but right now I'm perfectly happy with that. I'm learning how to love myself, so that, if marriage is in my future, I can love better. Learning to know myself so that I can learn more about what I need in a future husband.
So this year, instead of all the valentines decor making me think "I wish I had someone to buy that for me" or "I wish someone would send me a dozen red roses" it's making me see the love everywhere. (Well, okay, I'm probably never going to stop wishing someone would send me flowers, but hey, a girl can hope, right?)
A couple of years ago there was a bit of a campaign to make Singles Awareness Day a thing. Celebrated on the 15th February, it never seemed to me like a great idea. People who are unhappy about being single, and make more unhappy by Valentines Day, aren't going to suddenly be made happy again by a day which draws even more awareness to it...
To my mind, the better thing to do would be to try and make Valentines Day about all forms of love. Familial love, friendship love, love for a stranger.
Why not challenge yourself to show an act of love and of kindness to someone you might not usually. Give a "You're beautiful" card to someone alone in the street. Visit the elderly neighbour who lives by themself. Send a note to a work-colleague with something you admire about them.
So what are my plans for this single yet again Valentines? Well, I'm going to spend some time with Jesus, some friends, and a whole load of other Catholic youths at Youth2000 in Leeds
So how about you? Single? Coupled up? Happy with how you are? Any ideas for ways to spread the love on Valentines? Let me know in the comments below!
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Patron Saint of Irony?
God definitely has a strange sense of humour...
I've been reading quite a few blog posts recently which talk about taking a patron saint for the year. I'd heard someone speak a few years ago about how they allow God to show them a new saint to journey with each year and at the time had thought it was a beautiful idea. As usual though, I never quite got round to it...
The blog posts I looked at all mentioned the following website: http://jenniferfulwiler.com/saints/
Easy and simple. Click the button, pray for the right saint to come to you, and click again.
I clicked the first time half absentmindedly, wondering who it might be, so was very glad for the prompt to pray about who it would be.
Then came the big reveal... Who is it? Who is it?
St. Honorius of Amiens.
Oooh... not a saint I've heard of before. That's exciting. I get to learn about someone new.
Okay, what else does this tell me about the saint?
Feast Day: 16th May
Right, I shall have to try and remember that and do something special. It's a few days after my mother's birthday, so that might prompt me...
Okay, next up...
Patronage: Against Drought; Bakers; Bakers of Holy Wafers; Cake Makers; Candlemakers; Chandlers; Confectioners; Corn Chandlers; Florists; Flour Merchants; Oil Refiners; Pastry Chefs
Oh... Really?
Now Cake Makers I can get right behind. I love baking!
However, lately I've been having digestive issues (suspected ibs) and since October I've been trying a funny diet called the FODMAP diet. There are plenty of resources around on the internet if you want to go and look it up, but the essentials of it are no fructose, no lactose, and no gluten.
Yes, that's right. I'm currently avoiding flour and I've been given the patron saint of flour merchants and lots of things that involve gluten. Irony levels right now are pretty high...
But, there must be a reason behind it, and I'm sure that it will be revealed in time.
Has anyone else picked a saint for the year? Anything unusual about them? Do feel free to share!
I've been reading quite a few blog posts recently which talk about taking a patron saint for the year. I'd heard someone speak a few years ago about how they allow God to show them a new saint to journey with each year and at the time had thought it was a beautiful idea. As usual though, I never quite got round to it...
The blog posts I looked at all mentioned the following website: http://jenniferfulwiler.com/saints/
Easy and simple. Click the button, pray for the right saint to come to you, and click again.
I clicked the first time half absentmindedly, wondering who it might be, so was very glad for the prompt to pray about who it would be.
Then came the big reveal... Who is it? Who is it?
St. Honorius of Amiens.
Oooh... not a saint I've heard of before. That's exciting. I get to learn about someone new.
Okay, what else does this tell me about the saint?
Feast Day: 16th May
Right, I shall have to try and remember that and do something special. It's a few days after my mother's birthday, so that might prompt me...
Okay, next up...
Patronage: Against Drought; Bakers; Bakers of Holy Wafers; Cake Makers; Candlemakers; Chandlers; Confectioners; Corn Chandlers; Florists; Flour Merchants; Oil Refiners; Pastry Chefs
Oh... Really?
Now Cake Makers I can get right behind. I love baking!
However, lately I've been having digestive issues (suspected ibs) and since October I've been trying a funny diet called the FODMAP diet. There are plenty of resources around on the internet if you want to go and look it up, but the essentials of it are no fructose, no lactose, and no gluten.
