breathe

Anxiety effects many people within their daily lives and it is very easy to become overwhelmed and feel lonely, even though you have many people around you. Anxiety allows you to worry about things which are not important and probably will never actually happen, which is why it is good to take each day as it comes and focus on the present (easier said than done!). This blog will aim to promote positivity and encourage self-love, while finding true happiness within yourself and within your life.

Ocean air

Loving yourself is something that doesn’t come easy to all of us, and it may be easy for you- but you may have some insecurities within yourself which you wish to overcome. There are always going to be things that we don’t like about ourselves and want to change-but these things are what makes each one of us special, and unique. Everyone has impurities and is different, as no one is perfect- far from it. I have found that when meeting new people I feel intimidated as I perceive them to be perfect and to have themselves figured out, but don’t judge a book by its cover. You don’t know what is going on in someone’s life or what they are dealing with- be it mentally or physically. This should encourage us to be kind to everyone that we meet- as we have no way of knowing what they are going through. Everyone is battling something.

Self-love is important and you should aim to care less about how others view you- as other people’s opinions do not matter. Even though you may think that they do, they really don’t. If you think that something you say is stupid or if you look silly (etc.) – It is probably unlikely that they have even considered this to be this way and will definitely not remember it as much as you think they will. If you look around you, instead of focusing only on what you are thinking, it can often be seen that everyone else is focusing on themselves- entirely- and not on you. This is a very important thing to understand and can allow you to feel less insecure and worry less about what you are doing, allowing you to enjoy being in the moment.

Don't try to impress people by pretending to be something that you're not. This seems cliche, but it is important. You shouldn't feel the need to behave, act or dress differently due to how you believe others want you to. Embrace yourself- be it your personality, your appearance or your style. Everyone is completely different and unique- which is something we should encourage and use to our advantage, not feel ashamed or embarassed of. It is easier said than done- I know this myself, but it is something we should aim to work on- as it's important not to aim to fit into the crowd or to be ashamed of being 'weird' or 'different' because this is what makes you, you. Don't forget it.  

special little purchases

In the time that we are living just now- with so many possibilities when it comes to technology- which can be a good thing and also it can have its disadvantages. It is important to do more things which make you forget to check your phone. Whether this may be- going for a short walk, seeing your friends, taking a bath. It is good to take time out of the stresses of daily life, and to just take time to yourself, or to be with those that you care about. For me, personally, I love to be in the countryside, amongst the forest or simply by a Loch somewhere- in taking the surroundings, by myself or with the people I love. It often clears my head and reminds me how silly it is to stress about such mundane things.

Today I visited Tobermory, which is a small town on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Some of you may remember the kids tv show ‘Balamory’ which was filmed there- a particular favourite of mine when I was younger. It was nice to take a whole day looking around the town, chatting to the locals and looking around the small shops. I think it is very important to support smaller businesses, whether it be jewellery shops, cheese shops or clothes. It is important to buy local produce. Each shop contains many individualistic, special items which you wouldn’t find anywhere else- and are unique because no one else will have them. I enjoy the personal experience which you gain from shopping in smaller shops. We should all make an effort to support smaller businesses and try to shop in bigger chains less often- where you don't know how the clothes are being made and how much workers are being paid. Supporting ethical companies benefits the environment, you know exactly where the product is coming from and who makes it. I think it is important to buy less, to try and recylce things as much as we can - whether it be in our daily lives, with food packaging, cardboard etc. or whether it be our clothes. Think about the amount of clothes that you have bought in your lifetime, which you may only have worn once or may never have worn at all! (I know myself I have been guilty of this in the past!) I'll not bore you with lots of statistics, but here is one to think about - 10% of the world's yearly carbon emissions comes from the fashion industry, more than all international air flights alone. 

I bought a few items today which weren’t necessarily inexpensive, but they are things which I know that I will use and will cherish, as I know they are unique and will each have certain things about them that I like. It is important to treat yourself every so often and to buy things which make you feel more comfortable within yourself- whether it be for you to wear, or to decorate your home. These things are items which people will notice and will become a part of you. I personally love to buy rings- If I had more money then my hands would be covered in them! It is an amazing experience to buy rings from shops where you can meet the people who make the jewellery, and can explain to you what stones are in the rings. There is a lovely jewellers in Tobermory, which I recommend to anyone that visits! Byres Road, in Glasgow, is home to a few lovely vintage shops, where I could spend all day picking out such beautiful, hand-crafted pieces, but unfortunately I can’t as I think I would end up leaving with no money. I bought a lovely stone elephant soap holder in Tobermory today. It is something that will stand out and makes a house become a home. Individual shops are definitely the way forward.

Not only is it important to support smaller shops, but it is also important to support smaller restaurants, which do not- at all- lack anything that the bigger chain, fast food restaurants have. In fact, they definitely have more to offer. Personally, I love to visit a small Italian restaurant called ‘Napizza’ in Stirling- which is definitely worth a visit!!! I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Not only are you paying for exceptional food and service, but also for a personal, authentic experience! The main chef is very passionate about his work and although he may not speak any English, he definitely makes you feel very welcome! I now refuse to eat pizza anywhere else. It is important to support these restaurants as they have so much to offer and I think that you are getting much more for your money. 

Beach day

This was taken on a family holiday, where I was in a very happy place mentally, it felt good to spend time with my family and to take the time to do what I love. We were staying in a house in the countryside, where the sheep were just outside the front door - it was lovely! Peaceful and Tranquil. 

-World Bank. (2019). How Much Do Our Wardrobes Cost to the Environment? [online] Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente.