so, you're not the same as everyone else? here's a secret...I'm not either :)

We are humans, not robots. We aren't programmed to act a certain way, we have a mixture of emotions, feelings, life experiences.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who worries and thinks about life...A LOT!  I worry where my life is currently at, where it's heading. But it's ok, I'm not programmed a certain way, I don't have to be the same as others. Nobodies life is set out a certain way, we all live different lives. What is normal for one, isn't normal for another. I keep reminding myself that and I think you should too.

I'm 23 and have only just managed to keep a job that I really enjoy with routine, purpose, structure, meaning. Some people might have been in work since they were 17, I don't know but does that matter? No, what matters to me is my life. I'm not working full time but I'm working, that is improvement and an achievement in itself after what I've managed to come through.

I've never drunk alcohol, unless you class the time I tried wine and spat it straight back into the glass (yes, I'm very elegant). So I've never been drunk. I personally think it's a waste of time and money, life is too short. I'd much rather spend money enjoying something I'm going to remember or buying something that I can keep and reuse. What do you get from alcohol? A foggy memory? A wasted next day? A banging head ache? Sick in the toilet the next morning? A stranger in your bed? A regretted night? I don't know...I'm just guessing a few things you might get. I'm sure you could get worse too.

I'm single, should that really have such a judgement surrounding it? I don't think so. But for some reason it isn't ok to be single, you must always be on the hunt for love, hunting for the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Should this be the case? Personally I don't think so but that's just my opinion.

Remember, not everyone goes through the same stuff, the same phases, the same life experiences. We all live different lives, some of our lives might be similar but without a doubt a little element of your life will be different to someone elses.

If you're reading this, I want you to stop being so hard on yourself. Stop comparing yourself to others. Live your life the best you can, you're doing a great job! X

one year, twelve goals...half way there!

At the beginning of the year I created a list of twelve things I'd like to achieve by the end of 2015. If you want to see the original post then you can do so by clicking here (I'm going to recap them all again in here but hey ho...whatever floats your boat my friend) and if you fancy reading my last update in March then be my guest, pick me.

I'm enjoying checking back on my goals and seeing how far I've come in the past few months, in this case the past six months...how on earth are we half way through the year already?

Let's get this show on the road?

1. Meet atleast 3 online friends.
If you don't follow me on instagram then you probably won't know but if you do follow me, oops for all the spam! I still can't believe I've met an online friend from so far away! I'm classing these 3 as my 3 online friends...so woo hoo, one goal complete!


What was that? You want to hear allllll about it? Of course I've blogged about it, right....here!

2. Attend one or more concerts.
Concerts attended this year, a grand total of two and a half. Yes, a half. I went for the majority of a Boyzone concert, got really bad stomach ache went and laid in the car. But let's not focus on the crappyness of that! I sang and danced away at two very different concerts, in two very different environments. I'm a more outdoors kind of girl, don't put me in a crowded indoor place...not a big fan. I've blogged about both concerts, Olly Murs and The Vamps. (a little birdy tells me by clicking their names you'll get to those posts)...


3. Save more money than I spend.
*swiftly moves on*

4. Take a weekend break.
None taken, none booked, none being looked at.

5. Read one book every month.
Just over half way through the year and I've read a total of seven books. Recent ones I've read are 'If I Stay', 'Where She Went', 'Just One Day' and 'Just One Year', all written by Gayle Forman. I'm not overly impressed with them and in all honesty I won't be rushing to buy anymore of her books, each book has a second book to it. So two stories, over four books. I bought them and it seemed a waste not to read them and see if they improved. I can't seem to connect fully with the stories, I can't get lost in her books. I don't feel the excitement to pick up the book, I'm not left thinking about it or reading until I can't keep my eyes open for a single second.

6. Tackle the stigma surrounding mental health more.
Ongoing, ongoing, ongoing. I feel like I'm in a battle between wanting to raise awareness but not wanting to be fully known or judged by it (that's the stigma for ya)...does that make sense? Honestly, there is a heck of a lot more to me than my mental health.

7. Drink more water.
I'm drinking a lot more than I used to. I've started buying big bottled water packs in the supermarket instead of a diet coke, so that is progress in itself.

8. Spread my blogging wings a little more.
Spreading my blogging wings is blogging about other things other than mental health, you know like life, friends, concerts, nail polish... *ppppssstttt* the nail polish one tells you about my latest favourite and I highly recommend it. You can look through the archive for other posts I've spreaded ( that is a word, yes? no?) my wings with, if you want to that is.


9. Keep my diary up to date.
I'm getting better at this, I'll probably be fully caught up and organised by the time December comes around then I can start all over again.

10. Cook more meals.
Hmmmm, can't think of anything recently that I've cooked. Quick and easy shepherds pie is one of my favourites, the nicest I've ever eaten. With lambs mince, carrots, peas, onions, Worcestershire sauce and garlic bread...let me know if you wanna hear about that. 

11. Enquire more about braces.
I enquired, haven't been to the dentists yet...I'm due a check up in the next few months. But unfortunately I still haven't won the lottery so I don't think I'll be spending almost £3,000 on braces...I don't have that kind of money.

12. Move...more.
I'm always on the go, unless I'm sat at my desk at work or sat blogging or sat watching tv or in the bath. Ok, maybe not always...most of the time? I've been for the occasional run, trying to make it a regular thing...watch this space. Trying is better than not trying though, right?