Coming Soon...

Attention please...

*Drum roll please*Cue brass fanfare*

This Sunday will be the first in a series of 'Feel Good Sunday' blogs.

It's usually feel Good Friday, right? Right, but with people usually dreading going back to work/school/university/normality on a Monday morning, Sunday nights can be all doom and gloom. So each Sunday will be a positive blog with a new mantra you can use that week.

Also Coming soon will be a series of teaching ideas, lesson ideas, websites etc etc that can be useful when training to be a primary school teacher as many of my friends and I am.

I'm contemplating running a series of artsy crafty bits and pieces, but I'm not sure I'll have the time yet, so we'll stick to these for now!

All other blogs will be about my life and the things I've been up to - 'My Life'.

 "Until Now" will be all the blogs I've posted up until 04/07/14.

The links to each blog series will be available at the side of my blog when that series is up and running.

Quick update

It's been almost 2 months since I blogged last.

For those who have been waiting for an inspiring blog post or something enlightening: sorry to disappoint.

Things have been pretty busy my end over the last 2 months with university assignments and teaching practice (who knew there was so much paperwork?!). I've been working longer hours than should be legal, but I wouldn't change one single thing about any of it.

Quick round up of near future plans:

- finish teaching practice
- carry our summer adventures
- visit friends
- sell more art work
- create more art work
- find more time for music
- start up a twitter account for daily inspirational quotes

Soon after teaching practice, there'll be a blog update of everything I've learnt over the last year, but for now just know I'm so very grateful for: those amazing people and friends that I've met, the people who still stand by me (and me by them), those who have been through the not so good days and still stuck around, those little things everyday that have made me smile, for growing up, and lastly for every single little thing about my life at the moment.

No, that doesn't mean it's perfect, and it never will be, but I've never been more content than right now.

Blogs to come soon:
- things I'm grateful for
- things I've learnt over the last year
- what university life has taught me
- why teaching is the best career
- weekly summer blogs
- what I've been up to (including art&music) and future plans

For now, here's a little drawing I've started. Inspiration taken from a feather!



It's the little things in life that matter most.

Society

When will anyone care without suffocating or hidden motive, for personal gain or selfish ambitions?

When will humanity simply be, stand strong individually, but unite together and support each other?

 

Where is the sense of community in society?

An isolation lingers with nothing to fear,

Or are we blinded by everything, so that nothing becomes everything and so fear is found everywhere? Fear of the unknown. We’re surrounded by the unknown: a world of mysteries, and mysterious beings.

 

Is to be right, right? Or is wrong right, and right wrong?

Is it the old battle of dreams Vs reality?

What is they’ve blurred into one?

 

Not in the sense of getting to live your dream,

But if your nightmares become your reality,

Where’s left to escape or hide?

 

If you’re afraid of judgement,

Yet judge that stripper on the street,

Does that mean you’re afraid of yourself?

 

Or is fear the very thing keeping us safe?

An automatic response mechanism for protection from danger,

That same danger society seems to find in every stranger

 

But isn’t our society a group of strangers,

With decreasing sense of community, compassion and caring?

 

We put danger from a stranger in our minds,

When all along they could be someone to make your day that bit better.

Does that mean the fear of stranger danger is a real concept?

Or something solely created to live in our minds?

 

Is everything in our minds reality?

Do our minds unlock the door to possibility?

 

You see possible can become impossible,

And impossible can become possible,

Depending on the absence of presence of thought and mind

 

Take situations as you find them,

And live in the hope of a possible reality,

Not in the imaginary possibility

 

The world is full on contradiction

The world preaches imagination, but punishes the creative inspirations,

Encourages dreams, but discourages chasing them,

Screams for truth, but silences that which MAY offend

Craves love, but teaches fear,

Blinds you from danger, but warns you to suspect everyone and everything

Demands you to be yourself, but segregates the different, the unique,

Calls you to be part of society, but unless you stick to the status quo society doesn’t want to know

 

I’m saying now to be yourself.

