Better things will come

I keep meaning to come and post here but I've just been so busy. I promise I'll try and keep up more!

I don't have a lot to blog about but I did just want to say I hope you're all keeping strong. Heads up, better things will come.

Suicide Awareness Day 10/09/12

As you may have heard, today, September 10th, is Suicide Awareness Day. Today is a day for anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts to know that options are available so that suicide is not considered the only way out. Not only this, but it's a day to appreciate and admire the inspirational people who have thought the urges to take their own life, and yet still remain with us today. It's also a day to remember those who, unfortunately, didn't make it. According to Wikipedia , around one million people die per year by suicide. That's an incredibly high number of deaths which could have been avoided, and so today is not only to raise awareness for the signs and potential options for those still suffering, but to remember the people who once suffered, and took their own lives as a result of that.

Rather than bombarding you with the facts and figures of suicide, I wanted to take the time to tell you that you have the choice not to take that route. Something I find helpful to consider is that you've been given the chance of life for a reason. I'm not a believer of religion and neither do I believe that each individual was put here to pursue some huge thing to make their life worthwhile. I don't believe that there's one reason that people are alive, or anything to give you the hope of a better future that you were always meant to lead. Instead, I believe that you exist as the result of chance. You are the person you are because genetically, you were made this way. The way you lead this life, though, is up to you. Every decision you make is a result of choice, and every choice you make has a consequence. You can either choose to live an extraordinary life, by fighting the things that attempt to knock you back, or you can choose to give up the huge potential you have as a human being. I urge you not to choose the latter.

 The above is a picture I saw on tumblr, and ever since seeing it I've been using it's advice wherever possible. It's actually a really good point. Any of you who are, or have struggled with suicidal thoughts will know that the struggle that comes with it is difficult. Thoughts are hard to deal with and it's okay that you're not okay. It really is. But I want you to think back to this. Breathe. Take a deep breath in for four, and then out for four. Focus on that, because it's a necessary part of life; it's not optional. Anything else you do thereafter, is. Those thoughts you're struggling with? They're thoughts, not actions waiting to happen. They're ideas, and not all ideas are formed into reality - some are better off forgotten. If you're struggling, remember that you're in control. Suicide may seem like the best way out, but it's not. There is always, always another way, a better way, a way to live and be content with life. I promise you, no matter how bad things get, suicide is never the answer.

Today, I wore yellow in honour of suicide awareness day. I wrote 'love' on my arm to remember someone who suicide claimed the life of. I did these things to show that I care, and that if you need someone, I'm here, always and regardless of circumstance. I did it because suicide is a worthy cause to raise awareness for. I didn't do it thinking it would eliminate the problem completely, but rather to show that it isn't the only way forward and that there are people out there who, while they may not understand what you're going through, they're willing to offer you alternatives, so that you can live your life to it's fullest potential. Suicide is never the answer, please seek help is suicidal thoughts are something you experience. Contact people who can assist you and help you deal with it, but please, never act on it.

Stay safe. <3

Learn to value the gifts you take for granted

Hey there. So, it's been a while, but I'm back! 

It's that time of the year again. September has officially begun and the preparation for the new school year is in full swing. For a lot of you, I don't doubt how much you're not looking forward to that day, the one where you start back at school. For many, the start of the school year isn't the most stressful time of year, however compared to your lovely late morning starts followed by coffee and minimal activity, it's certainly a shock to the system! Not only this, but I'm sure you know well enough that it only gets worse. The stress will be beginning soon. Deadlines are going to be set, no doubt there will be drama going on among your friends, teachers will be on your backs, and before you know it, exam season will be right around the corner again. 

Well, I'm here to tell you not to worry too much. School isn't everyone's idea of fun, however it is, as with everything, what you make of it, so why not make it good? Use this time to get yourself a new attitude for the start of the year. Get yourself some clothes to wear, or, if you have a uniform, some new accessories within your school rules to keep you feeling good and refreshed. Do your hair nicely (don't go overboard, you'll look lovely without!), put on your best smile. If you feel good, you'll have a better day!

Try to keep on top of your work. If you get set a lot of work, schedule it out tactically by doing the hardest/most important/due earliest work first, and leave the rest until later. Don't leave it all until the last minute and stress yourself out, because let's face it, you don't need any more stress than is headed your way, right? 

Try to keep an open mind. If things are hard, keep trying and don't be afraid to ask for help. The new school year means new material, and since you've still got your summer brain in, it'll be hard, but there's no reason to give up on all hopes of ever getting there. Try and enjoy the work, do your research, get into it. If you enjoy something, there's more of a chance you'll do the extra work required, so try your best to make the most out of everything. After all, learning is a gift, and you should treasure it. Knowledge is a good thing, despite it perhaps being a bit boring sometimes.

The most important thing, though, is to keep that lovely smile plastered right across your face. It's okay to not be looking forward to school, but if you try to look at the positives, you'll find it's a lot more welcome than if you shut them out and focus on the bad points! Your friends will be dying to see you and tell you all about their holidays, and I'm sure you'll feel the same way back! It's not all bad, and you really can make the most of it. Remember to keep a positive mind because you've been given the gift of education and you should value that, just as it values you.

Good luck, whether you're staying at your current school, moving on to another one, or starting a whole new stage of education. You can do it, and you can have fun too!

Branching out a bit.

Hey there beautiful readers. I wouldn't normally come here to advertise anything, but for those of you interested in positivity and the likes, it'd be awesome if you fancied checking out a new tumblr that's been set up. Basically, a couple of friends and I set this up to inspire people to continue working at life when it's tough. We'll be posting positive images, quote, messages etc. and there's an ask box for any of you struggling a bit. We're happy to offer some advice to keep you going, whether it be about something small, or something a bit more serious. 

