Wow, it's been a while since I've sat down and done this, and the empty page in front of me is looking quite daunting. But I've missed this, I miss the therapeutic feeling of emptying my thoughts onto a page and setting them free. So I'm back, with a lot of thoughts, a lot of updates, and a lot of plans.
Initially I thought about just coming straight back in with a random post about something cool I've done recently. but when I saw that the last post I published was over a year ago, I thought a tidy up piece would be better first as A LOT has happened since I last pressed 'publish'.
Life Update
1. Starting with the biggest (and best) change, I am very happily settled into a gorgeous relationship. It is happy and healthy and everything a relationship should be. We are currently looking to move in together, and I couldn't be more excited about that. Yes - we have been to IKEA together and mapped out our dream house which we know is entirely unrealistic and impossible in a rented placed - doesn't everyone?
2. I have travelled, a lot. Within the last 12 months my passport has seen more action that it has in the rest of my life before now. I've been to Paris, Amsterdam, Japan, and Norway! (And I still have Berlin to come before the end of the year!) I am absolutely planning on doing separate posts about some of my travels, but for now I'll say this - I finally get it. I wasn't really bothered before, but now, I can't stop planning more and more trips!
3. I've almost finished my university degree! This October will mark the start of my final block, and by next Summer I'll be graduated, and hopefully will be experiencing less impostors syndrome when I write. (Although, I'm not sure I'll ever lose that!)
4. Speaking of writing, I still am. I currently have two exciting projects on the go, a fourth poetry book, and my first novel. As ever, my relationship with writing, procrastination, and time management is turbulent, but I'm getting there!
5. I turned 30! This was an exciting one for me. A lot of my friends approached 30 with caution, and/or disdain - I approached it with excitement! I think I was very ready to say goodbye to my twenties. Although the last couple of years had stabilised, anyone who knew me in my early twenties will confirm that they were anything other than stable, and so closing that chapter didn't feel daunting at all - in fact it felt cathartic. I think entering my thirties in a stable relation, during a good point in my career, and surrounded by a really solid support network definitely had an impact, but so far, I have absolutely no complaints.
6. I joined a choir. The Kings Theatre (Portsmouth) made the choice to start a professional 'show' choir in January, and I decided to give it a go and audition. Growing up I was always on a stage performing, and I'd been really missing it, so this was the perfect opportunity to get stuck back into it. Since then we've had some incredible opportunities (like sharing a stage with Kelly Ellis and Louise Dearman - I mean come on?), and it has really made an impact to my mental health, confidence, and social life.
I think that's probably enough of a tidy up for now. Like I said before, I have a lot of things I want to compile and post about on here. Especially around travelling, writing, and performing, so I am going to make a conscious effort to upload fortnightly.
Until then, it feels good to be back.