Appreciation

 Hi all!

My last post was over a year ago and it's amazing how much can happen in a year. My blog posts have become less frequent as the years go by. This blog post is inspired by the life experiences I have had. Sometimes with life experiences you feel like where does it end. Have I not experienced enough. I guess though if I hadn't been through what I have been through my blog wouldn't be the same and my writing wouldn't be the same. We all have a story to tell. 

This post has multiple meanings. Let's talk about feeling appreciated. Have you ever heard this phrase:

A lot of people refer to the above quote when talking about the work place. I see it shared across multiple platforms. It is true and it holds value. If you feel appreciated in your work there may be times you will go above and beyond. We spend most of our lives at work and working somewhere that shows you that you are valued has a very positive impact on your life and on your mental health. Working somewhere where you can contribute and where you feel people appreciate you whether that's customers, clients or your colleagues give you a boost. I understand not every job is built this way. Some jobs are dealing with difficult situations. Although I have seen if the appreciation comes from the managers and those above, no matter how difficult the work environment is, people feel more able to do more and more positive towards the work place if they feel appreciated.

I have had supportive managers who have been amazing and I have also had the opposite end and struggles in the work place where you don't feel valued. I have seen the difference that a supportive manager can make. I have seen how companies and people thrive because they work in a place where they not only contribute but they get something back too. It's not about telling your employees they are valued, it's about showing them how. Whether that's pay rises, overtime bonuses, helping with their hours and giving them benefits, acting on their suggestions. Let's see what employees value and no it's not a pizza party or a paid workplace Christmas meal. They value their time out of work, they value a good income and bonuses, they value feeling like they are making a difference. People that feel appreciated will always do more. Pay attention to the bold points they are key.

Time out of work is your rota management. There are many times employees are called in when they don't want to be or having to stay when they don't want to. Let's face it, everyone needs that break away from work. We don't work for works sake, we work to build a life we want and also to help pay for what we need. Burning people out is not going to make them feel appreciated. Not offering them any pay rises or benefits is not going to make them feel appreciated. 

While work places need to run, they also need to function and you have to remember as much as there are standards your employees are not machines they are people and every person functions differently. I think with the lack of appreciation in the work place the human aspect gets lost and people get looked at as someone to complete a job rather than a person. Appreciation is important in the work place because if leaders appreciated people more and showed it, it would help a lot of work places that are failing and turn them around so they would thrive. You may be the leader but you are not a leader without the support of your people and you are not a leader without supporting your people. 

While the first part of this blog has been appreciation in the work place as you can tell I am passionate about it, let's talk about appreciation in relationships. Whether that may be friendships, family or romantic relationships or just in general with others in public. I think already that makes you think if you feel appreciated it gives you a boost. It makes you feel that people value you and care about you. Already I hope you are seeing the pattern. You are probably thinking back to times you didn't feel appreciated by those you know and times where you have. 

You may be in a situation where you do feel appreciated whether that's by your partner, friends, family or anyone you know or meet. You may be also be in a situation now where you don't feel appreciated. The lack of appreciation is massive and sometimes it filters down and starts to affect your mental health more than you know whether it's lack of appreciation at work or in your personal life. So why did I write this blog post.

I have experienced and am experiencing all kinds of scenarios good and bad. I am not going to elaborate specifically on my life as that's not why I wrote this. I wrote this blog post to get the message across that appreciation in life is important and has an impact on you. It is also important to show appreciation to others. Again pay attention to the bold. 

I am sure that this topic itself has brought back memories for you of different times in your life where you either received appreciation or a lack of appreciation. The lack of appreciation has a bit of a knock on effect. That is where employees leave jobs, friendships fail and relationships fail and can impact your mental health. We were not built to be machines. We all function differently but we all appreciate appreciation wherever it comes from.

You know what else I have appreciated sometimes it's the life lessons I have had. I have not appreciated them being given to me but I have appreciated what they have shown me. Appreciation is also appreciating the things around you and what you have in this moment because tomorrow is not promised and you never know tomorrow you could lose it all.

Can you see why appreciation is important? 

I hope that you are experiencing appreciation in your life somewhere because it does impact your mental health. I hope that by reading this it helps you understand the value of appreciation. It important to have people that appreciate you and equally to show appreciation to those around us. If you don't have it maybe something needs to change. 

With that I shall love and leave you,

Until I write again (will try to make it sooner than over a year apart this time)

Nicola Hill

Never Settle

Hi it's me again!

I haven't written in a long time but I have had this topic on my mind for a while and I guess there is no time like the present to write about it. So settle back, make your cup of tea or whatever you like to drink and read. Or just read, drink not required, optional.

It's amazing how despite the title "Never Settle" I bet the first thing that comes to your mind is knowing how many times you settled or you have people you know who have. This doesn't just apply to relationships but to anything in life from jobs to the way your life is. We get comfortable with our situations even though they may not be the best ones. 

The first question we should ask ourselves is why should we never settle? By settling you are accepting what is instead of embracing more that could be! You are staying in a situation that could be draining or could just not be what you want and you stay stuck instead of stepping out of your comfort zone towards a better situation. Nothing in life has to be a certain way. The reason we are where we are is because we choose to be there.

Sometimes the potential you could have or the appreciation from others you could have is so much better elsewhere. At the same time the grass is not greener on the other side, it is greener where you water it. It could be you are settling in your situation but there could be ways you could improve where you currently are without jumping ship.

Take it from someone who jumped ship before from a spark into a fire. You just don't know what you are going to get at the other side. It could also be that the grass is already dead where you are and you need to move on. At the same time as human beings we are eternally aware of how we feel. We know when someone or something is not right for us. Which brings me to the question; why do so many people settle? It is the fear of the unknown. You are afraid to move past your situation as it takes a leap to do so. 

However the most successful people and the best relationships have come from people who said enough is enough and took that leap. I remember someone saying to me and this has always stuck with me; "You are not a tree, you can move." No situation you are in is forever. 

I make it sound simple right but I do know it isn't. It isn't a case of snap your fingers and create a whole new life for yourself if it was that easy everyone would be doing it. What it takes is training yourself to push yourself to go for what you really want. 

It is no use complaining about your situation you are in and doing nothing about and as I write that it makes me smile because I complain 10 times or more before I do something about it. I am not saying I am an expert on things because I am not. I just learn from experience or some things it take a few of the same experiences before I actually learn what I am supposed to. Although through my own self reflection and what I get told from others about their lives none of us should settle with things that make us unhappy.

Whether you are in a relationship, job, life situation, friendship you shouldn't settle for less when you deserve more. Also worth remembering that no one is perfect and sometimes the grass isn't always greener on the other side. However if you know that there is a brighter future for you ahead, what are you waiting for? 

I am not claiming I just take a leap, in fact it takes me a long time before sometimes I have made a move myself. Sometimes we hang around a long time hoping things get better and sometimes they do but sometimes it is time to move on. Some things can't be fixed and you have got to accept the things you can't control.

If you are going to keep telling people about your situation but do nothing about it well then you are accepting to be in that situation. Sometimes it is the case of you have made your bed now you have to sleep in it. That does sound harsh in a way but I am also being harsh with myself in a way as I write this as this post is a lot of self reflection too.

In fact a lot of the best advice comes from self experience. So there you go. I mess up and I write about it so others don't mess up like I have, you are welcome. If you have not been exposed to my sense of humour, I apologise in advance. In fact I do not apologise at all, I never have to apologise for being who I am. I also wouldn't call it messing up, I like to say we live and we learn. We all make mistakes sometimes. 

Wow it feels good to write again. I know you are thinking for goodness sake please stop writing but I am not quite done yet. I just want you to know that there is more to life and you deserve the best this world has to offer. The way I see it all is we are here once never again, one life. There is no do over, this is it. So you have to make the most of the years you have.

It reminds me of this quote:

So there you have it, never settle and live your life! Turn the I can't into I can! 

It reminds me of this quote to:

I am going to end this blog post here before I give you other unsolicited advice and you end up broke or marrying a rich billionaire for money. Like I said I am not expert so take what I say with a pinch of salt or bucket but I do try share what I have learnt myself in the hope it may help someone. 

I appreciate you reading my blog and if you are in my life in whatever capacity, I appreciate that too.

Thank you for letting me waste your time,

There will be more so brace yourself,

With that I shall love and leave you,

Until I write again,

Nicola Hill

The only thing that is forever is You

Hello everybody!

I know it has been a while. Actually over a year since I wrote anything. It isn't because I haven't had things I want to write because I have a lot I want to write about. It has been one of the most difficult years for me but in that time I have grown and learnt so much. I am going to share a bit of what I have learnt with you today. When I am writing it is where my words and my heart align and I can express things I find difficult to express in person. I have such a love of writing that even words cannot describe - I love writing that much I cannot express it in words (that has made me laugh). Clearly the best writer here can't even express my love of writing. Please read on if you would like to see some more mediocre writing talent.