Yes, that's right. I'm currently avoiding flour and I've been given the patron saint of flour merchants and lots of things that involve gluten. Irony levels right now are pretty high...
But, there must be a reason behind it, and I'm sure that it will be revealed in time.
Has anyone else picked a saint for the year? Anything unusual about them? Do feel free to share!
Saturday, 17 January 2015
30 before 30
A year or so ago I thought it would be fun to come up with a 30 before 30 list.
Being the grand old ago of 26 I've only got a few years left to do this, so I'd better get started...
I started the list on pinterest and then half forgot about it. Having remembered earlier this evening, I figured it would be a good idea to see where I'd got to with them.
Turns out I only put 10 on there, so to start with I shall add in a new one...
1. Create this list. (This totally counts, right?)
2. Pray the Divine Office every day for a month (or at least morning and evening pray). - I think Lent would be a wonderful time to try and do this, so I'll give it a go then.
3. Go on a silent retreat.
4. Attend a Papal Mass - I did technically attend a Papal Mass at World Youth Day in Madrid, but since I was having fun with heatstroke or exhaustion or something, I don't remember anything. I know it was a bit wet and windy... (I have been informed that there was a huge thunderstorm and it has been referred to fondly by others as the night the Pope's hat fell off). Which brings me onto my next one...
5. Attend (another) World Youth Day. Now since there's only going to be one before I'm 30, I'm a little limited. Krakow it shall have to be! Only slight potential issue there is health... I would love to go but may have to think a bit seriously about it.
6.Attempt couch to 5k - I think I can cross this one off. I did attempt it, and completed the first week, but my knees don't like it. I might give it another go one day, but for now I think it may have to be it.
7. Visit Auchswitz
8. Go on a road trip
9. Spend New Years in Times Square - I'm not sure about this anymore. a) I suspect it would be too crowded to be enjoyable anyway, and b) there's no way it's going to happen financially, not in the next 3 years anyway. If I think of something better I can always replace it.
10. Pilgrimage to Rome - I've visited Rome a few times, but always just as a tourist. I think going mainly for the religious side of it would be wonderful.
11. Read 100 new books - I think I should start a new page and keep track of what I've read to see if I can succeed with this!
12.Sell something I've made - Done this Christmas! I sold two pairs of fingerless mittens.
Right, now for some new ones...
13. Visit Assisi.
14. Get my honours degree
15. Go to Disney (World, land, Paris, I don't care, I just want to be a princess!)
16. Find a job I actually want to do/have
17. Figure out my vocation (as if it's going to be that easy...)
18.Read every book CS Lewis has written Just looked at his bibliography. Yeah... That's not happening. Editing it to: Reading all of his signature classics.
19. Walk the Camino (or at least the last section)
20. Go to work with an Ash Wednesday cross on my forehead.
21. Make enough items of clothing for myself to be able to wear a different outfit every day for a week.
21. Make a full costume for myself and attend MCM comic con wearing it. (Currently thinking either Ariel or Anna)
22. Dye my hair proper full on Ariel pillar box red.
23. Figure out my diet/what makes me ill
24...
Hmm... I seem to be running out of ideas... If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
Being the grand old ago of 26 I've only got a few years left to do this, so I'd better get started...
I started the list on pinterest and then half forgot about it. Having remembered earlier this evening, I figured it would be a good idea to see where I'd got to with them.
Turns out I only put 10 on there, so to start with I shall add in a new one...
1. Create this list. (This totally counts, right?)
2. Pray the Divine Office every day for a month (or at least morning and evening pray). - I think Lent would be a wonderful time to try and do this, so I'll give it a go then.
3. Go on a silent retreat.
4. Attend a Papal Mass - I did technically attend a Papal Mass at World Youth Day in Madrid, but since I was having fun with heatstroke or exhaustion or something, I don't remember anything. I know it was a bit wet and windy... (I have been informed that there was a huge thunderstorm and it has been referred to fondly by others as the night the Pope's hat fell off). Which brings me onto my next one...
5. Attend (another) World Youth Day. Now since there's only going to be one before I'm 30, I'm a little limited. Krakow it shall have to be! Only slight potential issue there is health... I would love to go but may have to think a bit seriously about it.
6.
7. Visit Auchswitz
8. Go on a road trip
9. Spend New Years in Times Square - I'm not sure about this anymore. a) I suspect it would be too crowded to be enjoyable anyway, and b) there's no way it's going to happen financially, not in the next 3 years anyway. If I think of something better I can always replace it.
