The Annual goals update: 2020 edition

Straight from the whiteboard above my bed….

• Do a writing course: This one is simple but beautiful. I have always wanted to pursue my writing and since I started listening to a favorite writing podcast of mine (So you want to be a writer) I have always wanted to do one of the courses. Well during COVID I was bored for about a week there, so I signed up for one. And it was awesome! I even made writing friends that I still chat with, and I gained my confidence back in my writing, helping me to get further in my novel than ever before.

• Complete a 22km trail run: My big race in the blue mountains was what was supposed to be my big debut onto the trail running scene (probably at a wild 8min/km pace) but instead it was cancelled. I ran a backyard trail half marathon on the local trails, with a lot less elevation and a lot of lolly snakes, but it was about 23kms of running all up! I am damn proud of that. For 2021, I am hoping to run in the blue mountains for real this time and I am hoping to crack the 50k next!

• Pay off debt: Well, I still owe bucketloads in my hex debt. But my personal loans are paid back, and I have saved a ton of money/and am still saving. Its something to be excited about as I have been surviving on an exceedingly small amount of cash for an exceptionally long time and owing money to someone was not something I enjoyed. Happy to have paid it back and grateful to have had work during such a difficult year.

• Compete in dog competitions: I have not done as much as I would have liked but way back at the start of the year when we were allowed out, I managed to get out to a competition! Finn and I competed in two-disc dog competitions for the first time, we met a bunch of new people and learned a bunch of games. It was tough to put myself out there, but I am glad I did. Making friends in my niche hobbies is a goal of mine.

• Move out/find full time work: I did not achieve this goal sadly, but I would of without COVID. I gained a full-time job and everything however was unable to cross state lines. I am counting this as a goal achieved even though I am now currently back to square one. I am back in full job application mode and have no doubt that the right opportunity is just out there waiting for me!

• Amateur dog training: I did get paid a small amount for some official dog training. I am not sure I was 100% successful and it reminded me that the human is the most challenging part of dog training. Looking forward I am reconsidering if this is really an area I want to work in and potentially getting qualified. I do really love working with dogs and their brains though. I would argue mission successful.

• Start new blog: I did. But I only posted twice, so not sure if that counts. To be honest I have been struggling to even write for this blog, a lot of my creative juice has been flowing into my novel. But at least I started it. And have randomly gained many followers in the last week for no apparent reason.

• Therapy: Oh 2020 has been a year of learning. Learning that I am not weak just because I need a little bit of help in life. I have been chasing the tail of being chronically fatigued for most of my adult life and that path has led me down to therapy. When the doctor could not find a single thing wrong with me physically the next answer was that it was potentially coming from my mental health. Overall, I love to talk so I kind of like therapy in that way. For me, the hardest part was getting there and starting. But damn it has been a year of mindfulness, unpacking trauma and working super hard at self-care. I am not really cured, but damn I am getting better at accepting that.

 

I think next years goals are going to look a lot different than this year. Of course, I still have my giant list of achievements that I want to tick off. But I also think I will be focusing more on cultivating intangible things in my life. And pushing hard for better boundaries that are better aligned with my values.

Of course, I’ve already got a list going to name a few of my more ambitious goals…early to call it but I would say these are some things currently on my list…

-Run 50ks

-Finish first draft of novel

-Agility with Finn

-Get back into horses

-Go scuba diving

2021 HERE WE COME!

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Slowing down

COVID has been a tough time for many around the world. For most of us it is our first experience of a worldwide pandemic and many of us have realized that so much of our daily lives we previously took for granted. Sometimes it feels so surreal I think maybe I’ve dreamt the last 8 months or so. I’ve had the unfortunate time of being in lockdown for about 6 months now. The last few months having been far more severe than the beginning when we were all laughing about toilet paper. While I may have a “make the most out of it” outlook even the most positive of us are wavering in the face of this unrelenting virus and the challenges it poses to us. So, I would like to talk about it.

I like running for my mental health. Partly because I’m an overachiever, partly because I like getting outdoors and partly because of the chemical effects of exercise. I need that serotonin, or I become super depressed. Unfortunately, COVID has been cramping my style just a little bit.

