It's Raining, It's Pouring
It seems like a lot of my friends are struggling with one trouble or another at the moment, and I don't really know what I can do to make things easier for them. I like to be able to help resolve situations with people. but there's not a lot I can do for any of them at the moment. I hate feeling usless - I want to ease their discomfort but for now all I can really do is be there for them. So for all my friends out there who are hurting at the moment, I am thinking happy thoughts for you and hoping that something wonderful will happen to you soon.
Easy Come, [Not] Easy Go
When I was a kid, I am sure I wasn't alone in assuming that my friends would be my friends forever. Life doesn't turn out like that though does it?! It turns out there are different levels of friends - those who are around forever, those who affect your life forever, those who are Christmas card friends, those who are around briefly with a big affect, and those who are just around briefly.
Turns out though, that I don't seem to have much a say in which type of friend they are. That sucks. I found out last night a university friend is getting married on the weekend. He's someone that at the time I would have said would be a friend forever, and last night made me realise how much I'd lost touch with him and the group of people he was 'in with' who were also close friends. I can't help thinking that if I had never moved back to Southampton, I wouldn't have lost their friendships. The other thought that's majorly in my head is why wasn't I worth the effort by them to stay friends with? It all helps to compound the childhood paranoia I have that nobody wants to be my friend and only put up with me because I impose myself on them, or one of their friends is fool enough to befriend me.
On the honesty thing, I am also sad because I feel other people know my best friend better than I do. Not her fiance - that's right and it doesn't bother me, but other friends. I have lost one person who was unbearable to lose. I can't do it twice, but I don't know how to stop it happening.
Turns out though, that I don't seem to have much a say in which type of friend they are. That sucks. I found out last night a university friend is getting married on the weekend. He's someone that at the time I would have said would be a friend forever, and last night made me realise how much I'd lost touch with him and the group of people he was 'in with' who were also close friends. I can't help thinking that if I had never moved back to Southampton, I wouldn't have lost their friendships. The other thought that's majorly in my head is why wasn't I worth the effort by them to stay friends with? It all helps to compound the childhood paranoia I have that nobody wants to be my friend and only put up with me because I impose myself on them, or one of their friends is fool enough to befriend me.
On the honesty thing, I am also sad because I feel other people know my best friend better than I do. Not her fiance - that's right and it doesn't bother me, but other friends. I have lost one person who was unbearable to lose. I can't do it twice, but I don't know how to stop it happening.
Life Quiz
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope. My name was pretty much the only name mum and dad both liked which also Dad couldn't link to anyone he'd taught.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Monday when I kicked the sink!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
From a distance I do, but close up it's a mess.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Technically it's not lunch meat, but I love fresh prawns in marie rose sauce in my sarnies!
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
God no, and never will. I just want my friends to have them so I can play with theirs instead!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Horrid question, can't answer.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Always.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Not ever. I'd snap the bungee.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Frosties are always good!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Nope.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Mentally more so than I used to be. But that's not hard really!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Pralines and cream.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their smile.
15. RED OR PINK?
Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOU?
My paranoia and self doubt.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Jenn
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Of course!
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black trousers, brownish flipflops (due to kicking the sink and damaging my toes!)
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Nature Valley Granola Bar
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Donna talking about her beautiful new baby neice.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Like a matt and opaque green.
23. FAVOURITE SMELLS?
My mums fabric conditioner.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mum.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?
She's okay - I put up with her! Joking, I love her to pieces.
26. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Rugby of course
27. HAIR COLOUR?
Today? Well the base colour is a brown/black/purple and it's highlighted through with bleach and bright red. Sound hideous but is nice, honest!
28. EYE COLOUR?
Blue, today.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes, and coloured ones, hence the above answer.
30. FAVOURITE FOOD?
A recipe I've recently discovered for garlic and thyme chicken with potato.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Practical Magic - brilliant!
33. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Green.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Autumn! Out of those two though, I'd say winter.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs
36. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Grans crumble, can't beat it!
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Donna. She's good at these things.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Jenn, she's already done it and I'm sending this back to her.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
The Interpretation of Murder, finally
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
It's plain blue with a bit of doodling on it.
