New Year, New Visions, New Plans.

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying the festivities!

Let's do a recap on 2016, we have a new Prime Minister in the UK, The USA have a new President, we lost some amazing celebrities through some horrible illnesses and accidents, the UK are in the process of leaving the EU, the cost of living has increased, Andy Murray wins Wimbledon (again), hate crime has increased throughout the world, rail fares increased by 1.1% throughout the UK and Royal Mail raises their stamp prices by a penny. 

So, my 2016 has been eventful to say the least. A few years ago I made plans, plan with people, plans for myself and I didn't stick to the plans as you can imagine. Like most people, plans change, people change, even when they don't want to change, sometimes it just happens. I planned on having my own flat, which happened, I planned on being engaged at some point, that didn't happen, partly my fault, I planned on fulfilling my dreams of becoming a nurse, I didn't go through with that when I started, I quit after 6 months, and I even planned on having a kid at some point...

Put it this way, this was my first Christmas on my own. Not physically you understand, but without a partner.

For most, Christmas is a happy time, it's a time where we all come together and get merry and this year, I spent it with my father and I couldn't be more thankful. For the past 5/6 months my dad has been there for all my emotional breakdowns, my 'I'm not going to work' days, to my 'I'm going to eat this cake' days but he's also been there for my good days. The days I've smiled, laughed and been happy sober.

I've not been sober this whole time you understand. I had a fling with alcohol for a while. Mainly because it made me feel lighter in the head, happier, even helped me sleep at some point. In the morning, I would feel a sense of regret, sadness, hurting, mostly loneliness.

My plan next month is to get sober and better.

I've made a lot of commitments and travel plans for 2017. I will try and fulfill them all as best I can! I've made the usual goals such as quit smoking, go back to the gym and not to eat all the pies, well you know what? I'm going to eat everything in sight, while I run on a treadmill. I'll stop smoking when I've had enough. My goal for 2017, my main goal is to not put any pressure on myself. None what so ever.

I mean, putting pressure on yourself is pointless. It causes nothing but more stress and the temptation to not reach your goals because we have a fight with our-self and end up convincing ourselves to 'have a break'. Life is too short to put pressure on yourself, continue to go at your own pace and reach your goals, even if it takes you longer than a year. 

So I send a short message for you all, as we wave 2016 goodbye, I want to be able to let go, and I will let go. Not because I don't care, but mostly because I care enough to leave some things alone, for my sake, for other peoples sake. I'm letting go because I can't move forward otherwise. I encourage those who need to let go, do it. There is nothing worse than being angry with yourself and regretting and as much as we want to change things and make a difference, maybe now is not the time and sitting wondering why, it's not really going to get you anywhere, is it?

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year.

Stay safe!

Cat

Love Each Other As Well As Yourself

Hi everyone! 

It's quarter past midnight on a Tuesday and I was scrolling through my Twitter feed when I noticed some gamer girls just like me, posting their selfies of new piercings, tattoos or just because they felt like it! Do you know what I noticed? I noticed a girl tweeting the other girl saying how pretty she looked and it made me warm inside. 

This also made me think why we don't compliment each other genuinely all the time? Women are the biggest critiques I believe. The minute a woman walks into a room, other women look at her appearance, listen to her laugh, the way she speaks and watch the way she carries herself. 

I sometimes hear women compliment other women, some I hear things like 'why is she wearing that?' etc. I'm even guilty of it myself! 

I thought to myself, if I want to be seen as a nice person, who takes care of themselves then I feel I need to view others this way. Not judge them you understand, but if I feel they need a compliment then don't be afraid to do it! 

There are lots of people who get accused of flirting or being too friendly when they compliment someone but I find it harmless. 

So for this week, I challenge you all to compliment someone and mean it! Not just on their appearance, but if they are doing a good job at work, or if they have made a decision to make a plan and go for it, support them and compliment their efforts!

Life isn't a race, so we should help each other along the way.

Our graves will look exactly the same in the end, so stay humble.  

Have a great rest of the week! 

Cx

Twitter:

@shotgunkitten_

Facebook:

@CatGillanNovels

On a Festive Note...

Hello everyone!

It's hump day, the day most people start to wind down towards the weekend.

This week has been a strange one but in a good way!