Mask wearing is my least favorite, now while we don’t have to actually wear masks while “running” we do have to wear them while outside at all times if not running. This is problematic as I do a lot of intervals where I walk then run. I am still out of breath while taking a walk break but then I pass someone and must hurriedly pull up my mask. I despise the constant stress of seeing people and the up and down of pulling up the mask. This has led me to two options. I way prefer either just running non-stop which is good for my fitness, except that I’m losing my fitness as I don’t want to leave the house and deal with perils of the mask on world.

I’ve also become classically conditioned to resent every person I run into while exercising because they are just someone who makes me wear a mask or that I have to take a wide berth around because they are not making an effort to socially distance. Also, if I’m not allowed to interact with any other humans then I would rather just see none of them out on the streets. I would like to live in a real apocalyptic world where my dog and I are the only ones left on earth.

Coming in a close second the 5km from home real has been cramping my running style in this last lockdown. The variety of routes and trails available to me is rather limited and this has been incredible de motivating for me. I am pretty much rotating between 3 main routes that I do repeatedly on an exhausting loop. They are nice routes and I am lucky. But nothing puts a bouncy spring in my step as exploring a new trail and following a path that I don’t know where I’m going to end up. Generally, my average pace gets faster on new trails just because I’m so excited. The upside is I have become the local legend for doing some serious attempts at the same trails repeatedly.

The 1-hour max of exercise rule was incredibly challenging for my running! Goodbye long runs because the trail death of doing the same distance every day. That is however far you can run within a 1-hour time frame. The answer for me is not particularly far. We are now amped up to 2 hours but I’m still uninspired overall. Although I did have a ‘return to long run’ day that was pretty good where I used the full 2 hours. The pressure of the time limit though has me turning around sooner rather than later for fear of ‘breaking the rules.’ Extra fun is being out on my run and watching others flout the current restrictions without a care in the world.

The sheer volume of people outside. For me my outside time is sacred. Whether run or walk I enjoy the peace and quiet and listening to nature as I plod along at my preferred pace. This is super hard after dodging the 10^th hoard of bikers or family that is taking up the entire path and doing circles around me. Or the out of control Labrador that the family must wrangle to get back away from my dog because they have no recall on their dog. Getting into my social distancing bubble to do so, which is not ideal to say the least. The point is it’s not particularly peaceful outside now with every man and his dog utilizing their only escape from the world. Their outside time.

No actual goals. 2020 has been called the year of cancellation, and I can relate. So many things have been cancelled this year. Its just cancellation after cancellation. And so many of the races I had planned for this year have been eliminated as potential goals. Now of course I’m still going to run because I’m not all about the races, but at the same time it just feels like I’m aimlessly heading towards god knows where because I have so many limits placed on me. I can’t even do my own self supported marathon virtually because that would currently break other restrictions.

In summary I know I am incredibly privileged to have a safe place to live, a job and many other beautiful things around me that help keep me sane. But at the same time, so many things we used to take for granted are now gone. And it wears on you, little by little, as we continue our lockdown.

One thing’s for sure: once I am really allowed to go again, I will be chasing mountains.

What’s one thing that COVID has taken away from you?

Home

Snowflakes settle on my cold heart
Another winter of waiting
Wasted time, wasted on life
I would rather be out on the ice, skating

Frozen lakes, trees piled with snow
A winter wonderland, a frozen show
It does get dark, far in the north
But seasons changing, brings forth

New life, and a feeling of joy
As the sun comes out,
Behold, a whole new land
Oh the changing of seasons is grand

I long to be out on the lake
Maybe in a canoe,
The water is endless
Soak in the view

I can picture it all,
I am endlessly wanting
Its weird but I cant shake
The feeling, its haunting

But alas I am stuck
I should’ve acted before
Now my dreams are like ashes
And my hearts on the floor

The smell of eucalyptus
Is one I have come to love
But my first love was pine needles
They are the ones I’m thinking of

I know it won’t be easy
In a sled dog race
But I see it when I close my eyes
And dream about this place

Mushing through the blizzard
Riding through the white
Picture it with me
Wouldn’t we be a sight?

All I can hope
Is that I find my way there
Hike in the mountains
Come across a bear

Only then I will take,
A deep draught of the air
I’m home I will say
I’m finally there

Invisible Illness

Wasted or wasting away?

