The Garden Centre

There's one place that I love to go no matter what time of year it is - garden centres.

Today I took my grandparents to a garden centre (that they love visiting) for lunch.  Despite the drizzle that showered every once in a whole, it was a lovely day.

First we had some lunch, then came the fun part - exploring the shop!

I'm quite sad when it comes to this kind of thing, and I love looking at all the different coloured flowers and the patterns they make. 

I also love the cute little bits and bobs you find in a garden centre that you won't find anywhere else. You know the type. The unique, chic, homely kind. What you can't find in one of these shops, isn't worth finding! (Slight exaggeration, of course).

The garden centre in question had a whole corner dedicated to Yankee Candles. Now, I for one love the assortment of smells and colours, but despite this, I find them rather over priced. So, today I just enjoyed the sights and smells they had to offer.

I ventured off on my own, leaving my Nan choosing which candle she was going to buy to discover the canvases with quotes, cute little owl ornaments, and other statues/candles. If I had all the money I wanted, I would have bought one of almost everything here.

When we finished shopping my gramps presented my Nan with a choice of two packages. He wouldn't show or tell us what they were. My Nan chose one, and I had the other. It was a car air freshener. Not just any air freshener...a Yankee candle air freshener.

I'd never heard of the 'Sand and sun' fragrance before, but after opening it and placing it in my car, I love it.

Whever I go, and whatever the weather, it smells like summer at the beach in my car - perfect.

    

What a lovely day.

Life...

This weekend, I attended the wedding service of someone I've known for as long as I can remember.

They had the most beautiful service, and of course the bride looked stunning. Everything about it was perfect. The decorations, outfits, the order of services that were given out, the atmosphere...just everything!

It only seems like yesterday that the groom, his sister, my brother, and two other mutual friends (who lived in the same village as us, and went to the same school etc etc etc) used to build snowmen, and try to create igloos. The quote we would all give you if you asked any of us to name one from playing out in the snow was "my numb is bum". I think the cold got to her head a little!

It amazes me how quickly time is going, and how much changes as you grow up. I'm only 19, but things have changed so much from when we were those children out playing (especially in the snow!), and the movies nights and 'get togethers' as we got older. Now we've all moved on and are living all over the country - Bristol, Leicester, London etc. One is married (and another soon to be). Everyone is moving on with their lives.

We've all met some incredible people who we now call our friends, we've done some amazing things and had some great experiences. We barely keep in touch, but when we all meet up it's like there's never been any time apart.

To think we've grown so quickly to being in the same primary school, to now living independently, having jobs/studying at university such seem crazy.

I guess the point of this post is to just say:

• People come and go in your life - appreciate the time you have with them, even if it's only a moment
• Appreciate life for what it is - every changing/a series of experiences, make the most of each one
• Time doesn't ever stop because you want it to
• Make the most of being in the moment - you'll never get another exactly like it

Make a list of what/who you're grateful for and make sure they know it!

Here's a small part of my list:

• Family
• friends (including those who I don't keep in contact with. I'll always cherish good memories and time with great people)
• Acquaintances - the people I don't know the names of but who have brightened my day with little things like exchanging a smile, or moving your bag on a bus for me to sit down, holding the door an extra second so it doesn't slam in my face etc. 
• The every day things - having a bed, a home, warmth, heat, everything I want, most of the things I want, an education, clothes, the very thoughtful and kinds messages/gifts from friends (especially when there's no special occasion!), a nice conversation, people caring, photographs, memories.... I could go on
• The big things - having my work published in a book, modelling, travelling to Italy/Malaysia/Australia/France/Switzerland, my car

I'm sure the little things/big things should be the other way around if it was judged on how important they were to me. The list could go on forever, but writing it all down makes you realise how blessed we all are.

I've realised it's the people I meet that I appreciate most in life. So many people come and go, but looking back, every person I've met has taught me something. Whether that's not to judge, or to accept people as they are, or that not everyone/everything in life is bad, life is what you make it and it's far better when you're accepting of things for what they are, don't try to change people, I could go on... but here's a big thank you to everyone who has impacted my life and taught me something, no matter how it was taught, I'm now in a place where I can be grateful for it.

Appreciate those things on your list whilst they are there, because they may not be tomorrow.

I'm sure I didn't appreciate the happy snow days (for example) anywhere near as much as I do now. Looking back, it's the smallest, simple, everyday things I enjoy and appreciate more - being with genuinely great people I call friends, not the material things in life.

I've realised how many people there are that need to be made aware of how great they are for who they are, not for what they do...now for reality to resume...ie.bed time!

Feel Good Sunday #1

This is a week late, but it will be the first in the series of weekly Sunday posts.

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, because who couldn't do without a little positivity?



#1 : The Butterfly Theory

Recently I spent almost two weeks in North Wales (watch this space to find out more about it). During one of the days we visited a place which held a room full of butterflies that would fly around you as you walked through.

Now, this got me thinking, as most things do when I least expect it... These butterflies always appeared beautiful. They flutter on by as they have no other way of getting around. So I thought, wouldn't it be great if we could live our lives like this.

Let me explain. Throughout life we meet some amazing people who always manage to keep a smile on their face no matter what circumstance they find themselves in. They manage to appear to keep moving forward no matter what they're facing, much like butterflies appear to.

Is this always the case?

These people seem flawless in their approach to life, but we all know no one is perfect. So how do they do it?

Step One: a positive attitude

I'm going to call this step 'flutter'.

Some people find this difficult, but if you look closely enough there will be something positive to take from every situation, every moment, every day of your life, even if you have to make that positive moment happen for yourself. This is what keeps people moving forward. They don't dwell on the negative.

Step Two: Smile

I'm going to call this step 'appear'.

We are all automatically drawn to someone to is smiling, and it is scientifically proven that smiles can be contagious. So, even if you're not having the best day, smile. Create that bit of happiness for someone else. If you're having a good day smiling can be a lot easier, and of course this is good to share with the world.

We often look at butterflies and see how beautiful the patterns their wings are. No matter how they may feel, on the outside they look great... so why not see smiles in the same way? This isn't about pretending you're ok, or hiding how you feel, as self expression is an important part of life. It's simply about sharing or creating happiness through smiling.

Step Three: Take time out

I'm going to call this step 'rest'.

We only ever seem to notice the butterflies that are flying around, attracting our attention. However, an important part of their life (and ours), is to take time out to rest and just be - to take a look and evaluate our life - enjoy the moment so to speak. We're often so busy, that we don't take time to enjoy the moment we're in now and recharge our batteries so to speak.



To sum up...

• Flutter - keep moving forward with a positive attitude


• Appear - remember to smile and share happiness with others


• Rest  - take time out to rest and enjoy the moment you're in

You could carry around a little piece of paper in your purse with a butterfly drawing on to remind you.

If you have any other ideas of how to remember this one, comment below.

- Flutter - Appear - Rest -

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