The best gift of all

I've just spent 5 days in France with  my brother and Jen, taking this year's cumulative total up to 21 days (this is the most time I've spent with him probably in the last 8 years). Not because we don't like each other, but because he's lived in Dublin and now in rural France. It's hard to pop over for an evening. The time I spend with my brother is therefore very special.

He's a total douche, of course, but only in the way that a brother can be. Within 30 seconds of seeing him, he tried to trip me over. Going to the zoo and "pecking me", or making bird noises behind me. Taking the piss out of me like only a big brother is allowed to.

When we were kids I have really fond memories of my brother and I building dens and playing together. One day he made a spiders web across his room as a sort of assault course for me. Another time I couldn't get my Easter egg to break so he kindly kicked it against the wall (chocolate everywhere!). We camped out in his tent in the garden as kids, and played football in the park.

But as we got older, he moved away and work took him abroad. He dated some (awful) women and then settled happily with Jen and his tiny family in his tiny house in France. I stayed at home and focused on work and study, trying to earn as much as possible by working in as many jobs as I can so that I can travel often.

It's so lovely to see my brother, and spend time with him when I can - because nothing has changed. There's never a weird awkwardness, only the already awkward weirdness that I bring with me to every situation - that my brother is very much accustomed to.

Even though time moves on and our lives meander along - albeit his more like a raging torrent and mine like a trickle - there is nothing better than hanging out with your sibling. My first friend and my greatest protector. I'm so lucky to have a big brother - who has taught me so much and who I adore.

So this Christmas, the best gift is time spent with family. The ones who irritate you and annoy you, because they love you.

You can't save them all....

If I had a penny for every time someone has told me that I'm too attached to my work, or that I care too much about a young person, well I would be rich in money. But instead, I'm rich in life. 

You will have read my blogs about young people changing my life, about why youthwork matters to me, and the importance of participation of young people. This one is more personal, this is about my feelings. 

I went to view a property today, and the estate agent cast judgement on me in one foul swoop "why would you want to do that?"...."you're brave, they're the most difficult age group", in response to my explanation of wanting two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one for me and one for the fostering, with a garden for the puppy. She also commented on how young I was, and asked me why I would want to do that at my age. 

Well, here it is. 

It's because I believe I can save the world. 

Ok, over the last 5 months, I've cried more than normal. I've hidden away in my room and sobbed my heart out. The reason for this, is because I actually adore some of the young people I work with, and it breaks my heart when things don't go well for them. I'm pretty good at holding it all together most of the time, and will never show emotion in front of another professional (unless that person is a friend, of course). I'm very good at being the adult, using my theory based judgements, and advocating what i believe in. I'm less good at detaching myself from positive relationships that I have worked hard to build, based on authentic respect and trust, rather than coercion. 

I've been told by someone (trying to be helpful) that I need to stop caring and leave work at work. He's right, I do need to leave work at work, but if I stopped caring to allow that to happen, then I would be cheating myself. 

I live by the idea that there is good in everyone, and believe that everyone deserves an opportunity and a chance. It is part of my innate being to care. With this, my values are based on helping others, supporting them to succeed.  

Sometimes, however, they don't. 

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, how much effort you put in, how much time you give, sometimes, that person will make their own poor choices, and there is very little that you can do about it. 

But you've got to try haven't you. It's hard to tell with a fresh bunch of people, which ones will work with you, and which ones won't. It's impossible to spot the child that in a years time, will have really needed your support. We can't predict the future. That's why it is important to believe in all of them. 

If your starting point is a negative one, "I can't save them all", then the task of trying to pick one or two becomes overwhelming. 

Whereas, if you say "I can't save them all, but I'm going to give it my bloody best shot" then the possibilities are endless. 

So no, you can't save them all. But that isn't a reason not to try to. 

Saudades

"...is a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves. Moreover, it often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing might never return." 

I first came across this word in the country that changed my life: Brazil. It was here that I made some of the best relationships I have, with people from across the globe. 

Saudades was once described as the love that remains after someone is gone. It's that aching, longing, deep sadness that sits in your stomach for weeks, months, years. It's that feeling that you think you crushed, but has secretly been lurking inside of you waiting for a trigger. 

Today I caught the scent of someone's aftershave, and that was that. I went back to that place, with that person, and then had this deep pang of despair as it clicked that they were gone. 

That's the problem isn't it, people can do that to you. 

But we need people. 

Something that has been whirring through my mind today, is that I need someone. Not someone, because I'm desperately seeking love, quite the contrary I have come round to the idea that being a single person is a much easier life, but I need someone to listen to me. Everyone does. 

We all have good days and bad days, and go home to our loved ones and rant about what's gone wrong, who offer sympathy, support, and reassurance. 

I had a brief text conversation with someone earlier, seeking reassurance, and all I got was a cold hearted response, telling me to sort it out. Not the kind of nurture and care that I give to people, therefore not the kind I appreciate in return. But who is there for single people to turn to, I mean, I'm fairly limited on people I can just go and visit and cry to, drinking copious amounts of tea. That's not because I don't have good friends, because trust me, I do. It's because they are busy getting on with life, and it's just not the same is it - maybe I miss that intense social relationship that I had with ex partners who might have nursed my emotional state at times like this. 

