Ramblings google definition: "adjective, (of writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential. 'A rambling six-hour speech.'" Synonyms: long-winded, wordy, verbose. The essence of this blog.
I just did Clough Head English Champs Fell Race. 4.5miles with 1800ft climb. I definitely had to let go of the previous expectations I would have put on myself (time, position, race plan etc).
I don’t think I have a big ego (see my previous post “I am proud of my achievements”), but there is still a big part of me that is competitive, sets high expectations to perform at a certain level and doesn’t like getting beaten. The past few months have been a massive learning curve and resulted in a completely different mindset to why I do sport and my motivation behind racing.
Let me give you a few examples:
Up until last year I would only hand my barcode in at a Park Run (a weekly 5km run) if I got sub 20 minutes. God forbid if I was ever slower than 20 minutes! Yesterday, I did Barrow Park Run in 21:50 and I’m cool with it. It features both on my Power of 10 and my Strava – go see if you are interested.
Sometimes, it’s okay to walk uphill with your mountain bike. I don’t have to go down the bottom of the hill to try to get up it again on the bike.
I don’t have to always beat athlete X because I have beaten them in the past – everyone has their own shit going on in life and you can’t always be in ‘top shape’.
So, why am I happy to let these things go? Why do I have a different mindset now?
I’m not entirely sure I know the answer yet.
But what I do know is:
I have never been this happy before. And I think a part of that is to do with letting go of these meaningless targets I have previously set myself, for example; I must get Sub-20 minute Park Run, and if I don’t it was a crap run. Although the tunnel-vision mindset meant I achieved some pretty cool things in sport in the past, it definitely meant I missed out on other things, like going on spontaneous adventures (like going to visit Alice and Harry in North Wales last week!).
Putting less pressure on myself to perform at a certain level has led to SO many fun adventure: I have allowed myself to try new things like travel more, try new sports like bouldering, slack-lining, open water swimming. And I don’t feel guilty for having fun or sacking off a 4km swim session in the pool to go slack-lining (which I also do find fun, in a different way…). Its liberating.
Also, I am now confident in my own abilities (well, I’m learning to be). I don’t worry about being slower than I was previously because I know what I am capable of in the future.
Even though I can relax about not being as performance orientated as I used to be, it doesn’t mean its easy. I imagine this is what it would be like to quite smoking, if I was a smoker. To go from 20 a day to none. Being competitive is hard wired, an addiction. But I’m trying to challenge myself NOT to be competitive. Funny, huh?
Secondly – the past few months have been the most testing ever. This has resulted in a life philosophy I have never had before: which is basically the ‘fuck it’ attitude. Apply this to the fell race today: it doesn’t matter what position I came, or the time I did it in, or the fact I took a selfie at the top of the fell (guilty!), or what club I am running for. Because I ENJOYED IT. I had the best time. I’m so grateful that I have two legs to get me up epic mountains and I think we can easily lose sight of the things that are really important in a competitive environment.
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My competitive drive is still there. I know with my determination I will be back, in whatever path I decide to go down. I am trying to be patient (something which doesn’t come naturally) and see where I will end up with this new life philosophy.
I wrote a blog for Wonderful Wild Women all about body image! It’s called “Body, we need to talk.” Give it a read if you have ever struggled with body confidence.
Here’s a sneak peak:
“… I am focusing on the incredible things my body allows me to do and adventures I can go on. I am learning to embrace the changes in my body because bodies change, priorities change, people change. At the moment I have more exciting things to do than worry about my physical appearance.”
If you liked the blog and have a passion for the outdoors then I would check out Wonderful Wild Women on social media:
Especially when it’s chucking it down. When I am soaked to the skin and I can’t feel my hands. When I rock up to work looking like a drowned rat, or turn up to a physio appointment leaving a trail of puddles behind me. I have access to a car, yet I choose go out in the crazy weather?! (You are also not the first person to think that I ‘need my head looking at.’)
Occasionally, I may also question my decision (and sanity) to signing up for this 30 mile ride to work and back on two wheels. But even on days like those I can still say that I love cycling to work.
And I’m definitely not alone.
I regularly pass fellow riders on the other side of the road also pedalling their way to work, or back home. We acknowledge each other with a nod, smile, a hello, sometimes even a big wave – and the other day I even had a lovely chat with one man biking to work too! Plus, the pedalling to work community is welcome to anyone wanting to get involved – you don’t have to call yourself a cyclist to bike to work. In fact, I have found most commuters are much friendlier than your typical ‘roadie’! (Sorry to any of my cycling friends!)
