Should You Break Up With Them?

Hello. 

This makes a change from my usual bookish posts, but here goes… 

Full disclosure: I’ve ended one long-term relationship and have had a few mutual, almost breakups with a few almost relationships too. Make of that what you will. I'm not an expert. I don't have a name badge or a fancy office. I've just always turned to books and articles for guidance, so I thought I’d write something I think I would find helpful.

I am in no way qualified to give professional relationship advice and will do some very unprofessional swearing to prove this point. But I hope you find this somewhat therapeutic, as it has been for me writing it. 

I wish I could have a quiz here. You know the sort, where you follow the path, choosing yes or no until I give you the definitive answer or tell you which hairstyle best suits your star sign. But frankly, I’m still getting to grips with Photoshop, and I’m far too lazy to be that creative right now. Also, only you can make this decision. It sucks, I know. Sorry. 

Always best to start with some facts. Just so we’re on the same page here. You are in a relationship that has a) gone sour b) stopped making you happy or c) is just missing something you can’t quite put your finger on. If all three apply to you, I feel your pain. Now let’s do something about it. 

Side note: go you for being a proper grown up and trying to improve the way things are. It takes real courage to admit when something doesn’t feel right. And a hurting heart is genuinely one of the most annoying things to fix. You are an absolute trooper for getting started. 

If you knew there were no consequences to leaving your partner (no bad blood, no grudges with their family etc), would you do it? 

If you’re nodding then let’s be honest, you’re where you are now out of fear. We've all obsessed over worst-case scenarios until they feel inevitable. But they aren't. We can prepare for the worst with a breakup, sure. But we can't predict exactly how others will react, or what the future holds. We can't even predict how we will react.

The only thing that is guaranteed is that if you stay where you are now, you will carry on feeling this way. Nothing changes if we don't, and all that jazz. 

It’s normal to want to protect everyone in a happy, oblivious bubble. But it’s exactly this which makes us suffocate. It’s an impossible feat. You can have every good intention and still hurt someone. You’ve got to prioritise your number one. That’s you. 

I need you to know that I wish I could have done things differently in the past. But 'differently' wouldn’t necessarily have led me to where I am now. So we crack on. Things end how they end, and we heal. 

'What if ____ ? What if ____ ? What if ____ ?'

Choosing to be alone is tough, especially if you’ve referred to yourself as a duo for a long period of time. But once you’ve had the initial 'what if?'  thought, it’s difficult to backtrack. To talk yourself out of it. Gut instinct is a clever, smug bastard. But you’ve got to give it credit. If you actually listen, it has a lot to teach you. I call mine Julian. 

~

There’s a book I read when my ex-partner and I were on one of our many delightful breaks. Breaks are a whole other beast to deal with. We’ll come to them another time. Anyway, the book is called: 

It’s called a breakup because it’s broken. 

It’s written by Amiira Ruotola and Greg Behrendt. I can’t actually remember if it’s any good. Sorry. But the title has stayed with me for years. Because it’s broken. It’s so simple. I know a lot of people (myself included) feel guilt around relationships ‘failing’ and them not being able to ‘fix’ them. But the length of a relationship in no way determines how capable or fantastic you are. It’s just a reflection of how long you had an experience for. That’s all. 

Alan De Botton had some fascinating things to say on the topic of emotional resilience and breakups on a recent episode of the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast. It’s definitely worth having a listen, but I’ll share some of the points I found most interesting: 

The start of something new doesn't make the previous time wasted

1) Children outgrow their parents. This is seen as normal. When a child grows and moves out and enters a new stage of life, no one turns to the parents and says, ‘But all that time they spent living with you! All the energy you spent raising them! How could they just leave?’

With children, this is an anticipated departure, with plenty of time to come to terms with the change. (That's not to say the transition is any less painful, but it's not a surprise.) Perhaps if we expect our romantic relationships to have a similar journey, we would approach things a little differently. 

2) The best holidays don’t last forever. We enjoy our time, then move on. We look at paintings, admire them, and then head to the gift shop, or the exit. It’s not a shock that we don’t stay forever. Dragging these things on for longer than necessary can actually spoil the whole experience.

3) We are possessive. We want to own the things. To prove that we have interacted with them the most, and have had incomparable experiences with them. In reality, it’s actually quite liberating for our time with someone to be finite. We get the opportunity to learn from them. To be loved by them. And this is, without a doubt, a miraculous thing. 

