Let's get reacquainted, shall we? I think it's time.
So blogtober was a thing that happened... sort of. It was a thing I started but didn't finish. And for once I can say that it's not because I failed. Something didn't feel right. Pausing was a conscious decision. And I paused everything I possibly could in my life. Because this isn't just a blogging blip. I think I'm having a life blip.
The notion of being secure in the decisions one makes, having the bravery to commit to the things in life that make one truly happy, and the ability to hold on tightly to the belief that those things will lead to something fulfilling and comfortable, for me, still has a mythical aura surrounding it. And this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Nor is it something I am alone in feeling. But it is a little tricky to navigate. I feel like I'm playing a game of 'stuck in the mud'. There's no one around to come and unstick me but I haven't quite figured out how to unstick myself, which in the game is cheating, but in real life I think it's essential to learn.
With general life things up in the air, blogging has been too. All this stop start, back and forth over the last few years has really been because I was trying to fit into a space I didn't belong. Maybe I did once, and I loved it, but I don't anymore. There's no point forcing it, or wasting time wishing I could go back to being the person I was then, because I'm not that person anymore. And it's okay. It's time to discover the good things about being who I am right now. And although I'm not really sure how to start doing that, I'm going to give it a good bash.
Allowing oneself to be vulnerable is difficult. My instinct is to close off my emotions as much as possible around other people, until I can retreat to a safe place alone and let them loose. I had reached the point of feeling as though this space was a safe place, but I listened to outside voices that made me feel like all the things I was feeling were wrong, somehow invalid, and writing them here was the worst possible thing I could do. That I should stop and push them away as much as possible. But I think it's okay to be vulnerable, to be honest, and I've learnt that writing things down gives my mind a much needed rest.
So I'm trying to reclaim this as one of my safe spaces. Thus first on the list of things to tackle was adverts. I'm not against adverts. Never have been. Never will be. Heck, I still have some. But reaching the point of adblocking my own blog was a bit of a low point for me. After
a lot of emails back and forth, the full page adverts should
(better bloody be!) finally be gone, once and for all.
Next on the agenda? Saying hello again..
Hello, I'm Jennie. Officially Jennifer, but that makes me feel like I'm in trouble. Not cool enough to pull off Jen.
Closer to thirty than twenty and completely okay with that.
I'm terribly short sighted; the kind that involves needing to pay extra to have my lenses thinned to stop the edges looking a little bit like the bottom of glass bottles. Unable to shake my preference for ridiculously oversized spectacles. According to my other half, the pair I'm wearing in the pictures above make me look like a '1970s Italian film director'. I took it as a compliment because, well, why wouldn't I?! Brilliant.
I'm an only child, right handed, and many would describe me as shy but I don't think that's quite the right fit. I am however certainly one of the most introverted introverts there can be. And that's sort of funny because I am endlessly intrigued by other people and their stories.
I'm not the easiest person to get to know because I always feel so silly
talking about myself.
Although I do have this blog. Writing things down is infinitely easier than talking.
I have been a complicated person to know. And that's different from
complex. We are all complex with our quirks and unique nuances.
Complicated is difficult and I understand now that it's tricky to be
friends with someone who sometimes drifts into a world of their own for
weeks on end. But I'm striving to lead a simpler, more present existence
and I hope, in time, that will attract some new, stable friendships.
The company of friends outside my family is something I sorely miss, and
I'm not really sure where to start.
My school reports always used to say 'Jennifer must participate more in class'.
But
Jennifer never did. Partly stubbornness
(not my best trait, I'm working on it) and partly because I had an
irrational fear that I'd be laughed at if I got the answer wrong.
I'm
happy to report I don't mind being wrong now. And I don't really feel
embarrassed too often. Being willing to laugh at myself has been one of
the single most freeing revelations I've had.
That's not to say I
don't have things that embed themselves within my heart and hurt a
little. I certainly do. Although they're few and far between right now
and I'm eternally grateful for that.
And those things that are able to hurt me, I push them away and ignore them as much as I can.
That's
not necessarily the best way to deal with things, I know. Especially
when those actions inadvertently end up hurting someone else's
feelings.
Never have I felt more comfortable in my own skin.
The way my nose sits a little wonky on my face? Not horrid, but interesting. Those seemingly perpetual blemishes on my chin? No big deal.
But that's not to say that there aren't things I'm working on changing.
I'm striving to be more generous, more informed and less inclined to
fall into my self built comfort zone that I can quickly become reluctant to leave.
