Welcome Back…

It has been over a year since my last blog post and a lot has changed. With this time off from writing I have a new perspective and aim on what I would like this space to become.  A place for me to continue documenting moments in time but also a place to express inner and personal thoughts. Somewhere I can explore writing styles as well as research and write about different subjects.

Over the past year my thoughts, interests and passions have changed so I thought to start of I would give an insight in to how this past month of February has been.  

Thoughts  

February surprised me with things I had not expected. This was the month I caught covid after living in a pandemic for two years. I had spent these two years, like many others running from the virus, so afraid to catch it and pass it on to my loved ones. I was fortunate to catch a weak variant and had mild symptoms, my parents did not catch it, this was the best possible outcome I could ask for. However, I was in disbelief that after the endless days and months of anxiety and shielding myself from corners of the world I believed to be dangerous, how had I caught it? And why was I not in panic mode? I expected this to be the worst moment of my life, yet everything was relatively okay. I feel it is important to document these thoughts and feelings for future moments when I am terrified of something happening as this be a reminder that no matter how scary something may be, as humans we are resilient and have strength to cope with so much and can get through anything. I also feel it is important to recognise that myself and my family were very fortunate with this experience with covid, I know there are so many who have suffered greatly due to the virus.

Despite restrictions easing, the world is still suffering, and the news is heavy. This site is a place for me to escape and write to my heart’s content about small things that bring my joy in moments where things do feel heavy.

Reading  

Reading has been a form of escapism and relaxation for me since I was a young girl.  So far this year I have been challenging myself to read literature that is outside my comfort zone or just something a bit different compared to what I typically read. An author who had been on my ‘to read’ list forever was Joan Diddon. After hearing the sad news of her passing in the early weeks of the year reading some of her work was on the fore front of my mind. ‘Let me tell you what I mean’ is compilation of short essays written by Diddion, I found the stories she told in these essays captivating and her style of writing so unique. The raw emotion combined with the simplicity of Diddions writing made it feel like as a reader, I was getting a real insight in to her most intimate thoughts.

In terms of reading in short form, Bella Mackie wrote a piece about the pandemic ending and not everyone being able to move on so easily and quickly as some have. Her words resonated with me and remined me as well as many others, that it is okay go at your own pace, to remember that this has been a challenging two years for so many. If your apprehensive, if your excited, relived, or scared, your feelings are valid no matter what they are.  Mackie’s Colum with Vogue is one of my favourites to read, her writing feels raw and real, making my own thoughts and fears seem less ridiculous. Click here to read her column.

That’s all for this February round up, I am hopeful for March, you can feel spring is on its way. Mornings are lighter, the days are longer, the brighter months are ahead.

- Charlotte