Sophieerica
Sarcasm with a dash of emotion
Monday 4 January 2021
22 going on 90
Thursday 24 December 2020
Alone at Christmas?
Step by step guide to spending Christmas alone:
If, like me, you have to be alone this Christmas because corona really f’ed up your plans then I have a list of a few things I’ll be doing to give you some inspiration:
1. Watch the grinch for the 100th time this month as it’s incredibly relatable especially this year.
2. Try and sing snowman by Sia without breathing because nothing makes you feel like you’re moving up in the world quite like a tik tok challenge.
3. Watch a whole Amazon prime or Netflix series that shouldn’t be completed within a day but you do it anyway just so you have an excuse to move from your bed to the sofa with duvet in tow.
4. Quote the grinch to yourself and think you’re hilarious.
5. Eat (extra important especially as there’s no one there to watch you consume that whole tub of hero’s in one sitting).
6. Self loathe and then remember I’m being silly and Christmas is just another day and days will get better.
7. Clean the loo... no better time for it.
8. Nap because napping is essential on Christmas Day and everyday for that matter.
9. Wake up after your 7 hour nap and regret the ‘nap’ straight away because you have no self control and ignore every alarm.
I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy but are these few days really much different to the rest of this year? Crappy, unfulfilling and lonely but at least this just means that when we are eventually able to see family and friends it will be even more worth the wait.
You’re never truly alone.
Merry Christmas from one grinch to another x
Thursday 24 September 2020
The many faces of a pandemic
What my lockdown looks like (So far)
Monday 30 March 2020
Self Isolating With A Psycho
A STORYTIME.
Wednesday 25 September 2019
Moving Away.... Again
I PUT ON MY BIG GIRL PANTS.
In 3 years I have lived in 3 different places across the UK and each place getting further and further up north.
Surrey to Cambridge to Manchester.
Each place completely different from the last and each place teaching me completely different things.
Surrey taught me the main lessons in life, it's where I got my education and my first job, the place I learnt how to ride a bike and the place where I made my first friends.
Cambridge taught me how to be an adult with responsibility such as having a full time job and paying for a car that wants to breakdown so bad but I (more like my uncle) just won't let it.
And now Manchester. I haven't learnt how to ride a bike or had my first lesson on taxes but it's taught me what it's like to grow up. Not grow up in the boring sense but grow up in the sense that I have no family or friends (apart from Jenna who I moved with) so I need to learn to do things on my own. The scary case of getting myself out there and exploring an amazing city that has so much to offer.
I guess I am cheating a little bit because I have my best friend with me but I couldn't see myself here without her by my side or in this case in the room a floor below me.
We've only been here coming up to three weeks but already these three weeks have been the three weeks I've been dying for. Three weeks of exploring and meeting so many new people. Three weeks of sponging money on alcohol (sorry Dad) and dancing to Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender. Three weeks of making my own dinners and maybe skipping a few for a nap instead (again sorry Dad) but these last few weeks have been nothing but fun, adventurous and to be completely honest.... fucking scary.
Being proud of myself is something I struggle to do but I'm not proud of myself, I'm proud of me and Jenna because we had a plan and we followed through. We came out of our comfort zones and moved to a place that we have wanted to be in for a long time. We have already made some amazing memories and I can't wait to see what the next three weeks, months or even (hopefully) years has to offer.
So from Surrey to Cambridge to Manchester.... moving away really isn't the difficult part its the waiting before. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
(and to all my family members who have been worried about this since I mentioned it a few months ago.... I'm not dead yet so that's a good sign... right?)
Soph x
song of the blog: Moving on up - M people
Monday 13 May 2019
Mental Health Awareness
It's mental health awareness week and although it should be spoken about every week of the year I think it's finally time for me to put into words the way it flips peoples lives upside down every single day.
I'm not here to talk about my reasons or why my mental health went on the decline last year but what helped me semi overcome it. Everyone who needs to hear things like this should never feel ashamed for it and for me that was my biggest lesson. Not talking about it or even allowing yourself to recognise what you may be feeling is something I struggled with for years. I still to this day find it hard to open up and tell my family and friends how I feel but
It's okay to not be okay. Rule number one.
For a lot of people showing signs of 'weakness' is the very reason they hide the way they feel. You want to seem happy and positive all the time and if you crack then you are seen as a failure but that couldn't be further from the truth. Always remember that nobody is perfect so acting like your emotions are perfect is damaging. No one will judge you for a down day, week or month and if they do then they are not people you should surround yourself with. I found that out the hard way but am I glad I did.
Toxic situations and people is what made me so anxious to the point I would rather sleep all day then go and see my family and friends or go to work. It took over my whole life and I tried to hide it all at the same time. Don't do that. Fish out the problems and surround yourself with people who aren't out to get you which I know is sometimes a lot more easier said than done.
Don't be afraid to lose people who never intended to keep you in the first place.
There are so many things I can say and I want to say but the most important thing I learned is who you allow in your life and the situations you put yourself through. Always think of your mental health first especially if you are feeling extremely down or anxious. Don't leave it till the last minute and seek help if you need it.
I came to find writing poetry really helps ease my conscious and it was something I had never done before. I have very few people I consider friends that I trust and I've come to realise who has the best intentions. It all took me a long time with visits to the GP, sick notes off work and a mass clear out of nasty people from my life but now it's my turn to help others if and when they need/want to talk.
Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it is not there. Everyone is fighting their own battles so be kind always.
Lots of people do not understand how to react with mental health issues which is why speaking about it and spreading the word is so important. No one deserves to be alone and nobody should feel like they are. Help in anyway that you can if that be just listening, offering any form of advice that isn't patronising (I had that a lot) or even just being honest and saying you don't know how you can help but you know some well known charities and numbers that can.
Lets stop the stigma and talk about it. It's real and millions of people live everyday with it.
Mental health is equally as important as your physical health.
Samaritans- 116 123
SANEline- 0300 304 7000
Mind- 0300 123 393
CALM-0800 58 58 58
Soph x