Allegedly it is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. But if you don't know what you're missing, then you don't have the hurt? I'm not one for many relationships, I can count all my exes on 1 hand. The reason for this is because I don't cope well with the pain, the saudades that is left when inevitably things do not work out, and I get that phone call "we need to talk" (or worse). 

Someone told me yesterday that being single was awful, but it's not all bad. Ok I don't have anyone to pour my heart out to, or to snuggle into whilst I sob, or to wrap myself up in. But I do have independence. I am powered under my own steam. If I screw up, it's only me involved. 

But independance isn't a substitute for human contact and care. On Saturday I didn't speak to anyone between 9am and 8pm. For someone who thrives on attention and socialising,  this was not a good day for me. I've got a lot of stored up grief that I'm carrying around, and I need desperately to offload it - but there's no one there, and when there's no one there, what can you do? 

So in my vulnerable state, when I caught this smell earlier, all I wanted to do was fall into this persons arms and cry. There was this deep feeling of being broken, and wanting to be hugged back together to make everything ok. (I didn't, for the record I pumped the music up loud in the car, and drove off with tears rolling down my cheeks).

But it's not like that in real life. People walk in, and people walk out. You rarely get a say on what happens, but have to deal with the aftermath yourself. 

This is true across all relationships, family members, work colleagues, partners, children. People come and go. And it hurts. A lot. Especially when you catch a memory that makes you remember that person, and how it left you feeling. 

The thing is, people remember the way you leave them feeling. They might not remember the words you used or the way you looked, but they remember the emotions attached to that moment or that person. 

When someone catches a whiff of your perfume (dolce and gabanna por femme- for any of my admirers that want to buy me some more), how do you want that person to feel? Loved? Cherished? Cared for? Saudades? 

Can you handle me...?

So yesterday I went back to school, and by lunchtime had cried twice and looked at jobs pages. Not because I'm desperately unhappy, but the prospect of another new year and another 200 students to get to know filled me with dread. I genuinely don't know if I can do it again, the fourth year in a row of building new relationships and then letting go after a year. It's tough. It's tough on some of the young people and it's tough on me, because sometimes it's not just a job. 

I've always felt that youthwork has been my vocation, it's not just a way to earn money (because if it is, I am in the wrong career), it's a way of life for me. I live and breathe youthwork. My very values and beliefs are founded upon the great practitioners: A.S Neill, Young, Bowlby. My holiday reading was "The Perception of Self in Everyday Life" - not your usual relaxing book. 

I've been lucky enough to have a very colourful and humbling career so far, and worked with thousands of young people - some of which are transitory relationships, but some of which are true bonds and I have the privilege of being an attachment figure to. Some of these young people come and go with fleeting interventions, but there are a precious few who remain in your life and in your heart throughout your career. 

The reason for this, quite simply, is that they changed my life more than I changed theirs. 

Young people can be fickle, and one minute you're their favourite person in the world, and the next week they have forgotten your name. But even these short interventions have meaning. If you live and breathe what you believe, you can have an impact on a young person with just one meeting. 

If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with a young person, then you are on to a winner. When I started youthwork, a colleague gave me two pieces of advice:

1. If you put the time in, you will get it back

2. Keep every piece of feedback that a young person gives you

Well, I have kept every scrap piece of paper and note that a young person has written to me, every card, post it, and drawing are lovingly placed into a scrapbook I keep - in fact I have two full books now. Not only are these the most precious things I own, but they give me real comfort in that I do my job well, and that I'm changing lives which is what I set out to do. 

As for putting the time in, it's amazing what results can be achieved with regular face to face contact and consistency. My values are based on honesty, integrity, and commitment. I always try to see the good in every young person, and sometimes it takes a while for that young person to show you that side, but if you give them the time to get to know you, they will. 

It is a real honour to be able to care for other people's children, and to be trusted with that responsibility. People are quite judgemental of my decision to not have children, and when I tell them my dream is to be a foster carer, they don't all get it. But to me, it would be a real privilege to work with the young people who need my time the most. It's all I've ever wanted, and I am on a mission to get to the point where I can offer my own safe space for a young person to flourish and grow. 

I was chatting late on Saturday night to a friend about my very specific plan, and at the end of my explanation, he stopped and paused, before turning to me and telling me I was amazing. That's the first time I have heard that and listened to it. That same day, a friend whom I respect enormously, told me "I happen to know that a whole lot of kids feel that you are their superhero". 

I've never thought of myself as amazing or a superhero. I've always just stuck to my values and worked to the very best of my ability. I've given young people my time and remained consistent. I've nurtured them and tried to meet their needs, from their starting point. 

One of these same friends shared a poem with me a long time ago, which is pinned to my wall. It is about the relationship between a father and son, but to me it encompasses my work and why I do it:

I feel that the confusion inside of me

My doubts and fears,

Would shock you

If I brought them out.

 

I know you know

All of that exists,

And you know it exists in me,

But you would rather,

Let it all remain anonymous.

 

And so I am alone

With my uncertainty about God,

My preoccupations with sex in a sex-orientated world,

My worries about my education and future,

The ambiguous relationship to you,

And the difficulties with my friends.