Time passes slowly when awake

Like a feeling I can’t shake

Don’t know how much more I can take

 

I put on a face

Whichever face you want

But inside, the drought is here

Drink coffee to survive the year

 

My lake is empty

Tears have all rained

Although I sleep a lot

I’m always drained

 

Sleep is the abyss; it calls to me

Snooze the alarm for the 14^th time

Begging for just one more

Who’s keeping score?

 

Some days are okay

Exhaustion feels lighter

Like sunshine peeking through clouds

Or maybe I’m a fighter

 

But he’s here to stay

Though I’ve tried to tell him to leave

Just let me feel the joy

Maybe that’s naïve

 

The hardest part of all

Is the perception that you are lazy

That’s the trouble with invisible illness

Maybe I’ve gone crazy?

 

Or maybe I’m just here

To judge my own story

Alright let’s pretend then,

Everything is hunky dory

 

Now I’m waking up,

It’s another new day

I’ve got the passion for my life

I just can’t see the way

 

I told my bones not to be tired

I’m only 24

They didn’t listen

And now I’m on the floor

 

It makes no sense

How do people live in society?

Oh, but did I forget to mention

It’s probably my anxiety

 

Keeping me up, driving me insane

Taking all my energy,

Anxiety,

‘STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE’

 

As my head hits the pillow

Another day is done

I wonder if tomorrow

Will be any more fun?

100 things that I love

So many things to love….

1. The rain. I love rain. Just any water brings me all the joy.
2. Cuddling with my dogs
3. Finishing a run that I didn’t think I would be able to finish when I started it
4. The moment your head hits the pillow after a long day
5. Doing something for the first time
6. Winter
7. When all the leaves turn red in autumn
8. The smell of rain
9. Running in the rain and getting totally soaked (Yep I really love rain)
10. Road trips with tunes and podcasts
11. Visiting with a good friend
12. Singing while doing the dishes
13. Cleaning the house while listening to a good podcast
14. Sleeping in on my day off and not setting an alarm
15. Mastering a new trick with my dog
16. Going to the beach in winter when no one is there
17. Completing a run
18. Camping and staring into the fire
19. Skinny dipping
20. Watching my favourite tv show
21. Curling up with a good book
22. Doing a good jigsaw puzzle
23. Hiking with friends and having an awesome chat while doing so
24. Swimming in the river in summer with my dog
25. Coming home from the supermarket and knowing you have so much food
26. Having a shower after an overnight
27. Putting on new pyjamas and crawling into a freshly made clean sheet bed
28. Having a cup of tea and a chat with a friend
29. Buying something and wearing it till the end of its life
30. Finding something secondhand that you love and costs a lot less than retail price
31. Having a chat with a friend so good that you forget the time and forget where you are supposed to be
32. Talking about work with someone who gets where you work
33. Taking off a bra at the end of the day
34. The little whuffles that my dog makes when asleep
35. Watching my dog sleep in the car
36. New adventures to new places
37. Going anywhere by plane
38. A nice smelling candle
39. Raspberries
40. Chai lattes
41. Donuts
42. Baking and the smell of baking in the house
43. Also, other people enjoying my baking
44. Receiving handwritten letters from friends
45. Finishing the final exam on a subject at uni and knowing you are done with that subject
46. Writing down a cohesive piece of writing and finishing it
47. Taking a good photo
48. Laughing so hard that I can’t speak
49. Dancing it out
50. Sleeping with the fan on
51. Board games with good friends
52. Baked brie
53. Pad Thai
54. Satay anything
55. True crime and especially “my favourite murder” the podcast
56. When my dog wiggles because he is happy to see you and the wiggling takes over his entire body
57. Cantering on a horse or better yet, a good gallop
58. A good hug
59. Afternoon naps in the sun
60. Stand up paddle-boarding
61. Any sunset or sunrise
62. Scuba diving
63. Wearing thongs (the shoes)
64. Wearing stretchy leggings and big hoodies
65. Wearing jeans and knee-high boots
66. Being barefoot at the beach
67. Curling up in front of the fire
68. Cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows
69. When someone cooks me dinner
70. Meeting someone and finding that they are like a piece of your soul that has been missing all along
71. Running in any form
72. Planting new plants and getting your hands covered in dirt
73. Riding bareback at the beach
74. When your dog puts your head in your lap when you are crying
75. Talking to complete strangers and really connecting
76. Small acts of kindness
77. Listening to your favourite song repeatedly
78. Nailing a parallel parking spot
79. Hoop earrings
80. Summery flowy dresses
81. When someone makes a cup of tea for you
82. Kitchen chats with quality housemates
83. Having enough money in the bank to afford a holiday
84. Standing up on your bike and flying down a hill
85. Trail rides talking with friends
86. Tubing behind a boat
87. Looking back through all of my snapchat memories
88. Clean windows
89. Freshly mopped floors
90. Hosing yourself off when mucking out in summer or after a ride
91. White Christmas
92. Dressing up. Heels, dress, makeup the works.
93. Tucked in a warm winter bed with the window open and fresh air coming in
94. Storms
95. My car
96. The kindle App
97. Audiobooks
98. Receiving packages in the mail especially something youve spent ages considering buying and then also had to wait months to get
99. Bubbly sugary drinks
100. Yoga