So, rather than me rambling on, I decided to pass the question on to some of my fellow two-wheel pedalling commuters… Essentially I just got them to do the hard work and write this post for me! So, keep on reading if you are curious to find out some of the reasons why they bike to work. Enjoy!
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Why do you bike to work?
“I live a mile from work and NHS parking is a joke so for practical and environmental reasons I really have no excuse not to have an active commute! With that being said, I have ridden my bike to work since I started my PhD over 8 years ago and have always thought it was a great way to start the morning. Fresh air and gentle exercise always get me raring to go and the tiny achievement of conquering the hill to work is always a fantastic feeling that sets me up for the challenges of the day.
More recently, working in the Oncology department of a hospital means I am often met with a humbling sight of cancer patients upon my arrival. This for me is a consistent and powerful reminder that I am fortunate to have a strong and able body that I should use and take care of. Oh, and after work tea and toast always tastes better when I have been on my bicycle . “
[Kat O’Mahoney – a super bubbly, inspiring and sparkly gal currently loving life in Leeds. We first met at Durham Uni Cross Country Club!]
“I originally started cycling because I got fed up of waiting for the bus to school when I was younger…when I discovered I could then beat the bus and the other traffic…it turned into an everyday routine. This then turned cycling into a passion. Not only does the wind in your hair wake you up in the morning. But a commute becomes an enjoyable experience, where you receive multiple benefits like fitness, reduced stress and time to think. Cycling can be a form of meditation amongst a busy day, where you are not able to do anything else except for focus on the path ahead of you. There is no time to check your phone, or to clean and tidy, or to panic about Uni work, as there is nothing you can do about it whilst on your bike, you just pedal.”
[Lucy Allan – a member of the infamous buoy 13 swimming club, a pretty epic mountain biker and just a fab gal.]
“Basically I cycle to uni because it’s heaps cheaper than paying for car parking or train tickets. It also sets me up in the right mind frame for study and gives a sense of achievement even before most people have got out of bed. I also decided I wanted to I want to climb Mont Blanc this summer and therefore need to get a lot fitter!!”
[Sarah Finn – an adventure seeker and inspirational woman who has been to 6 out of the 7 continents. Fellow KKS student and we worked at Treetops together!]
“Why I cycle to work. Yes cars are faster over the distance of my 16 mile commute from Shap to Kendal. I could save time, effort and keep out of the rain. But cars are expensive, make you lazy, only give an illusion of travel and the frustration of sitting in a queue of cars coming into town everyday is not very appealing. Travelling to work by bike is by far the best method of transport as your mind has chosen the path and steered you over it, your muscles have felt it, your eyes have seen it, your breathing and circulation works better than ever and you arrive at work knowing whatever happens in the day you have achieved something already.”
[Rich, an insanely speedy cyclist who works at Giant Bike Shop in Kendal.]
“I guess one of the obvious reasons could be that I live 5km from my place of work and if I were to walk it would take me at least 45 minutes. I don’t particularly like walking as it feels inefficient (from a time perspective). So even when I lived a 10 minute walk from work I would still jump on my bike to save 5 mins. I do have a car, but the amount of times I can bypass stand-still traffic on my bike makes me wonder if all the people sat in the cars, breathing in those fumes, actually need to clog up that road on four wheels. I’ve never really considered it exercise because I don’t feel focused on what I’m making my body do – if that makes sense. I’m actually in quite a relaxed state, enjoying the outdoors, whether it’s sunshine or random snow showers like today. I do find it peaceful, until you get the odd idiot pulling out in front of you…”
[Drew Scott – Fellow DUTri member in his final year of his PhD… also the boyf.]
“I initially started cycling to work out of necessity – I was working in publishing in London, and money was very tight. With the Cycle to Work scheme, my transport costs would be ever so slightly reduced by taking to the roads. I hadn’t ridden a bike in about ten years. Luckily, I was living in Lambeth, which offered cycle training to people just like me – keen to use the new cycle lanes, but also keen on not dying.
I loved it instantly. My first route was circuitous, taking me from Brixton to Marylebone via Battersea Park and Hyde Park. When we moved offices up to Kings Cross, I lost the greenery, but got to cycle through Boomsbury and pretend I was Virginia Woolf. When I then moved jobs and house, I ended up with a, frankly, terrible route, between Brockley and Southwark, which meant bombing up the insanely busy, polluted and boring Old Kent Road.