 

I know you are afraid to become vulnerable:

You would be embarrassed

To see another side of me

And to show another side of yourself;

And you don’t want our relationship to change

Even though it is phony in parts;

And above all

You want everything to remain predicatable

Because you love your peace too dearly.

 

And so I have very little choice

But to keep everything inside of me

To try to work it out

Alone

 

But if you let me talk,

If you invited me to talk

And could listen

Without being shocked

Without remaining aloof for your protection

Without immediately having all the answers

(even though I think you have answers

And good ones too)

Without playing therole of the knwoing parent,

If you could enter into the process of my life

And be beside me,

Then

That would mark the passage

From father/son to father/friend

And we could see each other in a new way:

 

We would be brothers.

You can be someone's superhero. You can change their lives. Let them change yours, I don't promise it will be easy, but I promise it will be worth it. 

Mind over Matter

So, today I looked in the mirror for the first time in a long time, and thought that I looked ok. 

Maybe not ok, maybe more than ok. 

Strong.

I started running on the 1st November 2015. I used to run a year before, but it only lasted a couple of months. I'm nine months in now. I run a lot. 

I only started running to avoid a meltdown. I needed to burn off the negative energy and deep sadness before it engulfed me; before I fell into the trap again. 

People always say that exercise is good for emotional wellbeing. I've wondered though, for someone who can't get out of bed, how on earth would they get out to exercise. I believe now that the trick is to beat the black dog before it gets to that point. 

Staying motivated is tough. Really tough. I run 5 times a week. It might not be marathons but it's always at least 25 minutes - that's the starting goal, anything above that is a gift. 

One of my inspirations and guiding lights, is a good friend who is basically superhuman. He's faced adversity head on, and told it to "do one". He's always been very supportive of me, telling me that I can achieve anything if I put my mind to it.

That's the trick isn't it - putting your mind to it. The body will achieve remarkable things, but only if the mind allows it to do so. I hated PE at school because I believed I was bad at it. This time last year my three things I couldn't live without were my black patent stilettos, my phone, and my little black dress. Now it's a different story - I'm rarely seen without my Fitbit on, I've got my trusty 1l water bottle in hand, and my running shoes are always with me. 

Funny how you can change your mind on things. 

I cycled to my brothers last week, well, cycled approx 50 miles. When I got off the boat, I wasn't sure myself that I would be able to do it. I kept putting obstacles in the way - it's too hot, too far, I'm not fit enough, my bags are too heavy... But my mind kept focused on the target. My mantra, entrusted by my dear friend, "just keep going forward". It doesn't matter how slow you are, as long as you keep going. 

Since being in France, I've cycled over 100 miles. I've been trying to distract myself; to forget about things. There's been some trauma recently and it needs to be unpacked. It's hard to forget things that hurt you, situations that challenge you, and people who move you. Sometimes, life can be really mentally tough and draining. That's when you need to use that energy for something else. I'm well known to embark on art projects when I'm not feeling my best; but now I have my other secret weapons - the bike and the running shoes. 

Motivation is the key. There's a saying that if you do something for a certain period of time, it becomes habit. But trust me, no matter how long you run for, it's still a struggle to put on those shoes after a day when everything has gone wrong, you crawl in from work at 9:30pm, it's dark and it's raining. That's when the motivation needs to kick in. 

My motivation has changed over time, the main goal is to avoid emotional disaster. However, alongside that has been: proving a point to a disbeliever, raising money for charity, wanting to beat my personal best, racking up the Parkrun total, and trying to work out what that extra something is. There are so many things that can motivate a person, the important thing is to grab hold of that glimpse of motivation - it may only last 5 seconds - but use those moments to your advantage. 

Go out there and get what you want. 

Life is too short to waste on "should I or shouldn't I" - the time you spend pondering is wasted time - make a decision, seize the moment and take responsibility for your life. 

Empower your mind to take control. 

Your mind is your greatest asset, and your worst enemy. 

Who are you going to let win? 

Look how they shine for you

Look up. Look at the stars. 

When I was a kid, I believed that those I lost went to the sky and became stars. The stars have always been a sort of "guiding light" and held a comfort for me. 

The stars are romantic, they are timeless and infinite; a certainty in life that there will be stars. 

Stars shine every night, and I take comfort that somewhere in the world, someone else I know is probably looking at the stars the same as me. 

Something that amazes me about stars is their power - they shine continually, and if one dies, a new star appears.

I was bought a star, so somewhere in the galaxy is my star with my name. I own a small piece of the night sky. 

I used to be scared of the dark, but now I feel calmed looking up into the deep black oblivion. 

Stars have been one of my favourite things for years, and I shared my stars with someone else. Staring at the sky, and catching a glimpse of some shooting stars - making a wish. 

That wish didn't come true, in fact it backfired. 

I saw a shooting star two days ago, and made the exact same wish. Not because I'm a fool, but because even if once your wish doesn't come true, that is no reason to give up. Sometimes things don't go the way you plan first time around, but you shouldn't let that dampen your fire. 

Stars don't shine without darkness. 

We all need a little darkness so that the light shines brighter, and so that you can see the value and beauty of it when it does. 

