This week began with New Year's Eve. I was lucky enough to be working from home; allowing me enough time to get ready and get on a train, with Dave, into London before the rush hour. I've only ever been into London once on New Year's Eve before and even then, steered clear of central… Continue reading Week One: Fireworks at Embankment and a New Year Declutter
Tag: mental health
The Power of Writing: Why Diary Entries Matter
This blog had an about page when I first set it up. Eventually I deleted it, because I thought people would be best placed to find out about me, and about the blog, by just reading it. In my about page I described the blog as a series of colloquial, honest diary entries. I guess… Continue reading The Power of Writing: Why Diary Entries Matter
Embracing Happy Memories
MORNING. Now, I don't want to rub it in, but... Oh stuff it! My weekend starts here. Hooray! I really should not be blogging. My auntie will be here at midday and I've so much life admin to complete before she gets here. The flat's a little messy, should probably do a quick clean up.… Continue reading Embracing Happy Memories
On Finding Balance
The weekend before last was a bank holiday weekend and it was sunny. So, in summary, it was the best kind of a weekend. I spent it chilling mostly, but also bbq-ing, shopping and eating. The BBQ featured lamb and mint kebabs and Pimms and lemonade and chips and dips and olives and cheese and… Continue reading On Finding Balance
All Sorts of Recommendations: A Month of Discovery
First up, you need to know about a little cafe in Croydon called The Ludoquist. Nearly a month ago now Dave and I were staying with a couple of our loveliest friends and spent an afternoon there. It's a board game cafe. They've more board games than you can imagine and to top it off,… Continue reading All Sorts of Recommendations: A Month of Discovery
Feel Proud of Your Achievements, No Matter How Small
I remember when I went through a phase of wishing and hoping and dreaming of my blog becoming a massive hit and me being given my own column in a hugely famous magazine. I went and read all these posts from other bloggers about how to gain a following and how to keep them captivated.… Continue reading Feel Proud of Your Achievements, No Matter How Small
Kind of Blue
I'm in for a quiet Friday tonight and I'm so relieved. I'm curled up all snug under a blanket. I've a glass of red wine on the go which is warming me from the inside out. I've candles lit and music playing and Dave's mentioned that we could get a takeaway. There's no going back… Continue reading Kind of Blue
Focusing On The Here and Now
I love my job, but going back to work after the Christmas break has been SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. I think it has something to do with the fact the weather is all doom and gloom. That and the fact it's a whole 'nother 11 months or so until Christmas comes around again! The holiday ads… Continue reading Focusing On The Here and Now
A Vital Life Lesson: There’s Joy in Letting Go, Accepting Change and Staying Put
I'm the happiest of Bronwens today. Autumn simply is the second most wonderful time of year (Christmas being the most wonderful time of the year, of course) and I'm so happy it is here. What's not to love? Good TV. Jumper weather. Beautiful crisp colourful leaves. Monthly reasons to get together with friends and family… Continue reading A Vital Life Lesson: There’s Joy in Letting Go, Accepting Change and Staying Put
Navigating Life in My Twenties: Feeling like I’m on a non-stop rollercoaster ride
Old habits die hard and life in my twenties still feels as complicated as ever. Long gone are the days of blog posts written every Sunday without fail; always about lazy days at my parents', roast dinners, good books and sunshine or rain. Funnily enough, I actually did spend Sunday just gone at my parents'… Continue reading Navigating Life in My Twenties: Feeling like I’m on a non-stop rollercoaster ride
Why it’s important to slow down when life feels complicated
We, people in general, tend to overcomplicate things. Life's fairly simple when you think about it. We're born. Some things go wrong and some things go right. Some of us are lucky and some of us are incredibly unlucky. Some people like us and some people don't. We make friends and we lose them. Then… Continue reading Why it’s important to slow down when life feels complicated
Tackling new job nerves again and finding calm
"Let go of the familiar and embrace the new" I was super happy and excited, but goodness I was nervous. A small part of me was just rationally worrying about the new job itself. Whether I'd be able to do it, whether the people would be as nice as I hoped, whether I'd impress like… Continue reading Tackling new job nerves again and finding calm
Letting emotions run free and learning to be happy
