We are well over halfway through this year and wow, its been a different one. Not what we expected. Despite it all, “I’m still standing after all this time. Feeling like a true survivor….”
Here’s some answers to some questions that no one asked for?
MAKING: Tik toks. So many tik tok’s. I have a hundred new ideas for tik tok every day. I am addicted. What can I say? I get such a rush every time I create more content. And there’s so many smiles as well. Mostly I make trick videos with Finn but I have such a long list of ones I want to make.
COOKING: Delicious mac and cheese with broccoli and jalapeno kranskies. Parmesan on top and baked on the oven. Delicious. I am in a mac and cheese coma. And it was even delicious at 5am this morning before I went to work.
DRINKING: Water. So much water. Lots of other things too but I’m making it a habit to carry water everywhere with me and I think it’s working. Especially when I take it to work.
READING: Oath taker, Kingdom of Runes. Good recommendation. Good book. I’ve really been reading some rad fantasy now. It’s so escapist and I’m totally obsessed with it.
TRAWLING: The internet for jobs that I don’t have the time to apply for.
WANTING: To leave Melbourne. I don’t think I really wanted to be here anyway in the first place and now I get to experience stage four restrictions here……
LOOKING: Like a model. Decided to dress up a little and take some immaculate posing photos. It was amazing. I vibe with myself so hard. Beautiful on the inside and out.
DECIDING: To appreciate all the awesome things I have going for me in my life right now. Including myself.
WISHING: I lived in a mask free world. Also wishing I could go for a hike or a long run.
ENJOYING: The handwritten letter I received yesterday from my best mate and previous housemate for the last 2 years. I hadn’t heard from her in a while and she wrote me this huge heartfelt letter and it absolutely made my day. I sent her a super long response back and it was very wholesome to write everything down. If you are currently stuck in lockdown or even if you aren’t, I recommend sending a letter to a friend. It is amazing to receive mail from someone close to you. I make a habit of writing to friends whenever I can. It hits different to messaging them on fb.
WAITING: For the next book in the blood and ash series to be released. September isn’t far away now! Can’t wait. Good books are the foundation of my distraction world that I have created.
LIKING: Work. It’s a fundamental time killer in these weird times. I go in to work and disappear into a vortex and before I know it 8 hours have passed. I busy myself detail cleaning, running shift and stickering uber bags, which has become my go to at work. There’s so much delivery it’s a tall task to keep up with. I also love making cup trays. Work is also great social time to chat to all my colleagues and check in with them. Love the human interaction almost as much as I love stickering uber bags.
WONDERING: What the world will look like this time next year. So much uncertainty that everyone is struggling to cope with, and no one really knows what the future will look like. What will travel look like in the future? Will we ever be able to have a casual house party or go see a band without social distancing? Will we be able to hug people again? When? Or is this just life forever now?
LOVING: My creative writing course with the Australian Writing Center. I love having assignments to turn in every-week, even if I am a little slack with the coursework. And flexing my creative writing skills is growing my abilities to both write and take constructive criticism. I have a feeling this won’t be my last course….
LISTENING: Folklore by Taylor Swift, her new album just hits me with all the vibes. It is such a gift in these times! Also, the Sam Gash podcast because it is so inspiring and real.
CONSIDERING: Adding in some yoga, meditation and strength training into my routine. Yes, running is great, but I need to work on some other areas of my physical and mental health.
BUYING: Too many things really. Next up on the list is probably a tripod to film more content with. And a remote control for my phone so I can take pics without being on self-timer.
WATCHING: The vampire diaries again. It is almost as good as the first time I watched it. Except for after season 5 or 6 it gets a little lame. But I still love that show to bits. Its great background to have on while pottering around doing things. The first time I watched it I was at uni and just in a different season of life and so it takes me back to that time when I am re-watching it.
HOPING: That I will find the time to apply for some jobs. I’m so busy with all my projects, hobbies and still working quite a few hours so it would be good if I could carve out the time for something a little more important than my content creation obsession. But hey, here I am writing this article instead of applying for jobs……
MARVELING: At how there’s basically no traffic. And I have yet to be pulled over by the police and use my ‘essential’ worker permit even when driving home or to work at like 11pm. Surely its only a matter of time?
CRINGING: At everyone who does not wear a mask correctly. As I am in a place where facial coverings are mandatory it pains me to see people with their noses sticking out or pulling down their face mask to talk to me. Cringeworthy.
NEEDING: Less traffic on the trails. More sleep. More time. More routes to run. More rural areas to run in. Time with my friends. My own space. Peace and quiet.
QUESTIONING: What the point of life is.
WEARING: Shorts today, as I was inspired by the spring weather, and what a mood it was. I had an awesome walk with Finn in my fav shorts and new running shirt from Patagonia. And I danced my way through the sunshine while exploring the deserted golf course.
NOTICING: That so many women settle for so much less than what they are worth because they truly don’t appreciate how amazing they are. And therefore, they need another human to validate them. My tip, validate yourself. Date yourself and learn to love yourself. Then, set the bar a lot higher. If we don’t raise the bar, then nothing will change.
KNOWING: My worth and that it is not defined by my productivity or my career or by MEN.
THINKING: Way too much. So much that my brain literally will not turn off and I cannot sleep half the time.
ADMIRING: Lucy Bartholomew, Ultra running queen, for her positivity and inspirational 6 week series of spreading good vibes. Every week has a different theme like amazing plant-based recipes, remembering beautiful runs she has done in the past, focusing on coping strategies or strength training.
GETTING: Lots of cuddles in with Finn. Not as much random training as I would like due to low batteries on my end but making up for it with cuddles.
BOOKMARKING: A lot of tik tok’s I watch for future inspiration of tik toks I want to create. Also a lot of books I am adding to my ‘to be read’ pile. Oh also future adventures that I want to do when we are no longer locked down.
OPENING: Up to people about my experience of being in therapy. I really think more people should go to therapy. We can all benefit from learning more about ourselves and the way we have been shaped by our experiences in life. It allows us to rewire our thinking and begin to steer our own lives in the direction we want. Its empowering, and everyone should go.
CLOSING: The door on any sort of food shaming. Guilting yourself for eating delicious food is unhelpful. All food is okay in some moderation. Restriction leads to binges. Be kind to yourselves out there. Watch out for toxic skinny culture.
FEELING: Proud of myself for the life I have created for myself, my resilience in the face of hard times and my consistent performance at work leading to a recent award last week (manager of the week).
HEARING: The crackle of the winter fire. The rain pattering on the roof. The soft whuffles that my dog makes when he is sleeping.
CELEBRATING: People month at work where we have lollies and balloons every day, recognition and rewards on shift. Donut days, trivia nights and awesome videos made by all the managers that make me giggle so hard.
PRETENDING: That I am going to find time for 101 projects during this time when I have very little extra time for anything. HAHA
EMBRACING: The space to be with myself, sit with myself and just experience life as it comes. A lot of people are struggling with the lockdown because they have never spent a lot of time just sitting around. They also are fighting the discomfort. I both have spent a lot of time hanging out with myself and I am learning to just sit with discomfort instead of fighting it. But in some aspects of my life I think I am comfortable. And that’s a privilege.
Stay safe out there!
Credit for this template goes to Pip from Meet Me at Mike’s. Thank you!