Live your life. Be conscious of other’s wants, needs and beliefs, but don’t bend your own just to fit. Listen, appreciate and adapt accordingly.

Be an adventurer, inventor, a creator or be the supportive, encouraging and loving.

Acknowledge everyone’s different, and appreciate the beauty of that.

Accept everyone is a warrior in their own battle,

But never forget we’re all connected in the existence of humanity.

All flawed, but perfectly natural.

Student Union Elections

It's that time of year when the campaigning starts to win your votes and become a representative of the SU.

So, this is my first year in university, and so it's my first time experiencing this time of year in the university calender! However, I've written just a couple of things to keep in mind over the voting period (10am on Monday the 24th to 5pm on Thursday the 27th!):

- Were there things you weren't happy with this year, but weren't heard?

Vote for someone who you believe will listen and keep to their word! It's important you have your views heard, and there are candidates who will listen and do what they can to improve your experiences.

- What do they stand for?

Take good time to look into what each candidate stand for before you vote! It only takes 5 minutes on www.tsdsu.co.uk . Don't agree with what they stand for? Then, don't vote. Simple.

- Are the reliable?

The chances are you're not going to know this unless you know the candidates personally. So, get to know them. Keep an eye out for them around campus, ask them questions, or send them a quick email/facebook message. It's usually easy to see if you're being fed a load of lies, or if their heart is really in it.

- Invest time in voting

Most people reading this won't have got this far into the blog post, however, if you have, PLEASE make sure you vote for who you want to represent you. You can't expect to have your say or your voice heard if you don't take the chance to vote for who respresents your voice when it matters. These representatives will be the ones taking the time to make the changes you want to see, so the least you can do is take the time to vote at www.tsdsu.co.uk

Happy campaigning/voting!

Dan for Carmarthen SU President!
https://www.facebook.com/DanDoyleForCarmarthenPresident

Sophia for Carmarthen SU Vice President!
https://www.facebook.com/votesophiaklitou

Flora for Lampeter SU President!

Beth for Swansea SU President!

https://www.facebook.com/VoteBethForPresident

The Latest Social Media Craze

The latest social media craze of uploading a bare faced 'selfie' has recently taken over the internet. Women all over the world are uploading a bare face photo of themselves and donating £3 to cancer research by texting BEAT to  70007. The idea is then to tag a few friends so they do the same, etc. 

The initial reaction from a minority was one filled with negativity (as there always is), but there's no doubt that this latest trend has led to a significant increase in the funds raised for cancer research despite the instigation of the trend not coming from a cancer research charity. The initial cause was to lower the age of smear testing after the latest news of a young female who passed away after being denied a smear test. Click here to read the full story. However, Cancer research UK has noted an increase in funds of £2,000,000 due to the #NoMakeUpSelfie trend.

Click here to see Cancer Research UK's reaction.

However, there will always be a minority of those who upload their picture for their own vanity. Are we as a society becoming more concerned with how we look rather than the major issues people face every day? There's no doubt the majority of those joining this latest trend have the cause close to heart and are doing what they can to keep that in mind and act on it...but is it enough for those others to simply post their photo to try and make themselves appear to be doing good?

Baring your face to the whole world via the internet can be a daunting thing to do, however, it seems this isn't being appreciated and the 'haters' are more concerned about how society is moving on in the way we raise funds for charity. Whilst traditional methods of fundraising involve the person needed to put a lot of effort in to achieve their goal and gain sponsors, or involve a physical and face to face interaction, the online campaigns still achieve the fundraising needed. Is the method important as long as it's an honest one?

The sheer volume of responses to this latest trend is definitely the mark of a milestone showing how technological advances are changing the way the world works.

There's no way to avoid technology on a day to day basis, so is there an issue with utilising this online access to the world wide public? It opens up another avenue for individuals to become lazy, but also, it's a great source of widening people's knowledge and understanding of the world around them, and bringing major issues to light.

 

So, is the negative response from the minority the right one?
More importantly: Will this campaign pave the way in which funds are now raised, and cause traditional good deed methods forgotten?