I've mentioned my mother before, but she has started her own business making hampers and baby gifts such as hand-knitted toys and nappy cakes. She makes her own Gingerbread Men, Chutneys and Jams. She's pretty good at it too!

This week I helped her with the Christmas fare in the local primary school, helping her attempt to sell her items. My mother is new to the idea of her very own business, so she was a little apprehensive but we got there in the end.

I loved watching the people move around each stall, all the children annoying their parents to buy them items that they could probably get at Christmas anyway and I witnessed a little girl buy things for her parents Christmas.

Now, there are two points to my rambling gibberish this week.

1 - If you have a spark to try something new, then do it. Let the flame lighten and just watch it explode into flames. Now, this sounds dangerous so allow me to give you something lighter.

Imagine you have a seed. You plant the seed in your garden. For this seed to grow and flourish, you need to water the seed, make sure it's taken care of and one day it can blossom into something beautiful, however if you don't take care of that seed and you don't water it, or take care of it, it will just remain as it's always been, a seed hidden in the ground.

Take this and follow it for 2017.

2 - Christmas is usually one of my favourite holidays, but this year it's been a little strange for me. It bothered me for months that I wouldn't have someone to share Christmas with this year. How wrong was I...

For Christmas morning, I will visit my mother, step father and brothers, and of course, Mikey (the dog). I'll spend some time there and then have dinner and drinks with my father. We'll cook the meal together, eat it and head to the pub (hopefully).

I might not have a partner to share Christmas with but I am not alone. So to my singletons out there, don't be bummed about not having someone when you have friends and family around you. Take comfort in knowing that you have them around you because not everyone has that gift at Christmas.

So, on a lighter note! Are you all looking forward to the festivities? I know I am.

I have so much planned for 2017/18 and I plan on going through with each and everyone of the plans, even if it's on my own, I'll take comfort in saying 'Hey! I did that!'

I hope your festivities are full of happiness.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Cat

Here I Go Again On My Own... Kinda

Good morning, afternoon, or evening. 

Wherever you are in the world, I greet you with open arms and a smile.

Tonight I made a huge decision. A decision that a lot of people will frown upon without hesitation. They will share comments of negativity and some will congratulate me and wish me luck. Some people might want to join me occasionally!

I've decided to visit cities and experience new things. All on my own.

This past week has been a bit of an eye opener for me. I've been feeling so much emotion, so much more than I can handle recently. Life is too short, and when I'm 10 years older, I'll look back and want to love the fact I traveled a little bit, tried new foods and learned about different cultures and ways of living.

I've watched people travel and concur their dreams. I know people who travel for work whether it's in a band, solo or business, I admire that. I love the fact they get that opportunity. The thing is, I want to make this opportunity mine, grasp it with both hands, and embrace it.

I constantly think about booking a flight and just doing it! Going away for a couple of days and why not?!

Someone told me yesterday, why put something off until tomorrow when you can just do it today? That's seriously made me think about what my year is going to look like in 2017. I see a lot of posts about 'New Year, New Me', I see the posts and they try for a couple of weeks and then revert to old ways. I've even caught myself doing exactly that. This year I put off and cancelled so many plans when I should have just went and did them anyway.
Never put off your plans!

Let me give you a sneak peek as to what I want my 2017 to look like:

- I'm releasing my first published book in January.

- I'm visiting Bordeaux, Rotterdam (hopefully), Amsterdam, and the beautiful city of New York.

- I'm hoping to release a second book around Autumn time.

- I want to pass my driving test. 

- I want to experience new foods and wine! Lots and lots of wine!

- I want to do touristy things, like a wine tasting tour and a beer factory!

- I want to visit the streets of 'Rue Ste Catherine' for a shopping experience.

- I want to go to Oktoberfest!

- I want to take so many photographs and share them with you all. 

So that's just a short list for 2017 but who said that you can't make that list and stick to it too?

I want you all to share your lists with me. Tell me what you want and can do for 2017.  Surprise yourself.

Have a pleasant week! 

Cat 

@shotgunkitten_

What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

Hi everyone,

It's a cold day in Glasgow and it's safe to say that winter is well and truly on it's way. As I travelled to work this morning, I saw many faces. Tired, happy, some sad. I saw pensioners going to the shops, teenagers going to school and adults heading to their place of work or study.

