How I Get Inspired

Whether you're a full-time blogger or a part-time blogger/writer/content creator, I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say this.

We all need some time off to get re-inspired. 

As of late, I find myself going away for short weekend getaways quite often to recharge my soul and rekindle my creative thoughts. 

Because I live in a big city, I do not quite have easy access to beaches as the whole city is covered with buildings. However, there are places where I can drive 2-3 hours away from the city to retreats and chalets - places to wind down, basically. 

The past weekend, I went to a "time capsule retreat" (which I will talk to you about soon) to have some time off. I think being somewhere quiet and secluded is exactly what I needed. 

Sometimes, you either need time to yourself to stop thinking completely, or you need time to write down everything that you are thinking about. See, a lot of people have thoughts and ideas that are pure and creative but life gets in the way and they tend to slowly forget about their own creativity. 

Hence why, it is so important to go away for a couple of days and just get re-inspired by your own creative thoughts.

That's exactly what I did/what I do to get inspired these days. 

How do you get inspired? Where do you get your inspirations from? Let me know in the comments :) 

3 Inspiring Stories that I Carry With Me

Needless to say, my trip to the UK back in September was a fruitful one. I got to meet up with so many people that I love and did some catching up which was amazing.


But I'm not here to talk about my trip. I'm here to talk about what I've learned from my friends. 3 in particular. I carry these 3 stories with me everyday because they are a reminder of what I should be and whom I should be. I don't think I will ever forget these 3 stories but if I do, I want to be able to look back at this post and be re-inspired.


For the purpose of this post, all names will remain anonymous. 

Story 1: 

So, I was having coffee with one of my lecturers from uni. To be completely honest with you, I'd never thought I'd actually meet up with any lecturers or if any lecturers would still remember me. But I absolutely cannot believe he would give up his time to come meet with me - which I will forever be grateful for.

He taught me something that I will truly carry for the rest of my life.

"In life, I think we are all designed to have the things that we desire. It's just a matter of time and how you actually get it. So, if that's the case, why not you write your own story before things actually happen? You write your own path. Why wait and see what happens? You write it and you follow it." 



Story 2: 

This girl used to work with me in the same restaurant as a waitress. Very very young but very talented. And it took me by surprise when she wanted to meet up with me. Like, I never thought she would look me up. But she did, and for that, I truly, honestly love her.

She was talking about how she wants to further her career in London.

"There are bad people and bad things happening everywhere. But do you think that's going to stop me from doing what I love? I love London so much despite everything that has happened. But don't expect me to not go there just because of the attacks."

Story 3: 

So, I used to work with this girl in a company before things went South for her. I watched her struggle through everything. I kid you not. I watched her get fired, I watched her get scolded by our managers, I watched her cry. You name it. But when I visited this time, she was doing so much better. And she so eagerly wanted to see me and she bought me dinner - which, I will forever cherish.

She was talking about what had happened the past year.

"I realized that if you really really want something and you work hard for it, it will come true. Through all the struggles and hardships, I never gave up. I kept on going and going and going until I felt like dying. And I'm finally here." 



What these people said to me, their stories - are so inspirational that I think about it every morning I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. These stories are my motivation, my inspiration, my pick-me-up.

They have helped me with so much since I've been back so I really hope it can help you too.

National Body Confidence Day 2017

I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say this.

Nobody is perfect and no body is perfect. 

It all depends on how one sees themselves and others. Some might be alright with their flaws and imperfections, some might take it a little harder. 

For me, I've always been the latter one. I grew up in an environment that had impossible standards and high competitions. 

It wass only up till late - let's say 2 or 3 years ago - that I learned to accept what I have and to love what I have. 

It's true, every now and again, I will look in the mirror and think "Oh my goodness. I need to get rid of my extra weight" or "shit. I look absolutely horrible" or "my thighs are humongous" or "why don't I look as good as her?"....etc. 

But you know what? Nobody and no body is perfect. So embrace what you have. Be grateful for what you have. 

I don't exactly have a bikini body. I don't have a flat tummy and gap thighs, but so what? I feel good in a bikini so I'm going to goddamn rock a bikini. 

Happy National Body Confidence Day. Share your story with me. 

Healthy Ways to Focus on Yourself

Here's something personal that you might or might not know about me.

Throughout July and August, I went through a mild stage of depression. I could not eat well, it takes me forever to fall asleep, I dreaded waking up every single morning. I was just in a very bad place because even though things around me seemed alright, things with my personal self was just completely off.