You decide.


View my latest HuffPost blog here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lucy-roberts/breast-cancer-selfie_b_4992424.html

Live Every Day Like It's Your Last

(Short blog inspired by song. Link to be found below)

"Live every day like it's your last"
 Such a common phrase thrown around. We all agree with it and then carry on our lives as normal.

Stand back and take a good look. Do you live every day like it's your last? Do you appreciate every moment possible to make it the best life you can?

I'm not one for big grand gestures, but perception of life can ultimately determine how you live it.

*Brace yourself for a controversial statement*
I think we ALL could live our lives that little bit better regardless of who we are, where we come from, our age, or how busy our lives are.

If someone said to you "today is your last day. Spend it wisely", would we let fear stop us taking the chance of achieving what we want? Would we let the people we love slip away without telling them? Would we take for granted the simple things?
I know I wouldn't, but we're all different.

Life is for living and so often we let petty arguments, possessions or fear get in the way of what we truly love and appreciate. What a waste, right?!

Everyone is different, and appreciates different things...but where we all come together with common ground  is a need to find what matters to us and appreciate it/make the most of it.

Life your life. Don't let fear stand in the way of happiness. Appreciate every moment of your life: it's worth living.

If today was your last day, would you spent it this way anyway?

Click here to listen to the song that inspired this blog

Minds Like Ours

Many of you who read my blog are aware of a mental health non-profit organisation called Minds Like Ours.


Here's everything you need to know:
"In July 2013 BBC Three ran a mental health season called “It’s A Mad World” . It featured many incredible programmes including Don’t Call Me Crazy, OCD Camp, Inside My Mind and Diaries of a Broken Mind. Taking part in Diaries of a Broken Mind was a young woman called Bex, who lives with agoraphobia. Once the show was aired Bex could not believe the positive response coming from people all over the internet; it gave her an idea.


Just three days later…

3 days after Diaries of a Broken Mind was aired Bex and a friend James put together Minds Like Ours."                                    - Taken from the Minds Like Ours website

What we do:

Minds like ours is a non-profit organisation ran by those affected by mental health for those also affected by it.

The forum creates a large community feel where all sorts of discussions are held and we all get to know each other. Our aim is to stamp out the stigma surrounding mental health and provide support for those who are affected by it.

How you can help:

Are you or a loved one affected by mental health? Would you like to share your story? To get involved head to the website : www.mindslikeours.co,uk

Check out our shop here: http://mindslikeours.co.uk/get-involved/shop/

Links:

- Website

- Forum

- Twitter

All other Minds Like Ours (MiLO) social media activities can be found from the website.

Please check out these amazing blogs from MiLO Directors/Ambassador

Bex Walton:houseboundceo.wordpress.com/ / http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rebecca-walton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XebNotlaw

Kimbereley Chastney: http://www.thehopefulhummingbird.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimmoBug

Mia Gahan: http://miasstuff2013.tumblr.com/post/72096339112/13-unlucky-for-some-definitely-not-for-m
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiaGahan

The Typical New Year Blog Entry

I bet no one was expecting this blog...NOT.

Ok, so this is a bit predictable, but anyhow when having a relaxing bath earlier I thought I'd go for it.

This time of year is one where a big divide is put into society. There are those who declare they will become a new person at the strike of midnight, and there are those in reality. That's a tad harsh, I know. However, New Years Eve shouldn't be a time to focus on all the things we don't like and want to change about ourselves/our lives. It should be a time to celebrate our lives and the positives...whether that be simply having a roof over our heads, access to warm water/electricity, and bed to get into every night: a time to be grateful for ALL the little bits and pieces.

It's always the little things that have the biggest difference, so if you take into account all the times someone cared enough to ask how you were and be genuinely interested, all the times a random stranger smiled at you on the street, all the time you DID get to see those you care about (not the time you didn't), all the little accomplishments like getting out of bed when that seems impossible.