You may know me or be reading this blog for your first time but either way I have my own unique sense of humour so please don't take anything too seriously unless I am being serious about a topic then feel free to. I am actually about to write about something serious (I know - gasp) but I still have a sense of humour. If you are looking for a factual non - entertaining blog this is not it. It is not like I am trying to be entertaining I am just me but I am sarcastic with a very varied since of humour so just keep that in mind. My writing might actually be boring and if so please go back to scrolling tiktok or whatever you do these days. 

If you still stuck around I appreciate you. I write because I have things on my heart I want to write about and if it even helps one person that is great. I write for me because I love it but if you happen to read it, thank you. If not no worries either. Anyway getting back to the topic (sigh of relief) here we go...

Let me start by saying again I had a very difficult year last year. We all go through trials but this one was the biggest one yet. I never realised at the time how much I actually had in life and how much I could lose in just one year. I was already struggling last year but I didn't realise at the time so much more could happen. Which made my initial struggle seem like nothing. What I didn't realise is I actually had so much but was focused on a few things I wasn't happy with. In the months that followed the things that I valued in my life were suddenly gone and after that it was all I could think about.

I never imagined what happened last year could have happened. Sometimes you think things are forever but they are not. We never realise in life what we have at the time until we lose it. That is the key. That is what I want to talk about. We are always looking for this or that and are not satisfied with our current situation but we don't realise our current situation may be blessing compared to what is to come. We also may not realise in this moment we already have a lot if the things we wished for. We are always waiting for what is around the corner but we don't know what it could bring. 

Sometimes the things that happen in life are a result of our own choices and sometimes it is beyond our control. Either way it really hurts. While we cannot go back in time to better days we can go forward and create new better days. It is important to take everything with you that you learnt too. Like that quote "If you have always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always got." In other words if you keep doing the same thing, you will get the sane result so maybe it is time to change something. Whether it be friendships or jobs or yourself or anything that needs to change. 

Maybe then we might turn a better corner. You have also got to decide is it me or my circumstance that needs to change. Sometimes we need to change internally and sometimes it is our external environment. When things happen it makes you question why. Why is this happening to me? How could this happen to me? We can also long to have things back the way they were. Although I have learnt that sometimes things didn't go back to the way they were but at the same time there are always better things on the horizon.

To lose something or many things you never thought you would is very hard. It takes a long time to come to terms with it. We go through a period of grieving and healing. One we thing we need to try do is not isolate ourselves on this healing period and still enjoy what we do have. I still get flashbacks and it still hurts but I am still fighting. One thing is don't give up, keep going. You may not see it now but one day you will be glad you didn't give up. 

I have learnt that "the only thing that is forever is You." Your circumstance or some friendships or relationships are not forever so be kind to yourself. Work on you and fill your life with things that are important to you. As as you do that new circumstances and friendships and relationships will come in to your life. I also believe if someone is meant to be in your life they will always find a way back.

If you are struggling right now please hang in there. It is always easy to say focus on what you have not on what you don't and it is not easy to do but if you do look around you already have a lot of good things in your life. You also never know what is coming around the corner and it could be good or bad so stop waiting for it, enjoy what you have now. Some people have a lot less than you and yes some people have more but that doesn't make them happy. As they say "Happiness is found within it is not based on our circumstance." Find the happiness within in you, it isn't easy but you will get there.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Be you and the right people will love you for you,
With that I shall love and leave you, 
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

Remember Who You Are

 Hi all,

Here we are again reading another blog post. I have had writers block for a long time but slowly my writing is coming back. I went through a few years of not writing much at all and that is evidence that something isn't right. Although is there ever a time where everything is right? Where something doesn't happen in life? The answer is no there isn't but at the same time we shouldn't allow that to stop us but we do. It's not that easy is it. 

I appreciate you reading the words I put together on a page. It's weird when I write I can make sense of the world and I can make sense. Or I hope my blogs and writing make sense but I feel it's a good way I can express myself whereas in person I cannot. It's because when I write I take the time to think and reflect and form my words but when I speak or text I don't have the time to do this. I am a writer but I am not a good texter. My texts are blank and boring and direct most of the time and my typos almost appear that I can't speak English but my writing has actually formed words. Or I think it does. I just spent a whole paragraph with nothing seemingly substantial but actually if you look up at title of this amazing blog post you will see all this is creating the topic I had in mind. A bit of how I work as a person. 