Darkness isn't always a curse, sometimes it is a time of self discovery and reflection, to help you find your passion and reach for it once more. You mustn't let darkness engulf you, quite the contrary you should wander in it awhile and search for the light. 

Just because my wish didn't come true last time, doesn't mean it won't ever. It's no good giving up on your wishes because then they have no hope. 

I'm a romantic, and like poetry and philosophy, because feelings are real and meaningful. 

You should never be afraid to look up, for a while I stopped looking at the stars because it hurt too much, but the first time I stopped and stared, I caught a glimpse of what could be, and how beautiful this universe really is; vast and glittering. 

Don't ever be scared. 

Look up. 

Make a wish. 

Don't stop looking up. 

Get down from your tower

Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney movie, I guess I relate to it - nerdy, rather plain brunette has the leading role, meets a brute of an animal and converts him to love, before uncovering that he is actually a handsome, charming prince. 

As a young woman, it's kinda natural to always be dreaming about meeting Prince Charming and what your perfect wedding would be like. It's ingrained into you from the tender toddler years, where you're brought up on Disney princess movies - the helpless princess waits around for the handsome prince to come and sort her life out. 

If I had a pound for every time one of my relatives, or friends asked me when I was going to "settle down and get married", I would have moved to Australia by now and married a hot surfer. But seriously, why is there such a huge demand for young women to be married - or even to be driven into being in a relationship? I've had no end of people telling me that "you'll meet the right one when you least expect it" - I haven't been expecting it for years and no one has swept in wearing shiny armour... A couple of muppets in tinfoil maybe... 😉

But why do people feel the need to comfort me on being single - I didn't realise it was such a hardship - being able to go out when you want, see who you want, spend what you want. Actually, I've got a sweet deal. Ok so I might never get valentines cards, a wedding, or flowers sent to my work - but does everyone need that?

 It's like the children argument, people are persistent with about "when you meet the right one you will change your mind" - actually, I won't. I know I won't. So, stop trying to tell me otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I'm not heartless and a child hater, quite the contrary - I see myself as an auntie to the world, and I cannot wait to have children around, just not in the conventional way. The children I plan to have in my life are the ones who I know I can make a huge difference to, the ones who need my skills most. That would be a real privilege. 

The older I get, the more I see my friends getting married and settling down, and the more I get quizzed about my personal circumstances. Just because the dominant discourse is to follow a certain route, doesn't mean that path is for everyone. In fact, I would much rather take a machete and make my own path than follow blindly the trail before me just because I felt I should. 

I've been naively waiting around in my tower for a knight in shining armour to come along and save me, so that I can live out my days with Prince Charming. But life isn't like that.

Life shouldn't be like that. 

Young women everywhere need to be empowered to believe that they can make it in this world without following what society is trying to dictate they should do. Young women need role models of strong females who have made it alone. Girls don't need guys to come along and save them, it's not the 1950s and women don't just exist to cook dinner for their man and produce children. 

Victoria Pendleton is my favourite athlete, and she never relied on a man to win her races, she won through hard work and determination. 

Yes I'm very happy for all my friends who are in healthy relationships and happy with children etc, but for those independent women out there - don't feel pressured to follow the crowd. You are your own person, and you do not need to have a man to qualify who you are. 

Mutuality doesn't exist, there is always a broken middle and you don't have to do what everyone else thinks you should. Be more like Antigone, less like Sleeping Beauty. 

Everyone else - stop pressurising women to fall into a routine - let them live out their dreams. 

Princess, get down from your tower, and be the queen you were meant to be. 

All you need is love (please, don't start that again)

Love. What even is it?

The internet tells me it is "a strong feeling of affection"

I've often wondered whether I have ever been in love, or if I just love things and people. 

I've tried looking for love, and it's bitten me in the ass. I've tried to be more lovable, but realised I can't change my personality that easily. I've tried loving but at the end of the day, someone always gets hurt. On my birthday this year, I boldly told my friend that I would clearly never be getting married, so was going to have an amazing 30th birthday party instead, with the money I would have spent on a wedding. She laughed at me and told me not to be so morbid.  

But maybe I'm looking at love all wrong. 

Sometimes in life, just when you think things are going the well, someone throws in a curveball just to make it harder. That's when you find out what love really is. 

Love isn't found in one person, if you invest everything in to just one person, and they screw you over, what else have you got? 

Love is all around you. It's in the friendships and relationships you have with the people you choose to connect with. Ok you might not be in love with them, but you sure as hell can love them and feel loved back. 

A drunk lady told me tonight that I was beautiful, and that whoever made me sad was not worthy (cue Thor reference that she didn't get!). She also told me that good friends are the most important things in life. She was right.

Friends are the people who truly love you, they choose to actively spend time with you and what do they get in return? - from me it's likely that I forget their birthday, don't text back, or get hangry when they're with me. But, they love me all the same. 

That's special. 

One of my favourite musicals has the quote "to love another person is to see the face of God". In which case, I am truly blessed. 

I have an incredible, diverse, strong, caring group of friends. They're just there. If I need something, they have it sorted. If I need to go and angrily smash a football against a fence, that's covered. If I need to smile, they know how. If I just need unconditional love, it's done. 