You see, those things are so often not noticed because they don't scream out "THIS IS A BIG THING", but it's these things we should be more grateful for :)

So, if New Years is a time filled with bad memories, why not take this year to make some new memories.

Grateful for all the little random things that made you smile even for a second? Thought so. So why not take control of your happiness and also brighten someone else's day:

For Yourself:
One of the directors at Minds Like Ours, Bex, posted about this earlier and I thought it would be good to share it here to:

For Others:

An idea: to leave little inspirational messages on sticky notes at random public places for people to find. One smile could change someone's day :)

Quick mention of a very lovely, inspirational lady, Kimbereley!

Please take time to check out her blog
http://www.thehopefulhummingbird.com/2013/12/12-days-of-mental-health-day-1-social.html?m=1

Cheese Spread Sandwhiches

An unlikely inspiration for a blog, however, cheese spread sandwiches are exactly what inspired what you're reading now. Also, how could these sandwiches change someone's life this Christmas?

It's often the smallest deeds that have the biggest positive impact on someone's day.

This morning my father came in and made me some sandwiches. So, this isn't an unusual occurrence for me, but I don't think I've ever appreciated it as much as I should since coming home from university for Christmas. You get so used to looking after yourself and having no one to do anything for you, so being back at home is amazing!

It reminded me, at this time of year so many people feel so much more lonely than the rest of the year. They feel so much more isolated. So many people spend it with their family and friends. What about the people who have no one?

So you're wondering what's this got to do with cheese spread sandwiches, right? It reminded me how much doing a little deed for someone can make them feel loved and there's no better feeling than that. Also, no worse feeling than being alone and having no one.

How great would it be if everyone took their time to do one small thing for someone they care about or someone who has no one else this Christmas just to make them feel cared about? Whether that's popping to the shop for someone, or even just sending them a Christmas card.

There's no better excuse to do something good for someone than Christmas.

And that's how cheese spread sandwiches could turn someone's day around.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

My Story

Despite knowing many of you who read my blog for many, many years. You're highly unlikely to know my story during the last few years.
I'm writing this not for attention (before all the rumours start), but simply to raise awareness and say that it is ok to get help... In fact it's good.

Three years ago in January, I was diagnosed with depression for the first time. I'd been dealing with it for a few months before, but it was only in January steps were taken to get me the help I needed.

Now, let me explain. Depression isn't just feeling a little down and isn't a fleeting feeling of sadness. It's like a majorly dark fog surrounds you. The longer it's left, the darker it gets until you can't take it anymore. You can see nothing but yourself which can be perceived as selfish. You become irritable and lack motivation due to the every effort of trying to get through when you can't see a thing.. which people take as you not being very nice. You either can't sleep or sleep all the time, and even then you feel tied down and unable to move...therefore your friends may lose interest as you don't make much effort. You can't see the light, and lack all sense of hope.You don't value yourself or care about food or the future because you don't think you're worth it..... all of which many people will take as attention seeking and need you to snap out of it. You become completely irrational in some cases and those around you don't understand why. It causes so much pain for you and those who care, it never just affects the one person!

A couple of months after coming off medication, I was put back on it. There's no shame in needing a little help. You'd seek medical help if you were physically ill, so why is there such a big difference when it comes to mental health?! (I don't understand!)

The thing is, I was surrounded by some incredible people who helped me through. And yes, they may not have all understood or had any idea what I was going through. but they were there. It's often the reactions and actions of those closest to you that can make or break your recovery. I was lucky with all the support I had, but it's not the same for everyone! If more people were aware of the facts and had even an idea of what dealing with any mental health issue was like, it would transform the lives of many and aid them in recovery. It could save so many lives.

Ignorance and impatience with people dealing with mental health does not help one bit. Yes, it's hard for those trying to help too, but they can walk away for a break, when people like us could not.

I just want to let everyone know that there is hope. Since being put on medication and being supported so much when I need it, I've completed my A leves, modeled for Julien Macdonald, traveled to Switzerland, France,
Malaysia and Australia, met some great people, started university and met some amazing people there too. I've become a part of www.Mindslikeours.co.uk  (refer to earlier blogs for more details). The most incredible things that have happened in my life were after getting help, not before.