Catch up Questions: The COVID Edition

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!

Cultivating Resilience

‘The toolbox of life’

Something I have come to realize in these strange times is that I have been fortunate enough in my life to have been provided with the tools I need to get through hard times. Ironically even before COVID took over the world I found life challenging in other ways. And because of those challenges I had to learn to survive and get through things, basically one day at a time. I am also fortunate enough to not have my life as heavily impacted so far as some other people. My life looks very similar to how it did pre-COVID. But regardless the world is still throwing up some roadblocks and as someone with a decent dose of anxiety in my system it is something to ‘get through’.

Here’s how I foster my resilience through the way I live, think and interact with the world.

Giving space

Its very important that you allow yourself to feel all the things. If you block emotions, they only come bursting out like a sleeping bag that you were trying to stuff all of them into. Feel whatever you need to feel and give yourself the space to feel that. And no, I’m not giving you permission to lash out with your anger or treat others like shit because that’s how you feel. But do see your emotions, acknowledge them, wave at them, think about why they are there? Why they are coming up? Emotions are great for reflection. Someone said to me once that when you feel ‘triggered’ that is the spot, dig there and you will find gold.

Finding joy

Amongst the darkest nights some light can usually be found. You notice what you focus on. So, try an exercise. Try focusing on any moments, no matter how tiny, that you felt some spark of a positive emotion or vibe. What sparked joy in your week? Maybe it was something so simple like laying down into your cozy bed after the end of a super tough week. But look for the things, and before you know it, you will notice them even more often. My current practice of noticing joy is something called a “Ta da” list. Instead of writing endless to do lists of what I must get done, I write lists celebrating all the things that I achieved this week. And it can be as little or as huge as you want. It can be that you got out of bed today, or that you told someone thank you, or that you took a moment to notice how damn good your food tasted today. Surprisingly my lists really add up, even on the darkest of weeks.

Surround yourself

One of my best tools for cultivating resilience is surrounding myself with people who give me energy. One of my best friends is my hype queen and supportive as can be in just about every situation. I wouldn’t survive without having such awesome people around me. And if you struggle to find them in your in-person life, then there are other ways. Another way that I get energy is from listening to podcast conversations that share the same sort of energy as me, the same sort of life values and understanding. Whether it be feminism, trail running or dog training. Find your tribe and surround yourself with them.

Self-care

Look. After. Yourself. I’m not going to say it again. You can’t do anything in life if you collapse from exhaustion or aren’t feeding yourself with the things that you need. Be in touch with yourself and be honest with when you need a break. Take a day off to just do nothing sometimes, no commitments, no responsibilities, and no feeling guilty about it, just pure and simple existing. Practice things that help you feel better. Like writing down your feelings, or taking a bubble bath, or going for a walk in the forest. Its different for everyone. Do it. There’s only one of you!

Do the work

We are not born with a perfectly programmed brain to deal with what life throws at us. Yes, humans are incredible, but life is unbelievably difficult and mental health is as important as it ever has been. Each of us starts as a blank canvas that is slowly painted on by a thousand different experiences and interactions that shape us and the way we think. When you should and when you want to seek help are two different things. But think of it this way, whatever you fill your cup with, when life comes along and shakes you, will inevitably fall out. So, doing the pre-work means that you will be more prepared for the inevitable shakedown of life. Of course, we are all on our own journey and what it takes for everyone to get to that point where they are ready to do the work on themselves is different for everyone. But I will warn you that some people never get there. Don’t be that person. Learn about yourself, challenge your own ideas and perceptions of life, and grow. Never stop growing.

