General Election 2017

If your immediate answer to this question isn't 'YES', then we can't be friends anymore and you may as well stop reading now.

I jest.

ish.

In all serious though, the Conservative party are sitting as far right, and the Labour as far left as I can ever remember, this general election will be life changing, revolutionary. However, you only get to be a part of that if you VOTE.

Whichever ever party you feel represents you and your own needs/wants the most, then go for it. A considered effort is respectable, a wasted vote is a shame. If you're unsure of who to vote for, still register, then use a website like this one: www.isidewith.com to help you figure it out. Also, read everything you can, manifestos from the party, newspaper reports from a range of newspapers - be aware that they're seriously biased too, listen to those already affected by policies such as NHS workers, and watch interviews with party members, get to a rally if you can.

People have died, are dying, and will die, fighting for the right to vote, don't let them down by not voting yourself.

You've got until 1 minute to midnight TONIGHT. GET ON IT.
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

How to Motivate Yourself

Time for a classic procrastination-induced post. This one is a little hypocritical perhaps, because I'm trying to motivate people as a means to distract myself from work, and I apologise for that. There have been a lot of things going in my life this year, to the point where I was asked in multiple job interviews how I manage it all, and my usual answer is 'because I have to'. Thankfully, the 'have to' comes from a 'want to', I want to keep up great relationships, gain certain roles and experiences, so I have to jump through certain hoops.

It's incredibly helpful that most of my friends are also in similar times of their lives, because we can all support each other through it, and understand when plans have to be restricted or completely cancelled. I'm really grateful for that, and am massively enjoying seeing them move on in their lives so positively and successfully. Comparing yourself to others can be incredibly harmful, so you have to be careful, but in this respect I've found it quite helpful. I can look at what they've done in their first year since graduating, and get excited about what might happen to me this year; that's great motivation. It also means they're fantastic for advice.

Other than being motivated by the success of those close to me, I also find it motivating to remember that, chances are, you're not the first to have done 'this'. I'm not the first person to get a masters. I'm not the first person to get a job in a new city, meaning they have to find a new place to live by themselves. I'm not the first person to have long distance relationships. I'm not the first person to have to fit in a love for traveling around the basic holiday allowance given by jobs. I'm not the first person to try to lose weight. I'm not the first person to aim for everything out of life. I am certainly not the only. I also certainly won't be the last. It's all doable, because it's been done before and it'll be done again. That sounds dull I suppose, and takes away some excitement, but it's also quite comforting.

When all that fails, I have a couple of quotes from a range of sources that can flip my head right back round into focus:

Life at 23

Last week on 13th April, I turned the big ol' 2 3. Twenty-three. My goodness me. Now there some great connotations attached to the number 23, Nathan Scott and Michael Jordan's basketball numbers, the bowling lane they use in the Big Lebowski, X-23 is Wolverine's daughter and also called LAURA!, and a beautiful song by Jimmy Eat World. Musically, there's also the slightly the concerning Blink 182 lyrics, 'Nobody likes you when you're 23', and then there's all the 'adulting' nonsense I (and the whole of Britain - snap election, I have blog coming right at you asap), have been having to deal with, all in the space of a week!

My 23rd birthday was an odd one. The day itself was a fairly relaxed one, Alex, my parents and I spent the afternoon at Speke Hall.

Speke Hall is definitely one of my favourite places in Liverpool, if not my favourite. It's a stately home from Tudor times that has beautiful gardens, a maze, lovely woodland walks. Basically, the perfect place for a chilled birthday day.

The next day I had a bouncy castle, because: 23. It rained all day so we only got a couple of hours out of it, because: life (at 23). I was blessed to be joined by a few friends from home, and a couple from Keele that I hadn't seen in what felt like a decade. It amazed me how, even though it hadn't actually been that long, we all had so much to catch up on, and it felt like no time had passed at all. The day was rounded off by a fantastic night out in Liverpool, and I danced till 3 in the morning! Something this old woman hasn't done in months!

On my birthday, I received the contract for my new graduate position that I'm starting in June. It's in the marketing department of a technology company based in the centre of Birmingham, and it completely hit me at random, but has developed into a lovely fit (almost). Basically, after passing the initial application stage, the aptitude tests and skype interview, I then went to an assessment centre that put is in different situations then placed us in the department they felt best suited us. So, I feel very looked after and can't wait to start!! However, the initial excitement of 'yes I have a graduate job!' has been somewhat dampened by organising holidays/training/somewhere to live, because: life (at 23). I know I'll get there though, I blessed with an abundance of the 3 Fs that'll get you through anything: faith, friends and a 'F' it, let's crack on attitude.

At the moment, I could be any more grateful for my friends. Their patience with me is something that I seriously could not be getting through this hectic time without. I've never had a 'selfish' time, and I feel so incredibly selfish at the moment that it greatly upsets me. There are too many events where I've had to excuse myself from because of training, or deadlines, or this new job, but they (very very very kindly) keep inviting me places!! It's weird, because those that couldn't make my birthday for example, I completely understood and could/would never hold it against them, but my head gets in such a wreck when I can't physically be there - thank feck for technology and people with patience!

Here's to the last couple of months of hecticness, and 23 more years of fantastic people and exciting adventures