10. Pilgrimage to Rome - I've visited Rome a few times, but always just as a tourist. I think going mainly for the religious side of it would be wonderful.
11. Read 100 new books - I think I should start a new page and keep track of what I've read to see if I can succeed with this!
12.
Right, now for some new ones...
13. Visit Assisi.
14. Get my honours degree
15. Go to Disney (World, land, Paris, I don't care, I just want to be a princess!)
16. Find a job I actually want to do/have
17. Figure out my vocation (as if it's going to be that easy...)
18.
19. Walk the Camino (or at least the last section)
20. Go to work with an Ash Wednesday cross on my forehead.
21. Make enough items of clothing for myself to be able to wear a different outfit every day for a week.
21. Make a full costume for myself and attend MCM comic con wearing it. (Currently thinking either Ariel or Anna)
22. Dye my hair proper full on Ariel pillar box red.
23. Figure out my diet/what makes me ill
24...
Hmm... I seem to be running out of ideas... If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
Sunday, 11 January 2015
New Years, new post!
Well that went really well...
No posts since September? Well done me.
Time to try again. I'd quite like to attempt to actually write on here more regularly, so new years resolution is to try and post at least a couple of times a month. Maybe it'll be more, who knows?
Anyway, I have just got back from the cinema and seeing Into The Woods (a really rather fabulous film) with the lovely Christine and Bekah. Friend time is something I don't get enough of, and really should try and increase instead of just spending hours at home watching Netflix... I'm terrible at staying in contact with people, so should really try and get better at doing that.
I've been struggling a little with where I am at the moment in terms of life - part time jobs, living at home with the family, not being particularly near people I know...
Bekah had some wonderful words of wisdom that I wanted to get down on paper, so figure why not use them for a post on here?
She compared life to being like watching the sunrise. It doesn't matter what you do, the sun will rise. Doesn't matter how hard you wish it, it won't rise any faster. The best thing to do is to pay attention and enjoy every moment of the process of sunrise. If you miss that particular moment, it won't come round again. If you miss that pink, or the way that cloud catches the rising sun at that moment, you won't see it again. Yes, it's dark to begin with, yes it may be freezing cold and you may wish you were somewhere else or that it was warmer, but there is real beauty there if you watch for it.
Beautiful, right? What a fabulous girl she is.
So that's my target for now. Watch for the beautiful moments. Enjoy my jobs, enjoy spending time with my family. With a couple of illnesses at the moment, the last one feels particularly important - you never know how long you'll have with them. Stop doing the whole 'the grass is always greener' thing, and learn to be happy where you are. It's tough, but I need to give it a go.
So there we have it. Three targets for the year ahead. Be better at staying in touch with people, write on here, and learn to be happy. No biggie...
No posts since September? Well done me.
Time to try again. I'd quite like to attempt to actually write on here more regularly, so new years resolution is to try and post at least a couple of times a month. Maybe it'll be more, who knows?
Anyway, I have just got back from the cinema and seeing Into The Woods (a really rather fabulous film) with the lovely Christine and Bekah. Friend time is something I don't get enough of, and really should try and increase instead of just spending hours at home watching Netflix... I'm terrible at staying in contact with people, so should really try and get better at doing that.
I've been struggling a little with where I am at the moment in terms of life - part time jobs, living at home with the family, not being particularly near people I know...
Bekah had some wonderful words of wisdom that I wanted to get down on paper, so figure why not use them for a post on here?
She compared life to being like watching the sunrise. It doesn't matter what you do, the sun will rise. Doesn't matter how hard you wish it, it won't rise any faster. The best thing to do is to pay attention and enjoy every moment of the process of sunrise. If you miss that particular moment, it won't come round again. If you miss that pink, or the way that cloud catches the rising sun at that moment, you won't see it again. Yes, it's dark to begin with, yes it may be freezing cold and you may wish you were somewhere else or that it was warmer, but there is real beauty there if you watch for it.
Beautiful, right? What a fabulous girl she is.
So that's my target for now. Watch for the beautiful moments. Enjoy my jobs, enjoy spending time with my family. With a couple of illnesses at the moment, the last one feels particularly important - you never know how long you'll have with them. Stop doing the whole 'the grass is always greener' thing, and learn to be happy where you are. It's tough, but I need to give it a go.
So there we have it. Three targets for the year ahead. Be better at staying in touch with people, write on here, and learn to be happy. No biggie...
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