I still loved it. As a deeply solitary person, those precious minutes bookending my day were some of the only times I felt I could truly be blissfully alone with my thoughts in a city of 8 million people. The twice daily endorphin rush was almost as welcome as the mental space it afforded me. It felt like stolen time.“
[Lizzie Kaye – A comic and novel editor, we also met through buoy 13 swimming club. I was very keen to hear her perspective of cycling through the streets of London before moving up to the Lakes!
“It is free time in your day when you can stay out of the heated car seat and enjoy whatever the weather has to throw at you. You also feel a whole lot better at work knowing you are one nil up on the day having already cycled in !”
[Adam Perry – a pretty epic fell runner from Helm Hill Runners, i.e. the green machines, and also pretty nifty on the bike.]
“So many reasons I cycle to work because…
-it’s quicker – there is no better feeling than nipping down the bike lane while the cars back up at the traffic lights
–it’s cleaner – our environment is suffering so every little bit we can do to stop polluting it is worth it
-it’s cheaper – leg power is free, petrol costs money
-it’s healthier – every little bit of exercise makes a difference, not just physically but mentally
-it’s much more fun – what better way to start and finish each day – clears your mind after a stressful day, sets you up ready for the day ahead“
[Olivia Neal – Another Durham Uni Tri Club pal, who has recently moved to York. She always has a smile on her face. She also took on the very important task of plaiting my hair before Uni races.]
“Anyone with young children will understand why I bike to work. It gives me head space and it’s on my bike when I think of best hash tags for work.”
[John – a work colleague at Brathay Trust who goes by a great phrase; “I cycle commute, therefore I am!”.]“
“So I work 12 hour shifts and my bike commute is 27 miles each way, so why do I cycle to work? Well firstly I don’t do it all year round. I tend to wait til the weather is a bit more stable in spring. Its tough getting out of the door at 05:30 but as soon as I start to turn the cranks I perk up. The feel of the air rushing across my face wakes me up and makes me more alert than any cup of coffee could. It’s so much more engaging and enjoyable than jumping in my car. Dodging a pothole, pushing hard for a strava segment, trying to get round a corner without ditching any speed.
When I get to work I’m buzzing on a natural high and feel like I can cope with the rigours of a long shift. A small matter of 12 hours at work and its time to get back on the bike. Sometimes my legs feel alive and other times its a war of attrition. Me against the pedals, the hills and the elements. Its a war I’ve always won so far, the prospect of a nap in a hedge doesn’t appeal to me unlike a friend of mine who keeps trying to sell it to me as fun, bike packing Rick Stuart style!! When I arrive home 15 hours after I left I’m surprisingly relaxed , in the ride home I’ve switched off completely from work and cranked out any frustrations.“
[Karl Mason – fellow Helm Hill Runner, who is pretty insane on running and biking descents. Been on some pretty eventful rides together, the one where Craig managed to get 3 punctures in one ride springs to mind!]
“Trying to explain my fondness for cycling has presented a selection of trite, obvious reasons that I thought I could easily avoid. Alas, every cyclist will wax lyrical about how great it feels to roll in to the office feeling energised and having avoided the usual commuter slog. I, however, have the dubious pleasure of working unconventional hours, in an ever changing selection of venues and herein lie some of my key motives for continually braving sub zero temperatures and risking life and limb just to get from A to B.
Firstly, and I’m aware this is ill-advised, but I find immense pleasure in taking to the roads with my headphones in, volume turned up to eleven, pedalling like a man possessed, accompanied by some Slayer, or perhaps John Coltrane…depending on my mood. If you combine this thrill with a trip across London or Manchester at 3am to some far flung corner and you’d be hard pressed to find a more exhilarating journey. Not to mention the charm of ordinarily bustling cities experienced as eerie nocturnal mazes, bereft of movement, other than yours truly, that is.”
[Jack Freshwater – A really cool guy who I met in Manchester who had moved up from London a few months before. I loved his completely unconventional reasons of why he cycles to work so just had to include it!]
And finally, why do I bike to work? My answer can be found in all of the above, so I don’t want to regurgitate anything that others have put much better than I could. But I think they can be summarised nicely into the following themes:
Cycling to work is more environmentally friendly – it reduces your carbon footprint and therefore reduces the negative impact we have on this amazing earth. Plus it’s cheaper for us as we don’t have to pay as much for running cars!
Cycling to work improves mental health – not only is it a form of exercise, it also gets you into a great mind-set for the day. All those feel good endorphins rushing round the body before / after work can only be a good thing! Hey, it could even improve work productivity!