So that’s my two cents on how you can arm yourself with the tools to survive this. Yes, we don’t know what’s ahead, but we aren’t going to get to know until we get there. Lets just keep driving and try to stay on the road, shall we?

Take care of yourself.

The opinion

Ah the opinion is a tricky thing. Everyone has one. Not everyone needs to share one in all situations. We are a varied people. Each individual forms their own worldview based on their life experiences. The challenge I have found, is understanding when it is an appropriate time to share and when it is not at all an appropriate time to voice your opinion.

So, let’s talk about it. And, it goes without saying that this piece is MY OPINION.

When you don’t need to share your opinion

When someone is discussing a problem, they are having. Here is the thing; UNLESS THEY EXPLICITLY ASK YOU what you think about the situation, they DO NOT need to hear your judgements of their life. One of my friends wisely said that “we beat ourselves up enough over our own lives, we don’t need our friends berating us and adding fuel to the fire”. And I must be honest, I think this is a very accurate statement. What do they need to hear instead of your magical solution? They need to hear empathy and understanding, and validation of their pain. This is another problem with “well intended advice” To an outsider other people’s problems seem very simple, but I can promise you that there are many more layers than you may be anticipating. To say to someone who said they are regretting eating too much chocolate “Just don’t eat chocolate” is a judgmental opinion that shows a lack of empathy and understanding. DON’T be that person. Instead listen and show that you care about the issues surrounding their lack of impulse control regarding a favorite food. Judgmental opinions just encourage shame towards the person you are judging. Shame is not a helpful motivator and has the opposite effect of demotivating and demoralizing.

Also consider that some people just need to vent. And they simply don’t want a solution to their issues. Most of the time all you need is someone to listen. Just to get it off your chest. Because of course sometimes talking to the diary or the dog just doesn’t cut it and you want to share your pain with another human for the sake of the human experience. Sharing the struggles of life with friends and other humans is what makes life bearable. Facing people’s judgements on your own personal struggles is what makes life utterly unbearable. So, don’t do it!

When should you share your opinion then?

WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY ASKS YOU WHAT YOU THINK! If you hear the words “What do you think?”. Even in this situation, share your opinion with care. And if you are the person who has asked for the opinion, be mindful that whatever advice is given; to take it with a grain of salt. Even with one of my friends I have regarded her highly for a very long time, so it is hard to not take her every opinion as gospel, especially when I had a hero like worship of her. But I am learning to listen to her, then take what bits of it I like, and leave the rest. Because I can! It doesn’t mean I don’t respect her view on things, but it does mean I don’t blindly follow her advice. For a very good reason too, even the best advice may not apply to you because there is no recipe for life. NONE! You are creating your own dish the best way you know how. Following someone else’s recipe may not work out because you all have different taste buds and someone else’s recipe may use too much salt. The point I am trying to make through this confusing metaphor is that life is an individual experience and you can never really truly understand what someone else is going through. You can try. But you would process it differently to them.

And here I come to my next point. One mans struggle is not another’s. No one has ever faced what you have faced in the same way. What’s not that difficult for me could be incredibly difficult for someone else. Respect that. Trauma is not less traumatic for an individual just because you have been through worse. Life is not a competition. You don’t get a trophy for surviving something horrific. There are many different levels of trauma. STOP COMPARING your trauma to someone else’s. Its incomparable. Because once again, the experience of life is highly subjective.  So, refrain from expressing your opinion on others lives unless they ask for it. Instead focus on keeping your opinion for yourself, or your diary! And if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Also, if someone is going through something challenging, chances are they have already thought about every possible option or outcome. They have probably also beaten themselves up quite a lot. They do not need your criticism on the way they are coping with life.