The point is:

Life does not end with the diagnosis of a mental health illness. It simply starts a new chapter of living in a different way.

PS. I'd just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was there for me when I did need it and helped me through. It has made the world of difference. It's thanks to you that I can now help out and reach others whether that's through Minds Like Ours or otherwise! Everything I'm doing and I achieve in life is thanks to you.. No need to mention people as they know who they are.

THANK YOU!

If you're struggling: try and tell someone.
If you see someone struggling: do something, tell someone, talk to them
If you know someone who deals with MH issues: be patient, you can walk away from it, but they can't.

Huffington Post

So today my first ever blog for Huffington Post was published. Quite a day! I am now officially a blogger for Huffington Post. Check out the website : www.huffingtonpost.com
The subject of my first blog for them is mental health at university...
Please take a look/comment/share: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/../../lucy-roberts/mental-health-university_b_4385363.html

Thanks.

Will be back to posting regularly soon!

Lucy

#MythBustingMonday

Sorry for neglecting the blog... I'm back blogging as people actually miss reading them apparently.. Ummm WHAT?!

Every Monday at Minds Like Ours we have our myth busting Monday where we bring to light common misconceptions regarding mental health.

Here are my top 8 (I don't know why 8):

- #1 : Mental health issues are caused by the people suffering from them
     - Truth: Although people do need to take responsibility for their own thoughts/feelings associated with their disorder, the fact they deal with MH issues is not their fault! There's a difference between taking responsibility and being the cause.

- #2 : All mental health disorders are lifelong
     - Truth: Not all mental health disorders are lifelong. Some are, but not all. MH disorders can be treated with therapy and medication...you can often recover.

- #3 : If I admit I'm struggling with my MH I will be admitted to hospital
     - Truth: The minority of MH patients actually receive inpatient treatment. The largest percentage never need to be in hospital, though in some cases it is neccessary for their own well-being.

- #4 : If I can't handle my own MH without help then I'm weak
     -Truth: It often takes more courage to seek help than it does to keep struggling. You would seek help if you were physically that ill, so why not for your mental health?!

- #5 : People with mental health issues are violent
     -Truth: Statistics prove that those suffering with mental health issues are more likely to be the victim of violence than actually be violent themselves. This is one of the biggest misconceptions.

- #6 : It's always easy to talk about how you're feeling/coping
     -Truth: Not everyone knows who they can talk to about these things. Even if someone is surrounded by the most supportive friends/family it can still be so hard to speak up. MH patients often don't feel worthy of the help or try to ignore it in the hope it'll get better on it's own...This is simply not true. It can be so hard to open up and tell anyone, especially those closest how you're feeling when it's negative.

- #7 : If you live with a mental illness then you're weak
     -Truth: those with MH issues often find day to day things extremely difficult. These things are often simply tasks the majority of people don't take any notice of such at eating, getting  up and looking after yourself. Therefore, it takes great strength and courage to still live your life whilst dealing with MH illness.

- #8 : MH patients can't enjoy life
    -Truth: There's a misconception that all MH patients just sit in bed all day every day. In actual fact, the majority of MH patients live their life to the fullest. Their lives may be different to most people's and they sometimes may not be able to do things others can, but most MH patients try and make the most of everyday when they can

A Guide To Surviving Freshers Week

Freshers week: usually the first week many have spent away from home living with a bunch of strangers and having some good nights out.

1) Whether you're an alcoholic or you don't drink at all, nights out at the union are a MUST!! It's a great way to meet people and have a good ol' time dancing and what not.

2) Don't shut yourself away in your room. Doesn't matter if you're the most confident person in the world or the most shy...you're all in the same boat!! Get involved with your flat mates or people on your course... They're the people you'll be spending at least the next year with, it's a good idea to get to know them

3) Be yourself... The last thing anyone wants in their flat is a fake flatmate. I can guarantee the people your with will want to get to know you instead of someone you may be pretending to be... you can't keep that up forever!