I tried to brush it off by keeping myself busy. Only to find out that I was getting more and more unproductive each day. Writing - the thing that I love to do most - didn't excite me anymore. That's how bad of a state I was in. 

But I'm not here to share my sob story with you. 

I found ways to actually get better. However, it's no easy task, if I'm being completely honest with you. It took a month or so of time alone, of figuring things out, of not thinking, of being around good company, etc. Trust me, it will and it can happen. All you have to do is focus all the energy on yourself. 

Here are just a couple of healthy methods that actually helped me out during my rough time: 

1. Pick ONE thing you love about yourself

And just keep focusing on that. If you love making people happy, keep focusing on that. If you love how you look, keep focusing on that. Just pick ONE thing and focus your energy on that. 

2. Stop comparing 

The absolute worst thing to do is to compare yourself, your success, your status to others. Why do you put yourself through that? Just stop. RIGHT NOW!

3. Visualize success

It can be any kind of success. You - getting out of bed feeling energetic is already a success. Small things. They are success too. Picture what you want to achieve at the end of everyday and focus on that. 

4. Smile

When I went through depression, I found it very difficult to smile. Even to give a fake smile or a fake laugh was difficult. But the real trick here is to find ONE thing that makes you happy everyday - a cat video, sitcoms, etc. And make sure it's a genuine. Look yourself in the mirror and see how beautiful you are when you smile. 

5. Don't be too hard on yourself

If it doesn't work out today, let it go. Try again tomorrow. There's absolutely no need to be hard on yourself. What's the point? Ask yourself that. 

What are your healthy ways of focusing on yourself? 

5 WAYS TO FIGHT DEMOTIVATION

Everyone on this planet will go through ups and downs. That's a given.



If you're down in the dumps right now, let me tell you something. It won't last forever.







Why? 

Because at the end of the day, LIFE GOES ON. 

To be really honest with you, I've been down in the dumps for a few months now and I'm not saying I'm perfectly fine at this very moment, but I know I'm finally in a healthier place. In fact, I've actually been in this healthy place for the past couple of weeks.


This post is coming up today because I don't want to write about it after everything has been said and done. I am still very much going through ups and downs every.single.day with the jobs I'm doing and the industry I'm in and the people I'm with.


Trust me. The amount of "How to Get Rid of De-motivation" articles I've read over the past couple of months have been substantial. Don't get me wrong, some of the articles did help and did provide some pointers for me. But of course, it's all up to you to do something about it.

I'm in a healthier place now because I decided to do something about it, so I do hope these tips I'm sharing will help any of you in any kind of way.


1) Take a break

Like a lot of 25 year-olds out there, my main stress comes from work. In the month of August, my work definitely took a toll on me. I could feel tension building up on my shoulders every.single.day. So, I decided to take a few weekends off. I went away with a couple of friends and just took some time off. It is amazing how taking a break can work wonders.



2) Self-realization 

When you get time off, the amount of thinking you do, the things you think about - they all tend to be a little different from your daily thoughts. While I was on my weekend getaways, I realize that no matter how scared my thoughts made me feel, I kind of know what I want. Some things just seem clearer than when you're daily grinding. I did learn more about myself and what I want in life. But learning about yourself is an everyday process. So, it's good to take some time off to check in with yourself.



3) Do the things you love

Honestly, for me - a person who loves writing and blogging - to have a meltdown and not write anything for a couple of weeks is just unacceptable and unfathomable. Because I find joy through writing. I don't care if it's not as perfect or well put together as other bloggers/writers out there, but I still love to write. Taking pictures, having a couple of drinks with some friends (or even alone), writing, filming - they're all things I love to do. And if you do the things you love, I don't see why you can't be happy.



4) Surround yourself with laughter

The amount of laughter I get from my colleagues at work is actually scary. Too scary. I could laugh every 5 minutes from 9am-1pm every.single.day. And I have a couple of friends who actually make me so happy everyday too. I remember one time last month, I was having a really bad day. Honestly, I couldn't take my mind off things, I had so much on my plate, all I could think about was my problems. But my friends manage to get me out of that stage. And it's all through talking and laughing.



5) Inner peace

Something that I've been practicing for the past couple of weeks. Trying to see everything in a positive manner. Let me tell you, it's no walk in the park. It will always be a working progress for me, I admit. But each day I practice inner peace, I find myself at ease. I sleep better at night. I focus better on what I want. Definitely a good way to start being happy.