Let’s stop looking at people like they are a problem you need to fix. Its okay to not be okay. The arrogance of assuming you can simply fix another human by telling them what to do is astronomical. Also, that is unfortunately not how psychology works. People are generally more motivated when the idea to change something is intrinsic and comes from within. Therefore, you are better off keeping your mouth shut and living the best example of what you would like to be preaching. Cultivating passion and creativity in your own life is the best way to inspire others to also find their own way of being creative. Teach by showing, not by telling. Talk is cheap, but experience is real. And example also shows the possibilities and the realness of life struggles. Instead of a perfect trajectory where someone is immediately climbing the hill of mastering a technical skill, when we observe the process in real life, we see the challenges one must overcome to get there. We see that the road to success is lined with potholes and not as straightforward as we may initially have assumed while thinking ahead.

This is the realness of experience vs opinion.

Some people become manipulated by toxic people and simply care too much about their opinion. This creates a very unhealthy emotional set up that we see often in toxic relationships. A power dynamic like this can be incredibly damaging to the person without the power. So, it is healthy for you to have your own opinions and be wary of advice. But of course, we must try to remain open to valid facts that can change our opinions. Not one anecdotal experience, not a random person’s opinion of us, but credible information from reliable sources. And when someone is ready to deal with their issues, or if they are already giving if a red-hot crack, be the person who cheers them on from the sidelines. Because by lifting people up rather than tearing them down, is how we can create positive change in peoples lives, and the ripple effect from kindness and understanding is more powerful than anyone’s opinion on how one should live their life.

Be the change you want to see in the world. Be compassionate. Be real. Be accepting.

And most of all. Think before you speak. And that’s my honest opinion. How much you choose to take on. Well that’s up to you.

The Power of No

‘Why its okay to be a no woman’

Life is forever challenging us to do more. Or perhaps that’s just an expectation that has been cultivated across western culture. Regardless of where it came from people are constantly feeling the need for more. More money, more time, more energy. But perhaps what we need is less about getting more of what we don’t have and more about being careful how we use what we already have. And being mindful of when something is taking away more than it should be. And when we should take some time out to take a bit of a break for ourselves.

I am a people pleaser. I always have been. With it I am a chronic “yes” woman. I am constantly saying yes. Yes, to extra shifts, yes to that inconvenient favor someone asks of me, yes to giving more and more pieces of myself away. But here’s the catch, every time I give a piece of me away, that’s a piece I don’t get to keep for myself. I also struggle afterwards with the resentment of having to do something that I agreed to but did not really want to do. Being a yes woman is exhausting. Yes, sometimes we should say yes to life’s opportunities but other times it is simply a slow drain on the limited resources that we have as human beings. As named above; money, time and energy.

So, what is the answer to this? It is not to say no to everything. But do say no to what you don’t want to do. To what conflicts with your values. To what drains you instead of lifting you up. Because you are not an expendable resource for the world to use. And you need to look after yourself. Protect yourself. And as I love to say. “You do you”. So, if you don’t want to work that double shift for that waitress who never helps you out back then say no. This is something I am constantly working on. I still struggle with it. Especially when someone in a position of power over me asks for something.

One can only hope that in time they will create stronger boundaries. And start to hate themselves a little less. As they value their own worth and understand that they cannot give everything of themselves to others lest they disappear entirely into someone else’s world. We are sold a lie of success only comes from saying yes. But people who are truly successful have set themselves up with a focus. Rather than splitting themselves into pieces for other people.

And only when you have made space in your life to cultivate your own growth do you have room for giving back to others. And that’s perfectly okay. So, look after yourself. Be kind to yourself. Take a deep breath and think. Do I really want to say yes to this or am I just feeling pressured to please others? And if you can’t decide in the moment? The oldest trick in the book. “I will get back to you on that one”.

Do be true to yourself.

Do be kind to yourself.

Its okay to say no.

Why run?

Everybody has different reasons for doing the things they do. Sometimes they have stories behind them. The ‘why’ behind what they do. The reasons for their actions. I love hearing people’s stories. This is mine.

