A Week of News & Buckets of Gratitude!

You are all the sunshine in my day!

Hey my lovelies! I’ve been a bit of a WordPress slacker this week, so I’m sorry for taking so long to respond to your lovely comments and catch up on all your wonderful posts!

Three things have happened this week which have contributed to my AWOL-ness (hey, it’s a word. Shush.), so I thought I’d share them with you here. This is a pretty random post but I just want to give an explanation so you don’t think I’ve been ignoring you! There’s someone I’d like to personally thank at the end of this post, so be sure to check that out.

1. I turned 23! So yesterday was my birthday, and if you read this post  then you’ll know I wasn’t feeling too thrilled about the whole celebration palaver. I felt pretty miserable when I woke up, and had a foggy sadness around me all day, but it was actually a whole lot more manageable than I had anticipated. I didn’t cry (massive achievement!), and I managed to employ some of the strategies I have learned with my therapist to cope with the negative feelings. My birthday will never be my favourite day of the year, but I was really relieved with how much my mood surrounding it has improved compared to last year.

2. I started a tap dance class! I don’t know what possessed me to think I was capable of ANY type of dance, let alone one that requires so much co-ordination and rhythm. It is a well known fact among my friends and family that I am an extraordinarily clumsy person. A few months ago I walked straight into a telephone pole in Edinburgh, then apologised to the pole, then was so confused from the whack on the head that I wandered off and got completely lost in the snow. A few weeks before that I had been strolling through London with a friend, admiring the Christmas lights, when I slammed straight into a man’s chest. Instead of just being a normal human and apologising, I panicked and decided that the best solution would be to turn the collision into a HUG. I just hugged a complete stranger on the street. So yeah, I guess you could say “Grace” is my middle name.

 

Oh wait, Grace IS my middle name. Thanks for the cruel joke, parents.

Anyway, my point is, the idea of ME doing tap dancing is hilarious. Nevertheless, I merrily signed up for a six week course, thinking I would achieve Gene-Kelly-like levels of skill in a matter of minutes.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t. I could barely balance on one foot, let alone actually follow the steps that every other pupil seemed to instantly master. But I did have a wonderful time, so I am going to continue to embarrass myself for a further five weeks and see what happens. Watch this space!

3. I GOT A JOB! I have been unable to work for the past six months, because my mental health has been pretty terrible. So this is kind of a huge deal for me. I was beyond terrified at the interview: my anxiety was through the roof and I thought I would cry at any second, but somehow I muddled through and got the job. So I am now a full time barista at the zoo!  Here are some of my new colleagues 🙂

This handsome lad is Zulu, one of my larger colleagues

This elegant beauty is my new friend Zahara

Sasa the sun bear is a little shy, but so sweet

Brothers Jambi and Eko are best buddies

 

And now, for the point of this post: I want to thank everyone who has ever read/left a comment on this blog, because I truly feel that connecting with you has helped me reach a place where I feel I can work/participate in life again. My mental health has improved so much since meeting you all, and I can’t put into words how much I appreciate and value your friendship and empathy. I genuinely don’t think I could have improved so much without your contribution, and I am eternally grateful to you! You guys are the actual best. For real. Please know what a massive difference you have made to my life, if ever you’re feeling like you haven’t achieved anything! You have changed a life, and that’s kind of a BIG DEAL. ❤ ❤ ❤

All my love and thanks for reading,