Some people are big believers of karma and the whole "what goes around comes around".

I'm more of an "everything happens for a reason" kinda gal. So, no matter what happens, good or bad, I know that everything happens for a reason. Your action, your decisions, your choices, they make you who you are and they make up for those reasons.

I always like to tell myself that there are no right or wrong decisions, only good or bad ones. But at the end of the day, everything still happens for a reason. You made that choice for a reason, you acted that way for a reason.



But don't worry. Because whether it's a good or bad decision, nothing lasts forever. LIFE GOES ON.

AUGUST GOALS

Oh my freakin' goodness!



Honestly, someone needs to push the "pause" button on 2017 because it's actually getting quite scary.

But anyway, Happy August, my friends! I sincerely hope that July wasn't too rough on you. 

The only thing I can remember from July is basically work. So, I guess I did fulfill my July Goals by hustling. I was also able to exercise more which I'm very happy about. I finally got the chance to dance again, which made me incredibly happy. I went hiking for the first time which was great! I swam more. It was all really good. However, I really need to slow down and chill out!

This month, I've found a very strong mantra to live by:


"Everyday we spend not improving ourselves, is a wasted day"


It's August and I want you to ask yourself - What have you done in the past 7 months? Are you improving as a person? Are you getting closer to your dreams? Are you bringing good energy and positive vibes to the people around you? What have you accomplished? 

I will always be striving for improvements and I will always try to better myself. 

This month, my goals are to:


1. Be spontaneous 


Anything could happen in a year, in a month, in a week, in a day, in an hour. I don't want to regret not taking spontaneous road trips or going on vacations. Spontaneity will be my craving for this month.



2. Read more


OMG. I can't even remember the last time I read but towards the end of July, I've been reading a substantial amount of materials and books and articles. I forgot how much I actually love reading!



3. Be a morning person


Yes yes. My mom would say "it's impossible" but I'm going to try to stick to a morning routine in order to be a morning person. Just you wait and see :P



4. No more shopping


For the month of August, I've decided not to buy any clothes and although it already seems like an impossible task, I will try my very best to not spend money on unnecessary things!



5. Cook more often


I made breakfast and dinner last couple of days and I forgot how much I actually love cooking, so I'll definitely be cooking more often this month :)





31 new days ahead. Bring it!

5 WAYS TO OVERCOME STRESS

Hi friends.



I know I haven't been the best at blogging lately, and don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE blogging and writing but I've just had loads going on - in my mind, at work, with people.

To be completely honest with you, I've been all over the place really. 

And I wanted to take a break from blogging because I didn't want to hurt my blog by posting some useless nonsense on how my life is actually going at the moment (but I really think I'll update you guys on that in the next one! I mean, it's only fair).

I used to post frequently before because ideas could hit me anywhere and at anytime. A car could drive past me and I would have an idea. I could look up in the sky and an idea would come to me. The wind could be blowing through my hair and an idea would come to me. 

It's just more difficult lately because of all the stress and obstacles surrounding me. As I mentioned in my July Goals, June was no picnic for me. In fact, it was stressful AF! 



So, one of my closest friends and I went out a couple of nights ago. And she asked me this very interesting question: How do you get rid of stress?


I didn't know exactly how to answer that question because I'm not a doctor or a psychiatrist and all I had was my point of view. And not forgetting that I'm not the best at dealing with stress, hence why, all the random hiatus. However, I have come to terms with it. That's what I've been doing lately. Taking a break from everything to recollect my thoughts and how I want things to be and how I want to be.

There will be stress wherever you go. You can't hide from it. It's inevitable. You can only deal with it and move on. So, over the past couple of months, I've tried various activities on how to overcome stress. You know, the kind of stuff you'd normally read from articles and whatnot. And no, I'm not going to ask you to exercise. Because I've tried that. When I'm stressed out, exercising only makes me agitated. You HAVE to WANT to exercise. 

But anyway, everyone's got their own way of dealing with stress. Some of them might work, some might not. Here are 5 ways I overcome stress:



1. Talk to someone


Bottling up your feelings won't help you or anyone else, for that matter. It only hurts you and everyone around you. So, talk to someone - a good friend, a person you trust, your partner, a therapist, your parents. Whoever you feel comfortable with and no matter what, just make sure it's someone you can trust.