I noticed a group of teenage girls in particular, taking a 'bus selfie', laughing and gossiping. It got me thinking about when I was in high school and the dreams I had when I attended school. I over heard one girl saying she wanted to study medicine, one of her friends laughed and said, 'but you hate needles and blood, you couldn't work in Medicine or in a Doctors.'

Her statement hit home for me even though I wasn't part of the conversation. The girl didn't say anything and remained quiet until they got to their destination. I felt a little sad for her.

I remember being in school and teachers, friends and even some family members telling me I couldn't do certain things, or study at a certain level. I had people who encouraged me also, but the main thing that stuck in my mind was that I couldn't do it.

At 14, I wanted to be a Forensic Scientist. I always had an interest in Biology and how things worked with the body. I watched all the CSI programmes and read up on forensics. There were so many people, including teachers who told me it was a ridiculous idea. I even had one teacher tell me that she could see me working at a checkout in a supermarket and that would be all I could be.

That has always stuck with me what my teacher said and that girl on the bus this morning, I wanted to tell her to ignore her friends and just go for it. But I couldn't. 
If I had to go back and talk to my younger self, I would have told me to not listen to those people who didn't have faith in me, work hard and show them, instead of sitting in my bedroom looking at things that I knew I could do. I changed my mind so many times and made so many plans which I started and never completed.

I've started to make plans and I'm determined to stick to them for the next two years.

I guess my point this week is when someone tells you that you can't do something, smile and prove them wrong. Or when someone tells you that they want to do something, make something, then encourage them and help them get to that goal if you can, because somewhere there is someone at home, in the pub or even at school/college is telling them they can't and if they hear it often enough, they won't.

As frustrating as it can be to hear it or to not do well in certain areas, my Mum used to tell me that Rome wasn't built in a day! How right she is.

Take time, make plans, be patient and breathe.

Have a great week!

Cx

Reflection on Family

Hi everyone, 

I hope this week has been quick for you all!

As Bonfire season comes quickly to an end, we begin to welcome the festive with open arms. Well some of us do anyway. 

The festive season is a busy one and when it comes to contact with family or friends sometimes we can be careless. The reason I say careless isn't in a bad way or that you do not care, but that we get overwhelmed with the busy period, we don't keep in touch with the people that are close to us. We forget to make the call and sometimes we just don't make the call at all. 

Families are a nightmare. Families go through periods of annoying each other about who had taken the last biscuit and get so overwhelmed that they stop talking. It's times like these where we should put these petty differences aside and begin to rebuild the bridge we burned all that time ago. 

I spoken to a man in the street a few weeks ago. A man who was homeless, lost everything, his home, money, and family. His reasons to others would be selfish and unkind to us. But with less judgemental eyes and ears, we should listen and be thankful that we have the love of family and the warmth of a home during the festive period. 

The point in trying to make this week and every other week is pick up that phone and ring that number. Switch on that computer and find that person that you miss, make amends. As stubborn as I can be, I am forever grateful for my family and friends and I don't think I can be without them. 

Regardless of what had happened, reach out and make contact. There are people out there who long for a chat, even for five minutes. 

I hope everyone has a pleasant week. <3

Peace!

Cx 

Life is Precious

Hi everyone!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween!

Well here we are, welcoming November. The mornings are darker and colder, the days are shorter and sometimes slower, our hats and scarfs are on and most are excited for fireworks and carnivals!

You can probably guess from this weeks title that we're going to be discussing life. I see a lot of posts about how precious life is and how we should life, with kindness in our smiles and love in our hearts. As much as we try to do this, we get side tracked with the things that cause us pain. Things that make us too busy to remember to put on matching socks!

The past few weeks haven't been the brightest for myself and I would like to share my outlook on life through my eyes.

I try to be optimistic and happy all the time, but sometimes life can be cruel, and take us down paths of disruption. Whether it involves health issues with ourselves or loved ones, losing a job, a home or a partner, these are all things that we take for granted.

I've been watching the news more often than usual. I've witnessed so may people appear on that channel... Not because they have did something amazing, but because they have been taken away from something truly amazing. I've seen people disappear and turn up dead, I've witnessed a big issue with homelessness and poverty and as much as the media can exaggerate the major issues, we don't tend to pay attention or have a think about ourselves and how we take each and every little thing for granted.