Basically, us who have set it up are passionate about YOU. We want to keep encouraging you to fight the hardships of life and we're just branching out our options for how. I hope to be posting here a bit more as well because I like to offer as much support as I can. Below is a link to the tumblr blog, so feel free to check it out and ask us if you're struggling and need any support. Honestly, we'd love to help!

http://positivityworks.tumblr.com/

Stay strong, guys. It honestly gets better and there's no reason why you can't do this. <3

Even the ordinary can be extraordinary

I haven't been around here for quite a while, and I'm really sorry for that. I wrote a little something though, so I thought I'd share it. Keep smiling. =]

Let’s be honest here for one second. No matter how ordinary and simple something is, it’s there for a reason. Every object in your house was created for a purpose. It took design upon design to get it right. Your personal needs were considered during this process, the ergonomics planned to detail to make it easy for you to use. They must have been, or else your days wouldn’t be spent sitting on a chair, or opening the fridge, or going for a walk in your new trainers. You wouldn’t be able to write that essay you’ve been putting off, or watch television, or take the photography you do with your camera. Down to the finest detail, everything you own and take for granted has been deigned and planned, scrapped, and designed and planned again before ending up in the shop in which it was bought. Do you know what the sad part is? All we see these objects as, is simply an object. There’s no harm in that, mind you, but sometimes it’s nice to appreciate the beauty behind it and how much thought went into making lives easier.

Move on from there now. It’s one thing to have things planned to fit your needs, but think outside the box a bit. There are things outside your window that nobody ever planned for. The tree outside, with the leaves greener than any green – the tree outside with the leaves duller than any green! The grass that’s just gently swaying in the slight wind, and the sky, perhaps dotted with clouds that hide the sunlight. Nobody designed any of that, but if you take a moment or two out of your day to admire it, you start to notice that the world you live in is shaped to meet your needs. The process it takes to breathe the oxygen you’re breathing was accidental and happened by chance, and yet here you are, living day after day, surviving on that oxygen. Take a breath. Can you feel it? It’s not just nature, it’s magic, and it’s keeping you alive. Isn’t that beautiful?

Personally, I find that if you think about what you do every day and how you’ve come to be there, at that specific moment, and what it is that has allowed you to live to perform your daily actions, you find more hope in life. Doing this won’t change your life. It wont cure illness or stop you hurting, but it helps you find a reason to fight those unfortunate encounters off. If you look close enough, it can help you find things to enjoy when life isn’t too enjoyable. Believe it or not, you’re here for a reason too. You are a miracle, because the odds it takes to create the exact person you are, are incredible. If even one thing had changed, down to the smallest tiniest detail, if one tiny little part of your DNA wasn’t what it is right now, you’d be a totally new individual. You wouldn’t have met the people you’ve met, fallen in love with the people you’ve fallen in love with, or been the person you’ve been or are. Noticing that can be the difference between hating who you are, and learning to accept that you’re extraordinary.

It’s a long process. I’m not saying that doing what I’ve said here will change how you feel about the world over night. In all honesty, the likeliness of anything doing that are close to zero, but it’s worth trying. You’re worth fighting for. The road to recovery, self acceptance, even happiness, is a long one. It’s full of bumps and ditches and dark nights. It’s full of nightmares and screams and crying and pain. Nobody said life would be easy. That was never a guarantee and it never will be. What I’m trying to say is that there’s always something to fight for. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and not everything is as bad as it seems. Sometimes it’s hard to see that, and the negatives in life seem to darken out the positives, but they’re just as important too. It’s crucial to take note of them so that life doesn’t seem so hopeless. It’s worth the fight, and it’s worth the pain to simply be happy again sometime later.

So don’t give up. The fight is worth it, and you’re not alone. You can do this. Remember to look for beauty in the ordinary, even if the ordinary is you. I promise you, if you open your eyes wide enough, you’ll find that you’re beautiful too. 

You've just got to keep stretching!

Exams are over, my lovelies, which means I'm back. First of all, I hope any of you who had exams put in your  all. No matter what the result is when it comes out, I hope you can be proud of that fact you gave it your best attempt. Even if it's not as great as your friends, if you tried, it's an achievement. Good luck. Let me know how you think it went if you like.

Picture of the day! It's right, you know. Tomorrow is a whole, brand new day. Nothing has happened yet which isn't a part of today. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, whether your day has just started or if it's coming to an end, tomorrow holds a whole new set of chances, opportunities and successes and they're all within your reach. If you've had a bad day today, don't be put off by it. Sometimes life can surprise you and throw you a rainbow in among all that heavy rain and thunder. And you know how beautiful rainbows are, right? It's a day in which no grudges need to be held and you don't need to dwell on anything. Let go of yesterday and today, let loose, have a good day. Never stop believing tomorrow can be amazing.

If tomorrow just so happens to be slightly grey and the clouds are hanging a bit too low and heavy for your liking, don't worry! After that is another tomorrow, a whole new chance to start again, a whole new day with the chance to be fantastic. Never lose hope. It's always there, just keep reaching for it. If it's just too slightly far away, remember that every new day of stretching to reach it will bring you closer.

Stay strong, keep smiling. <3

Good luck.

This is just a quick post to inform you that blogs may be limited for the next week or so! I have exams starting on Tuesday so I have a lot of revision and stress ahead of me.

For all you lovely people out there who are in a similar situation to me - good luck with your exams! Do your best, it's all anyone can ask of you. If it gets tough, remind yourself that you're strong and you can do it. I believe in you, so believe in yourself. You really can do this.

Until next time!