I have been very lucky in my life to have such incredible people around me, and whilst some are no longer here (and that really hurts), I reckon they've got my back and are looking down and keeping an eye. 

It's the little things, the text conversations at midnight, bringing me my favourite flowers (pink gerberas, by the way), sending me a copy of a book to read, maintaining a snap streak with me, getting in to my bed and watching girly films... All those tiny actions add up to a great big pile of love. 

And it's not just those people in my life, it's the younger ones too. Yes, I am famous for the phrase "I hate children", but that's just a cover up for something else (which is too sad to put on here - but please do ask in person if you're curious). I actually adore the small people. I had the best fun yesterday when I had the joy of bath time with a toddler, and having the opportunity to make him laugh by pretending to be scared of his book. He even knows my name and says it too. That for me is priceless. It's the slightly bigger small people as well, who whilst they have no belonging to me except in my professional world, have made comments "but I love Miss Durrant, she is my favourite" - well obviously - or the young person who has grown up into an adult, and tells you that you are like a parent to them (scary!) and you were the one consistent adult that made them get through some bad stuff. That's the real deal. I might not ever have my own children, but to care for any child is truly a gift. 

Love isn't like it is in the films, it isn't all princesses hanging around waiting for Prince Charming (who I am told is a douche anyway). Love is the feeling that someone out there cares enough to give you a portion of their life, for nothing in return (or indeed negative equity if you are one of my friends - sorry).

Love is when your brother drops everything to see if you're ok, your cousin snapchats you (because that's what you do when you're a teenager), your adopted family put aside time in their diary for you to just be there. That's what love is. 

So, my advice, stop looking for "the one" and start concentrating on "the many" as they are the ones who are going to be there no matter what, who accept you for your flaws (and I have many many flaws), and will stand by you til the end. 

Love is patient, love is kind. 

Love never fails. 

The greatest gift

I'm always late. I don't mean to be, it's just part of who I am. It's not because I am trying to be rude or offend you, it's because I ran out of time. 

It happens a lot, but the reason I ran out of time is because I was giving it to someone else who needed it more than me. 

Time is precious, and there is only ever a set amount of time:

525,600 minutes in a year

86,400 seconds in a day

700,800 hours in a lifetime (assuming you live to 80)

My day starts at 6am, I get to work for 7:15am, I get home at 9:15pm after working two jobs. Others have referred to me as "busy" before now. I don't think that is a bad thing.

Someone once told me that the more time you invest, the more you will get back. Well, that person was right (even though that person was so wrong about a lot of things, I still give him credit for being one of the best youth workers I ever had the pleasure of working with). I keep this mantra in my mind during my day, and do my best to invest my minutes where it matters. 

When you work in a people focused job, it makes sense to use your time with those people rather than sat blankly behind a computer at a desk. Of course, sometimes you do need to type up notes or write important documents, but often there are people who need that time more than your computer. I have had the joy of perfecting the art of time management over the last few years, and when I made the decision to go back to working in education it was twofold - one because I wanted to study for my MA, but one because I never saw enough of the people I was meant to be supporting before, and for a youth worker it is important that you actually get to work with young people. Ok so maybe I wasn't mentally prepared for what is considered a life threatening situation by an 11yr old (being called a peasant/ losing your water bottle/ forgetting your homework) but irrespective of the scale of the situation to me, for that young person it is potentially huge to them. 

What I love about my job is the constant flow of young people to chat to, and each year getting new ones to get to know. By spending a small amount of time regularly with a young person, they build up trust in you, and you can become their secure base (see other blogs!). I worked with someone who had not confided in any adults, but after nearly four years of my constant nurturing, that young person chose to confide in me, ok it wasn't what I wanted to hear, but the fact that they wanted to share their story was huge for them. I'm pleased to say that this young person in particular is now a well adjusted adult and making their own way in their very successful life - not because of me, but because I gave them time. Time to learn to trust adults, time to ask questions and get honest answers, time to get to know me and time to be recognised in their own right as someone of worth. 

People wonder why I spend so much of my life with young people - well when there are so many young people in the world who need that extra adult to talk to, it's impossible to just turn them away. The time you give that person is extremely precious - once that time has been given, you can never get it back. That's probably why I believe in working in a job that makes you happy, because ultimately a lot of your time is spent doing it - I'm very fortunate that in my job I can share my time with people who value it and need it. 

I work early and stay late to do the boring stuff, so that as much of my time as possible is available for those who want it. You cannot predict what will happen in a day, but to be prepared to give someone a quantity of your time is a good ethos to live by in my opinion. By giving time, you are showing that you care; you are proving that someone is of value and is deserving of your time. Yes sometimes we all get a bit rushed off our feet, but in the moments of quiet, it is a time to step back and reflect on the good things that have happened because you went that bit extra, you gave all that you had, and you got an outcome. 

People connect when you give them the chance to. So, forgive me for my lateness but I was trying to share my time with those who needed it - whether it was a 10 second chat with the checkout person, or a heart to heart with a friend, giving them something that is non returnable is the best gift of all, and can change a life. 

 Time is precious, make sure you are using it properly. Don't waste it. 