4) Don't be afraid to start conversations....Don't leave it to the same people all the time or they'll stop making the effort and will think you can't be bothered

5) Keep your things tidy... Your room is up to you.. but shared areas are used by everyone. Your flatmates won't appreciate you leaving a mess all over the kitchen or leaving your makeup all over the bathroom!! (especially when you're sharing with 44 people like I am!)

6) Drink lots of water and eat regularly! You will not be able to keep up wild nights every night if you're still hung over and dying from the night before... PACE YOURSELF!

7) Don't be worried about having a night in.. If you're not up for nights out every night, I'm sure there'll be other people feeling the same... invite them over for a night in... they're essential for recovering from those nights out!

8) Keep an eye on how much you spend.... Blowing your entire loan in the first week is going to leave you stuck for the rest of the term... not a good idea

9) Make an effort to get to know everyone in you're sharing with...Some people may be feeling homesick or left out and don't know how to get involved... speak to them! It's a good way of making new friends.. or if that's you... try hanging out in the shared areas... you're bound to make friends quickly

10) Explore where you're living...There's no point moving to university if you're just going to stay in your room. Explore the town/city...It's something to do with your flatmates as you're all in the same position!

Enjoy Yourself

 

 

University

Moving, registration and day 1

I realised that moving is a lot harder than anyone who has never moved thinks....but not in the way you think. The only part I found hard was the practical side of packing up your life and possessions and physically moving them to your next destination. As the time was getting closer, all I had packed was shoes and films (I had my priorities right!!!!!)... but slowly bits came together and now I'm here, all settled in and having a fab time.

Registration was a bit manic with people everywhere, but to be fair to our uni, it is rather organised when it came to it!

Meeting people in person and putting physical faces to online photos was probably the best part of registration day. Everyone I met and am living with are fab. They're no different to how they convey themselves online. We'll all in the same position and have been looking out for each other: fab group of girls! Some photos from our night out of a few of them.....

The union is great and I finally got to meet Shakey for the first time after watching some impressive(ly bad moves) at the union last night!!! Running for Raising and Giving (RAG) officer  is a go! Also, hoping there's a good chance of being able to help with the Night Scheme too.

Night scheme is hoping to be set up in the Carmarthen campus this year and will be a service for those who need a non-judgemental, listening ear during the early hours of the morning when there's no one around.

So excited about everything at uni at the moment... Getting involved is definitely the best way forward! #Happy (I don't care if it's no acceptable to hash tag in blogs...get over it!)

Quick word of advice for future uni students... getting involved is a great way to meet people and gives you something to talk about!! Living at university is more than just gaining a degree by completing a course.... It's far less scary than people think as long as you're friendly, make an effort and keep an open mind.


My room is faaaaab. Huge and I have the best views. Want to keep it for the 3 years..... despite there being so many steps to get up to the top floor :( (I will count them one day!)

 

 

Things to do today: Catch up what's been happening at MiLO, go for food (can't wait! I'm hungry), games night at the Christian Union and then a film night. Woo!

 

 

 

And at last, some photos of the uni!

Inspiring A Generation

It's when we're young children that we're probably at our most selfless and accepting. Young children don't discriminate based on looks... or at all. They play with anyone and have no sense of cynicism.

Yet, as each generation grows up, they have something negative to say about the younger generations...

"We knew how to behave"

"They're so selfish"

etc etc...

Has no one ever stopped to think that those young, innocent children look up to older generations to learn how to behave?

If you ask most children and teenagers what they want to do with their lives, they'll give you a response regarding a career. Very rarely, if at all is there a response of "I want to help as many people as I can" or "I'd love to be a part of stopping world hunger". Our thinking is conditioned from a young age to have aspirations surrounding jobs. Working and earning your own money is important, yes... but there are far bigger things at hand.

