Fattie Fattie Fattie Oi Oi Oi

A few moments ago I was having a scroll through instagram, embracing a little downtime after doing a metric tonne of laundry and ironing a bundle of things too. As I sat down for a little break in the early evening sunshine, my notifications popped up. As I clicked through, I spotted that a comment had been left on the picture above. The picture's over a month old, which is why I think I even noticed - most of my recent notifications have been on the slew of pretty Italian scenes I've been sharing. Man, Italy is gorgeous. 

Before I continue with the tale, a little aside on the image above.

I happen to love the picture, not because I look good, or it's especially clever, or even a great insta-shot. I look a bit mad, to be fair - I'd been up since 4.45am to get on the Eurostar, my hair is clearly having a moment, I'm grinning like a loon and the Arc de Triomphe shot I was aiming for has just been obscured by a van. However, I also look happy...because I was. And because I am.

So back to the comment. The comment left, coincidentally, by someone who had followed and then promptly found a selfie to leave his oh-so-special and important tuppence worth of opinion on. The comment? Fattie Fattie Fattie Oi Oi Oi.

I mean. What critique. What wit. What a way to get straight to the point and present me with some brand new information. Because obviously, being the size and weight I am, this fact had never been brought to my attention. I mean, when you're larger than the average/ fat/ obese/ plump/ voluptuous (pick your flavour - I've been called them all and I am them all) heaven knows this is never pointed out to you! The culture and time we live in never objectifies people, let alone women.

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My 2017 resolutions

I have been everywhere on the new year's resolutions scale.

There have been years where I haven't set any.

There have been years where I've set a simple, single goal (pay off my credit cards in full, read X number of books, etc.).

And there have been years when I've gone a little cray-cray and written some big old list of things I want to achieve, only to run out of steam by January 7th/February/April when life throws an inevitable spanner into the works!

This year I'm going to do something a little different. I love the start of the year and the potential it holds for new adventures, fresh starts and new beginnings. Added in with some changes personal to me this January, there's a good opportunity for positive developments.

I'm going to try something a little different, basing my resolutions in forming habits and staggered changes. This year I really want to focus on myself and my wellness and wellbeing - less in an oh-my-gosh-must-lose-weight-RIGHT-NOW way, but more in a self-care, health-improving, fitness-building way. I don't feel at my prime at the moment, and I'd love to improve my fitness, eating and sleep habits gradually over the year.

Each month I'm going to introduce a new wellness habit and a new fitness habit. My hope is that for each habit the first month will create novelty, the second will be the 'work' month to get it to really stick, and by the third month it'll be a habit that's more ingrained and easier to just do. I've used this methodology with other habits I've wanted to cultivate so I'm excited to apply it to my health.

So without further ado, here are January's habits.

Wellness: No playing on my phone or iPad before bed. So simple, but this is such a naughty habit of mine, even though I know it's a bad idea. But now I've set up a station across the room for devices, and I'm hopeful that this habit will become an easy process. A least a half-hour/hour before rest I'll be logging off and plugging them in till morning.

Fitness: Five walks a week of 30 minutes or more. I love walking and find that walking time is often my best time for thinking up new ideas, processing information, and relieving stress. I'm keen to focus on this habit and make it a part of my days again.

I have chosen this path because I want my new year's resolutions to come from a place of self-love and kindness. I'm tired of looking after myself poorly (for someone who can be such a mother hen, I can sure be a total meanie to myself). I'm excited to see where this journey may lead, and I'll be keeping you posted as we move through 2017.

Do you have any resolutions this year?

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Blog Every Day In May: Life's A Lesson

Now, I'm a teacher.

I love a good lesson.  I like nothing more than picking up a new skill, whether it's a new method for multiplication, a hair styling tip, or some little piece of trivia or knowledge that enlightens and inspires.

So boiling it down to just one lesson is tricky.  Unless I choose to be cliché.

Ah well, cliché it shall be....

The best lesson I've ever learned?

Is be kind.

Be kind to others, to animals, to children, to friends, to family, to your partner, to the people that drive you doollally, to yourself.

(Some of those people are easier to be kind to than others!)

Be kind, even when you're tired or stressed or busy or ill.  Be aware that the energy you put out into the world can be a force for good or for bad.

I slip up.

I get it wrong.

But I'm trying.

To be kind.

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Time for Karmageddon!

Wow, how this year has flown!  It feels like a mad whirl of work and Junior League and house buying and cats and travel and fun and friends and blogging and awesomeness.  And now it's December, and Christmas and Christmas break are right around the corner, and today is one of my favourite days of the festive season.

Because today it's Karmageddon.

I've been a member of Join Me, a kindness collective where we try to do a 'random act of kindness' every Friday, for about five years now, and I've made some truly amazing friends through it.

Every year, usually in December, we all get together for a fun day we call 'Karmageddon' here in London.  We have breakfast/lunch/dinner (it's a whole day thing, culminating in an evening of fun a frolics), we hug, we visit, we do random acts of kindness and tip many, many buskers.

It's always a delicious reminder of how great my fellow Joinees are.

And it's today.

Woop!

