Thursday 31 December 2015

Reflections - things I learned from 2015

For the second of my 'Goodbye 2015; Hello 2016' blog posts I am writing a list of some of the things I learned in 2015.
Again, I feel like it's a good way to reflect on the past year and maybe one or two of these things might chime a bell with you.

  • Sometimes I can't see what's right in front of me
  • Sometimes I don't want to see what's right in front of me
  • I can procrastinate like a boss
  • I can't use phrases like "like a boss"
  • First impressions can be very right
  • First impressions can be very wrong
  • How to use a semi-colon properly; life-changing
  • Being kind to yourself is hard
  • I always pack too much stuff
  • I'd rather regret something I did than regret something I didn't do
  • If it feels wrong it probably is 
  • Decent haircuts in London don't have to cost the earth 
  • Those little blue ticks on WhatsApp are the best thing
  • Those little blue ticks on WhatsApp are the worst thing
  • Trust your gut
  • Forgiving others is easier than forgiving yourself 
  • If you really want to spend time with someone you will - and if someone really wants to spend time with you they will
  • If you're unsure about something just wait 
  • Waterproof eyeliner/mascara ain't always so waterproof
  • Just because you feel negatively about yourself doesn't mean it's true - or that other people feel the same about you 
  • Wait until lasagne is cold before portioning it up for the freezer or things get very messy
  • Even when you feel like your whole world is imploding you can still keep going (and it's probably not your "whole" world)
  • Things do get better 
  • Pacing is not overrated 
  • I'm still recovering 
  • Work and studies can get you through tough times
  • Friends and family can get you through tough times
  • YOU can get yourself through tough times 
  • If you can't trust yourself you can't expect others to
  • Don't say one thing and do another 
  • Be consistent and congruent 
  • Honesty is the best policy - especially with yourself 
  • Listen to your body
  • It's okay to ask for help 
  • Don't see everything as a battle
  • It's okay to feel like you don't know what you're doing
  • However much you plan you will never be able to outwit fate/The Gods/time/death/accidents/illness/anything and everything else
  • Happiness feels amazing
  • I can surprise myself just as much as others can surprise me
  • Life is an incredible, surprising, wonderful thing 
What did 2015 teach you?


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Wednesday 30 December 2015

Reflections - Some of my favourites of 2015

I was wondering what might be a fitting way to mark the close of 2015 and the start of 2016 here on the blog...
I decided that the best and most positive way was to create two posts; one listing some of my (slightly random and more blog-friendly) favourite things/events of the year and another post talking about the things I've learned from this year. It's a nice way to reflect on the past year and take stock of what has been a mammoth of a year.
So, without further ado, and in the immortal words of Julie Andrews - these are a few of my favourite things (from 2015).

  • Family and friends - they have to go top of this list! 
  • Freckles
  • The plethora of Agatha Christie whodunnits on Radio Four Extra to mark 125 years since the great authoress was born
  • Sharing recipes with friends - always love to try new and exciting foods, although there's no pre-requisite for the food to be either new or exciting
  • Spelling
  • The countryside
  • Netflix - oh so many hours indulging my love of trash TV and rewatching classics like The Thick Of It
  • The word "Yes"
  • The word "No"
  • Talking all night
  • Sleeping all night
  • Getting a job that I love 
  • Walking
  • Holidays (especially if they come with a surprise room upgrade and are a decade overdue)
  • Writing essays and taking exams - not always my favourite thing to do, but worth an honourable mention as I spent so much of the first part of 2015 doing them!
  • Realising I have more than one shoulder to cry on
  • Discovering the band Chvrches: going to see them live and getting tickets for their special gig next year at the RAH
  • London
  • A Summer of watching cricket and drinking beer
  • Finding pilpel and their amazing falafel 
  • Robing rooms and court rooms
  • Dancing (with or without shoes)
  • Being surprised by my new love of watching the Tour de France
  • Puns
  • Theatre-going 
  • Tea - all day erryday
  • Celebrating whenever and wherever you can
...and so much more! 

What are some of your favourite things of 2015? 

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