The greatest journey we go on in life is not the the places we go or the people that we see, it's the journey of discovering who we are. It's the journey of knowing I am me. Am I perfect? Of course I am. I am perfectly imperfect. So what makes you who you are? It's a mix actually. I can't actually tell you the answer to that because every story is different and every bits that form the core of who you are come from all sorts of places, upbringing and experiences. I don't know everyone's ingredients. No one knows mine but with all that mixed together forms a person. Can we ever change the ingredients? No we cannot change life experiences but we can change how they affect us. 

Although we must accept that it's a part of us. Will everyone like the ingredients we have or what end product we produce. The answer is no. We are not everybody's product. People like different things in people. Sometimes you find a product that stands the depths of time and space and that is always your product regardless. These are your products. These are your people. Not everyone though is your people. 

Sometimes too we spend a long time in the baking stage or we go back to reflecting on the baking stage where each product is raw. When you have ingredients to make something putting them all together and the finished product tastes a lot better than the separate ingredients if you were to eat each ingredient on their own. Sometimes more ingredients too get added to it and sometimes those ingredients are in the wrong quantities and it makes the end product different. 

We have got to find that balance of all those ingredients and also accept that the ingredients make us. Although there are also ingredients that are overpowered by others and we didn't know those other ingredients are there. To put this in plainer terms we don't know the underlying pain someone is experiencing as sometimes pain is masked by other things. We live in a world where it pushes us out to be this finished product before we are ready and we pull ourselves out the oven before we are fully cooked.

Sometimes we have to go back and remake the product and this is a regular occurrence as there will always be ingredients added. Will we ever be a finished product? Yes but we will never stay a finished product because it's a journey. We just need to find the balance between the different ingredients knowing we can't change some of them but some of them we can.

Let me explain. I know at this point you are thinking yes please explain! Maybe you thought you clicked on a baking blog instead. So some ingredients are not substitutes they make the final product, for example you can't substitute a tea bag if you want a cup of tea but you can change to having sugar or milk with tea. The tea bag will always be there but you can change what goes with it. I am using a tea bag as an example because I live in England and tea is the language of the British people. Let me put this in the language of my African people too. So you can't substitute a braai (barbecue) if you want a braai because you need the charcoal braai if you want a proper braai but you can change the meat you cook on it. 

Therefore we cannot change our past experiences but we can change ourselves. I realise I went from baking to cups of tea and braaiing but I am explaining the mix of things. You can see how my brain works.  I am hoping though by each person thinking about what ingredients or baking products they like or what ways they like their cups of tea or coffee or what way you braai (barbecue) you realise how complex we all are. How differently each way all of those things come together to be things we like.

In the same way we are complex people made up of so many things. It's finding those people that understand that we are complex. That we aren't perfect. That we are hurting. That we have great parts of us too. We are made up of so many things. Are you ever going to find a perfectly fully formed product? No you wont and while we need to accept this about people, we also need to accept this about ourselves.

It's also realising too that you need to find people who like your ingredients, not change your ingredients to make people like you. You need to find your people. Your tribe. Sometimes we focus on certain ingredients people have we don't see the whole picture. To know someone is to take the time to learn more about them. To listen to them when they are trying to talk you. Yes sometimes people need to substitute some of their ingredients too but you are not baking their cake, they are. They need to find the right ingredients themselves.

If you read my title what did it remind you of? If any of you thought of the Lion King - I will actually bake you a cake. Ok I wont because I don't have the time and it would be a lot of cakes to make but watch this scene below. I think it is iconic and this reminds me of my late mom. Parents are people who love us unconditionally who love who we are. Remember who you are. I think this scene has really good words too.

Lion King Scene

I hope that you all remember who you are and that people love you for you and that you be the best version of you. And also remember that we are all a mix of a lot a lot of ingredients and sometimes we don't know the pain underneath someone is experiencing. We need to work on ourselves and we also need to work on how we look at others. 

With that,

I shall love and leave you,

Until I write again,

Nicola Hill

Some things to remember

Hi everyone!

It has been a long time since I wrote a blog post. You’ve probably forgotten that I even write and if you didn’t know I write now you do. I miss writing regular blog posts. It has been a difficult few years between Covid and an energy crisis among other things. I can’t say this is why I haven’t written, but I can say that I write when I feel inspired and sometimes we get so wrapped up in doing other things. I’ve had a lot of changes in my life in the last few years too. I can’t even say I’m the same person that I was a few years ago. I’ve had different jobs and I’ve also changed within myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still me I’ve still got the same weird sense of humour that you’ve all come to know and love and if you still don’t get my humour just humour me. I guess what I mean by change is that a lot happens in our lives that we have to evaluate and we have to deal with lessons and changes within ourselves.