We try not too but we all take everything for granted everyday, from a glass of water to coming home to a cuddle from someone. From getting home safe after a days work, to actually having work. From spending time with friends, to spending time alone. All these little things that I complain about daily without realising, are worth more.

This week, I encourage you all to start learning to not take the little things for granted. Be thankful every day! Even on days that you feel like the world has ended and you need something to make you happy for more than ten minutes. Take a couple of minutes, by that I mean two, two minutes a day to be thankful. You don't have to parade up and down the street and yell about it, even just sitting on the train on the way home, walking the dog or just having a quite meal with your loved ones.

Life is a precious thing. Take the kindness you have and place it in your smile, take the compassion in your heart and share it, and also take the time to be thankful for the life you have. Just because you have a bad day, it doesn't mean you have a bad life. Take the time to help a stranger. Make them smile.

This November, take an opportunity to be thankful, even if it's for a pair of gloves.

Stay warm and safe always.

Cx

Awkward and Wonderful Life Lessons

Hi everyone!

I hope this week has been kind to you.

Over the past few weeks, my head has been in a bit of a pickle. I saw a post on social media about being the awkward age of your mid twenties and I was fascinated by the points made and comments that others wrote.

This week, I want to take that list and make my own views about it and hopefully I can help others relate to this and help people see that going through awkward times are part of life.

1. You're not going to be lonely for the rest of your life.

Yes, I agree with this statement but sometimes the physicality of having someone there can still make you feel alone. You could be surrounded by one hundred people and still feel the isolation. This may seem like a negative statement but it is okay to feel like this. Reach out to the person or people who are around and speak. Talking does help and sometimes can help change your own behaviour as well as others.

2. You don't need to be working in your dream job right now.

This is completely true. As much as we make plans to start getting rich, happy or sometimes 'building an empire' out of nothing at a young age, you need to remember that there are people out there who don't actually find out what their dream job is until they are older. My mother is an excellent example. My mother is forty eight and she has recently started a baking business where she bakes and makes sweets, cakes and other goodies. My mother has been in and out of jobs for as long as I can remember and now she has found something that she really enjoys.

You can go through stages where you reach your 'dream job' and not enjoy it or it's not what you hoped for. This is okay. It's a learning curve in life.

3. Everyone feels loss at some point.

This point moved me a little.

To me, this isn't loss as in a death in the family. This is a loss of self love, love you others, and sometimes the loss of having someone there, ie, relationships.

I think when it comes to loving yourself, it's 100% important. I learned this the hard way. When you can't love yourself, you will find it hard to love others because you try and find commonality in each other. When you find something about yourself that you dislike but someone disagrees, try and find out why they love it and understand it.

4. You still have so much time to fail.

This may sound negative but it's true. There are so many people out there who fail at their jobs, marriages, relationships with others and it's only because of how they approach it. Now, how to approach the feeling of failure is something different. You mustn't see this as the end, take it as a lesson and try to go about it differently next time. IT'S ALL ABOUT LEARNING.

5. Someone is going to love you again.

After going through a breakup myself over the last few months, I can understand that you can feel like your world has ended. You feel like you won't find anyone close to them who will love you like they once did and vice versa.

The truth is that you will feel loved again, whether it's with someone new, or with an old flame. Sometimes the flame on the candle doesn't fully go out. It's dim and still, but can be made bigger and brighter with care of course.

6.You are going to love again.

Even if it's yourself...

7. You are allowed to set and keep boundaries.

This is a goal of mine actually. Especially when it comes to self care.

When you're a young adult, you're keen, enthusiastic and want to help wherever and whenever possible. Saying 'Yes' can be a dangerous word because you aren't sure what you can say no to yet.

You do not have to earn the right to take care of yourself.

8. You are never entirely without support.

I have my friends and family thankfully. My mother and father are major influences in my life and no matter what, they will always be my rocks. When I feel that I can't talk to my friends or other members of the family, I can rely on them. Even if it's something I do not wish to hear.

9. Ask for what you want.

When you're young, you're afraid to ask for what you want. Whether it's changes to your job, asking something of your partner from doing the dishes, to giving cuddles. You need to make your voice heard, because no matter how bad it may feel at the time, the tension and weight will lift from your chest.

10. 'No' is an important word. 

This final point is my favourite.