2. Light a candle & Listen to some music


For me, settings are really important. You're already really stressed out. You don't want to come home to a dark, messy house. And one of the reasons why I'm such a candle whore is because candles help me deal with stress. And with some nice background music, it's just the perfect way to de-stress. All you need to do is close your eyes.

3. Drink tea 


Because alcohol doesn't work. Trust me. All you do is end up crying and feeling sad for yourself and feeling like shit. There was a time when I used to turn to alcohol when I was feeling stressed out. That doesn't work for me. So, I turned to tea. Chamomile or peppermint - precisely. Not only does it help you sleep better, but it helps with de-stressing too.



4. Write it down


Whatever shit you're feeling right now, if it's bringing you down, write that shit down. It doesn't have to have any structure. For example, I could be feeling so stressed out right now and I have absolutely no idea why. I would write "I'm feeling like shit right now and I don't know why. I hate this feeling". From 2 sentences, the whole thing will turn into an essay. By the time you've finished writing them down, you'd already feel nicer. And once you've finished writing, put it aside and don't read it. Only read it a week after or when you're feeling better and you'll actually laugh at it. No joke, I promise.



5. Take a shower


Showers are a godsend. Something so simple. Something that we take for granted every.single.day. And I only found out that this trick worked on me when I was coming home from a very stressful day at work a couple of weeks ago. And I felt helpless, restless. I decided to take a shower and OMG, I came out of the shower asking myself what was I so stressed about? So, taking a shower - quick or long, hot or cold - definitely helps!

Like I said, everyone has different ways of dealing with stress. I've been stuck in that tunnel for quite some time now and I actually learned how to crawl out of it. Hence why I'm writing this post. To help any of you who are still in the tunnel.

Just remember: Stress is everywhere. You can't let that stop you from doing things you love. Deal with it and move on. The quicker, the better. #YOLO :) 

Chasing Happiness

Hiatus no more :)


To be really honest with you, I've been neglecting my baby (my blog) because of various reasons. Tight schedule, conflicting emotions, de-motivation, you name it.



Which is why yesterday, I took a walk in the park alone and I realized that life can be beautiful.

Life IS beautiful. 

You just need to appreciate the little things in life. The birds chirping, the sound of the wind, the breeze on your skin, the sun in your face, the smell of freshly cut grass - just any little thing that would put a smile to your face.

We're so busy chasing whatever it is we're chasing that we sometimes forget to be happy. Don't get me wrong. Chasing your dreams is an amazinggggg thing, trust me. But chasing happiness is even more amazing.


You see, in the process of chasing your dreams, you face hardships, you face difficulties, you face obstacles, and you lose focus, you lose yourself, and you lose your happiness. So it is important sometimes to just sit alone and think about the little things that make up life.

The sky, nature, look at everything around you.

Lately, I've been adjusting to something that I'm not entirely comfortable with, hence why I haven't blogged or written that much. And I know that's no excuse at all to neglect what makes me happy.



You see. I asked myself this exact question and I want you to ask yourself this very question too. And just dig real deep and find it in your heart:

"What makes you happy?" 

NOT

"What do I want in life?"



Are you happy eating? Cooking? Hitting the gym? Sleeping? Travelling?...


That's the simple question.


So, my friends, if you ever find yourself unhappy, just sit alone and ask yourself that. And if you want someone to talk to, hey, I'm not going anywhere from now on :)




It's time for you to chase your source of happiness :) 

June Goals

That's half a year gone, my friends! 


We are actually in the month of June already.


And it is starting to freak me out a bit because normally, this time round, I'd be asking myself "What have I actually achieved in the first half of the year?"


Well, I can tell you that I have grown a lot as a person, as an individual. I see things differently. I learned new things about myself that I'd never thought of - be it feelings, blessings or things.

To be perfectly honest with you, last month was a really tough month for me. I experienced hardships, pain, suffering, happiness, sadness, you name it. And it took a lot of motivation and support from the people that I love to get out of the state that I was in.

Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine now. Back to my normal self :) 

So much has happened in just 31 days and I guess I'm just terrified because 2017 is slipping through my fingers. But that is a story for another day. I am here today to share with you my June goals.

And since May was so tough on me, I found a motto that I'm going to stick to this month:


"You only have one job. And that is to live an extraordinary life." 


I have come to realize that whatever worries you have won't help you progress in life. And whatever hopes and dreams you have, they are useless if you don't go out there and make it happen. Don't just settle! Your job is to live an extraordinary life and with that comes hard work, dedication and commitment. Do what you can to achieve that because that is the only job you should be focusing on.