Inspiring a generation is about being a selfless, non-judgmental generation ourselves to set the example for those who follow.
It's about teaching tolerance. I don't mean tolerance of crime or things like that, but to accept people from all walks or life, who looks different etc etc without judging or treating them differently

 

Most people see or read horrifying true stories of situations that are all to common in our world, yet will do nothing about it. There'll be a sense of guilt for a few minutes, but they will not change any part of their life to help those people they learn about.

To me the greatest sense of achievement isn't in how much money you earn, but how much you give away. It isn't about how much you own, but about how much you've helped those in need. I mean real need, not "I need new clothes" when there's a perfectly good wardrobe full.

I've only mentioned that big issues so far...but inspiring a generation isn't just about wanting them to give money away. It's about teaching selflessness and tolerance..Not teaching judgement.

It's the small every day things such as asking someone how they are, to the big things of volunteering to go to third world countries and actively help to improve their quality of life.

Teaching outside of school is no longer about telling people how they should be, but more about setting at example of how to live. It's about being the change that we want to see in the next generation because we are the people they will look up to and copy.

It's not only celebs who are looked up to and followed, but it's the every day people we're surrounded with that are respected more and more. It's the everyday people that we learn our behaviours from.

_____________________________________________________________________________
                                       
                                         It's about being the change we want to see.



Opportunity

Sorry for the 2 blogs a day kinda thing that's occurring at the moment. I'm sure from Saturday onwards, I'll only have time for 1 a day at most...

Something that's been made clear to me today is that we all NEED to make the most of every opportunity presented to us.

One major thing to start all this is to actually put yourselves out there in the first place and keep your eyes open for opportunities.

People who personally know me, know that I've done some incredible things in my life, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't jumped at the chance.

Many of people may have seen the BBC news this summer when Joshua's Wish Charity (formally known as The Joshua Foundation) went into insolvency. So, many of you know, yes I went to Australia (and stopped over in Malaysia: see earlier blog), but not all of you know that's because I, along with many others, spent 18 months - 2 years raising £3,000 each. Half the money went straight to the charity and the other towards the cost of the tip. However, even less of you know this was meant to be a working trip!!!! When the charity disappeared 19 days before flying that all changed...I still managed to go and stay with family along with 2 awesome girls, but I wouldn't have had the chance if I hadn't taken the risk and gone for it!

 

Some of you may know, I got to model for Julien Macdonald earlier this year at a charity fashion show. As well as thing being so much fun, so much money was raised for charity! Still....If I hadn't have put myself out there and auditioned, I wouldn't have had the chance.

I've also had the opportunity to sing for the queen as part of a choir. Yet, this wouldn't have happened unless I'd got involved with the choir in the first place.

Even down to today, I've been contacted by the fabulous Aaron (Shakey: who has to be mentioned in this blog as he's in charge of student activities) and informed of a position at the uni I'm starting in on Monday called the Raising and Giving (RAG) officer (I think). Who ever wins the election for this role will work with others to arrange charity events etc... Yet, I wouldn't have even known about this (my perfect role!!!!) if I hadn't been blogging. I'm not saying blogging is for everyone, it's just one way to put yourself out there. This opportunity to even have a chance of getting this role is amazing to me! The chance to help charities and hopefully also raise awareness for MiLO at uni would be the best.. I'll keep you all updated!

The point is, unless you put yourself out there and get involved, you won't get amazing opportunities or maybe not even chances to see some incredible site/meet awesome people and do fabulous things!

                                                                                                                                          

Sometimes you have to forget the "what if"s and "maybe"s and not care what people think. The truth is, not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to be someone you get on with...but be true to yourself and you have a chance :)

#TherapyThursday

Thursday already (yaay)
I'm so excited as I'm moving from home on Sunday. All exciting times.

With us at MiLO Thursday is known as #therapythursday. So, we're not pretending to be professionals and if you need help I encourage you to visit your GP or look at our helpline page: http://mindslikeours.co.uk/helplines.html

However, we use Thursday to share ideas and thoughts that may help brighten someone's day or give them a way of coping that we've found to help some of us

1) Music : 
- So whether you're a musician, you sing or you don't have a musical bone in your body, music can be a great way of helping you through the hard times. If you're a musician, maybe writing your own music/songs is a good release for you. For others, just listening to music, whether it's music that cheers you up or music that really explains how you feel can help. A good cry now and again to music can do the world of good!