'No' is something I never used to say and it used to be a word that stressed me out. Please learn to believe and learn that it is okay to tell someone no. Whether that be your boss when they ask you to stay late, or task you with something uncomfortable, to saying no to friends if you really don't want to do something, go somewhere or even when they ask you for favours. This also applies to your partners.

If you feel selfish, think about the reason why you're saying no, understand it and sometimes if you feel the need, explain it.

So, alas! I come to the end of this weeks blog.

I am trying to get over this awkward mid-twenties stage where I still don't know what my 'dream job' is, I'm learning not to take people for granted and I'm learning to love myself.

I hope you all can take something from this. Feedback on these points are wanted and appreciated.

Have a fabulous Thursday!

Cx

 

Anticipation

Good evening everyone,

Surprise! It's 23.35 and I'm writing to you all late at night. Mainly because I cannot sleep but also to share some thoughts with you on this night.

Now, on a Sunday, we typically relax and do as little as possible so we don't have to think about Monday and what the working week has to bring. We think about the weekend and whether it was a good or bad one. We think about the people we've met, places we've visited and even the song playing in the car on the way home.

I think in life we tend to look too much into the little things and worry about the things that haven't even happened yet. I'm guilty of that, and recently I've been trying not to do this. Take each day as it comes, I tell myself daily. I think if we look at the bigger picture, we might have a different vision of our feelings on a situation and the people involved.

I've found over the last month or so, that it's okay to have a bit of time on your own to find yourself and enjoy your own company. Yes, night time is hard because you're left with your own thoughts and feelings that you don't want to face, but I find that facing these troubles with a little courage and believing you can do this on your own.

So as I attempt to sleep, I leave you with this thought. Try and not to anticipate what will happen that particular moment. Enjoy what you can, with or without a partner. Learn to love your own company and yourself. Please never think it's selfish of you.

If you have any kind of worry, dance in the dark and enjoy the music.


Thanks
Cx x

Trust Yourself

Hola everyone! 

I hope your weekend was as eventful as mine! Put it this was, without going into too much detail, I hadn't laughed so much in one weekend as I did just then. 

This week I want to chat to you about trust. To some, trust is something build on loyalty. To others, it's lust, or sometimes even love. There are all different kinds of trust that we build throughout our lifetime that changes our perspective on life. 

Friends who become lovers, and sometimes they can't break that chain through misplacing their trust in eachother or the situations they find themselves in. Sometimes they drift and sometimes they blossom. It's whether we can handle the pressure of the relationship or sometimes the pressure of rebuilding the trust. 

This weekend, I experienced a kind of friendship where I could be myself and not have to walk on eggshells. They accepted me as I was. Drunk, dancing, annoying, happy. All of these things didn't matter to them, they were just glad to see me smiling and I felt so comfortable, I placed my trust in them. I'm confident it won't break, but then again, it will depend on where the relationship goes. I'm in control where I can be which means it's up to me to not get too dishearten if the trust is misplaced.

My lesson this week to each of you, your true friends will cover your back, stick with you through the hardest of times and be there to sweep you off your feet while you're too drunk to stand. Regardless of your past situations, always be open to trust but you must master trusting yourself before someone else. Believe that every situation you are placed in, you are there for a reason. 

Have a think about the last time you trusted someone or someone trusted you and that was misplaced. Think about how you felt, emotionally and physically. Take that feeling and put it in the fire. Let it burn and breathe a new sense of openness and trust. Trust yourself. Take back control. Let it breathe. 

Peace. 

Cx 

Sooner or Later, We All Sleep Alone...

Hello everyone!

How are we this week? All good I hope!

This week has been a little strange for me in terms of being social. Over recent weeks, I haven't exactly been in the best position to go out, party, see friends. I've been in my bedroom with my PlayStation. This is something I do quite often.

I've made friends too. Some are old friends that lost touch, some new friends to keep me on my toes. So why is it that I still feel alone? Why I can't quite accept that it's ok to be alone sometimes?

I've realised that being in your own company can be daunting, lonely and sometimes it's a little scary when you're actually asked out to socialise, but it's healthy to be alone, to enjoy your own company! We all sleep alone eventually, so it is healthy to be okay with being alone, in your own space.

I've decided that from now on, I need to train myself to enjoy my own company. Whether it be shopping on my own, going to the gym on my own, or just being alone! Training your mind to accept change isn't easy, but I can tell you, it's worth it.

