Five Ways To Pick Yourself Up When You're Run Down

I like to call this time of year the lurgy year. There's the coughing and the spluttering as you walk the streets, the domino pattern as the common cold is passed down the family tree, the strenuous mission to get a doctor's appointment and of course the dramatic feeling sorry for ourselves. We're completely entitled to that, though. If it's not the perfect time to appreciate all the times we didn't have a blocked up, stuffy nose and a clear airway, it's time to perk yourself up with a well deserved reflective rest because we all occasionally need it and we're all worthy of a fresh, revitalised positivity boost. Whether you're suffering a bout of the annual winter bug or are feeling generally run down and exhausted about life, here's my top pick me ups to help you fall right back on track.

20 Things You Shouldn't Say To A Chronic Pain Sufferer

When you live with chronic pain, you don't just live with the persistent anguish; you live with the unknown, the looming judgement, the inevitable choice of enjoying yourself to the extreme and suffering vs staying put with no social life to ease the suffering just a smidgen, the false hope of moving forward when you have a good day only to be shattered with an intense bad day the next, the limitations, the loss of control, the disappointment in yourself, and the idea that you constantly have to prove a point, that this invisible torment shredding you of any normality does exist even though it can't be seen hidden behind a giggle and a "yeah I'm good, how are you?". Dealing with an incurable condition that isn't understood from a distance can be isolating and it's tough, very tough. I know from my personal experience I find it hard to trust anyone away from my tight knit, inner circle; like if I express myself too much the guessing will begin - the wrong kind, the presuming kind, the kind that sees straight through the exhaustion, the sickness, the misery and distress and focuses on the outer shell. 

The Tales Of A Baby Face

Making the transition into responsible adulthood is hard, holding on to your childhood nostalgia makes it easier, but being an expectant grown up with the face of an innocent baby filled with honey sweet expressions is probably the worst combination. I've just gone twenty three yet I struggle to be seen as anything past fifteen, not only from people around me but from myself when I look at the reflection in the mirror and think "how, just how can I pass through my life stages with no significant change?".

20 Simple Ways To Be Kinder

The devastating events happening right now, this moment, whether reported or hidden, is enough to bring the happiest of people down. The breaking news of hatred, violence, prejudice and dehumanising can often get emotionally draining. I know I've gotten to the point where I fear the right to freedom and am constantly reminded of the badness, the senseless acts of tragedy instead of the beauty in the world. It'd be easy for me to focus on the shocking events, to express my deep anger and upset; in fact I was all set on preparing one of my lengthened, ranty Sunday Natter posts (I'm a day late again, give me a telling off for being so useless) but I decided against it last minute. Instead, I thought of turning the tables - taking something bad and making it into a little challenge we can set ourselves to contribute towards adding acceptance, embracing positivity and spreading love across the globe!

The Twelve Stages Of Shopping In Primark

When I was writing up my Primark haul I had a short brainwave that I just knew I had to act on. It occurred to me that shopping in Primark (or Primarni better known to some) isn't just an ordinary task, it is in fact a wild journey that brings an influx of emotions, thoughts and feelings and although there may have been similar posts that have been done before, I felt it was only necessary to share my take on having an open door to the spellbinding store and the stages we go through when we take a deep breath and head forward - because, let's face it, no matter what our status or how much we're in denial, we're all Primark worshippers at heart.