Cycling gives you precious time to yourself– which is closely linked to the second theme. In this busy world with so much distraction that only seems to get busier and busier with less time to relax, cycling gives you one way to opt-out of life’s hamster wheel. Lizzie put it so well – riding your bike feels like ‘stolen time’.
Who wouldn’t want to appreciate this view, the outdoors, in the evening after work, rather than being stuck in your car? (I’m biased, I know…)
I hope this has inspired a few of you to ditch the vehicle in a morning and try pedalling to work, or maybe even choose two wheels for that short trip into town to meet a friend…
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I want to say a BIG thanks to everyone who wrote a piece for me, it was really interesting to read all the different reasons why you choose to cycle commute to work!
Ciao for now,
LMB x
P.s. If you want some guidance on the safest cycle route to work or any other handy bicycle tips, check out Sustrans: They are a charity dedicated to improving sustainable transport for everyone. My good friend Nic Jackson works for them (she is also one of the best fell runners in the UK, in my humble opinion). She also bikes to work but was on holiday when I wrote this blog so wasn’t able to write a piece for me.
Whilst having a mahoosive much needed clear up of my room, some emotions bubbled to the surface that I have been avoiding for a while… So I felt it was the best time to try and put them onto paper.
When I came home from Australia July last year, I went through a bit of a pre-mid-life-crisis that ended up sticking around for a good few months (I may talk about this in more detail at a later date).
As soon as I got home from Auz I came into my bedroom, looked at my medals hanging up (that ranged from my swimming gala days when I was about 12 to my BUCS Bronze team triathlon medal from Uni), I started crying and hid them all in a box. I then took down all of my race numbers, all the little finishing time receipts you got in triathlons and any photos of me at the end of a race. An overwhelming and sudden feeling came over me that they didn’t mean anything, that it was all pointless and I didn’t even do ‘that’ well anyway.
Now, 7 months on (ironically I was in Auz for 7 months and I genuinely think it has taken me this long to process that life changing experience) I have finally, I think, figured out the reasoning behind my actions. What hit me was that I have always been ashamed of the things I have achieved in life. This is primarily because I never felt like I deserved the things I had worked so hard for. I never felt good enough.
A few examples spring to mind:
The first time I got my England vest at the age of 16 I cried to my parents because I didn’t think I deserved to be in the team. The wonderful Kath Aubrey from my local running club came round with a congratulations card, an England flag and gave me a huge hug; she was beaming that I had been selected! But all I could think of was that I wasn’t good enough to go, that I was a fraud.
(NB: My first England vest was in the World Youth Mountain Running Championships held in Slovenia in 2012 and I vividly remember the build up to it: I sprained my ankle two weeks beforehand, at the start of the race I fell over and then mid-race I projectile vomited with nerves… a memorable debut England vest for me!)
The same happened the next time I got my England vest, in 2014: I didn’t feel I deserved to go because I was the ‘last finisher’ in the selection race (you had to finish in the top 4 to be selected and I came 4th).
And I felt the same when it came to the Junior Fell Running Championships – I won the U18 and U20 champs one year, but I told myself it wasn’t really that good because there wasn’t a lot of competition (not many other girls did fell running).
The feeling that my achievements weren’t really ‘that’ good continued into my triathlon days at University:
When I got in the GB team for my Age Group – after my third ever triathlon – I told myself (like many others do) that ‘it’s only Age Group’ so it doesn’t matter anyway.
When I came first Durham Uni Girl in a few races, or got a new record, it was only because there weren’t a lot of girls racing, or the record wasn’t very fast in the first place.
And the same ashamed feeling occurred when I got into my first ever elite triathlon as I told myself ‘I wasn’t good enough for it’.
I always, without fail, found a reason to be negative about my achievements. I got pretty good at that – I’m sure others can vouch for this.
But the thing is, all of the above reasons are true in a sense, if I choose to believe it.
I have always been the underdog, the runner up, ‘scraping by’ in the sporting world. I am not denying this as such. What I am trying to change is my perception of these achievements. I got to those races because of my grit, determination, endless hours of training and a great support network around me. Each time I got a PB, each time I won a race, and even the times I got selected to represent my country I seemed to forget all the hard work I put in to get there. I always focused on the negatives.
But rather than being ashamed of being ‘the underdog’, I now want to celebrate and look back at the pretty cool things I have achieved. For example, running a 15 mile fell race when I was 18 years old and finishing in the 10 top women, or winning Stockton Duathlon one year (2015 I think), or coming 6th in BUCS Duathlon, or getting three England vests for mountain running or competing in an elite triathlon against world-class athletes. It’s up to me to look back at my achievements negatively or positively, its my choice.