This month, my goals are to:


1. Meet more people 

Because I forgot how much I love meeting new people


2. Focus more on myself 

Because I feel like the second half of the year is going to get rough


3. Film more videos 

Because that makes me happy


4. Write and blog more

Because let's face it, I was rubbish at blogging last month


5. Be brave

Because I forgot how good it feels to stand up for myself and what I believe in



All of these things make me happy. And I guess I just lost track of what I actually love doing and what makes me happy. That's why I'm going to focus more on myself this month. I mean, the whole idea of monthly goals is to keep track of what makes you happy in life :)



So here's to the June. May it be fruitful and stress-free. Happy mid-year, my lovelies.

The Truth About My Life Now

Whenever I post something close to my heart, people seem to enjoy it more. So I've decided to write this post today.

Lately, my life has been rather confusing and hectic. I'm at the age where I can't quite figure myself out yet but I'm kind of getting there. I'm at a place where I'm fighting for myself every.single.day. 

I try to act tough everyday because I know I'm strong, but deep down, I'm vulnerable too. The truth is, when you've been strong for too long, you need a break from it. And that's where I am right now. I fight and I fight and I tell myself I can do it. But at the end of the day, my brain, my body, my soul - me - every single part of me is so tired. 

Tired from pretending. Tired from hurting. Tired from thinking. Tired from running away. 

This week has been one of the busiest weeks I've had so far. I've actually forgotten what it feels like to lose track of time. When I realized that today is Friday, my brain just could not fathom it at all. And today was just one of those days where everything just went South. I'm not going to lie, this month, I've had loads of days like that. 

People always see the happy side of me, the smiley side of me, the laughing side of me. That's because I choose to show that side of me. 

The truth is, I need a shoulder to cry on. 

I don't have many friends. I mean, I know lots of people but I can only call a few of them my friends. And all my friends who hold part of my heart are not here with me, which makes it that much more frustrating. 

It suffocates me.

I can't count how many times I've had difficulty breathing just because I need someone to talk to. Someone I can trust. Not someone who'll feed on my sorrow and then use it against me later. 

One thing you should know about me is that I've been betrayed so many times it's not even funny anymore. I find it hard to trust people. I'm open-minded and I'm good at meeting new people, don't get me wrong, and I can talk about almost anything to anyone. From past experiences to dirty jokes. 

However, I find it difficult to talk to people about my problems and share my feelings. That's why I turn to 2 of my best friends whenever I'm having a serious mental breakdown. And the fact that 2 of them are not here with me is just one of the saddest things ever. 

Today, one of my best friends texted me with encouraging and supportive words at the correct time. Like I said, today was one of those days where I'm just not feeling it. I got her text and I suddenly realized that I am a lot stronger than I used to be. I don't need other people to validate me because the truth is, I AM ALREADY DOING MY VERY BEST. 

And as long as I can see that, other people can too. And if they choose not to see it, it's absolutely not my problem. 

So, today, I want to thank absolutely everyone - whether you're my friend or not - who supports me in what I do, who supports my life, who makes me laugh and smile everyday. Thank you so so much. 

I don't take any single one of you for granted. 

:) 

My Life... 6 Months Ago

When you're a blogger or a writer, sometimes you'll have moments when an idea hits you hard on the head like a brick. Today was one of those days for me. I feel like I haven't been personal with you guys lately. So today, I take this opportunity to share with you what my life looked like in the past 6 months.


*I am writing this to share my experience and not to get sympathy or anything from what I had to go through for the past couple of months. I just feel like today is the day I get a little personal. After all, my blog is my baby and I've been wanting to get personal for quite some time now. So, if this is your thing, you can keep on reading. Otherwise, I'm sorry*

September 2016 - The worst month of my life (for as long as I can remember)

• I went for an audition and interview for a job and I wasn't sure if I would get it 
• I was waiting (4 months, to be exact) for my phD application to go through
• Ended a turbulent and rocky long distance relationship
• Was jobless, hopeless, going out for drinks almost every night (thank you Eunice for always being there for me. Sorry you had to see me cry and hyperventilate. Much appreciated. I love you)
• Was crying almost every night because I felt lost as fuck

October 2016 - The toughest month of my life (I've had a fair share of tough months and this was one of them)