2) Writing :
- If you have a love of writing, this could be the one for you. Whether it's poetry, keeping a diary, writing down random words, or writing exactly how you feel...it may help you to process your emotions and deal with them better...and hey, who doesn't love a good rant or moan form time to time?! Sometimes it may help to burn these afterwards, but sometimes it helps to keep them and see how far you've come! Everyone's different...

3) Talking :
- If there's someone around you trust and can talk to - great, do it! However, if there isn't, simply speaking out how you feel to yourself when there's no one around can also help you process things and make them easier to deal with. Sometimes when we keep everything in our head, the world/situations can seem a lot worse than they actually are.

4) Art :
- Now, for the more creative of you this could be the one for you! Art is often an expression of someone or their emotions. Whether it's a painting, drawing, photography, 3D art... etc etc....it can be a good outlet. Many people use art to express their feelings, whilst others just enjoy it as it takes their mind of things for a while.

5) Just relax :
- Now and again, all we need is to just sit and be in a peaceful environment. For some that's out in the world, being one with nature, whilst for others it's in the comfort of their own home.. All depends on what you fancy. But try to just sit/lay down, relax and not think of a single thing... Easier said than done! One way of doing this is to concentrate on a candle flame whilst trying to clear your mind of everything! Good luck... it's harder than you think

6) Breathe :
- Deep, slow breaths allow us to reduce our heart rate and calm a little. One technique: breathing in slowly through your nose... then when you're breathing out through your mouth, pretend there's a candle right in front of you and you aren't to blow it out... it slows your breathing right down

For those of you who don't like the whole imagining thing and would rather something real, count in your head whilst breathing in, then start again from one breathing out and see how high you can count. The higher the number you get to, the slower your breathing.

7) Positivity :
- This comes in all forms.. whether it's thinking of all the good things you've done, reading positive/inspirational quotes, making plans for the future, or simply doing something constructive... this can be a good way of keeping yourself in the right mind-set

8) Helping :
- For many people, the best therapy is actually helping other people. This could be as simple as tidying the house to help whoever you live with, or something bigger as in volunteering for charity work or for anything at all. It gives us a sense of purpose and often reassures us that we're not useless... because NO ONE IS USELESS.

                                                                                                                                                       

We all have that special something about us that makes us unique, so we are all needed to work together for better. We're all individuals with the power to change our own lives and help those around us change theirs. 
#TherapyThursday
 

Growing Up

We all change when we're growing up. Often we end up as completely different people to how we started...whether that's in our views, aspiration, beliefs, looks, personality or all of the above.

The way we look is usually an outlet of who we are. For example, you never meet a boring person with neon coloured hair! Thinking about it... I've never met anyone with neon coloured hair, but I've seen pretty close!

I know I personally went through a load of different hair colours.. Not quite that drastic...

I can't remember what I wanted to be growing up, but I in the last couple of years I wanted to be a mental health nurse. I'd gone as far as applying to uni to train to be qualified to work in this area. I was called for interviews, but something didn't feel right. Now here I am, a year later about to start university to train to be a primary school teacher. The thing is...it doesn't matter when you realise what you want to do with your life. All that matters is you do it when you realise!!

The thing is... growing up... you realise life isn't fair and you can't always have everything you're own way. It's just as much about helping yourself as it is about helping others! It's about learning to be responsible for yourself and others, and to develop your own mind and thinking.

I still want to be able to help those dealing with mental health issues and that's why I joined MiLO's cause: http://mindslikeours.co.uk/

Yes, I know I go on about it, but I'm so proud of what everyone at MiLO is doing. Am getting so excited about talking through plans and ideas for World Mental Health Day (WMHA) on October 10th. Watch this space....