5 things I learned this year
It's my birthday today! Now that I'm a year older (and hopefully wiser), I thought I'd talk through the things I've learned in the past twelve months because let me tell you, I've learned a lot!
Your health really is your wealth
My birthday this year marks something pretty significant (other than my birth obv). I remember this very day a year ago I was doing my A Level Media Studies mock exam and I had a horrible cold. It was from then on that my immune system downwards spiralled and I just never got better. That was that. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has taken hold of my life and flipped it upside down in the space of a year and I've simply had to learn to deal with it. It hasn't been easy but I can say for certain that I've grown as a result. At the end of the day, your health really is the most important thing so if you've got it, look after it!
Stress less
Believe me when I tell you stress has a seriously detrimental effect on us. If you ask me, I'm certain that stress played a contributing part in me developing my illness. I stressed about everything and I know that whenever I'm stressed or upset now, it takes a real toll on my health. Because I had to drop out of school in January, I felt the stark contrast between having a mountain of worries and then having drastically less. My health gradually improved up until I tried to repeat my A Levels in September and my stress skyrocketed while my health plummeted.
Sometimes you don't even realise you're stressing which is why it's vital to take on the duty of self-care. I used to really freak out about my future but I've started to realise that everyone has a different path and it's okay to not have everything figured out yet. Worrying will not change the outcome, at least not for the better anyway.
Friends come and go
Not being in school and around my friends everyday was pretty isolating but in a way it also helped me figure out who my real friends are and who really cares. I now have a small but very positive bunch of friends, as well as all of the wonderful people I've got to know through blogging! I've since learned that there were a few toxic people in my life who I don't need nor want having an influence on me anymore. I quite literally don't have the energy for them. Letting go of people can actually be so good for you - I'll take quality over quantity any day!
How to deal with grief
Up until this year, I had never really experienced grief. It was very unexpected and it completely knocked me for six. Just over three months later, I'm still learning how to deal with it but I'm doing a lot better. My coping mechanism is definitely to keep busy. If we always focused on how worried we are about death, we'd never speak to anyone! A difficult but necessary life lesson.
Stop holding yourself back from doing the things you want to do
(My perrsonal case in point; Youtube, but this applies to anything you're holding yourself back from doing.)
I wanted to start a channel years ago but I kept putting it off. With the advantage of hindsight, I think I worried about not having the best camera, lighting, enough charisma . . . but now I know not to compare. Creating while comparing is a recipe for disaster! We all have to start somewhere and we can't have everything straight away. I'm starting out with humble beginnings and I'm still not 100% happy with every aspect of my videos but you know what? You can bet on me working my ass off until I do improve.
Taking the first step in doing anything is always the hardest, yes, but trust me from then on it gets easier and the more you enjoy it, the less you care what people think.
Not being in school and around my friends everyday was pretty isolating but in a way it also helped me figure out who my real friends are and who really cares. I now have a small but very positive bunch of friends, as well as all of the wonderful people I've got to know through blogging! I've since learned that there were a few toxic people in my life who I don't need nor want having an influence on me anymore. I quite literally don't have the energy for them. Letting go of people can actually be so good for you - I'll take quality over quantity any day!
How to deal with grief
Up until this year, I had never really experienced grief. It was very unexpected and it completely knocked me for six. Just over three months later, I'm still learning how to deal with it but I'm doing a lot better. My coping mechanism is definitely to keep busy. If we always focused on how worried we are about death, we'd never speak to anyone! A difficult but necessary life lesson.
Stop holding yourself back from doing the things you want to do
(My perrsonal case in point; Youtube, but this applies to anything you're holding yourself back from doing.)
I wanted to start a channel years ago but I kept putting it off. With the advantage of hindsight, I think I worried about not having the best camera, lighting, enough charisma . . . but now I know not to compare. Creating while comparing is a recipe for disaster! We all have to start somewhere and we can't have everything straight away. I'm starting out with humble beginnings and I'm still not 100% happy with every aspect of my videos but you know what? You can bet on me working my ass off until I do improve.
Taking the first step in doing anything is always the hardest, yes, but trust me from then on it gets easier and the more you enjoy it, the less you care what people think.
Phew! To round off this post, I would love to know what you've learned this year. Feel free to get involved in the comments and write as much you'd like!
What did you learn this year?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
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