The Reason

There’s a reason for everything in life. A reason why I live where I live and do the things I choose to do. If you believe in this sort of thing then it could be suggested that I don’t, and never will choose my own things and my destiny (or fate) is mapped out for me.

I do believe in this sort of thing, and I do believe that the reason I went to College, the reason I went to University and the reason I gained my last job is my new job. It’s always what I’ve wanted to do, it’s what I feel I’m good at, and (obviously) it’s the reason I got into Marketing.

It all ties in you see, the last 21 years of my life have tied in to this moment, the first day to the rest of my career. I’m excited, nervous and intrigued at what tomorrow will bring and I can’t wait to get this party started!

Those who don’t believe, it’s your opinion and you may feel that the reasons you do things, are your choice. However, if you sit and take a moment to think back to all those times, can you explain them?

I know I can’t…

Something Fine Built to Last…

Last week I thought it was all over, I thought that it was the end of my job as I knew it. As it reached my last Monday, my last Tuesday and finally my last weekend shift, it suddenly hit me that it was the last I’d see of the walls, the last I’d see of money that wasn’t mine and the last of Bessie’s, my bosses and my favourite people.

Friday night was my leaving do, the time to celebrate moving on up and out into the big big world and the time to reminisce over all the good times, the funny times and the sad times that had happened over the last year and a half. Last week I told you that I’d grown, this week I realised how much and who made that happen.

As I finished my last shift, my time flashed before me and I noticed that this wasn’t just a job but a significant part of my life which would never be forgotten. The final hours consisted of many laughs and giggles over numerous subjects and what I wouldn’t miss about the role. The conclusion was many things but one thing that stood out was the constant music playlist that repeated 7 times a day, every day. I start to think about the songs I will never hear again and consider the lyrics once more.

I look back over the time I was there and realised that many of the songs in the playlist mirrored my experience. I feel I am now “bulletproof”, the role was “simply the best” but it had reached its “climax”.

I look at the friendships along the way, some still strong and some a good thing of the past. However, at this time in my life I think that the friendships I have made in this role somewhat mirrors the song “Too Much.”

“Too much of something is bad enough, but something’s coming over me to make me wonder, too much of nothing is just as tough, I need to find a way to keep me satisfied”

On Friday night I had a realisation of a way to keep me satisfied. I realised that the friendships I have made are not over, this is not the end and I truly believe that I have found “something fine, built to last.”

The End of an Era

Ambiguity is a funny thing, I mean, how long actually is an Era? As long as a piece of string some might say, and therefore as I come to the final week and final four shifts of my current job, I truly believe an Era is ending.

For the last year and a half I have been attending the same four white walled place and through the last year and a half, my life has changed dramatically. Because it does you know, change. I started out as a fragile person who cried every time someone shouted at me. As much as I seem to hate change, it’s been almost refreshing to feel I can move forward and grow. And now as I leave, I feel my confidence and head is at an all time high.

On the 8th October I start my new job, and now because of the last year and a half, I feel confident to do so. I’m so excited to do the things I’ve worked so hard for and looking forward to grow some more.

So for the first time in my life I’m looking forward to change. For the first time I will not be putting the past behind me, but using my experiences to gain advantage and move forward. I will never forget this time in my life (regardless of my memory) and I am grateful for every single second. To not see the same four walls everyday will be different but it’s gone, the time is over and its time to change for the better.

Fancy that, the end of my first era.

Let The Countdown Begin!

This week has been painful, this week I joined the gym. From head to toe every muscle is crying in pain and every step I take, every move I make, (Police eat your heart out), I am reminded that this was in fact a bad idea. Sunday night it wasn’t, I was persuaded by the Membership manager that it was an excellent idea and an excellent gym to get back on the exercise horse. “Your body will remember how fit you were” he said, “It will take a few days to adjust” he said and as I sit (lay) on the sofa I think back to my earlier post where I said my memory is poor, and clearly so is my fitness.

It all started with my induction, where I was shown the machines in the gym and given a fitness routine in order to help my fitness status. I arrived home, went to bed and slept like a baby, literally. Tossing and turning I felt my muscles remembering that they hate the gym and they are going remind me everyday I go. I wake up and as suspected, I’d pulled two muscles. So from an induction I managed to sustain an injury… great start.

I do believe that things in life should never be taken for granted. As I reach my final two weeks at my current job and my shift numbers have gone into single figures, I feel I have gained rose tinted glasses, and I have started to think how much I will miss my current role. However, as many of my previous roles, it’s not the job, it’s the people. I’ll miss my bestie, my bosses and the people across the way who treat me to cups of tea.

I make my way to work on a (surprisingly) warm Sunday morning, holding my head up high. As I got to the end of the day I started to realise; this really has been a painful week, my tinted glasses had gone missing and my memory really is poorer than I’d remembered… Let the countdown begin!

8 more shifts to go!

There’s Always Next Year!

Today was a sunny day I think… I wouldn’t know of course as that pleasure has been taken away from me since I joined the world of retail and signed the contract which stated ‘I must stay pale.’ I come home to my parents and boyfriend who have gleefully caught ‘the sun’ and I suddenly thought how in this incidence, I’m always doing the chasing, and never the catching!

Living in the UK means that summer is short, winter is long and that over the years, the thought of that summer sun is only associated with trips over the ocean, no matter which one it is! As a consequence of this unfortunate upbringing, you start to like the winter, look forward the snow and just can’t wait to get those wooly jumpers out of the wardrobe!