Love Wins

So as I woke up on Friday morning, I could hardly believe what I was reading. Britain had decided to leave the EU. I was feeling angry, betrayed, and let down by a government which I didn't vote for, and a result I didn't want. I cried and cried all the way to work, and then spent my morning dealing with young people who were heartbroken because they were scared of what will happen next, worried they would be deported, and simply devastated that the UK might not help people who need it from other countries. 

Without wanting to turn this into a strongly political blog (although those who know me will be well aware of my string viewpoints!), I simply could not believe that we as a country had allowed this to happen - scaremongering tactics being used which have made children feel unsafe. As a professional who works with young people, I am devastated by the effect that the political discourse has had on our young people. It is simply not right for them to feel scared in their own country for fear of deportation. The United Nations convention on the rights of the child states such that children have a right to be protected from discrimination, a right to their identity, and a right to have their views taken seriously if a decision affects them (as a side point, at what age should a young person therefore vote?). 

I travelled to London on Saturday, and as I walked past Westminster I was deeply saddened, wondering if they knew the hurt that some of our young people are feeling. What saddens me more is that I can offer no words of comfort to them about their futures, about whether they will need visas or citizenship, because I simply do not know the answers, and I don't think anyone does. 

However, later in the day I was privileged to be able to be a part of the parade at Pride. I can honestly say my faith in humanity was somewhat restored by this event - yes there were protesters however a small minority in a sea of people. Yesterday, London came together to show unity, equality, and respect. For me, Pride is about showing the world what a great diverse nation we are, and that we respect and support each other's differences. I stood alongside friends who I knew had personally battled with their sexuality or gender, for fear of repercussion. It should not be the case that anyone fears being themself for any reason. I am extremely proud of my friends who have the courage to be themselves in a world that can be brutal. 

In a world where Brexit has divided the country, and a small marginalised group of people have hijacked the leave campaign and had the dominant discourse around "kicking people out of the country" - let's remember that the majority of people in the UK are tolerant, supportive, and decent humans. Let's not let those narrow minded people cause our future generation to feel scared and unsafe - let's remind the young people that we work with that one of the greatest human emotions is love, and let's teach that to those we come into contact with. Yes some people are unhappy with the outcome of the referendum, I sure enough am gutted. However, what's important is that we do not let this ruin our communities, it is our duty to ensure that young people feel safe no matter what their beliefs, culture, or sexuality. It's important that we teach them that Love Wins, and in doing so we create a positive culture for the future, with more accepting and diverse communities than ever before. 

Happy care giver attachments day....

Today as I scroll down my Facebook feed, I'm inundated with photos of my friends and their fathers, or their children and their daddies. It's a lovely sight, although it tinges me with sadness and jealousy - I lost my Dad when I was 11, but in those 11 years he was pretty much the perfect ideal of a Dad and exactly what I would want my hypothetical children to have for their hypothetical father (note - I'm not having children). 

My Dad was kind, funny, silly, gentle. He was a proper "manly man" with a love for fixing things, motorbikes, cars, cooking up a BBQ, and carrying me high on his shoulders. I was most certainly a "Daddy's little princess" and spoilt with his time, love, and happiness. 

It pains me to realise that my Dad has missed, and indeed will miss, important milestones in my life: passing my driving test, grilling over my boyfriends, graduation (x2!), birthdays, marriage, first dog...

It actually breaks my heart when I think of the wedding day that I have always dreamed of (which girl hasn't!) and know that it would be one of the most difficult and hurt filled days because my Dad will never be there to walk me down the aisle. 

Missing out on my Dad in my teenage and young adult years was tough, and whilst no one can replace him or fill that hole in my heart, there have been some amazing people in my life who have made me feel loved and special, and who have celebrated those milestones with me. These are my attachment figures whom I am dedicating Father's Day to each year. 

When we are born, we build attachments with the key care givers in our lives - usually Mum is the main attachment figure that a child has. This is related to the child recognising and learning that this figure will provide comfort for them - there was an experiment with monkeys in the 1950s where the monkeys attached themselves to fake mothers (machines) that provided food for them. There are numerous experiments that show different types of attachment that children have, some positive, some ambivalent, some poor. The underlying key to a positive attachment is that the person provides care and that the child learns that and can be soothed by that person. Attachment behaviours are where a person attains or maintains proximity to another identified individual, whom they perceive as being better able to cope with the world and therefore becomes their secure base.

There are many theories related to attachment and social bonds; attachment can be considered as an affectional bond, which is not synonymous with a relationship as relationships are seen as more transitory and bonds are characteristic of a person and linked to their internal organisation. There is an argument that professionals can be seen as attachment figures, and Ainsworth describes these as emerging attachments - they may become consolidated however in a professional context, the relationship may be of short duration so the young person may not fully attach - although if someone spends significant amount of time in a care giving context with a child they may become their main attachment figure - for the bond is formed through care giving. 

With this in mind, I am very fortunate to have a number of care givers in my life who have helped me through very difficult times and have been there celebrating the highs with me along the way. Some of these people come and go in life, but there are a few who remain as constant people, who you spend a large amount of time with or a small amount of time - it doesn't matter all that matters is that they care. One example in my mind is someone who I have known for nearly 6 years, who treats me with kindness and thoughtfulness - spending time with me when I need it, offering careers advice, sending reminders and congratulations when I do something well,  the kind of person who just cares about me and makes me feel loved, valued, and unique. These are the ones you should hold on to. 