Sustaining doesn't equal success.

4) Shorter relationships and flings are just as valuable as ten-year marriages. Yup. Truth. Let's respect both. It’s enough to say, 'Well that was a fun experience, and we’ve made some great memories. What’s next?' Quality versus quantity, BABY. 

It’s called a breakup because it’s broken. But that doesn’t mean you are, too. 

~

A few questions to consider: 

-Are there things your partner does or says, ways they behave, or provoke you to behave which you feel you should (or do) hide from a friend or loved one? 

-Are they manipulative, toxic, reliable or cruel? Consistently letting you down?  

-Does the lifestyle you want to lead include them? Does it include this style of relationship? Newsflash: You're allowed to want what you want. 

-Do you find yourself becoming someone you don’t like when you are in their company? 

~

There are so many red flags. Each with their own embroidered slogan like: 'Don’t Do It' or, 'Not Worth The Grief' or, 'Will 100% Ghost You'. These can be waved right in front of our heart-eyed faces and we still won’t spot the small print. Ah, our naïve, optimistic, wonderfully hopeful selves. Ask the questions. Read the flags. That’s your only homework. 

Maybe it just feels wrong. The wrong person, the wrong time, the wrong situation for you to be in. Forgive yourself for changing your mind. Or forgive them for doing the same. We all punish each other enough as it is. 

I know that some of you might be 100% committed to the concept of The One and are convinced that you are destined to live eternally with this one person. If this is the case, then what’s the risk in leaving for a while? 

BUT – and this is a big BUT (hehe) - this doesn’t mean you should stay in touch with the person. You still need to go through the breakup process, meaning having separate lives. You need time without their presence to determine if the relationship is one you are both prepared to return to, and give your best shot. 

I know that a lot of empowering influencers seem to encourage impulsively ending relationships at the first sign of struggle. And although I agree we shouldn’t suffer unnecessarily, I understand that you don’t want to sacrifice something you cherish without thinking of alternative options first. That being said, though, if you’re the only one doing all of the 'work', they don’t deserve the reward. 

Let’s be honest, if it feels forced, it’s probably not The Right Thing. There’s a big difference between equal effort and strategy, versus unproductive, romantic rage. Consult a couple you admire for advice. If you can afford it, check out local therapists. Or find a friendly grandma. They always have words of wisdom. Even the not-so-friendly ones.

Staying or leaving are big decisions. Brave ones. Both are perfectly worthy. You don’t fail for making the wrong choice. But you’ll know when it’s right. 

Give yourself permission to seek happiness, peace and joy elsewhere. 

~

Right, aaand relax. That was heavy. 

I wanted to touch on post breakup advice here, before I let you get back to your lives/work/binge-watching The Politician on Netflix (SO GOOD). 

You’ve got to rip the plaster. Air the wound. If you keep talking to them, in the hopes of being totally fine and still friends and did I mention everything is FINE it’s like nothing even happened, sh*t is going to hit the fan. Yes, past me, I’m looking at you. Make the decision. 

Then, get some sunlight on the hurt. 

Feel it. Get to know it.

 It will disappear eventually. 

You will blink and years will have passed, 

and you will be on the other side, 

looking back proudly, before you know it. 

You can’t comfort them, or be comforted by them. No matter how much you might want to. It’s like leaning on a banana skin for a crutch. That is one tempting fruit, but a slippery, silly one. Don’t do it to yourself. There are a bunch of people (no pun intended) who will happily hear you sob down the phone, or who will be patient with you when you drunkenly go back to who hurt you, again. These are good apples. Fill your fruit bowl wisely. I’ll stop with the fruit metaphors if and when you stop launching yourself at bad bananas. OK? 

Take yourself on dates. Take your friends, your mum, your neighbour's gardener - whoever. It's your call. Send the energy you once put into that relationship out in every direction. Especially towards yourself. 

It will hurt. Maybe not immediately, as was the case for me. But delayed pain is a BIG THING. And it f*cking sucks. People might cock their heads at you as you thrive a week after the breakup when they expected you to be a mess (ignorance really is bliss). They might also cock their heads at you six months later, when you’re crying on the Northern Line, equally baffled at where this wave of (neglected) emotion has come from. It’s all fun and games, this being human malarkey, isn’t it? 