Looking forward to catching up with so many of my favourite folk.  Have a great weekend, all!

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Five Minute Friday: Focus

It's five minute Friday time, and once again I'm linking up with the lovely Lisa-Jo.  Love this series!  This week's prompt is: Focus.

GO.

As a teacher I talk a lot about focus.

"Our focus for the term is...."

"My focus boys are...."

"He is trying but needs more focus."

"Our lesson focus is...."

This word is precious to the educator.

So much so that there's a good natured ongoing debate on whether the past tense is spelled 'focused' or 'focussed'.

This week, however, I get the uneasy feeling that Lisa-Jo has once again read my mind, because I've been trying to zoom in on a focus for my own life.  September is such a crushingly busy month - the start of term, the return to a busy, filled social calendar (after the lazy lunches and laissez faire summer approach), the start of the Junior League year.

Life is packed.

And in this whirl of busy-ness, it;s so easy to lose sight of what's important.

To lose focus.

My focus is on what I can do for people - it has to be, and it should.  I want to be a kind and understanding teacher.  A loving and supportive sister, colleague, girlfriend, daughter and friend.  A person whose energy lifts others up.

I'm glad to remember that this morning.

STOP.

Have a great Friday, all!

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Five Minute Friday: Tender

Five minutes to write. Just write. No (or maybe that should be less?) overthinking, just writing :)

Today's prompt....is tender.

GO.

Tender is the night, lying by your side,
Tender is the touch, of someone that you love too much...

Blur, Tender

Whenever I hear the word 'tender', those words pop into my head. It's about openness, vunerability, kindness, gentleness...so much of what love, and what friendship, is. It's putting yourself out there and trusting that when you jump, somebody's going to be there to catch you.

Life is full of tender moments, and moments where we are called to be tender, to be kind, to give of ourselves.

Whether it's a frightened child, a worried lover or an ill friend, some situations are tender and require that we come at them from a different, more gentle place.

Other times the situations themselves are so tender, so precious, so special...first 'I love yous', newborn fingers around your finger, watching a child you've helped to learn and grow soar, blinking back tears (or often in my case bawling my eyes out ;)) as two people you love start a new life together as man and wife, sunrises which stretch forever over the blue-grey sweep of the firth, 'kindred spirit' moments with friends, fond remembrances.

Thank heaven for tender and all it teaches us.

STOP.

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Ministry

Another Friday, another ‘show us your life’. Kelly, if by any chance you read this (I know how busy you are!), thank you so much for running this.

I love learning more about others in the blogosphere, and enjoy sharing about my little corner of the world too. There was something else planned for this week, but Kelly switched it so instead we can talk about ministry. What we feel is our ministry, how the ministry of others affects us, and all that wonderful stuff.

First things first, I don’t believe I have a Ministry with a capital M (yet), but more of a small ‘m’ ministry. I believe the best ways that I can serve and help are in the many many small things, the everyday. I try the best I can (although I am painfully aware that often my best is woefully short of enough!) to be a blessing to the people in my world, and the world in general.

So I’m kind, as kind as I can be. I’m (usually!) forgiving, and patient (most of the time!), and I try to listen and support and encourage those around me. I pray for my friends and family and want such blessings for them. I pray for those who call for prayer or for those who need my prayers – for the lonely, the hurting, the sad. I chose a career that I thought would help people.

Actually, I was at a major crossroads when I made the choice to teach, and a lot of thought and prayer went into my decision. I chose this path, because I believe teaching is a good thing. It helps people. That said, pretty much every job helps others, doesn’t it? I believe that every job has scope for improving the world around you, and holds the ability to glorify God.

Indeed, One of my favourite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. is where he evokes the message of 1 Corinthians 10:31, in his statement: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

So I believe that doing my job, or rather my jobs (teacher, friend, daughter, sister, girlfriend…), well ministers to those around me. When my classes are well looked after, or my friends know I will listen to their worries, or Matthew knows I’ll help him through a tough time.

As well as this, I try to put as much kindness out into the world as I can…I really do feel called to do so. Whether it’s a smile, or a gesture, or some kind words, or a gift, or a card, I love that my actions can bring joy and grace to others. I have to say raok365 has re-opened my eyes to the pleasure of being kind to others, of serving, of helping.

So that’s my little hill of beans. I just try to do my best to make the world a better place, and cheer on the big hearts and brains who do the big things. I cannot wait to read about the awesome things I’m sure everyone else has posted on!

Have a wonderful day!

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Hope for Haiti

The events in Haiti have sent a shockwave around the world. The newspapers are filled daily with stories of horror and hellish, otherworldly photos (as well as stories of incredible kindness and love. A crisis can bring the worst *or* the best out in people). And I think many/most of us want to help.

A very sweet blogger called Jenny has set up a site called Hope For Haiti, where you can give money in various draws, and all the money will be given to charities working in Haiti. All of the raffles are due to finish Feb 13th, which means any money donated will be part of the second wave of help - after the initial aid has met the immediate need, Haiti will need funds and support to help its people, and repair its damaged infrastructure.

If you're interesting in helping, and in supporting this noble effort, please just click on the button below.

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