This video from Mikaela on being called out, accountability and being an ally.
Hollywood on Netflix. I’m half way into the series, and at first I wasn’t sure at all, but before the first episode ended I knew I would really like it! It deals with some insightful issues about race in the film industry.
Vegan magnums. I’ve ate a lot of ice cream this week! Which leads me on to..
Cool showers! It’s been that hot in the UK recently I’ve been having a cool shower before bed, and it works a treat.
This5 minute night time meditation. I’ve been doing it before bed for the last week or so, and I’m convinced it’s been the number one thing helping me sleep better.
Organising a book exchange online. My book has already arrived and it’s been really fun to put together. I hope everyone enjoys what they receive!
Charlotte has been doing Instagram lives every Monday morning and I’ve really been enjoying them.
Working our way through Buffy season 2. ANGEL FOREVER.
Sleeping! I’ve been ill this past week, so I’ve slept a lot, but I feel so much better for it.
Facebook groups. I know, I can’t believe it either but turns out, there without a doubt the best thing to come out of that *and not my racist cousins status updates after all*. I’m part of the Caroline Hirons skin freaks, and The Anna Edit’s FB group too and I really like them.
The Most Fun We’ve Ever Had. I finished this book yesterday and I just ADORED it. So so good. Add it to your TBR, pronto!
What’s been adding value into your week, this week?
Can anyone else believe we’re in the second half of 2020? I mean, I don’t want to scare anyone but that’s just so crazy to me. But in some way, looking back on to New Years feels like another lifetime ago. I thought for todays post I would chat about the 6 lessons I’ve learned in the first 6 months of 2020. Lets be real here, theres *loads* more if I sat down and studied it for 2 days, but for now, I’m going with these.
White Privilege and the Black Lives Matter Movement
It goes without saying, this is by far the most important lesson that I will keep learning about this year, and so it should be. Over the last few weeks I have learnt so much more than I ever did in school, come to think of it, I can’t remember hardly anything from my history lessons. I have watched so many valuable and insightful things online, and I’ve read some great fiction reads that deals with the topic of racism really well too. Next on my list is watching ‘When They See Us’ on Netflix, and reading Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race’. I feel ashamed that its taken me this long to start learning more, but I’m on a lifelong journey now.
Global pandemics can happen- and shake up your world
Not seeing my sister and nephew for 3 months, not being able to sit in my grandmas and visit her, our family business providing frontline care throughout these worrying times, the lack of normality and uncertainty that there’s no set plans for the immediate future are all scary problems I’ve dealt with throughout the Coronavirus (I also know a lot of people have it a lot worse and I’m so thankful that we haven’t had any ill family members). Before 2020, I couldn’t even imagine the world having a global pandemic, and what would happen because of that. Face coverings, intense hand washing, staying at home all the time. 2020 has shown me so far that nothing is ever set in stone.
Body confidence
Compared to the beginning of this year, and even a few months ago, I feel a lot more comfortable in my body. I think most of that is due to HIIT training, and seeing how that has helped towards my running too. It’s really gave me the confidence that I didn’t even realise I was lacking. Like most of us, I’ve been on such a massive journey with everything body related, so having a sense of acceptable (however long that may last) feels so good right now.
Slow is best
In regards to the pandemic, most of our lives, if we’re lucky, has slowed down a huge amount. At first, I didn’t really notice a different in my immediate lifestyle, but after a first few weeks I realised I was obviously rushing around a lot less than I was before, and I put less expectations on my day than I’d ever had before. I really want to keep this slow pace of life going when everything goes back to ‘normal’. I feel like my general mood is much better when I operate this way, and that affects the rest of my lifestyle too.
You know what’s really important
When you can’t hug your loved one, suddenly, it doesn’t matter as much if your Instagram picture hasn’t got as many likes as the one before, or that you ended up skipping a workout for an extra hour in bed instead. I’m sure on some days these are things I’m bound to forget, but when everything is burning down, it just cements to you how important the small things are.
Staying positive is key
The little things have always made me happy, and that’s proven even more true these past few months. When I’m looking after myself (eating well, working out, sleeping well etc) I know that I can be my best self, and others feel that benefit too. Focusing on happy things when I’m having a bad day makes me feel better, and I’ve learnt how to know when I need to be extra kind to myself and rest, too.
thinking.. I couldn’t just write a blog post without talking about the Black Lives Matter movement, and the horrific news of what is currently going on, and has always been going on without us noticing in the world. The tragic death of George Floyd, Breoanna Taylor and many others has opened up our eyes in a way that they have probably never been open before. I hope as a nation, and as a world we now start to do the work and change, so this never has to happen again.
learning.. I have learnt so much recently, and I know I have so, so much more to learn. There has been so many insightful IGTV videos online that has taught me more than I’ve ever been taught in school, and I feel so grateful for black content creators for allowing us into their space to learn, when they shouldn’t be the ones to teach us in any way.
reading.. I’ve just finished Queenie which I loved and would recommend to everyone. I have a long list of other books I want to read which will help me in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
sharing.. I’ve been sharing the links I found on my Instagram stories, but I’m also going to leave some really important links at the end of this blog post, if you would like to take action, read, share, or sign.
talking.. I’ve been having lots of uncomfortable conversations with loved ones lately, some with good parts, others not as great. I really do feel like having these conversations at home is where the work begins, and is so crucial in making a start to be better.
following.. I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to diversify my feed. Like many of us, I noticed recently how under representative it was, and I felt pretty shameful about that, to be honest. I would definitely urge you to do the same.
Before I chat about June’s goals, I want to quickly re-cap on those I set for May, and how they went down. In one sense I can’t believe it’s June already, but in another world the beginning of this year feels like a complete lifetime ago.
MAY RECAP
Push myself out of my creative comfort zone. I feel like this is something I’m still working on, and May was just the start of that. I definitely still feel like a complete beginner when it comes to my photography, but in a way that feels really exciting to me. So heres to more of pushing myself out of my creative comfort zone this year.
Try a new workout. Me and my mum did a virtual fitness retreat at the beginning of May, and that set off an old love affair for me, HIIT workouts. I haven’t done that kind of fitness for years, and I definitely lost confidence with it, but I feel like it’s reignited something in me that was lost for so long. I’ve been doing 3 a week for about 4 weeks now, and it’s really helped my running, plus I’m definitely noticing a difference in how more toned I look and feel too. I’m so happy about this!
Work on mindset and positive habits. This is another goal I felt like I achieved this month. I’ve tried lots of different meditations this month, and I updated my habit tracker a few days ago with lots of new activities for me to focus on, such as using Duolingo, body brushing, and facial massage.
JUNE GOAL(S)
Reflect. I’m only setting myself one goal for June. When I was thinking about goal setting and what I want to achieve this month, all I could think about was reflection. Reflecting on what I’ve learned about myself in lockdown. Reflecting on where I want to go in the future. Reflecting on what I want to let go of, and what I want to keep. With everything that’s been happening lately, and the fact that I still very much feel like I’m grieving the loss of a man who brought me up for 26 years, I want to this month to just think and reflect, and hold that for a moment, for my own sake. I know in my gut, that it feels right for me to focus on right now.
Photo from my Instagram
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