Essentially, I’d tried to rush the recovery, and was suddenly overwhelmed with unanticipated loss. For the person I’d grown up with, and the space that they left in my life. But, more than that, it wasn’t all personal. I missed the idea of them. I missed the feeling of being loved. The feeling which has since been semi-dealt with, thanks to amazing friendships, family, and many, many Tinder dates. As well as healthy solitude. 

'You cannot selectively numb emotion. When we numb (hard feelings), we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness.' - Bréne Brown

I thought I could stuff all my feelings into a bin bag and fling them out of the front door without doing some Marie-Kondo-esque sorting and folding. Just like with my ex's clothes and belongings... If you’re reading this, I could’ve at least used a bag for life, or something prettier. I'm genuinely sorry for the lack of bag-glamour I gave our goodbye.

There are so many brilliant aspects to being single, and to finding a spark with someone new, but I truly believe that you can only properly access these benefits when you’ve closed that door properly. Put the past where it belongs. Thank it. Give it a bear hug. Send it on its way.

Closure is bullsh*t. 

No-one is going to close anything for you. 

Tough love, kiddo. 

Slam it. Kick it. Just get it shut. 

~

Now then, I’m off to have a banana and a cup of tea. 

What? I’m allowed. I rarely take my own advice, anyway...

P.S. I want to point out here that this is aimed at those who - if they did choose to break up with their partner - would be going through a fairly straight-forward split. If you have children to consider or are in a situation that involves or impacts other people, do seek more help elsewhere. There is always a way. 

For domestic abuse helplines, or organisations who can support you: CLICK HERE.

You’ve got this. 

Much much much love.

Staying Afloat: Job-Hunt Edition

I recently completed a 3 month internship, I'm now an au-pair, working part-time in a cafe, and searching for a job in the creative industries. Finding a degree-related job while juggling other responsibilities has been one of the hardest challenges I've faced, and it's taken a while to get into a positive headspace about it. I thought I'd share some advice on how to cope with what can be a draining experience. 

First up, prioritise the roles. As tempting as it can be to apply for that dream position straight away, it may not be an entry-level opportunity. If in doubt, send over your details and situation, prove your passion and discuss how you could go about reaching that position. Who knows, they might have a work experience or internship vacancy which hadn't been advertised yet. Apply for the roles you have the most experience for and you are most suited to, rather than getting your hopes up for a job which ultimately you just aren't qualified for at this stage. 

Be Realistic. Make the most of the filtering options on job sites, to make life easier. This way you avoid looking through the vacancies which just aren't you. Consider how far you'd be willing to commute, the company size you'd like to join, your salary expectation, etc... 

Create a template for your cover letter, but tweak it for each role. Add in evidence to prove that you've actually researched the company, dropping in a line about what you've liked that they've recently done for example. They will probably receive an insane number of applications, with predictable key words blurring them all together. This can seem daunting, but there's no harm in getting creative here, share something you do that is memorable. Are you a dog-walker in your spare time? A stand-up comedian as a side hustle? Let 'em know! Getting into the habit of promoting yourself can feel awkward, but it usually gets easier once you get a sense of who you are and what you're looking for.

There's no expiration date for where you want to be. Whether that's to become a marine biologist, or publishing your first novel, it's OK to go slow. Working in retail, or whatever part-time role you find yourself in doesn't make you a failure. It also doesn't need to be temporary. There are no rules about the work you choose post-graduation, so take the advice of others with a pinch of salt (mine included!) There's no rush.

Keep track of the applications you've sent out, to get a sense of how many you've been doing, but also, it can be nice to jot down what else you've been getting up to. This usually cheers me up, reflecting on recent experiences, rather than dwelling on how many hours you've spent scrolling and crossing your fingers...

Reward yourself - it might seem like a small thing to send off a selection of application letters each day, but it takes a lot of energy, and it's easy to fall into an isolated cycle, beating yourself up when that rejection email (or no email entirely...) comes through, or an interview doesn't go as well as you'd hoped. Scheduling fun plans might not fit the spontaneous quota, but setting time aside for laughing in the pub or going for a wander with friends is definitely a positive thing. Solo binge-watching Killing Eve with a giant hot chocolate is also my kind of down-time... 