And I have decided I am bored of my own negativity.
So, excuse me if you think I am being big-headed, but I am proud of the things I achieved because I worked bloody hard for it. I may not be the fastest runner or triathlete, but I always give 110%.
And although my priorities may be different compared to a few years ago, my previous experiences and achievements make me who I am now (as cheesy as it sounds), and that’s pretty damn cool.
And you will (hopefully) be pleased to know that my medals and photos from races have come out of the box and are now hung up on my wall. Happy days!
Until next time,
LMB x
(On a side note, I would like to say an indebted thanks to my closest of friends who have helped me through the rocky few months, I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without you. So thank you (you know who you are).
Let’s set the scene. It’s safe to say I suffered from post-university-blues: After graduating last Summer, at some point along the way I ended up just going through the motions in life. What do I mean by “just going through the motions?” Well, I hadn’t found something that I was passionate about. I wasn’t challenging myself. I wasn’t really contributing in many aspects of my life, or seeking out new opportunities. I also wasn’t helping my parents out around the house enough after moving back home from uni (and unfortunately my parents got the brunt of my low moods).
Dad’s rationale for my unhappiness was “you are in the real world* now Lauren, this is what real life is like.” (*I re visit the concept of ‘the real world’ later on.)
As much as I value his opinion, I knew this time he wasn’t right (even though I can guarantee a fair few of you will agree with him). Yes, I missed being able to fit my triathlon training around my lectures and training with the uni club. Yes, I missed living with my best friends. But I knew there was a deeper rooted issue to my discontent.
I was on edge because I didn’t know what my “purpose” in life was. Or put another way, I just wasn’t satisfied with the way my life was going at the time; I wanted to do more, but didn’t know how to, or where to start.
You could say I was being too hard on myself, and in one sense, you may be correct. But naturally I am someone who questions things, who seeks out information, who strives for more. I completely agree with Roahl Dahl when he states “lukewarm is no good.” I had always been enthusiastic for life, and I knew it was just a case of rediscovering that in me. But during these “blips” it is more difficult to keep perspective.
Now I realise the answer was so simple: a change of mindset.
What altered my mindset, you may ask? I am not entirely sure at what point my blip ended. But I do know that pushing myself out of my comfort zone was the catalyst for it. Travelling to Australia has been the best decision I have ever made. I allowed myself to invest time in me, and proved to myself I am capable of some pretty cool things (non sport related too).
This was not an overnight fix. Life is a never-ending learning process. But I am much more aware of my unhelpful thoughts and I am learning to value myself more.
I want to share with you 3 main life lessons I learnt whilst here in Auz. These are things I wish I could tell my younger self – useful bits of knowledge that would have saved me a lot of energy when I was worrying about things like finding a job post travelling, or not being able to train whilst in Auz (the classic Lauren stresses!).
I hope that you may find some of these useful, relatable, or at least interesting. Here goes…
1. “There are drivers and there are passengers Lauren, and you are a driver.”
One of myWWOOF hosts, Rasunah, said this to me. She was a very inspiring 72 year old lady who had 5 (now grown-up) children, she still runs an alternative health business, and is as fit as a fiddle. She also trusted me to build two footpaths in her garden… Even though I had no prior experience of this, the paths surprisingly turned out pretty good!
She encouraged me to be the opportunity seeker, to make the changes. I rediscovered the simple concept that to get in life, you have to give. Don’t expect things just to happen to you, you have to do the hard work. And it’s much more rewarding, trust me.
2. There is no reality. As Sarah Wilson puts it in her book ‘First, we make the beast beautiful’: “If there’s no right way to do life, then we can surely choose our own way. Yes?”
Lydia, my best friend who I am currently travelling with, also reinforced this point to me. Life is just made up of people’s belief systems (or ‘BS’ which ironically stands for something else…). It’s all about perception – the glasses you choose to view the world with. And instead of this being depressing, it is so empowering! I have learnt what makes me happy right now, my very own BS. And I’m learning to embrace it.
3. “You’ve gotta change yourself before you change the world.”
This is a well known cliche which I recently heard in a song by The Formidable Vegetable Sound System (great band!) at a Permaculture festival. I interpreted it to mean rather than viewing the world as a negative place and there is nothing I can do about it I should focus on myself. Not ‘change’ myself in a sense that I need fixing, but invest time in myself and my own values, live by my very own BS, then I have had my impact on the world in the best way possible – the change from myself, rather than blaming the external world being a terrible place.