For the last four-ish years I have lived in the countryside on the doorstep of some of the most
beautiful views I've ever seen. Note to self, appreciate them more.
Before that I
lived by the seaside.
And Oh how I miss the sea, the salty air and the
pine trees.
Moving to Scotland is up there on my list of life goals. Hopefully somewhere close to the ocean again.
Recently I gave up tea because I was pretty concerned for my teeth.
The headaches that would develop if I didn't have a cup every few hours weren't great either.
Fun fact, I've never really liked tea that much.
The truest, most authentic sense of joy I feel comes with writing and taking photographs.
When
I was nineteen I was accepted to Edinburgh College of Art to study
photography.
With such small classes, that is still one of my greatest
achievements to date.
Unfortunately I had to give up my place to be with
my family, and somewhere along the different path I took I convinced
myself that it wasn't for me anyway.
But I was wrong.
Film photography makes my heart
sing like almost nothing else, and I'm making a promise to myself to
shoot more pictures
much more frequently.
I believe that life is for learning.
Discovering new things. Enjoying old loves. Being with people who make you happy.
A few weeks ago I got my degree certificate in the post.
(I skipped the ceremony.)
I now officially have a BA (Hons) English Language & Literature from the Open University.
It took me a little longer after a few false starts at 'regular universities'. But I got there in the end.
It was totally worth it.
I will forever champion the wonder that is the Open University, and how much it does to encourage its students and champion education for all regardless of circumstance. I hope it will continue.
Rinko Kawauchi's work has been a constant source of inspiration for almost ten years.
♥ Lost in Translation. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The Breakfast Club. Ten Things I Hate About You.
♫ Banks. Nirvana. Adele. Amy Winehouse. Florence and the Machine. Sia.
The Civil Wars. Lana Del Rey. Zero 7. The White Stripes. Sampha. Leon
Bridges. The Libertines.
♥
The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.
A
Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is perhaps the novel that has had the biggest
impact on me in my adult life. I haven't felt quite this way about a book since
Harry Potter.
Concepts and theories surrounding high literature aren't hugely important to me. If a book, poem, play, whatever form it takes, makes me
feel
something, whether that's happiness, devastation, the warm fuzzies in
the pit of my stomach, that's what I'm looking for.
My television loves are still firmly with the Nickelodeon shows I watched
as a kid. Sister Sister showed me how valuable family is, Kenan and Kel
the beauty of friendship, and Sabrina that even magic can't solve
everything.
Sailor Jerry rum was the inspiration for my online presence, sailorjennie.
Everyone has at least one special talent, of that I am sure. I'm fairly convinced that mine is sleeping. I can sleep any time, anywhere, even if I'm not tired.
Getting caught up in the details isn't important right now. And that's sometimes difficult for me, but I'm learning to seek out and appreciate the value that lies within the bigger picture.
Because there are an infinite amount of details. And the bigger picture is a whole that seems easier to tackle right now.
Forever finding myself looking up at the sky. Especially the night sky. Watching milky peach hues gradually change to the clearest blue, before everything darkens and the stars come out to say hello. True beauty.
I like to believe that our souls drift skywards when it is time for them to leave our bodies.
Maybe
we'll go on to form black holes, or simply drift for eternity with a
sense of blissful contentment. But that is for another time. Another
existence.
For now I'm constantly learning what it means to be human.
Planes, going to the dentist and large spiders are the silly things I'm afraid of.
Some of the bigger things are being completely alone, leaving this planet before my mother, and being unable to have a child.
I wish for everyone to be able to live as their truest self. Not to me,
no one owes me anything. But I hope everyone is able to be honest with themselves. Everyone deserves their best chance.
I used to operate solely in dream form. It was like I was
disconnected from reality and my mind was firmly in the future living an
alternate life.
Although I believe in the power of dreams,
laying down the groundwork to allow oneself to reach those dreams one
day, alongside living in the moment is essential.
I've learnt that it's not silly to seek out good things, no matter how inconsequential. That beautiful sunrise. That really great piece of cake. The bus arriving early. That silly conversation with someone important. All of those things do matter.
Happiness used to come from surrounding myself with things, just so I could feel like there was something there that I owned.
But now it comes from elsewhere and that's comforting.
I am enough. You are enough. We are all enough.
Hello, I'm Jennie.
It's wonderful to meet you.
Tell me something about yourself?
I'd love to hear from you.
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