• Still jobless and clueless on what my path looks like. Was just hoping everyday to get a reply so I can start my life in a new place
• Had an interview with my phD professors only to find out that they rejected my application and proposal which I prepared so hard for
• Still drinking almost every night to calm myself. As much as I didn't want to worry my parents, I couldn't help myself. Crying every night didn't help much
• Highly intoxicated and started my day at 1 pm everyday
• Started giving up on life and everything in it

November 2016 - What was supposed to be my favourite month turned out to be the most confusing month

• Spent a brief moment in the UK
• After flying alone for 18 hours, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to live anymore. I had lost all hope. I was in complete darkness
• After the "brief" moment in the UK, I came back to Malaysia and 12 hours later, I received a call saying I've got the job which I interviewed and auditioned for back in August
• Rekindled with what was supposed to be a failed love story
• Still felt lost and confused because everything seems like a blur 

December 2016 - When things started to make a bit more sense to me

• I started this new "job". Truth is, I didn't even care what the job was or how much it paid. I just wanted a new life - meaning a new place, a new city, a new job, with new people - starting completely from scratch
• My work "family" welcomed me and I started to see what it was like working in this industry
• Met some nice people and forever grateful for it
• Spent my first Christmas in this new city (with a warmer climate, finally)

January 2017 - A new start

• Adapting is never an easy task, especially when you're trying to start a new life
• Figuring out your future is never easy but sometimes, you just have to
• I still can't picture myself in this job but this is what I asked for. I wanted a change and I got it

February 2017 - A month of learning

• Learned to live on my own in this new city without anyone
• Attended a TV hosting course which I never in my entire life thought I'd ever have the chance to do. Learned the ways of TV hosting and other new things
• Met some nice people who would actually help me with publishing my "novel" and the "book" I'm writing
• Learned to be an independent woman (Destiny's Child ain't got nothing on me)
• Got to participate in various events which I never thought I'd be brave enough to attend

What exactly is the point of me sharing this post with you? 

I want you to know that hard times and tough times don't last forever. I lost all hope for almost 3 months and started to pick up the pieces afterwards. I was crying for almost 2 months and manage to smile after everything. Everyone has problems and tough moments of their own. Be strong and face it. Keep working hard, don't give up even though it feels like giving up is the only option you have at that moment.

I'm not here to tell you life is easy or life is hard. I'm here to tell you that you're a human being and you'll face ups and downs. Sometimes, your downs may take longer than others but nothing lasts forever. Take it from me - a girl who lost everything 6 months ago, to a girl who is starting over and getting a new life.

No matter what you're facing right now, you can do it. Take a look at your life 6 months ago and take a look at where you are now. If you're happy with your progress, I have nothing but happiness for you. If you're unhappy with where you are or your progress, do something about it. I'm with you all the way.

March Goals

1st day of March.




What can I actually say about February? Well, if you've read my previous post, you'll know that February was a horrendous month for me. And to top it all off, I have been ill for almost 2 weeks now.

However, I did achieve all my February Goals and I'm quite proud of myself for that. But it is time to say goodbye and welcome a new month.

So, today, I am of course here to share my March Goals with you.

A motto that I will stick to this month is:

"A life without dreaming is a life without meaning"

Let this be a reminder to all that it is totally OK to dream. Dream BIG! Because as far as I'm concerned, when I dream, that's when life happens :)

For the month of March, my goals are to:


1. Go out more

I'm not even going to lie to you, I'd take watching Netflix and sipping on hot chocolate any day to going out. In February, I went grocery shopping once and stayed home for the rest of the month. So you get the idea.


2. Meet at least 2 new people

And I don't mean random strangers who I will never see again. I want to actually meet new people and be friends with them. This is quite a tough one but I'm going to try.


3. Try new things

As many new things as possible, whether that is trying some kind of outfit I never thought I'd wear, or trying out a new routine. I am going to try to do different things in the next 31 days.


4. Write more

Just because I don't post a lot on here doesn't mean I'm not doing any other writings on the side. But I will, with all my strength and power, post more on here. After all, writing is where I find comfort.


5. Drink more tea

For the past 28 days, I have been substituting soft drinks and pop sodas to peppermint tea and Moroccan mint tea. And I want to stick to this habit because it helps me sleep better at night. I will make it my mission to try as many flavoured tea as possible for the upcoming days.





Keeping track of monthly goals is an easy task. If you haven't created one by now, trust me, it helps. For those of you who have, what are your March goals? :)

3 Things to Tell Yourself on Your Worst Days

I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone when I say this.