At the moment, I'm on my own at night and that's it. Here is my day in a nutshell. I get up in the morning, being woken up with my walking, talking alarm clock, called Dad, I make my way to work, I get to work and I sit with people 8 hours a day, I then make my way to the gym with my friends, I head home and I'm greeted with my Dad and dinner, then he goes to work and I'm alone. I spend 8 hours of my time alone.

To some people, this is awesome! They get to sit there with their thoughts, have some peace and quiet and I love that they have trained their minds to overcome loneliness! Myself however, I am in constant need of someone to talk to me. Sad but true. I've went from speaking with people every day/night to silence and it's not the nicest feeling.

So, let's train our minds together to get more comfortable being or doing something on our own! Over the coming weeks, I task you with training your mind to enjoy something that you wouldn't normally, whether it be, being on your own, going to the gym on your own, or even trying a new food, drink, exercise, weight (if you're a weightlifter) or even try weightlifting in your exercise routine!

I would love to know your thoughts on what daunts you, scares you, makes you want to run away! Tell me and let's change that mind set! Or, if you have tried it, tell me your methods. Sharing is caring and all that! :-)

Have a great week guys!

Until next week....

Cx

Do Something Spontaneous!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all coping with the multiple weather changes that September has to offer in Scotland!

This week I wanted to talk about hobbies and doing something different. You know? Something that we like to keep our minds occupied with, distract our minds from the reality of life at times.

I have many hobbies outside work! I enjoy the gym, I play video games for hours on end and I enjoy Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who marathons. My hobbies vary from time to time, but they battle different moods. From being annoyed and generally moody, I like to go to the gym. To distract myself from the adult world, I play video games. Annnnd, you guessed it, to run away with the Doctor or begin an adventure with Frodo, when I feel I need to escape for 9 hours straight.

So my question to you all, what keeps you sane? What helps you distract your worries for a short while? What do you ENJOY doing? I often get asked what I don't like doing, but I prefer to hear about what others enjoy!

As the weather changes, I feel myself spending more time indoors and not enjoying the coldness in the air or the rain. This is the time of year I tend to hibernate. This year, I've decided to get out there. As much as I love the Doctor, I need to get out and grasp my own sense of adventure.

I've tried to become a better person of late. Encouraging my readers to do something exciting. These past few days, I've been struggling to get to the gym, do some reading, writing and watching something on TV. Something I need to concentrate on? Forget it. I promise I'll go back on the diet and the gym like today.... or next Tuesday....

Life gets in the way of most things that we enjoy but we must not distance ourselves from our hobbies, from the things we love! Push yourself to try something new if you get a little fed up with what you have.

My advice this week to you all? Do something spontaneous! Something that's totally out there, or even just something to try if it's 'different' you're looking for. Book a trip, take a walk down a different street to what you usually do, sit on the opposite side of the bus or train and look at a different form of scenery. Sometimes it's the little things that can get us back on track and can help us manage life in more ways than feeling angry. Speaking of anger, just remember, anger is like a piece of hot coal. The more we hold on to it, the more you get burned and the longer it takes to heal.

I hope this piece helps you through a tough time or even in the future!

And remember, please tweet me your hobbies!  @shotgunkitten_

Peace!
Cx

Difficult Roads, Beautiful Destinations

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone has had a pleasant week.

So it's Thursday. The day that everyone begins to pick up their frowns and turn them upside down, while making their way closer to Friday. How have you been? Good, I hope.

This week I've had to make some pretty tough decisions. I've hurt people, and myself at the same time. This morning when I woke up half an hour before my alarm was due to ring in my ear, I instantly had the fear of stepping into my place of work. This is something that I don't feel often, maybe about twice a month, usually on a Monday.

Today I managed to get through my day, keeping busy, and yet when it started to rain, I looked outside for a moment and witness everyone rushing for shelter, fighting with umbrellas and I thought to myself, sometimes during a struggle, no matter how long it may feel, sometimes it's not about the journey, but the destination.

Someone once told me that it's not about the destination but it's the journey and who you have it with. This is all very true when the going gets good. When times get a little tough on your Thursday afternoon, always remember that it's not about the journey, but the way the journey makes you a little more tolerant of the rainy days, and when the rain clears, the day becomes a little brighter and more beautiful.