I'm sat on the sofa by the window, getting blinded by the sun, but refusing to shut it out. I'm two chapters from the end of Harry Potter so when I'm done writing, I'm finishing it. Then I'm rewarding myself with a cream egg or two before taking a deep breath and picking up the… Continue reading Letting emotions run free and learning to be happy
Coping with change and finding positivity again
The last time my anxiety was exacerbated by a big change, it took a lot of adjusting for me to get to a point where I felt like I could live freely again. Perhaps it's cos I'm older and wiser, perhaps it's because I have Dave or perhaps it's actually because this time I've been… Continue reading Coping with change and finding positivity again
Mind over matter: The power of mindfulness meditation
Recently, my beautiful cousin spoke to me for a long time about mindfulness. And I mention it because even more recently I discovered just how practising mindfulness can help. In the spirit of being honest, when I first spoke to my cousin, I didn't think it was for me. I thought a mindfulness meditation was… Continue reading Mind over matter: The power of mindfulness meditation
An honestly good week
I set the bar high with the honesty thing and I've been fretting ever since. Every post that popped up on my Facebook timeline this week, had me second guessing myself. An article titled 'What anxiety actually is, because it's more than just worrying', had me closer to pressing delete on last week's post than… Continue reading An honestly good week
Butterflies find a new home
Move-in day wasn't far from perfect. This was our first time moving into a new home together and yet, everything ran surprisingly smoothly. I was so ridiculously happy when we eventually found ourselves sat on blow up chairs, in our new home's lounge, surrounded by our belongings, eating Chinese takeaway and drinking Prosecco. I'm still… Continue reading Butterflies find a new home
Resolving to be more daring
Last time I wrote I was going Christmas shopping and now Christmas has been and gone and a new year has begun. Can you believe it? I ended the school term on a high - my position at the school having come to an end. On my last day, everyone wished me well and said… Continue reading Resolving to be more daring
No rest for the wicked
Or so the saying goes. Luckily for me, wickedness aside, I've finally got a day off today. I'm sat in my room with the curtains closed, because it may only be half four, but it is dark outside already! I've lit candles and I've got Spotify shuffling through my favourite playlist. I've eaten a cooked… Continue reading No rest for the wicked
The only way is up
I'm in the kitchen with my mum, bacon's in the frying pan, I've got a cup of tea in hand and I'm a happy bunny. I'm wearing my roughest jeans and a hoodie and I've definitely got that Sunday feeling. Work last week was better than I ever could have imagined. I went back into… Continue reading The only way is up
New Job Nerves
"Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present." My mum's ironing and singing the Strictly Come Dancing theme tune. My dad's fixing a hole in one of the bedroom ceilings. I'm studying. Yep, that's right, I've finally made a start on the music therapy reading. I'm finding it SO interesting which is a… Continue reading New Job Nerves
Embracing Change: The Excitement of September
Seriously, where did the summer go!? It's raining, I'm wearing socks and a cardigan, I feel the sudden urge to light candles again, I used my umbrella last night! You know what? No need to panic. September is a funny kind of month. It might be raining now, but the sun could reappear at any… Continue reading Embracing Change: The Excitement of September
Spoiled Rotten
This summer, my family and I spent two amazing weeks at a huge resort celebrating my Dad's 50th birthday. We were spoiled rotten with two pools, a section of the beach, on-site restaurants, a HUGE buffet, a gym, a coffee shop, need I go on? I don't recall ever having felt so relaxed! It was… Continue reading Spoiled Rotten
Time to decide if a career in special education is for me
Genuinely struggling to piece this week together. It's been a long one, a busy one, a stressful one at times, but ultimately a good one. Wednesday was a very good day. For my birthday, Dave bought us tickets to see The Woman in Black at the Fortune Theatre. For those who don't know, The Woman… Continue reading Time to decide if a career in special education is for me
“Always look ahead, but never look back”: Quoting Miles Davis at the end of a challenging week
I just closed my laptop lid and then opened it again about five times in a row. Honestly? This week at work has been really hard, more challenging than ever, and right now I'm full of butterflies. But, you know what? If this week has taught me anything it is that I have some amazing… Continue reading “Always look ahead, but never look back”: Quoting Miles Davis at the end of a challenging week
Blogging Goodbye to Butterflies 