Today was a day like many others, a day that prompted jealousy. As the numerous people in short shorts walked by and those unpainted toe nails came out to greet once again, I stood by my desk and hoped that somewhere and somehow, those BBQ burgers were burning, those flowery deck chairs were snapping and finally that that one cloud up in the sky has decided that he wants the sun all to himself!

Oh well, there’s always next year…

Wishful Thinking…

As I sat on a train to London dreaming of the new life October is going to bring I realised that instead of waiting the conventional week to blog I should shout out to world and let them know, I GOT MY DREAM JOB!!!

Yes today was a more glorious day than others, and why you ask, because I handed my notice in at my current job so that in October I can start my career in the way I wanted it to.

I am currently passing the Olympic park where many athletes and now Paralympians are wowing the world and inspiring the many nations and generations that are watching worldwide.

This week I have felt probably an ounce of pride compared to those amazing people but it’s pride nonetheless… As I accepted the phone call that could have been a yay or a ney and was told I was the right person for the job, my mum and I were bouncing off the walls and in this case, I’m talking literally!

There comes a time in life which I think I have just experienced. That warm feeling inside which says I’m proud, the empty mind which says I’m content and the biggest one of all, the feeling that at 11:11 I have nothing left to wish for.

Patience is a virtue.

As mentioned in my earlier blogs, I’m on the journey to the sacred land.. The place of dream jobs, cars and houses which are all, at the moment, so far out of my reach… (well so I thought!)

I decided that when I finally got that dream job I would hunt for the perfect car, however last week (typically), I found it… I tried to wait and stand my ground but everyday I found myself lusting after it on the website. After a long debate with my parents over
Skype (it’s easier that way), I bought a new car which is gorgeous in every way shape and form. It was at this moment when I realised that patience is a virtue, which I clearly do not have!

When thinking about patience, I look to the times where this has bypassed me. I’ve always been impulsive (one of my strengths I think) and I look at the times where this has played to my advantage. My first car was an impulse buy and for the last four years, she has been my rock. However, there comes a time when good old faithful becomes not so faithful and things need to move on (sorry F KAt!).

My most recent impulse buy (apart from the car) has been my holiday, 3 weeks in America where I had the time of my life! I’ve seen things that I never thought I’d see and felt things I never thought I’d feel. From the texture of the Grand Canyon to the spray of a killer whale, it was incredible and worth every impulsive decision on the planet.

As I sit here now thinking that my years of impulsive behaviour have been worth the tears and upsets from my mum telling me to “slow down”, I consider changing my ways and thinking things through more often. However, as the saying goes, the best things in life are free but unfortunately for me, never ever worth the wait.

I always know what I want!

As I wake up on this delightfully rainy Monday morning I realise this could be the week I get all the things I’d love and want. I always know exactly what I want and when I’m searching for jobs and looking at cars (which I happen to be doing this week) I get stubborn and determined to find myself in the exact position I want to.

Some may find this a weakness, I personally find it a strength as I am decisive and continually strive for the things that will make me happy!

This wednesday I have a big big BIG interview which obviously… I want! It’s perfect for me, and it’s what I want to do! As a result, I am nervous, excited and determined to show why I want this job so bad!

In other news, I want (again) a new car and obviously I have found the perfect one! I’ve drove it, I love it and I want it!! However, until I find my perfect job, I can’t have it! (Doh!)

Therefore, this week is a big one, one I may remember for the rest of my life (I hope so) and as a result I would like you all to have your fingers, toes and legs crossed so that I can play out my dream role, gain my dream car and truly get what I know I want!

We were all there…

Last night was a night to be proud. Amongst triumphant athletes and BBC montages, members of the public, games makers and people glued to their TV screens (like me) sat and watched history being made in front of our (very wet) eyes!

As people from the past, present and future graced our TV screens it was hard not to have a full heart and look on to the wonders of being British. Sebastian Coe said that ‘we did it right’ and as I sat there in agreement, I scrolled through my twitter feed to see the numerous tweets and retweets ultimately thinking the same.

One by one musicians old and new sang their hearts out at this glorious opportunity, no doubt thinking that one day they’ll look back and say, “I was there.”

When you sit and think about London 2012 it’s disheartening to think that we will never see this again in our lifetime, but at the same time how awe inspiring it feels to say “we were all there”, “we made the games what it was.”

I look back a week and remind myself of how it felt to be up in the stands waving the British flag to call our athletes home! At the time of peace protests, civil wars and high crimes rates you would think that the atmosphere would almost be frosty amongst competitors but it’s not. The atmosphere was outstanding, breathtaking and a true true example of how small those (large) things are in this big big world!

What a difference a [week] makes…

A week ago I stated how much I despised all sports. From Archery to Swimming I’ve never been a fan, but here I am a week later slowly coming down from my post Olympics buzz having loved every minute of it! I lay on my sofa having returned from an awesome interview and pondered what a difference a week makes, let alone a day!

On Tuesday I took the long journey down to London to kick off my Olympic experience and as I stepped into the park I was automatically proud to be British (I’m heaving too)! The organisation was impeccable from start to finish and the choice of food outlets (apart from the obvious McDonald’s) was outstanding! We opted for fish and chips and I felt like I was at the seaside (I know what your thinking… So British)!

We made our way back from London with our (unbelievably British) heads held high, pleased with the days events and looking ahead to a few more of those golden moments! As soon as I returned I fixed up and looked sharp for the interview ahead! I arrived, tried my best to impress and left, all the time thinking was that my golden moment?

God I hope so.