Hopefully this has been a helpful read! Feel free to send over any of your tips - I'm aware that there will be heaps I've missed out here. Big love to all those figuring it all out, too. 

So... We're Graduates Now?

So for many of us, newly graduated, we are in the same boat. Some are no doubt seasick, in a world which suddenly demands more decision-making than we could have imagined. I think a lot of us are struggling to adapt, though it's early days, so I thought I'd share what I've found comforting recently whilst job-hunting.

Illustration by Manuela Gandara

What to watch/read/listen to when life is messy and overwhelming: 

Minnie Small's YouTube Channel. Minnie documents her creative process when painting, and often discusses dealing with imposter sydrome - particularly with never feeling like a 'real' artist. Her voice is comforting and her advice is never cliche. Here's one to get started with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPmKeGgsBKE&index=53&list=WL&t=0s

The Multi-Hypen Method by Emma Gannon. Now I'll probably dedicate an entire post to this book, as it's genuinely transformed my perspective on W.O.R.K. It's incredible. If you need motivation and comfort in the changing industries, this is all you need. Emma explores side-hustles, and finding the style and work-balance which suits us all as individuals. There are some interesting stories in here, with people who juggle (magnificently) seemingly contrasting jobs. She doesn't look down on those who work the 9-5, but instead praises the need for flexible hours and the option to work remotely, as there are a whole generation of job-seekers who won't settle for unfulfilling jobs!

Laura Jane Williams' Instagram Stories and Tweets. Laura talks about everything from renovating her house to Love Island - but mainly she gives advice on pitching, writing and presenting in a down to earth way. I love her writing style, and her books (Ice-cream for Breakfast and Becoming) are both brilliant. I've had to stop and jot down several inspirational/memorable quotes from both!

Lean In: For Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg. This was a touch too cheesy at times, but there are some memorable quotes and tips which I'd actually use. It can be tough even knowing where to start, let alone what to charge as a writer (or other roles), and this helped in that area. It didn't focus enough on freelancing, I felt, but re-considered the generic 'career ladder' image into a soft play area, where we can dip our toes into various things and experiment along the way. If sending daunting emails, discussing salaries and prepping for interviews give you goosebumps - this could help.

GrownUpLand podcast. Comedians navigate the adult world, from dating and ambition, money and travelling, to sex and saving money. If you've worried about it, these guys have discussed it!

Playing Big (A Practical Guide to Trusting Your Instincts and Sharing Your Brilliance in a World that Needs Women's Voices) by Tara Mohr. Tara is an expert in offering practical skills to help women achieve their dreams, and this book gave me so many tips to start doing just that. It covers inner critics and self-doubt, not knowing what our calling is, and handling criticism and praise in a damaging way. One of the biggest things I took from this was to unlearn good student habits which can be harmful in the workplace. I also admired the way she treated childcare, volunteering and non-traditional/office jobs as equal, and focused on helping women achieve in any area of their lives.

The Comedy Lineup Part 1 & Queer Eye (Netflix). These two have been the ultimate distraction, both are hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure, so I'm recommending them to everyone!

I hope these suggestions help in some way! Feel free to leave any questions below, or let me know what you're doing to tackle the real world at the moment. Obviously I recommend all the cups of tea, dancing, talking to people who care and doing things you love - which will all make a difference. It's worth remembering that there is no rush or pressure to do everything right now, life can, and will, wait.

Creative Writing Degrees: My Experience

I remember applying for University and there not being much out there about the specific course I had found (Creative and Media Writing). Although I found a lot of advice about English Literature courses (my original preference) which helped, I would love to start making content for people who are in the position I was then to get a sense of what the course involves.

These are some of the Creative Writing and Media units you can choose from at the University of Portsmouth:

• Poetry
• True stories/Memoir
• Animation
• Review writing
• Fan fiction and Historical fiction 
• News, War and Peace 
• Cultures of Consumption
• Feature writing
• Writing for Children/Young Adults
• Writing for the Press
• Travel Writing
• Talk Shows
• Media & Propaganda
• Script/Radio writing
• Short stories
• Non-fiction
• Theoretical Studies/Critical Thinking (feminism, existentialism, sociology) 
• Publishing
• Contemporary media events
• Popular culture
• Magazine design and content (including learning Indesign and other applications) 
• Film/Television studies and society
• Print media (the history and contemporary studies) 
• Comedy and culture 

As you can see, there is lot more to it than the 'arty' label suggests. It amazes me how much fits into a three year time frame, and I've really enjoyed the course overall.

If you are - like I was - juggling between English Literature and a Creative Writing degree, I would definitely suggest looking at the Creative Writing path as an option. Much of the essay writing is in the style of English Literature, and you can analyse your own work alongside other authors. I feel like we were able to get a taster of so many different forms, seeing what we liked and were good at, which I might not have tried outside of Uni. 

Something to bear in mind, like most courses, this one involves a lot of independent study and often assignments are broad so you are able to mould it to your chosen subject. This takes a bit of getting used to for some people, and I for one really wanted clear guidance, but after a while it becomes fun testing the boundaries and brainstorming. I applied theoretical studies to Sherlock, Gilmore Girls, Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror and so many more. Even seemingly complex concepts can be explored through modern texts, which I enjoyed experimenting with. 

So what jobs can you get after graduating? I'm in the process of researching career paths and options, but really - so long as you can find a way to use your gained skills, you can take it anywhere! People tend to become journalists, screen writers, authors and editors, but the world is quickly developing and new jobs are popping up which will be relevant, especially in the creative industry. Don't panic. Apply for internships and work experience in advance, as you will not only get experience which looks good on your CV, you'll get a sense of what kind of role you feel most comfortable doing.

Good luck! 

Writing a Dissertation: A Guide By An Anxious Mind

If you're in Second Year and getting goosebumps at the thought of your final project, hopefully this post helps you! 

I'm currently writing the second half of my Creative Writing dissertation. It's weirdly split 50/50 between 10,000 and 5,000 words and the final deadline is at the end of April. I achieved a 1st in the first half, which I am really proud of. Obviously, I can't predict the total grade, but I can give coping tips and advice to make it seem a little less daunting.

• Use the internet! YouTube, Library websites, Google Scholar - even Twitter. Make a list of key sources, terms and ideas and trust me, someone will have created content in that area. Soon you'll have a list of potential books and articles to look for and methods to help you. When I was researching, I found it comforting finding a slight gap in material, where I could see my work fitting in. There was loads to reinterpret and use with my own perspective, especially when it came to literary analysis. 

• Start Small, and Start Soon. Remember, you can't edit a blank page. The sooner you have some thoughts drafted, you can start to bulk up the content with academic sources and start to see a rough structure forming. Every little helps here. 10,000 words seems like an impossible figure, but once you reach it, it makes other smaller essays seem tiny in comparison. Last minute panic never helps, and getting started early means that when you abandon your first idea despite reaching 8,000 words, there is still time to start from scratch! I still don't know how I managed that..But ultimately the only way to reach that word count, is just to start writing. 

• Make it interesting. Choose something you're genuinely passionate about, and try to make the initial planning memorable. Eye-catching, colourful, wild mind-maps, or neat and tidy lists - as creative as you like. It won't take long before you start to connect ideas. I don't know about you, but if notes looks aesthetically pleasing, I'm more likely to return to them. Some people say that dolling up notes is a time-waster, but ultimately, there's no rush - you can pace yourself as you wish. Bring on all the highlighters and post it notes!

• Find unexpected assistance. Discuss your project with others! I found out that my uncle studied a similar unit to a theme within my dissertation, and he gave me a few book suggestions. People might give you advice which you don't feel is relevant, but it's worth a try. They are, most of the time, truly interested in what you are working on, so share - don't hide away, cram and burn out. I'm lucky enough to have a mum who is obsessed with editing (which is great seeing as two of my personal tutors have left me mid-final year!), but meeting up with friends to give each other feedback is another good idea. 

• Take breaks! I know that self-care has become almost cliche now, but it is important. It makes me so worried watching people panic and stress without taking breathers. I have low days and meltdowns, but giving myself permission to take an hour, or an afternoon, or a full day off to gather my thoughts helps the bad thoughts from spiralling too much. If you work while at Uni and struggle to find balance, making a timetable with hours set aside for yourself is worth doing. It might seem self-indulgent or non-justifiable, but in the long run, prioritizing your mental health is a positive thing. 

• Remember: you are not your work. It doesn't define you, and regardless of the grade you receive, be proud that you tried! It's cheesy but true. One day you will barely recall the essays you worked on during Uni or school, so just give it your best shot now, and don't overthink it. It's all about trying to highlight all the skills you've learnt over the past few years, and enthusiasm goes a long way as part of that.

Once I've submitted my final piece, I'd love to share more about what my dissertation was about, and make similar posts to this. Let me know if there's anything you're interested in hearing about.

Does First Year Matter?

https://www.ccsf.edu/en/student-services/admissions-and-registration/records/evaluation-and-graduation.html

There is something so frustrating about working really hard at University, only to be told ‘it’s only first year, it doesn’t even matter’.  If anything I'd say this only reinforces the lazy student stereotype, and adds another layer of pressure. Sure, we’ve got bills to pay, relationships to form and a pile of reading that never seems to shift, but now we have to prove that the work we do is worthy? It just baffles me.

I wanted to write this post to reassure those who are going to start university in September or are hearing similar comments from family and friends. First year assessments are worth the effort and those who dismiss your dedication are not who you should be taking advice from.  Learning to manage all the different tasks in your first year- or even your first term- can feel daunting to say the least, so don’t let anyone put you down.

The way I find I can deal with these comments is to find motivation from knowing that the work I do in first year is preparing me for the next, and by treating it with as much seriousness as a final dissertation, it will be not only to a good standard, but something I can be proud of. This is absolutely key, remembering that university is not just to get a degree and make your parents happy, but to discover what you love, to experiment with different things and create an experience in which you grow as a person.

It’s quite rare for me to do such serious posts but I wanted to get this out there. To compare one workload to another and judge how hard they have to work is unnecessary. If you are someone who is convincing yourself that you can just slob about for the first year, it’s inevitable that second year is going to be even more overwhelming. ‘Preparation is key’ is what they always used to say at school and sixth form, and I completely agree. As much as spontaneous adventures are wonderful, when it comes to managing work, it helps to keep on top of things.

Just one last thing, if someone (like me) does a creative degree which has no exams, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a huge amount of work to do. If anything, there are multiple different things that need our attention which vary from academic essays to writing poetry, both of which are more difficult depending on each person. Focus on your own situation and only give positive guidance to others if you feel that they are struggling. 

Student Series

Hello you lovely lot, apologies for the lack of posting but I've been at uni for a month now and am adjusting to a new workload and life really! I am determined to start some form of food-based series..recipes, tips, meal planning advice etc. This post is basically an update and something to ensure that I actually stick to this plan. 

Just to say that I have been aiming to stick to a budget of £40-£50 a week but have been spending a mere £25! Including all the snacks that keep me sane- thus, I must be doing something right.

I hope you are all well and I'm really looking forward to starting this project!

Love, Mia. 

Quiet Reflection

One of my new year 'resolutions' (I prefer to call them commitments) is to be more patient, to listen more, to stop interrupting and have a little faith that the earth will continue spinning for long enough for me to get my voice heard. This is something which I find bothersome in others and therefore tend to want to avoid doing myself at all costs.

It is difficult, to be filled to the brim with ideas and thoughts which although prove themselves useful, often burst out as unfiltered nonsense or phrased in such a way that it is interpreted as pompous or belittling- both of which are most definitely not what I intend for my words to come across as. 

'Be the flower that gives its fragrance to even the hand that crushes it.'- Imam Ali

The quote you will see above is one which I try to keep with me at all times. It reminds me that not everyone has had the advantages I have, or experienced events which although may not be the happiest of memories, they do have a large impact on the way I approach life each morning. It is for this reason that upon discussing the act of speech, it is worth mentioning the importance of how we react to the response we are given.

Being mocked for both my achievements and my flaws is something which fuels me to teach, motivate and bring a little more positivity into lives. Lives which may have lacked such guidance, to the point of which they believe it is appropriate to put others down to make themselves feel a little stronger. Such people deserve just as much love as the rest of us, so I am eager to continue sharing my thoughts and advice in 2015- I just need a little guidance in terms of how to go about doing so without rushing out of nervousness or speaking at the wrong moments. 

I apologise for sounding so alike Nick Carraway in this little soliloquy, but I hope that this will reach at least one person, and give them a different perspective or, at best, something to read on the way to work. 

Do let me know if you have any views on these types of posts, or even what your little commitments are for the upcoming year.

 ♥