41. WHAT DID YOU WAtCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Come Dine With Me. Brilliant show.
42. FAVOURITE SOUND?
The wind and rain battering my window when I'm curled up inside.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Can I not have both?
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
New Jersey probably. Or Florida. Somewhere in America.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I've been told I'm a pretty good counsellor
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Winchester Hospital
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
All of them!
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
8.35 am
Nope. My name was pretty much the only name mum and dad both liked which also Dad couldn't link to anyone he'd taught.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Monday when I kicked the sink!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
From a distance I do, but close up it's a mess.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Technically it's not lunch meat, but I love fresh prawns in marie rose sauce in my sarnies!
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
God no, and never will. I just want my friends to have them so I can play with theirs instead!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Horrid question, can't answer.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Always.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Not ever. I'd snap the bungee.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL?
Frosties are always good!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Nope.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Mentally more so than I used to be. But that's not hard really!
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?
Pralines and cream.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their smile.
15. RED OR PINK?
Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOU?
My paranoia and self doubt.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Jenn
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Of course!
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Black trousers, brownish flipflops (due to kicking the sink and damaging my toes!)
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Nature Valley Granola Bar
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Donna talking about her beautiful new baby neice.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Like a matt and opaque green.
23. FAVOURITE SMELLS?
My mums fabric conditioner.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mum.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?
She's okay - I put up with her! Joking, I love her to pieces.
26. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Rugby of course
27. HAIR COLOUR?
Today? Well the base colour is a brown/black/purple and it's highlighted through with bleach and bright red. Sound hideous but is nice, honest!
28. EYE COLOUR?
Blue, today.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes, and coloured ones, hence the above answer.
30. FAVOURITE FOOD?
A recipe I've recently discovered for garlic and thyme chicken with potato.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Practical Magic - brilliant!
33. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Green.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Autumn! Out of those two though, I'd say winter.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs
36. FAVOURITE DESSERT?
Grans crumble, can't beat it!
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Donna. She's good at these things.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Jenn, she's already done it and I'm sending this back to her.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?
The Interpretation of Murder, finally
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
It's plain blue with a bit of doodling on it.
41. WHAT DID YOU WAtCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Come Dine With Me. Brilliant show.
42. FAVOURITE SOUND?
The wind and rain battering my window when I'm curled up inside.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Can I not have both?
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
New Jersey probably. Or Florida. Somewhere in America.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I've been told I'm a pretty good counsellor
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Winchester Hospital
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
All of them!
48. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
8.35 am
I Want To Be A Rockstar
Yesterday I read Jenn's entry about her secret dreams and desires she has in her life. Some of them sounded very similar to mine, others very different. It inspired to me write my list, so here it is:
1). Build my A-shape home (and have it be on Grand Designs - but unlike most people on that programme I will have curtains!!!!). I have reams of pieces of paper from when I was a kid with various styles of houses on them that I designed. Not all of them were master pieces, but would definately have been fun to live in.
2). Get a nobel prize for voluntary services to the youth of Southampton. I'm not doing all this volunteer work for the good of my health people!
That one's a joke. I got a certificate and photo in the paper with the Mayor of Southampton for my voluntary work and hated every minute of it.
I would like to have a Nobel prize though, maybe for my poetry!
3). Own my own therapy centre and youth advisory centre. Money makes this a bit tough. That and the fact that I have no business sense.
4). Be living in Cardiff..... it's only a matter of time now though.
5). Go to Machu Pichu. One day.
6). Be in a band. Or more specifically, be a drummer in a band. I love my guitar, but it's such a hassle learning how to play it, and although I have been diligently learning to replay the piano, it's not very rock and roll.
7). Get more tattoo's. I've been carrying around with me a design Carly made for me for 18 months now and still have not got it done. I seem to keep forgetting to go in and get them done!
1). Build my A-shape home (and have it be on Grand Designs - but unlike most people on that programme I will have curtains!!!!). I have reams of pieces of paper from when I was a kid with various styles of houses on them that I designed. Not all of them were master pieces, but would definately have been fun to live in.