It massively sucks not having my actual Dad here every Father's Day, but I am so truly blessed to have so many other people watching out for me and looking over me. People wonder why I do the work I do, particularly after very difficult days, and why I get so stressed and worried about my young people - well it's because I care. Some young people unfortunately do not have caring adults in their lives, and for those individuals if I can be the person that cares about them and enables them to feel wanted and special, then surely I have done my job right. It costs nothing to ask someone how their day has been, or to share your lunch with someone. It takes nothing but time to listen to someone, to potentially change their outlook on themself and their life. 

You may not feel important to the world, but to one person you could be their world - you could be their secure base. 

Hold on to that, it's a real privilege to be that person. 

Challenge Yourself...

"I'm not built for adventure" is one of my most famous sayings among my friends. Used first in Snowdonia, when trying to climb down the Devil's Kitchen:





Used again time after time when my friends have pushed me outside of my comfort zone, whether it is being dangled by a rope at Calshot, made to go hiking across the lotchenpass glacier, or forced to drive a rib on the Solent (next to a bloody big cruise ship!). I am famous for excusing myself from being brilliant at adventure.

It's not that I don't enjoy the outdoors, or the element of risk and challenge - because trust me, I do. The problem is that I can never live up to those around me. I grew up in the shadow of this:



That's my brother.

Yes I do bang on about him a lot, but he actually is pretty cool. Which is coincidentally, why I am not!

My darling brother was a county level athlete at school for high jump and for running. He owned a pair of running spikes - he was pretty serious. He also made a name for himself in the world of kayaking - I remember watching him compete at the Outdoors Show (back in 2006!) and being genuinely terrified he would die. Since then he has competed in world competitions for his sport. He completed a BTEC in Outdoor Sport, worked at Sparsholt College, earned a BA Hons in Watersport Management, and coached some of the best paddlers in Ireland.

I really had no hope.

When we were younger, we used to take part in the scout kayak regatta - the only "sporty" thing that I ever won anything in - the doubles! My brother would go at the back and steer, and tell me to "just paddle as fast as you can" and undoubtedly we would always win that race. It has always been one of my favourite memories of my brother and I, because he treated me like a sporty person, even though I was as nerdy as they come.

Aside from my brother, I happen to spend a lot of time with "Alphas".

"The dominant male"

Most of my friends are alpha men. My brother is an alpha man. They gather together in alpha clusters, talking about things like climbing rope, their big audi engines, and welding things out of pure metal. They are strong, powerful, admirable. The kind of men that you want to be around when things go wrong as you get the feeling that they would protect you.

The downside of this, is of course, that they are naturally much better at anything outdoors than I am. They are better climbers, they are faster paddlers, they are stronger runners (except Dave, with his broken knees...)

(Sidenote: One example of this "Alpha Male-ism", I have just checked the weather for the weekend, it is due to rain - so the Alpha tells me "no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing" - typical Alpha response...)

So why on earth do I end up comparing myself to them?!

I hated taking part in sport as a child because I knew I would never be as good as my brother, and I hated the thought of losing or being bad at something. So I never tried. I failed to challenge myself in a bid to ensure safety and remaining in my nerdy little comfort zone (surrounded by books).

What I should have been doing, is challenging myself  and comparing myself only by my standards.

Once I took some young people away for some adventurous activities - we took them on the 3G swing. The competition between them was fierce - one belittling another who didn't want to go to the top of the swing, saying "you ONLY went 50%" - what they should have been saying was "amazing, well done - I saw that you were worried about that and you went half way - that's fantastic"

We should encourage people to reach THEIR goals. Not to judge themselves by other people's standards. If we do that then we will never be happy. (I'm almost certainly never going to look like Kylie Minogue, so should give up and just look like the best me that I can!)

I smashed a 10k last week in 57:35, but I wasn't happy with my time because someone else did it in under 50 minutes. How insane is that!? 5 months ago I couldn't run for a bus, so I should be delighted that I can even run 10k without stopping.

If in your life, there are people who are saying "yea, but".... "you ONLY did this...".... my advice is to bin them off.

Do not get sucked in to believing you are not good enough.

Get out of that comfort zone.

Set a goal.

Meet it.

Set another one.

Challenge YOURSELF.

How running saved my life....

Ok let's rewind a bit.... 2013, I was diagnosed with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia - that's high cholesterol to you and me. I went to the doctors because I wasn't feeling well and they wanted to rule out Thyroid (great thyroid issues on Mum's side of the family) so they took a load of blood, and then got me back to say I had a cholesterol of 8. "Great, 8 out of 10 is ok yea?"

