Learning to say no!

I have always been that person who wants to help. Even if it means I end up worse off. But recently I have decided that I need to start saying no to things. Some people may think that I am being selfish, but I have decided that I need to start doing things for me. Not anyone else. If I don't want to do something (obviously a valid reason, not just to please someone else) then I am going to say NO! 

July has been a very big month for me, the month of NO! But also positive thinking and making much needed changes in my life. SO what happened?

I handed in my notice at work 

I got a new job

I turned 22

I became single

I passed my theory test 

I had my hair cut and I am back to a natural hair colour

I made this month about me! 

Okay so they might not be massive changes but for me they were the step in the right direction. I have become more independent and focused on myself. Making much needed changes. This time last year I pledged to lose weight. And well I mean I'm not any heavier than  was last year, I am about 3lb lighter than last year. Small bonuses, but safe to say I am not happy with that. So that really needs to change. And I know I can do it, because I did lose a stone of weight in a couple of months, but I started to get comfortable in a relationship and I let everything slip. So, no more buses, I've got my bike out (and helmet). I've taken before photos, of my current weight and what my body looks like now, printed them off and stored them in a secret location. In a couple of months I might write a blog post showing my progress. 

The most important thing is that I am doing this for me and no-one else. No man to impress but simply to prove to myself that I can be healthy and happy with being me. I am not going to starve myself, I am going to do this properly and if you want to do this with me then I'd love it if you'd join me. Make it a weekly or monthly thing. I don't need to know how much you weight or your measurements but we can be there to encourage each other. If you'd like that let me know, because I certainly would. 

Thanks for listening 

Always do things for you. Be a little selfish every now and again

BE HAPPY!

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring 

A leap of faith.

I have taken it upon myself to quit my job without having another to go to. I have 2 months to find a new job! Let the journey begin.

Okay, it really isn't that dramatic, but I have in fact handed my notice in at my current job as a support worker for children and young adults with severe autism and learning difficulties with challenging behaviour (yes that's a mouth full). My current job was supposed to fill the gap between my previous job and going back to university. However, I decided to put university off for another year making it two! Although I love my current job as a support worker I know that it is time for me to move on and pursue the career I really want. Which in the long run will be an end of life care nurse. Many people with I am morbid because I want to work with those who are dying but for me the job is much more than that.

5 reasons why I want to be an end of life care nurse:

1. I was born to care for people. Caring for people is in my nature
2. Knowing that the person is dying with dignity and the best care they can possibly receive makes the job worthwhile
3. Knowing that I am making that person comfortable and reassuring them they are safe is very important. Dying is a scary thing, but I want to make the process easier on them and their families.
4. Dying is a personal and very private thing. I want to be with them to ensure they are happy and have everything they could need to pass away peacefully.
5. And finally, because I know that I would be good at the job. I am passionate, caring and loyal, and have the best interests of the person at heart.

Many people think I am crazy for handing in my notice without having a job to go to first. But I believe it is the right decision. I have had two interviews so far, and I have been offered 1 job and awaiting to hear back from the other (the one I really want). The jobs I have gone for a care assistant jobs in care homes for the elderly. Both jobs offer opportunities to develop as senior health care assistants, nurses etc. Whilst writing this I have had a phone call with an interview for a slightly different job. Still as a care assistant but for adults with learning difficulties. Something else for me to think about.

A bit of a different post for you all, I will let you know what happens. Fingers crossed and all that.

Here's to next time.

Love yah

IsThataRedHerring 

UPDATE on everything. Fitness, books, goals and more

This is a much needed update (sorry). As the title suggests it is time for a big update on well my life. I know a lot of people are going to be doing New Years resolutions but this year I only have one big goal, which is being broken down to the following:

Fitness
Back in November I pledged to get fit and with every pound I lose I will donate to charity. Since then I have lost 14 pound so yes that is £14 towards a charity. In December I joined the gym and hired a personal trainer. When I sat down and talked to her (personal trainer, thank you Carrie) she reminded me that muscle weighs more than fat, so although it's a good idea in theory I will be losing fat and gaining muscle and my routine consists of a lot of weight lifting to shift the fat. So, I have decided with every dress size I drop I will donate £50 to a chosen charity (still need to be chosen) and when I get to my target dress size of a size 12 I will donate a further £100.