2). Get a nobel prize for voluntary services to the youth of Southampton. I'm not doing all this volunteer work for the good of my health people!
That one's a joke. I got a certificate and photo in the paper with the Mayor of Southampton for my voluntary work and hated every minute of it.
I would like to have a Nobel prize though, maybe for my poetry!
3). Own my own therapy centre and youth advisory centre. Money makes this a bit tough. That and the fact that I have no business sense.
4). Be living in Cardiff..... it's only a matter of time now though.
5). Go to Machu Pichu. One day.
6). Be in a band. Or more specifically, be a drummer in a band. I love my guitar, but it's such a hassle learning how to play it, and although I have been diligently learning to replay the piano, it's not very rock and roll.
7). Get more tattoo's. I've been carrying around with me a design Carly made for me for 18 months now and still have not got it done. I seem to keep forgetting to go in and get them done!
Happy Pills
I felt the need to write a blog today given that I won't be able to do another one on this date for 4 years!
So 'they' have now decided that anti-depressants are pretty much ineffectual, and people are just as well off taking placebo's. I beg to differ. If it is only the fact that they are taking a pill (and the content of the pill makes no difference) then why is it that it has negative affects on the person taking it too? Surely if it is all a cognitive response to believing you are taking a pill to make yourself better, then you wouldn't create negative reactions as well?
I don't see it as a bad thing that someone takes a pill which makes no difference to them physically if it helps them to access part of their mental self that they couldn't reach on their own.
That's not to say I think anti-depressants are the best thing to use to help with depression. In my opinion, nobody should be on medication without having at least tried counselling, or some other kind of therapy. They can be seen as an easy route out of depression, without having to disturb the waters by going to counselling. The trouble is though, they do make the lows easier to cope with but they take the shine out of the highs too. A bi-polar patient described it well on Holby City recently. She had stopped taking her Lithium and on being asked why, she said it was because she missed the sun shining and the brightness of the world when she was on a high.
Surely it's worth disturbing those waters and causing a few ripples to be able to live a life where you can handle the lows when you need to, and can embrace those highs?
To bring it back to the anti-depressants, if they are a necessary aid along the way then fair enough, use them (regardless of whether or not they technically do work). I know people who would not be here today if it weren't for those pills. They needed something to help them and fast. Those pills kept them alive long enough to be able to get the therapy they needed.
So 'they' have now decided that anti-depressants are pretty much ineffectual, and people are just as well off taking placebo's. I beg to differ. If it is only the fact that they are taking a pill (and the content of the pill makes no difference) then why is it that it has negative affects on the person taking it too? Surely if it is all a cognitive response to believing you are taking a pill to make yourself better, then you wouldn't create negative reactions as well?
I don't see it as a bad thing that someone takes a pill which makes no difference to them physically if it helps them to access part of their mental self that they couldn't reach on their own.
That's not to say I think anti-depressants are the best thing to use to help with depression. In my opinion, nobody should be on medication without having at least tried counselling, or some other kind of therapy. They can be seen as an easy route out of depression, without having to disturb the waters by going to counselling. The trouble is though, they do make the lows easier to cope with but they take the shine out of the highs too. A bi-polar patient described it well on Holby City recently. She had stopped taking her Lithium and on being asked why, she said it was because she missed the sun shining and the brightness of the world when she was on a high.
Surely it's worth disturbing those waters and causing a few ripples to be able to live a life where you can handle the lows when you need to, and can embrace those highs?
To bring it back to the anti-depressants, if they are a necessary aid along the way then fair enough, use them (regardless of whether or not they technically do work). I know people who would not be here today if it weren't for those pills. They needed something to help them and fast. Those pills kept them alive long enough to be able to get the therapy they needed.
Pride
I wanted to write about my list of things to do now I've turned 26, but I was thinking about the six nations matches this weekend and decided to write about pride instead.