Nope. They don't measure it like that. I had the cholesterol "of a 70 year old man" and this one was thanks to my Dad's inherited good looks, charm, wit, and crap heart and blood. Unfortunately, Dad died when he was 38 from heart disease that was undiagnosed, so naturally I was a tad worried about death at this point. I was told to try and reduce it by exercise and healthy eating, so I gave running a punt. I hated PE at school, being as sporty as a brick and with a brother who mastered every sport going - competing in all kinds of competitions (world class now!). My lovely friend Ketch was very supportive and encouraging, and dragged me on the most painful bike ride of my life - not been on a bike since. I quite enjoyed running, but then they gave me some statins to take my cholesterol down, so I gave up with it as I didn't need to bother anymore. 

In 2014 I had another blast at it, and entered the Pretty Muddy race for life - Ketch came to watch in the pissing rain and lightening storm, and insisted I got dunked as I wasn't muddy enough. I was pretty happy that I survived to be honest. Later on that year I did the colour run in southampton with Batesy, but I never really bothered to run in between and wish I had. I then didn't put on my trainers for a year.

I talked about running with great fondness, like a relationship that I wanted back. Jon set one of my Emlyn goals to be to run a 10k - I wanted 5 but he wasn't having it. 

In October 2015 my gorgeous friend passed away, and I was devastated. I knew she was dying as she has an aggressive brain tumour, and I had cried and cried for months prior to her passing. On the day I remember going home and just getting into bed and sobbing my heart out. 

At this point, I was all set to dive into my usual pre Christmas depressive period, being one of those that struggles with SAD (on top of the BAD). But I didn't. I dug out my pink trainers and went for a little jog. 

I couldn't breathe, and had to keep stopping along the way. I think I managed about 3k in 25 mins. I was horrified. I was enormously overweight and hated my body, hated that my top kept riding up and that my flabby belly was bouncing all over the place. Friends suggested I went to parkrun, but I daren't because I didn't want people to see me. 

I started to find solace in running, and my OCD took over. Graphs and charts, personal bests. It started to get exciting, and I could plug in and listen to music, blocking out the world. I ran with some others at times, some people who were great partners and very supportive, others whom I'm ok without running with again. I decided whilst bored at work that I would run to raise money for the hospice that Amanda was in, because she loved to run. 

I picked 3 events, ones that I thought she would have approved of. The run for chocolate, the Santa run, and brutal. Luckily for me I have some epic friends who joined in, and the chocolate run was ably supported by the HSX ladies and Euan, who has been an inspiration to me. The Santa run saw me paint my face green on promise of making £400... So I went as the Grinch and again was pleased to see Euan in his Santa getup complete with sleigh. Mum came to watch and wasn't impressed that I ran so fast she didn't have time to get a coffee... I had told her I would take it slow, having been to the forest and ran a 10k with Tom the day before (we got stuck in the bog at the back of Ferny Crofts - I have never laughed and screamed so much!). I was desperate to try out my new trail shoes that I had bought in Dublin the day before - my super sporty brother and his super sporty girlfriend took me shopping and expertly kitted me out. 

So then was the big one. Brutal. 

Now, one thing you've should know about me is that I am a stubborn old cow, and no one tells me I can't do something. I had a Drama teacher who said I was crap at Drama and wouldn't get more than a C at GCSE - well, an A*, A at a-level, and 2:1 at degree level say different. So when someone tells me I can't do something, I make it my mission and revenge to prove a point. But I was nervous and anxious. Luckily, some brace souls from work joined me, the fab Emma, Jim, and Mary, and spouses! When we pulled in to the car park I thought I was going to be sick. All these super fit (gorgeous) men around, and me looking like a reject from Fame with my bright pink kit. But I strapped on the GoPro and gave it my best shot.... I screamed, I laughed, I bitched about the "waist deep water" (boob deep!!). I had the best time running that has ever been humanly possible. My time wasn't amazing, I stank and my poor charity vest is now stained brown from the mud. But I did it. I achieved something that I never thought possible, and I didn't give up. 

This week, I ran my longest distance to date (12k) with the ginger boy, (I claim I'm his personal trainer as he is training with the OTC); I got a new PB at parkrun; I got a sub 30 5k; oh and I achieved an Emlyn goal with my first ever 10k event. 

I ache.

I'm in pain. 

But my emotional wellbeing has never been better! 

They tell you that exercise releases positive endorphins and all that rubbish, but for me it is about beating myself at my own race, and proving that I'm good enough. I've lost 1st 5lb, I've got fitter and can actually have a conversation when I run now, but most importantly, I have survived my usual SAD dip. It was all on point to end up as it so usually does, with me feeling worthless, stupid, ugly, useless. All the planets had aligned to deal me that card. But I gave them all a two finger salute and did this for me and for Amanda. 

I've still got a way to go, great south run is 16km so I need to start upping my distances... But the journey so far has been bloody fantastic. Euan, Tom, Tilly, Rosemary, Clare, Emma, Emma, Jim, Mary, Steph, Gav....you all rock. You inspire and motivate me, and have kept me sane and as well as possible. I've had some bad days, but who doesn't! I'd lost my confidence, my happiness, and my waist...and now those things are all back thanks to the support of my friends and the motivation to "just keep going". 

Over £500 has been raised in memory of my gorgeous Amanda, and I've had some laughs doing it. Here's to a year of running and driving people up the wall with my irritating posts, sarcastic vlogs, and downright awesome iMovies. 

www.justgiving.com/RunFi