This year 2016! I want to do a few charity runs, particularly Cancer Research Race for Life and a few others which I need I to research more into. If you have any suggestions for charity runs then please let me know... also any suggestions you have for the charity in which the money I raise with my weight-loss, then please let me know.

Work
I started a new job in October, quitting my job as a care assistant in a care home due to a few reasons, but the main issue is that I didn't see myself furthering my career there which at the age of 21 is very important to me. So, I got a new job at a school for autistic children, it's an amazing job, very rewarding and I am part of a great team. Unlike my old job the hours are consistent and the money is a lot better, and the best thing is there are many opportunities to further myself. At some point this year I will be starting my health and social diploma. Exciting times, this also means a pay rise!

Books
Well its 2016 so there are many amazing books being released but I already have a ton of books I need to read. So after my last Waterstones voucher is spent I am going to STOP buying new books! It's going to be so hard, but my To Be Read list is so big is frightening!
The books I am looking forward to reading most this year are :-

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman 
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 
• The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 
• The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner 

I know a lot of these books are old (not really but so last year ;) ) but I really wanted to read them and this year I will be getting to them. I am particularly excited about the Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae. I have heard a lot of good things about these books so I am very excited to pick them up and give them a read. 

I also aim to reread a couple of my favourite books, for defiant I will be rereading Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky because it is one of my favourites and I love it. I need to reread it so badly. I think it will be my first book of 2016. Also, at some point this year I will read Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer, the reverse version of Twilight. I have heard very mixed things about this book so I need to give it a go myself. 

Blog
The main aim for my blog this year is to blog regularly, pre-write blog posts and post twice a week. It's not that hard really but I have become very lazy with my blog and well a lot of things to be honest (sorry). So, I have started a fresh notebook full of ideas for posts and I am going to start writing them as soon as I've finished this one. I want to get regular views which would be nice and hopefully make a little name for myself. But that is an ongoing goal. I hope my writing will develop.

LIFE
Just the small topic of life. But to be honest I just want to be happy and healthy and I will achieve this. I am making positive changes to my life. I am determined not to give up on anything.
A few other little things is:

• travel more
• even if it's to the next town over, or to London more. Just to discover new places... I am also going to Thailand for 10 days which is AMAZINGLY EXCITING. 
• Use my time wisely- not to waste my precious time. Because if 2015 has taught me anything it's that time does not wait around for you. 
• Appreciate the little things. 
• LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

Sorry for such a long blog post but I felt that it was needed. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring 

My last few weeks at university.

The 31st of May will be my last day at university. I would have spent the last 3 year of my life at Plymouth University, attempting to get a degree. All work is handed in, gosh only knows how many words I've written, how many mental break downs and how many unhealthy snacks consumed. I've spent the best part of my uni life either in the library or hung over! But hey that's just part of uni life right? 

I've met some amazing people at uni, friends I will never forget. And a few close friends who I will stay in contact for a very long time. There are some people I cannot wait to forget and never see again, but that is only a few. 

What have I learnt from uni?

1. How to be independent.
2. That I can write a 3,000 word assignment in less than 12 hours and still get a decent grade. 
3. That money runs out really quickly.
4. I discovered the joys of NANDOS!
5. Attempting to date/relationship at uni is extremely hard!
6. Despite being at uni, there will always be people who think that we are still in high school!
7. NETFLIX and YouTube!
8. You can survive on 30p pasta for a very long time. 
9. Thank goodness for spell-check. 
10. The friends you make and the experiences you gain are priceless.

When I arrived in Plymouth I was scared, I was always someone who preferred to stay at home, I'd only be clubbing twice before and I was extremely nervous. But I was lucky to have great housemates and I made friends easily. I know that is not always the case. Sometimes I felt lonely, but don't we all? It's all about coping and finding things you enjoy doing on your own. That is normally when Netflix and YouTube came in, or reading a good book. 

Uni was a fantastic experience but I am excited to start my next chapter in life, a job, career, my own house, traveling and enjoying being me. Although I am sad to be leaving uni, it will be weird not living with my lovely housemates, its going to be hard not to be so close to all my friends, but I knwo they will all still be there for me. Love them all....

If you're worried at all about uni, give me a message or comment. Uni may seem big and scary but it's a wonderful experience that you will never forget. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring 

March already! Nearly April!

I know this post is a little late, as it is now March 15th! ALREADY! How is this even possible. It seems like only the other week I was starting Uni and now I have less than 3 months left. Three years of my life has gone so quickly.