As a child of mixed nationality, I could have chosen to place my heart and my loyalty in England or in Wales. Given that I was born in England, and have only lived 3 of my twenty six (eugh) years in Wales, it would make sense for me to have picked the land of roses and roast dinners. Instead, I sided with the leaks and the dragons. When describing a person of Welsh heritage, you would use the phrase "they are Welsh" as part of that description. People understand what that means. It evokes the image of a beer swilling, rugby loving, generally short person who has everything Welsh running through their veins and would happily lay down their lives for their country such is their love for it. They defend their country and their culture to the end of their days, and I love that about them. They never lose faith in their beloved rugby team and feel a personal loss when or if they are knocked out of a competition. I'm just now able to talk about the Wales v Fiji world cup match without having a lump in my throat!
Then there's England. The English have a lot to be proud about. For some reason though, they don't show this pride. Instead, my experience has been more that they apologise for being English. Show a bit of backbone people! Don't let the fact that other nations pick on you make you believe the press! England is a great country; it's got a fantastic history, a brilliantly diverse culture. Some of the brightest minds and most creative people alive or dead have been from this little country. So be strong, be proud and hold your head up for England!
Maybe then people would stop laughing at you and start having a bit of respect.
As a child of mixed nationality, I could have chosen to place my heart and my loyalty in England or in Wales. Given that I was born in England, and have only lived 3 of my twenty six (eugh) years in Wales, it would make sense for me to have picked the land of roses and roast dinners. Instead, I sided with the leaks and the dragons. When describing a person of Welsh heritage, you would use the phrase "they are Welsh" as part of that description. People understand what that means. It evokes the image of a beer swilling, rugby loving, generally short person who has everything Welsh running through their veins and would happily lay down their lives for their country such is their love for it. They defend their country and their culture to the end of their days, and I love that about them. They never lose faith in their beloved rugby team and feel a personal loss when or if they are knocked out of a competition. I'm just now able to talk about the Wales v Fiji world cup match without having a lump in my throat!
Then there's England. The English have a lot to be proud about. For some reason though, they don't show this pride. Instead, my experience has been more that they apologise for being English. Show a bit of backbone people! Don't let the fact that other nations pick on you make you believe the press! England is a great country; it's got a fantastic history, a brilliantly diverse culture. Some of the brightest minds and most creative people alive or dead have been from this little country. So be strong, be proud and hold your head up for England!
Maybe then people would stop laughing at you and start having a bit of respect.
Getting My Dreams Come True
It's a funny feeling, when something you've wanted for so very long finally comes true. I keep metaphorically pinching myself that it has really happened. I feel like I want to play it down, like I do whenever I excel at things. I don't like the attention or the praise that comes with it. Truth be told, I don't think I'm worthy of the praise so feel very uncomfortable when I get it. I tend to shrug it off and say it's not a big deal instead. I am aware that this can come across as arrogance though, or seeking admiration from people, but honestly it's not that.
This time though, I'm trying something different. I'm trying instead to enjoy the congratulations people are giving me. It goes against the grain, and feels uncomfortable, but I'm proud of myself so I'm going to persevere!
Yesterday I had my first counselling client. My first counselling course began in September 2003. Since then I've done 3 counselling courses, one Psychology a-level, an NVQ in Youth work and am a year into my counselling diploma. I've waited patiently to be old enough to embark on the diploma. I've survived on a part time salary, put myself through a year of uni and kept up my mortgage repayments. In amongst all that I've also done around 1,000 hours of voluntary youth work. On that basis I am indeed going to be very chuffed with myself that I've made it to my first client, and accept all the praise that comes my way!
This time though, I'm trying something different. I'm trying instead to enjoy the congratulations people are giving me. It goes against the grain, and feels uncomfortable, but I'm proud of myself so I'm going to persevere!
Yesterday I had my first counselling client. My first counselling course began in September 2003. Since then I've done 3 counselling courses, one Psychology a-level, an NVQ in Youth work and am a year into my counselling diploma. I've waited patiently to be old enough to embark on the diploma. I've survived on a part time salary, put myself through a year of uni and kept up my mortgage repayments. In amongst all that I've also done around 1,000 hours of voluntary youth work. On that basis I am indeed going to be very chuffed with myself that I've made it to my first client, and accept all the praise that comes my way!
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