Everyone will experience bad days, some more than others. 


Bad days are inevitable. So, goodluck to those of you who are trying to avoid it. I, however, have tried avoiding bad days and problems, only to find out that running away from them is absolutely pointless (something I learned the hard way).

So, take it from me. It's better to face the storm than to run away from it.

If I'm being completely honest with you, February has been no picnic for me. In fact, I think it's probably one of my worst months yet considering it's only the second month of the year. 28 days seems like 50 days. And here, I thought January would be a terrible month.

But hey, enough complaining. I'm not here to ramble about how terrible my 28 days have been. I'm here to tell you that, looking back now, I'm proud of myself because I braved through everything and faced my worst days ALONE.


So, here are the 3 things I always remind myself on bad days.


1. Nothing lasts forever

Whether it's the good times or bad, nothing will ever last forever, as harsh as that may sound. All you can do is cherish the good moments and face the bad ones with your head held high and know that it won't last forever.


2. Just keep going

When a plane is going through rough winds and turbulence, it doesn't stop just because of bad weather conditions, it goes on until it reaches its destination. And so will you! Because bad days are just like rough winds.


3. Everything will be OK 

Even though it may seem like your whole world is falling apart right now (trust me, I've had my fair share of days like that), truth is, it isn't. It's just a day of things not turning out how you've planned it to be. Stay positive and remind yourself that it's going to be OK.





Remember, it's not the end of the world. Keep fighting and don't you ever give up! These are the things you should do everyday: count your blessings, let go of what you can't control, just breathe. 

February Goals

Holy sh!t. 



Can anyone of you actually believe it is the 2nd month of the year already? Because personally, I think this is all just a dream. Honestly, how could it be February already?!?!

Well, at least January went by quickly because as I mentioned in my January Goals post, January is probably the toughest month of the year. Speaking of goals, today I am, of course, here to update you on my February Goals.

A wonderful motto for this month that I'm going to stick to is:

"Never stop trying. Never stop believing. Never give up"

Let this be a reminder to every single one of us. No matter what you want to achieve in your life, never stop until you're somewhere you want to be :)



Here are my February goals.

1. Write and blog more

Let's face it, I was rubbish at blogging in January as you can tell from the amount of posts I've created but things are going to change from here on out and that, my dear friends, is a promise!

2. Film more videos 

Videos are slightly more terrifying for me but I've been really consistent with them and my YouTube channel too. You can check out my latest video and subscribe to my channel because that would honestly make me so so happy :)



3. Have a healthier lifestyle

Meaning eat healthy, which I am going to try my very best at! And also exercise more!

4. Travel 

Wish I could make travel an every month activity. I'll work on that :)

5. Pass my probation and focus more on work

Yes, I have been slacking off on work a bit but hey, no more!



Monthly goals have been helping me keep track of my progress. So, what are you waiting for? Create your February goals today.

HITTING QUARTER LIFE CRISIS

"It is perfectly okay and normal to not have your shit together at 25." - Anonymous 

I feel like there are 2 types of people in this world: People who know what they're going to be doing for the rest of their lives once they hit 20, and people who haven't got a single clue about what they want in life when they hit 20.

Good afternoon all you lovely readers


Today's post is going to be about my current life situation. As for the above statement, I feel like I'm the latter one. I've always been the type of person who wants to try as many things as I can as possible. Even at my teenage years, I've always had crazy ideas and wild imaginations about everything around me. Up till today, right this very second, I still have crazy imaginations and interesting ideas. To have a creative mind is a good thing, but I guess the downside to that is that all these imaginations and thoughts will make you question everything in life.

I will be hitting 25 next month and for some reason, it doesn't scare me at all. The only thing that scares me is that I haven't got enough time to do half of the things I've wanted to do before I hit 30. That is probably one of the scariest things ever. But I'm here today to share a few of my thoughts with you and to let you know that you are not alone :)

1. Two Minds

I'm at a phase in life where I just want to go out and explore the world, try new things, have that occasional drink at a pub or a friend's party, and be a complete nutter around close friends. However, I absolutely do not mind staying at home everyday, sitting on the couch with a good book or doing absolutely nothing at all but drink tea and chill.