* * *
Here are a few other things I have also learnt along the way that I wish I could tell my younger self. They are a mixture of quotes from others (friends or authors) and things I have learnt about myself:
• You will be inspired by Raphi’s past experiences, (‘queen Raph’ – an amazing German girl we met on our travels) and she will be open hearted enough to share these with you on the first day you meet. This one particular quote will stick with you: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
• You need to have an open mind, as it makes life more enjoyable. See and accept, don’t judge.
• You will discover the amazingness of Permaculture, and want to endorse many of its principles into your life.
• You will be reminded by Raphi not to trust your fears, because they don’t know your strengths.
• You will discover your love for reading books.
• You will come across Andrew Matthew’s book ‘Follow You Heart’ who reminds you that “Your beliefs determine your quality of life.” But he will also tell you that you can change a thought and “you just need the courage to think the unfamiliar.”
• His book will also help you gain perspective through rough times, with ideas like this: “Your life is like an energy system. If nothing good is happening in your life, it’s your fault. Once you acknowledge that input shapes your circumstances, you cease to be a victim.” Tough love, but you will need to hear it.
• You will find that Yoga is so good for your body and mind, and it will keep you sane when you are unable to run due to injury.
• You will find out the hard way that you MUST listen to your body. Otherwise the never ending cycle of injury will get tedious. You finally have the epiphany that this is the only body you get in this life – so you better start being kind to it (if you want to run for your whole life).
• Rasunah will remind you to follow what makes you happy, even if it may be viewed as a quirky way of life to others.
• You will develop an interest in astrology, alternative health practises, spirituality and organic food! Don’t freak out. You will find a way to balance these concepts with your previous views, and together this will allow you to understand yourself and the world better.
• You will make life long friends whilst out in Australia.
• You will discover your “hippie roots”. Peace and love woo.
• You will slowly start to understand that your self worth isn’t based on your sporting achievements. You are allowed to be happy without training twice a day.
• Equally, being active and being in the outdoors will always be a passion of yours, and that is okay too! But this passion is not in any way linked to your intrinsic value as a human.
• Your family is so important, so remember to be kind to the ones who will always love you – they are your greatest support network and they only want what is best for you.
• You will eventually be content with not having a specific “purpose” in life, because you learn life is about embracing change and making the most of the opportunities you create for yourself. In a sense, you will find that you can make your own purpose in life, and that is so amazing and empowering.
I keep having brain waves whilst I have been out here in Auz (yes, I have spent a lot of time on my own and talking to all my new animal friends). One of these ideas was to start a blog! And just incase you are interested, other ideas include; projects I want to get stuck into when I am home, career plans, sport related thoughts, and lots of other random things.
For some reason, (I am still not entirely sure why), I get these strange overwhelming feelings to say lots of my thoughts out loud… And I thought I may as well share them, because;
a) it might free up some brain-space so I can become more chilled and relaxed (…ha, who am I kidding?!)
b) and more importantly, other people out there, like you, may relate to my ideas… or think I’m bonkers and laugh at me… or both!
Therefore this blog has two benefits – I get my thoughts down onto paper (technically not paper, but it doesnt sound as catchy otherwise), and you get to enjoy the feeling there is someone more crazy than you!
Also, just a heads up, I can’t lie. By default, everything I write will be the ‘bitter truth’ in terms of how I perceive the world, and my experiences in it.
Oh, and although I am good at talking, I’m not so good at writing (hence the word choice rambling for the website title). My brain works in an “all-over-the-place” manner; shooting off in all sorts of directions, making it difficult even for me to keep up. I think this comes across in my writing. So if you made it this far, high five! And I can guarantee all my future posts will be written in similar vein – so like it or lump it (i.e. If you don’t like it, don’t read it).
One more thing, I’m a big fan of positive quotes, so I had to include one in my first post! Before I came travelling, a good friend from uni, Mar, shared with me this quote (named ‘Possibilities’):
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the dont’s. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen child, anything can be. ” ~ Shel Silverstein
To conclude (… and back to the format of writing essays at uni – keep ’em concise!…), I think I have covered all the justifications for starting this blog, I hope you enjoy it!
LMB. x
One of my many dog friends, Jeddah (and me), having a ball.
(Disclaimer – I think that’s the right word – all the future posts are going to be entirely my own thoughts, based on my own experiences. If you don’t like them, don’t read it.)
L M B 