Let go of the bullshit......

        Is it the things we dislike most about ourselves that annoy us about other people? Do we project our moods onto to others to reflect back at us? Can we control not only our moods and responses, but those of the ones closest to us? 

      I was told the other day, that you can't find something annoying about someone else unless it's something you dislike about yourself, because unless you have thought and felt it before you wouldn't be able to recognize it. How do you know how something feels or affects you if it's hasn't affected you in the past.

      We manage to project our own feelings about situations onto others, then we get upset and annoyed when they don't react how we want them to. But are we just setting them up to fail, because we haven't given them the tools to react in the way that pleases us?

      Is it possible we do this because we ourselves don't know what pleases us? If you are not happy with yourself how can anyone else be? If you don't like or love yourself how can anyone else??

      We spend our lives searching for happiness and love, but until we are happy within ourselves and love the person we are, instead of the person we think we have to be, we can expect others to love us. The person you are is the person you create, you are the only person able to change that, you just need to want that.  It's only when you can be happy just being you, that others will to, they will reflect back the happiness and love that you project.

      Never forget you are unique, you are one of a kind, no one else will vet be you, but they can love you and enjoy being with you, once you do the same. It's time to let go of the bullshit expectations and just enjoy living, being, loving, because in the end nothing else matters!!!

Seven year emotional itch!!

      Seven years have passed, some days it feels like time has dragged, others I look back and think 7 years, where the hell did they go. Every year the anniversary of my diagnosis feels different, the way I react to it is different.

      This year I needed to reflect, to pause, look back and assess where I'd been and where I was going. I was happy to be alone this year, I didn't feel the need to surround myself with others for support. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an easy day, the emotions it stirs are not pretty, they are raw and painful. I'm fairly sure that won't change, but the way I react and handle it, that's what's changing.

      The personal development work I've been doing has helped me in lots of ways, it's helped me to see, that I can feel and acknowledge  these emotions, without dwelling on them or using them as an excuse to spiral down again. Looking back can be an great way to assess your progress, but if we constantly look back, we miss what's happening right in front of us.

     So from now on I'm focusing on what's ahead of me, the past is done and gone, it can't be changed, so no point dwelling on regrets. Keep your eyes on the future and all the adventures yet to be lived!!!      

Toxic friends......why do we keep them??

       We all have that one friend, the one who drives us insane to the point of wanting to avoid them, the one who we are scared to be brutally honest with as it will give them another chance to play the victim. What is the best way to deal, is total avoidance easier or do we just keep our mouths closed and leave them to wallow. It often seems no matter what path we choose we are in the wrong, many can't handle a friend who is brutally honest, they prefer a friend who blows wind up their arse, they need a label for everyone around them as an excuse for laziness, poor behavior  or just plain ignorance. 

      Why do we choose to remain friends with these toxic people, are we programmed to find others to stop us feeling lonely or do we like to feel superior to these poor saps, we can denigrate their lives while avoiding the truth of our own lives. Judging people is so easy to do, we are all guilty of it, even those martyrs who claim they don't judge others.

      
      If these people are so toxic to us, what is the point in keeping them close to us? Have we as a society become so scared of offending people, that we keep people in our lives that make it harder, that make us feel like shit when in their company. We need to ask ourselves what is more important, the amount of friends we have or the quality of the people we are friends with.

      So what's the best way to deal with these so called friends, because honestly can they be called friends when they are so toxic? Honesty can help, many people don't like hearing the truth when they want to be the victim, so if you are always honest they may decide to look elsewhere for sympathy. I find quiet indifference often works, appearing to listen but never committing to helping. Avoiding them completely can be a great relief, if that is possible within your social circle.

       But what it really all boils down to, is asking yourself how much value you place on your time? Because all the time you waste on listening, advising or trying to help will be for nothing in the long run, because fixing a problem means not getting anymore attention and attention is the one thing a toxic person craves. So it's time for big girl panties and a dose of harden the fuck up, if that doesn't work, time to walk away, I believe it's much better to have a few good friends who value you as much as you value them, than to have a bunch of toxic pains in your arses who suck the life right out of you.

      Man up, piss them off and get on with enjoying life the way it should be enjoyed, with good friends, great food and amazing booze!!!!

Adulting........it's too hard!!

      Why is being an adult so hard somedays? We all have days when we are sick of being the responsible one, sick of making all the decisions. Why can't we have a blanket fort day, just like a sick day, but instead a day to hide away from the world and feel free again.

        If kids are allowed a day to just chill without structure, why aren't we?? Wouldn't you just live a day to yourself? To do as you please for a change, not to look after everyone and their dog, to jot have to remember everyone else's shit, to just be you. God how heavenly would that be.

       Remember all the times your mother told you not to wish your childhood away, oh god do I get that now. Just one day, that's all I need, one day to do what I want, to not worry about what I should be doing.

       What would your one day include??   Mine would be started with a sleep in, the a long walk along a gorgeous beach, sand between my toes, sea breeze in my hair, the gentle lap of waves. Then I'd move onto a long boozy lunch with all the foods I shouldn't be eating, hopefully enjoyed with some close friends. Then to finish the day a good book, my favorite snacks and bourbon. That is my idea of heaven.