So this afternoon as I watch you all make your way to Friday, think about how you'll feel reaching the weekend. Regardless of what it is you're doing, try and smile through the rain. It helps.

So here's to optimistic Thursdays! :)

Peace.

Cx

Trust Yourself

Hello!

Welcome to Tuesday!

It might seem a little early in the week, but I've decided to share with you all something that I've been needing to explore, and that would be trusting yourself.

We all go through experiences in life that affect our mental and sometimes physical stability. When you're in a place that constantly rains on your parade and sometimes there are no options and you have to take the blow and rise above it.

Now, I'm not going to tell you that taking control and choosing to trust yourself is all sunshine and rainbows, because it's not. You will lose people and it will hurt at the time, but you'll survive and later find out that you're better off without the negative vibes. Trusting someone is a lot easier than trusting your gut. When someone tells you to trust your gut and listen to yourself, the truth is, you actually don't want to.

Trusting myself was something I never did. I always just waited to see what would happen and still end up disappointed because I always thought the best in people. Seeing the best in people is a good thing, but you must be wary of their faults. Some people are out to get you and not everyone is your friend. In the last year, I've certainly learned that. I've had to cut ties and most of the time they are for the better.

Tip for Tuesday! Work on trusting your inner self. There will be a time where you will have control. Embrace the change. Make it work for you.

I hope this short entry will help ease your mind on a Tuesday.

Peace!

Cx

Try Something New

Guess whose back?

Me! I had a fantastic first girls holiday with my friend K. I'm not going to lie, we did a power of drinking and soaking up the sun, so much so, that I burned my butt! Ouch.

This was my first holiday without my dad and I have to admit, as much as I missed him, I had the time of my life.

K showed me that I could have a drink and enjoy myself. I could dance until the sun came up and no one would judge up having the walk of shame at 5am, because everyone was in the same boat! Falling asleep with my chips, cheese and curry sauce, K on the phone and finding me in the most bazaar positions and actually being ok with it! That's the kind of friend you need! Regardless of your current position, they still think you're brilliant.

When I talk to people about their girls holidays, they tell me that they have fall outs with friends and sometimes don't even see those people again and it's sad! With K and I, we didn't argue or fight once! This is the truth! You can actually be with someone for a week and not fight. It's all about compromise. We made mutual decisions and listened to each other if we did feel uncomfortable. K and I danced until 5am, we went to different bars with live music and some with DJs. My feet never felt so sore, but it was totally worth it.

For anyone who knows me, I am a little intimidated by new experiences. I go into a shell and if I don't want to do something I can be stubborn and scared. K knew this, but she talked me into coming out of Santa Ponsa for a night and heading to Magaluf. It was an amazing experience, 40 euro a ticket, a tshirt, a bag, a towel and FREE drink all night long? Count me in! K introduced me to dance music and now I feel more open to new challenges and experiences.

I loved having a night out in Magaluf but my heart will always belong to Santa Ponsa.

So let me take you back to a holiday that made you feel so alive. Whether it be abroad on a sandy beach, or a long weekend with the other half. Sometimes when life gets on top of you, all you think about is the negatives, but when I think about Santa Ponsa, it makes me look at things differently. It gives me a purpose as to why I work, why I write.

Having something to look forward too doesn't necessarily mean a holiday, it could be coming home to your puppy who just wants to jump all over you because they can, it could be meeting with an old friend, rebuilding bridges with loved ones, even trying a new brand of coffee!  

No matter the reason, make sure you try something new, not for others but for yourself!

I hope you all have a great week and please, try something new!

Cx

Tough Mudder 2016 - Let's Go Girls!

Hello folks! 

I hope you're all well this week.

This week has been busy with work but on Saturday, I completed the biggest challenge of my life so far, Tough Mudder Yorkshire 2016.

I've been training for Tough Mudder for about two, maybe three months but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing. Put it this way, I had mud in parts of me that you couldn't even begin to imagine. 

Tough Mudder isn't a competitive sport, ta all about working together to reach the end goal of running through electrical wires, which it pains me to say, I didn't run through the wires. I was too exhausted and frightened if I'm honest. It doesn't make me a bad sport, some things just aren't for you. I completed majority of the obstacles, the more muddy I got, the more I enjoyed it. 