When I was younger, I thought I was no different from anyone else. But its funny how people are so quick to point out anything that is different. I was stopped multiple times on the street as a child and given random advice for something that I was quite blissfully unaware of. My parent, trying to do what was best, took me to a professional on the topic of interest. Where I was examined and after some time, condemned to my fate. I was to “fix myself” through a series of exercises, otherwise I would potentially face very serious implications later in life. Quite a dramatic moment in my young life, or as I remember it. Now I wouldn’t have been many days over 10, so I did not have great will power or self-control with which to follow my rigorous routine. I did some of the stretches I was assigned, holding them for 90 seconds and whatnot. Bored through my brain so reading a book at the same time. I didn’t notice a difference though in the way I moved. I didn’t care anyway because the moving I had done so far in my life had gotten me to exactly where I had wanted to go. I had come second in a cross-country race, running my butt off at a full sprint at the end where I could no longer feel my legs, I had frolicked around with our family puppy, Jed. Outracing him for about a year until he became faster than me with his four legs. My body had served me well in the few years I had been alive. Why would it change?

More appointments followed, and more years of exercises and lectures and orthotics. All trying to change the way that I moved. It was not “correct” I was told. I would be in pain they said. I would never be able to wear high heels or thongs. I would only be able to wear highly supportive shoes. My hips would strain, and my Achilles tendons would snap. My body would fail me essentially. If I did not focus on every single step, every single foot strike. A hard task for a 12-year-old who read books as she walked to school instead of ‘focusing’ on walking.

At school a group of boys mocked me as I walked across the common grounds. Followed me home and taunted me for my bouncing gait. I tried not to notice. I had long given up on my stretches, hitting my teenage rebelling stage of fighting with my mother. I still ran a few cross countries, but I was strictly mid pack and carrying a lot of donut weight. Sometimes when I ran in the park random men would shout at my mother to go get me fixed. On a trip to another city to visit my cousins I was stopped at a train station by a woman who gave me advice on my affliction. All small moments but people clearly felt strongly enough to comment on it.

And so, I continued to grow. I stopped visiting any sort of physios and instead avoided the topic with my mother. I entered teenage hood and strutted in mini skirts and high heels. I participated in any and all crazy physical activities when I could. Rollerblading the streets for many days with my friends until I broke my ankle rollerblading backwards in my driveway. I recovered and embraced my weird walk and my odd run. I sprinted up and down the drive thru lane at the fast food place I worked in my teenage hood. I was good at my job, so no one cared about my weird movements when I kept breaking records and worked my butt off. I exercised less and less as I finished high school, using work as my escape.

When I finally travelled away to university, no one commented on my walking until I got a job at a pub. Customers occasionally commented. And some people I worked with constantly told me I was limping. I cared little now. But the ghosts of my past still haunted me somewhat. I got a dog and began being consistent about moving my body. I started walking every day. Walking was my therapy, my escape, an activity that had to happen regardless of how I felt. When I finally realized that I could perform something consistently when I had to, I began to think of the possibilities. I woke up one day and decided that I would step it up a notch and add in some running to my walks. Somewhat because it was a lifelong dream to run long distances, and because I was bored of the walking pace at times. Both good reasons.

As I started to increase mileage, I did have a few blisters, and so went to get new running shoes. But I wanted to make sure that I got the right ones. So, I summoned my courage and went to see yet another professional. This one a running physio and foot expert. I was once again examined. I explained my history and my concerns that upping mileage would lead to injuries. I fully expected him to tell me that I was to stop this nonsense and quit the idea of running. What I got was something else entirely; a free license to run as much as my body would tolerate, once I got a new pair of shoes of course. I was told that the way that I moved was not ‘incorrect’ because in fact my body had adapted to this way of moving over many years. Funny how after so many years and by seeing a different expert I was given an entirely different ‘diagnosis’. I was given a green light to run as much as I wanted if I felt strong and not in any serious pain. So, I kept running.

I run now to experience the outdoors, to feel the earth beneath my feet, the wind on my skin, the crisp air in my lungs.

I run to keep moving forward, to keep pushing myself to grow and change and improve. To remember not to stand still for too long or you will be frozen to the spot.

I run to learn how to feel pain. To learn how it feels to be struggling to breathe or legs collapsing underneath you but still finish what you started regardless. My favorite quote about running is that “Running is just your brain arguing between stopping and continuing to move forward”.

I run for the bragging rights. It is fun to listen to people’s reactions to running 20kms in one go.

I run for the validation that although I am fit and strong that does not equal happiness. That even on the days when I don’t run, I still love my body.

And most of all. I run because I can. Because my body allows me to. And that is a great privilege that I will never take for granted.