      Now I just need to get rid of the kids and husband so I can lol, one day I will, it's a promise I'm making to myself!!!

Who are You??

      Who are we really?? In a era filled will life coaches, motivational speakers and self help gurus, who are you?? We are bombarded with messages like "be your authentic self", "you are the captain of your ship" and "only you are responsible for your happiness". But what the hell does it all mean?

      When you listen to a speaker who's job it is to make you question every aspect of your life, do you embrace the questions or worry about what the answers will be. Are you sitting there thinking, shit do I really do that? am I projecting my shit onto others? Or are you the person in the room mentally doing your shopping list? Does it have to be at a certain time in your life,  for these lessons to make sense? Is figuring ourselves out, the same as stopping smoking? You need to want to do it and be open to it, someone else telling you want to do before you yourself are ready, just goes in one ear and out the other.

      This is just a snippet of the whirlwind inside my head at the moment, it's been going on for the last 24hrs, ever since I listened to a wonderful lady speak, someone who inspires me greatly. During her talk, many times it felt like she was looking into my thoughts as she spoke. The result of this being, a overwhelming feeling of restlessness, a lack of satisfaction with myself. It helped me to recognize why I feel so disconnected lately, so lacking in purpose. 

      The big problem with that, is now to figure out my purpose, to figure out who I really am, not who I am as a wife, mother, daughter, sister or friend. Me the person who is both all and none of these. Me who only I know the best or hopefully will soon. 

     So the next path begins, time to find my "authentic self", the real no holds barred woman hiding under layers of bullshit, the person who has so far survived all the shitnlife has thrown at her. Time to stop hiding, stop pretending, stop being who others expect me to be, time for real. I can guarantee it's not going to be pretty, I know I'll lose a few people along the way,  but hopefully those who are true, will stick with me, if not it's time to find my people who will, only time will tell who will survive.

      Ok authentic self, here I come,  ready or not!!!!!!!

Self Sabotage....we all do it!!!

      Things were going along nicely, I was feeling better, I was making progress, I was doing something to help myself, fuck I was actually liking myself, then boom I wake up today and its gone, FFS how can a lousy 6 hours sleeping undo the bloody hard work of the last 2 weeks, my mind is so screwed up that it messed me up again and people wonder why I drink.

      After hitting the lows I had hit lately, I made a conscious decision to pull myself up and get the hell on with it, no point wallowing in my own pity party, they are only fun for so long. Besides it was time to listen to my own rants, nothing changes while you whinge about it. We all know someone who constantly complains but never wants to try any suggestions given to them, because if they fix their problems what will they have to complain bout. 

      So if I am to be a worthwhile member of society, then I need to able to give those around me something of value, I need to top dragging myself and others down, because eventually, I'll end up so far down no one will ever see me. Jesus I need to stop reading inspirational quotes at stupid o'clock in the morning, I'm starting to sound like a twat. But on the other hand sounding like a twat is better than stealing the happy from everyone around me.

     But I've gone off on a tangent, so typical of me, the mind wanders to avoid the truth, get back on track stupid lmao.

    So step 1, I've acknowledged I'm being a big fat sook, looking for a pity party, for everyone else to fix me.

Step 2, Join up to a weight loss/fitness challenge to get a body I prefer to the one I'm living in right now, do it with others to make me accountable.

Step 3, Get my work/life balance sorted, so I'm not so bloody tired all the time.

      OK, the week started well, did my workouts, ate good foods, sorted a schedule, three days in, it all goes to shit, extreme period pain every time I move, craving for carbs and chocolate, the urge to sleep all day, hidden under a blanket. Adulting is to hard, I'm over being responsible, thinking for everyone else, remembering all their shit, making sure they are taken care of.

     WHAT ABOUT ME??????????????

We do it because we have to.....

      Why is it that we do things because we feel it is expected of us?? We do things because we have to?? Who are these magical beings who decide we should do this or that?? Who gets to rule us and make us how to an ideal?? Especially when the idea is so bloody warped!!

      Recently I had drinks with an amazing friend, I admire her so much, but in this conversation, which of course happened when we were under the influence of alcohol, the time when we can't help but be honest lol, she asked a question which I answered freely, maybe too freely for my liking due to the amount of wild turkey I had consumed.

      The answer I gave when I think about it sober in the cold light of day, was so honest, something I'm very afraid of these days, when you have a lot of very fucked up feelings running through your mind. People don't always appreciate that honesty.

      The scariest part was, my dearest husband was present for the question and answer, do you think we have discussed what I said, fuck no, that would mean he would have to face my feelings of despair and inadequacy. We wouldn't want him to try to adult, would we.

      Maybe he just doesn't want to deal with a wife who feels ugly, alone and half a woman, a woman who feels her sexuality has been destroyed, a woman who feels that she will never feel sexy again.

     Do I sound bitter? Hell yeah  I'm bitter, I hated my damn self and did I get at reaction, nope none at all, why the hell do I stay and put up with this shit. Maybe because if I can't find myself attractive, then who will? But I'm pretty sure he doesn't find me attractive anymore, so what is the point???

      Why stay when everything is so wrong? Because I don't want a second failed marriage? Because it's my fault? I don't feel whole or attractive or a woman, so it must be my fault, because that's what we have been taught to believe !!!