The course was 13 miles with an obstacle every half mile. I didn't complete the course alone, I did it with my colleagues. I went through the finish line with my girls and I was so proud of all of us. 

Those 13 miles were not easy. Each obstacle made you test yourself with everything you had. If you really didn't feel ok about it, you didn't do it. It doesn't make you a bad person for missing an obstacle, it means that you just aren't ready yet. These things come with time, it's all a mental game. When I got to the 10th mile, I was ready to just throw the towel in. I was up to my chest in thick mud, I had slightly injured my wrist, I was soaking wet and it was a roasting hot day. My body wasn't aching you understand, it was my mind, it was telling me that I needed to stop. At that point, I had taken my energy gel and hoped my thoughts would get out. 

They did. I even jogged a little! I tried my best and it was all I could do. I started the course at 10am and finished it before 3pm. I took my time, went me own pace and I tried almost everything. I got over my fear of freezing cold water and heights! 

It was an amazing experience and as I write about it, everything aches but I can truly say it was worth every moment. 

My message this week? If you really want to challenge yourself, have fun with friends or just test your ability to complete the course? Do Tough Mudder. The training? Run. Run as much as you can. Mentally prepare yourself for the mud! 

It was the best thing I've ever done and I am proud of myself and my teammates! 

Now? I'm leaving on a jet plane... To Santa Ponsa to lie on a sun lounger and just relax those muscles! 

Have a fantastic week folks! 

Cx

Hello!

Good evening everyone!

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to check out my blog!

I'll be updating you all on my book which I do not have a title for as yet, also lessons I learn on a daily basis.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Cat, I'm 23 years old and I'm from Glasgow, Scotland. I work in an office as an administrator. I'm a typical 23 year old with big dreams and no plan! But who really needs a plan? Like seriously, do you need one?

My answer would always be YES. Make a plan and make it work!

I first started working in an office when I was 19, and I didn't like it at all. Being strapped to a desk, waiting for someone to tell you that their coffee mug is empty. When I was 21, I met someone who started in the company. Let's call her X.

X is awesome! She's very quiet but funny. My first impression of her was that she didn't like me, and I was a little scared to talk to her. I eventually got to work with her full time. We are now the dream team and support each other inside and outside work. X taught me that loving yourself is always important. After sitting beside her for nearly 2 years, I've learned how important it is to love yourself.

You are a working progress. It's your life and you have control. Although, sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we can't avoid. This is ok as well, as long as we do our best to not repeat the events that wasn't a great situation.

I used to come to X with a different drama everyday. She would give me her view and advice on the situation and ask me what the outcome was. Nine times out of Ten I would take her advice in a round about way. I stopped lending out money, I began to take care of myself, and I got myself out of debt. I wouldn't have been able to do that without the talks with X. I probably would be seeing every negative in every situation. Now? I try to eliminate the negatives with positives!

Let's take today for example. I had a minor confrontation with a bus driver (female), who rolled her eyes and shook her head at an elderly gentleman who had slow reactions. When I caught her, she tried to justify herself and I told her, regardless of how you justify what you did, it's unacceptable. When I arrived at work, I was still annoyed at the situation, but I knew a BLT with a  coffee would maybe make me feel better. NOT. I let my coffee go cold by distracting myself with internal phone calls and chatting in the office, and when I got my BLT, the bacon was cremated. Anyone that would know me, I like it still oinking! (Sorry fellow veggies and vegans!)

During my day, my mood didn't improve. So much so, I ended up heading home late with a 16' meat feast pizza and a bottle of white!

I sat quietly eating my food and drinking my wine, thinking of all the negative things that happened in one day. Now, here are the GOOD things that happened in my day except purchasing wine... I laughed today with X, I enjoyed a chicken salad for lunch for a change, I talked to my mum and arranged to visit at the weekend. These things are usually things that you don't think about. You wouldn't even think that these were that good, but really? They were brilliant. I had spent time chatting to someone I love for 15 minutes of my lunch break, I laughed with my friend and I enjoyed food which, let's face it, everyone takes full advantage of! 

My blog isn't about how amazing my life is, or here to lecture anyone on their decisions. I'm simply here to say, hey! It's alright! Life is what you make of it, and trust me when I say, EVERYONE has bad days, months and sometimes years. Talk, write, do what you can to make it work.

I hope you are having a fantastic Friday and a relaxed weekend!

Cx