I've had such an amazing time so far, third year has made me step my game up an extra notch, not going out as much any more, literally once a month if that. Despite having less lectures, I've found myself working a million times more. The library is becoming a second home, I  dream about my dissertation and my other assignments. But its no longer just the stress of uni work, but what I will be doing after I finish uni. So I now find myself applying for job after job. I have resorted to making a life plan okay well up until July

THE PLAN
March

• Write between 500-1000 words a day, in order to keep up to date and not get bored.
• Along with those words, I will be reading an finding a minimum of three articles each day.

I get to go home for a week in March/April as well so that's great. I am going to take the time to relax a little, but still continue with the writing and finding those articles or books. I am also going to see McBusted on the 29th of March so I am really excited! Also to see my family and friends :D 

April

• I have scheduled a small break down for about mid April, when I realise I have less than a month to complete all my work, and then that is the end of my University career
• But on another note the new Avengers movie comes out :D

May

• Now this is a MASSIVE month for me! And a lot of fellow third year students. First is DEADLINE day, the 5th of May, that is only 51 days away! I cannot believe it
• May 5th-- Time to get drunk with all the Educational Studies lot, we certainly deserve it!
• I am also hoping that I will be going to Dublin for a few days, it is a place I'v always wanted to go and explore. 
• Also, Pitch Perfect 2 comes out :D I adored the first one so I am very excited for the second installment 
• But my favourite event will be by far the SummerBall! Last year was amazing but this year I am sure will be even better. Friends, great music, great company and booze!

June 

• Shortly after SummerBall, I will be going to Poland for a 5 day holiday with a few friends, its a cheap and great holiday and something more to look forward to, and a great way to end m final year.
• Then it means moving out of my house in Plymouth and moving all my stuff back home! How all of my stuff will fit into one car  just don't know. 

July

This leaves the last month of my plan so far, I turn 21 on the 13th, I hope to party and see all my friends. I also hope by this point I have found a relatively good job and learning to drive. Small things ay!?

This was just a rambling post, but I felt the need to share my little plan with the world. I hope you enjoyed and sorry its been so long. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring

I don't know what to do when I graduate

Like so many students, I am entering the last few months of University, and it has dawned on me that I have zero idea of what I want to do when I leave. I have toyed around with many ideas in the past few years. At the beginning of University I was torn between being a primary school teacher or a social worker. That did not seem to change until the summer of 2014, I had just finished second year and entering my third year, and I thought to myself 'Hell no am I becoming a teacher', but I still loved the idea of becoming a social worker. So I set my mind of becoming a social worker. However, when I came back to university in September and attended a postgraduate open evening, I was really shocked and overwhelmed by the idea of becoming a social worker. There were not many spaces and they wanted at least one years’ experience within the area of social work, and I felt that my small experience would not be enough at all.

Then December came, which was a terribly bad month for me. I had just recovered from the mumps, an operation and an infection (but that is another story). In the month that I took out from University, several ideas ran through my head; and I really wanted to become a midwife, I have no idea why or where this came from, but all of a sudden I was researching, ringing and asking loads of questions about how to come an midwife. But really it meant a new three year course and I didn't really want to spend another three years in education, so I scrapped that idea.

Over the December period I made myself a one year plan, something that seemed doable but still gave me something to aim for.

1.      Hand in all work on time

2.      Celebrate finishing

3.      Go on a small holiday

4.      Celebrate 21^st birthday

5.      Return back to Weatherspoon’s, get enough money to pay off all debts.

6.      Start to learn to drive

7.      Pass text around December time

8.      Start looking for a full time job

Although I feel that this is a reasonable idea I am not sure I want to go back to kitchen work. So still struggling with ideas, a flyer came from my door, my mum picked it up and simply said ‘You’d be good as a carer’. And that really got me thinking. Maybe I could do that, I really thought about it and it made more sense to me. I could work a lot closer to home, saving on money expenses for travelling, there are plenty of care homes near me. But I do not see myself doing that as a full career. I’d really like to either go into Dentistry or work with children and young adults with special needs. I know I know they are completely different ideas and sectors to work in and for, but I have real interest in both areas.

So as you can see I still have zero idea on my future, nothing at all is set in stone as of yet, except the growing older part. I am enjoying being young and not have to worry about grown up stuff. But I know every day I am becoming closer and closer to having to decide what to do after University.

I am sure there are plenty of people stood in my shoes. I hope you aren’t as confused as I am.

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring