How others see you..

If you asked my friends how they saw me, one friend would say I am too understanding, I am still trying to figure out if this is a compliment or a criticism. Another friend tells me I am inspirational and smashing being an adult when I tell her about my day of mowing my lawns and paying bills. Another friend tells me I am always there to help.

Questioning the guy I am seeing he says I am bubbly, fun, easy to get along with, kind and smart. These would all be qualities that I would try and show every day.

 

I pride myself on what others think of me. I would hope that people see me as someone they can seek advice from. I would also hope they see me as a strong independent woman, something that I work towards every day. I do try and please everyone around me and help anyone, anytime.

Noticing all these, I haven’t once mentioned how people see me, appearance wise, rather the qualities I display. I do have a pretty closet of dresses though! I would hope that when someone sees me they don’t judge my curves (which I love) or my poor attempt/no attempt at putting on make-up.

I sometimes find myself slipping into it though. Seeing a person and judging based on appearances. But I also pride myself on the fact of noticing actions and words and making a decision based on those, rather than what they wear or how they look. Nothing can tell you more about a person that what they do and what they say.

What I do, and what I say are they most important things I have and knowing this, I can always make a good impression.

 

2017

I know globally 2016 has been referred to as ‘worst year ever’. Events such as Trump for President of the free world, Brexit, Harambe and the ridiculous amount of celebrity deaths including Carrie Fisher, Gene Wilder and Alan Rickman made it so. But for me personally my 2016 was pretty bloody awesome!

Something that made it was my job. I really found my feet at my school and also found a pretty awesome bunch of queens that I am very happy to call my squad. I was able to really get into curriculum and connecting with The Rite Journey Program.

I moved out on my own and made the place my own, with my cats and puppy of course! I also bought myself a range of adult items including a dish rack dryer and a couch. Pretty big grown up moments if you ask me!

I decided at the beginning of the year what I really wanted in a relationship as my previous one had been a disaster. Over the course of the first half of the year I fell in love with being my single self. As well as this, I met a pretty incredible guy who over the second half of the year became pretty important to me and makes me super dooper happy!

But enough of looking back. I want to look forward and what 2017 holds for me. I want to make sure I stick to my goals of this year and so I have made some pretty simple ones:

1. Be healthy
2. Be happy

To be happy and healthy I am going to continue already doing what I am doing. Spending time with my friends, the amazing guy I am seeing and also making time for myself.

Achievable and worth it.

Ladies Day

There were early plans made months ago to go to a ladies day at a winery at the beginning of December. The best part of this is I forgot we made the plans and as the weekend came around it felt perfectly timed and like a free weekend away with my queens!

How was your day? I bet the word was ‘busy’. We, as women, are always busy. The organiser of the day gave her opening speech and the main point of it was that this day was for me. This day was to spend it however you wanted without being judged. No kids, partners, friends or expectations. Purely do what you want in the company of other amazing women.. and some delicious wine and some old school dance tunes!

Women are naturally carers and nurturers and we rarely take time for ourselves. One thing since this day is I have been taking time out just for myself and enjoy each day how I want to. Whether that is with friends, with the guy I am seeing, or on my own with a good book or trashy tv (‘Married at First Sight’ reruns seems to be my choice atm).

Take the time, do something for yourself.

The table

Appreciation Post.

Wake up. Snuggles with Bella. Getting up to feed the cats. Snuggling back into bed and receiving my usual good morning message from ‘the boy’. Finally dragging myself out of bed to preform the morning rituals. Shower. Make up. Taking hay fever tablets. Coffee on the way to work. All the normal routines.

I arrive at school while the yard is still quiet and many teachers haven’t arrived yet. Once I am ready I head over to the main campus and sit down at the regular table in the staffroom. One queen is usually already there making her cup of tea and her orange handbag signifying that she has claimed her usual seat. I can’t explain how much I enjoy sitting at this table. And one by one my queens arrive and take their place. We might not have seen each other for a week due to busy schedules, illness, etc. Or we might have seen each other the night before for a Burgerville date but, God. I. Love. These. Women.

We share jokes, memes, stories, advice or how much we are enjoying/hating work. The world feels normal after sitting there for half an hour. In this time the school has filled with students and teachers and people are moving around trying to organise classes and extras. But for that short amount of time, most mornings I get to spend my time with my queens.

Even something as small as their company and laughs ultimately lifts up my spirits and I know I can handle anything that day.

R E S P E C T

Ok so one thing I am huge on is respect. Respect is key to any type of relationship, whether that is you partner, best friend, mum, colleague, fuck buddy or the bus driver. It is crucial. You understand a lot about a person based on the way they treat others in a range of situations. 

If someone is disrespectful to me in any way they automatically lose points with me and I have minimal time for people with low points. I only spend my time with people who have big points. 

If you disrespect another woman in my presence, boy, will that piss me off. I don’t understand how someone thinks it is ok to judge someone and disrespect someone based on actions. Disrespectful behaviour is one of the leading pushes in the gender imbalance in society. If a man has multiple sexual partners he is graced with high fives and pats on the backs. He is given a godly status by his pack. If a woman has multiple partners she is shunned, talked about and even questioned by friends whether she ‘should slow down’. I have been told by someone I considered a very close friend at the time that I should slow down with the boys as it was ‘too much’. 

It was my choice. It is every woman’s choice to do what they please. And to be judged for this is the imbalance. A woman should NEVER gossip about a woman for ‘sleeping around’ and judge her. It just gives boys and men the opportunity to do it as well. 

Let me say this once. No one should ever treat a woman differently because of her choices. No one should ever have to deal with harassment because they have made their own choices. And no one should ever say ‘well she must have deserved it’ or ‘well she shouldn’t be fucking different guys’ or ‘she is obviously doing something for them to be treating her that way’. These are all poor excuses and what they actually do is disempower a woman who has only done what she should be allowed to do, and that is make her own fucking choices.

So next time you hear someone judging someone tell them to shut their mouths and that they have no right. Next time you hear someone making an excuse to call someone a slut slap them.

It is just not on. 

The Bachelor Sweepstake

There is nothing wrong with a bit of reality T.V and what better way to keep warm that ‘The Bachelor’ this winter. At school we have even started a bit of a sweepstake on which girl will win Richie’s heart.

This post isn’t really about ‘The Bachelor’. It is about the fact that I am so grateful for the group of women that I work with. They are amazing, strong and just all round awesome! Spending time with them always cheers me up and I am so happy that I get to spend my days with women who are just as career-driven and passionate about their work as I am.

So in light of being grateful, I am so glad to have these supportive women around.

Also I drew Faith in the sweepstake so ‘Go Faith!’