2. Friends Come and Go

There's a reason why this saying was invented. And after learning it the hard way for multiple times, I've finally come to terms with it. Some people stay, some people go. You will lose old friends and gain new ones. And that's just life. Deal with it. I'm at a certain stage in life where I keep my circle of friends really small. I'm glad to have these people in my life who support and encourage me in everything I do. A few good friends is better than thousands of fake friends. Keep that in mind.

3. People Change..... You Change

Over the years, I've noticed something about myself. Physically, I've changed. But mentally too. All the dreams that I had when I was younger - dreams of becoming a princess (go on, laugh all you want) and all those other crazy, funny dreams and imaginations - they've all changed. But now is also the time to make your dreams happen. And that is what I'm going to start doing. Change. Be a better version of myself. Go after my dreams. Because even though dreams and interests change, that does not mean you can't pursue them.



Let me know if you can relate to this? X

LIVE YOUR LIFE

OK. So this is my current view right now. Dark sky, grey clouds, the smell of freshly cut grass, the occasional breeze blowing through my hair. I wouldn't say it is too warm or too cold or too windy. In other words, I would describe this as the perfect temperature. Not exactly perfect weather as it is dark and dreary but perfect temperature. The ideal place for me to be right this very second.

Good evening my lovely readers


I have been slightly demotivated and uninspired lately (as you can tell by the lack of posts). Apologies. I don't exactly know the reason behind this. Some days, I have loads of fire burning in me, loads of things that catch my attention and inspires me; some days (lately), I just want to sit at home and do absolutely nothing. And I'm not going to lie, today feels like the perfect day to do nothing at all. Yet somehow, here I am - inspired and firing up a blog post :)


"I guess my hometown isn't as eventful as I imagined it to be." was what I thought to myself.


OI! SNAP OUT OF IT! *clicks fingers*

"Remember when I was daily-blogging last month before I left the UK? I made everyday fun just because I could! So why not do it here too? Just because it's my hometown doesn't mean I can't find fun things to do and make my days interesting!" was the answer I gave myself when I snapped out of it.


Now, I'm not promising any daily blogs or whatever but I've got a few exciting things up my sleeves. You'll see what I mean very soon :) *I mean, you guys are always the first to know anyway*

I've been reading quite a lot of books recently. I think reading has become one of my hobbies now. I mean, I've always loved reading anyway but I never really had the time to read with work and all that. But now that I can, I've been reading so so many books and I'm loving them.


So, I came across this question in a book.

"Where is the richest place on Earth?"

Now, I want all of you to think and come up with an answer before you continue on reading. Because after 10 guesses, I still didn't get the answer. But when I was finally given the answer, I could see why I never thought of that. So, I want you to think hard.

The answer is:

Graveyards 

Why?

Because graveyards are where all dreams and hopes die along with people who didn't do anything about their dreams and hopes.

Let me explain.

Imagine this.

You're on your death bed and on your final moments when you close your eyes, you see all the "ghosts" around you. Those "ghosts" are your dreams, your ideas, your hopes - and they are all saying to you "Look. You had this - you had all of us when you were alive! We are the ones that came to YOU. Yet you chose not to do anything about it and you know what? Now we're going to die with you." 



I mean, that is probably one of the deepest things I've ever read in my entire life. It is so so true! I don't want to lie on my death bed one day and face my "ghosts". And that is why I am totally inspired today.

YOU are in control of your life and only YOU alone are entitled to your happiness. No matter how you view your life, how you view yourself or other people, everything comes down to how you want to see the world.

I am slowly figuring things out - by things, I really just mean figuring out myself and what I want in life. Slowly taking baby steps because nobody achieves something big overnight. Same goes to happiness. No one achieves true happiness overnight. Everything takes time, hard work and patience. 



Everything starts from you :) 



X

Monday Motivation

"Monday is the perfect day to correct last week's mistakes." - Annonymous 

I don't know about most of you out there but I'm one of those people who live life by amazing quotes and good sayings. Especially on rough days, I would just read positive quotes over and over and over again. 

Sometimes, I feel like some quotes represent me and my life, which is a little scary because of how real they are. 

Today is just one of those days when I'm feeling a bit down. So I decided to share 10 quotes and sayings that I've been loving recently. 

Be grateful no matter what

Don't be afraid to try new things

First impressions lie

Something to always remember about our parents

Be yourself

Have faith

In times of darkness, meditate or pray

We have all the answers. All we need is action.

Key to a happier life

Never pass up opportunities

Hope this post can relate to some of you out there. Just remember, you're not alone :)

Thank you for reading X