The world has changed a lot too in the last few years, and who knew we’d be living through such a crazy time. We have a pandemic, we have a war, we have an energy crisis and we have inflation. There has even been an earthquake. We’ve lost loved ones. Okay, I’m not just going to list all the stuff that’s going on, but I am here to talk about the reality of what we’ve all gone through, and that we’re all here still surviving and we're getting on with life. I am not trying to make you sad by the way if you keep reading. Maybe you are thinking who is this writer but I promise there is always a cherry on top, It feels like a violin should play at this moment.  It is not the same world we had a few years ago, in some ways for some of us it is worse and in some ways for some of us it is a better. 

There are people who lived through worse than what we have faced. There are people going through worse now. They always say that that is irrelevant and doesn’t help the situation now and doesn’t help how someone is feeling by telling them someone else has it worse, but I think what does help the situation now is to be grateful for the things that we still have. Roof over our heads. Friends and family or partners that love us. A job. I know these are the things people always say and it doesn't feel like much but it shows how much we take for granted. I could extend this list of good things we have a lot longer than the list of tribulations, we face. If you really look at your life, there’s always something to be thankful for. We may have different things we have compared to others but there’s always something to be thankful for. If you list the good things in your life you will find a lot. 

There is also always something that we want that we don’t have or something someone else has that we want. We will live our lives in misery if we are always focusing on the things that we don’t have, but we are all guilty of it and we all bring ourselves down because of it. 

 I may have said this before in my blog posts too but whatever you are facing in life after every storm there is a rainbow. I may have written similar things in other blog posts but the message is the same and I want to keep reminding you. Whatever happens in life it is mainly how we respond to it and our attitude that effects our happiness. Things will always happen but it is how we face it. We all can get down in the dumps feeling low sometimes and it is hard to see the positive sometimes. Although when you take a chance to reflect on your life you will find you still have a lot to be thankful for and what you are facing will pass. Look back on all the times you have got through something before. It is hard in the moment but it does always get better. 

The best advice I can give you in life which helps too is to be yourself. Your true authentic self. Don’t change because of others but be around people that accept you for you. Not everyone is going to like you but there are always your people out there. I am really thankful for my friends and family and I continue to meet great people along this journey. I continue to learn more about myself too. Sometimes too by learning about yourself you need to make changes within yourself too and be honest with yourself. None of us are perfect, I am certainly not but we can always be better. Be around people too that bring out the best version of you.

Sitting here writing and  finishing this blog, my mind is full of loads of ideas for blog posts. I haven't written in so long and there is so much I want to write about but not all in one post. In fact sitting here writing again I am actually feeling a bit emotional because the fact that I am sat here typing away after so long makes me feel really happy as I haven't been able to for a while. I love to write, I have written lots poems and blog posts and a book when I was a teenager, unpublished. I also want to write another book. I am just happy to be here writing, I hope you are happy too reading what I write. 

One thing thing I want to leave you with this time is to remember that this is your life now, this moment you're living it. The question you need to ask yourself is, are you living it? If not what can you change to live your life? 

Just thought I would give you some things to remember. 

With that I shall love and leave you,
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

ReplyForward

I am sorry

I am sorry

I am sorry that sometimes life doesn't happen the way you want it to,

But there are good days coming and you will see this through.

I am sorry sometimes people hurt you and lie,

But don't give up, keep going, keep giving everything a try.

I am sorry that sometimes the people you want are gone,

But they still guide you and you will never forget their light that shone.

I am sorry you are heartbroken and are in constant pain,

But you will heal and you will find love again. 

I am sorry for people that make you feel like they don't care,

But remember those that love you and those that are always there.

I am sorry for this year and that it has been tough,

But remember good times are coming again when you feel you have had enough.

I am sorry if it was me who ever hurt you in any way,

But hopefully you can forgive me and I can make it up to you some day.

I am sorry if there are people who make you feel like you shouldn't exist,

But there are people who love your presence and you would be really missed.

I am sorry for anything that's ever made you sad,

But don't forget the happy times and there are even more happy times to be had. 

Written By Nicola Hill

2020 - It's Not Forever

Well what a year 2020 has been.... Ok we're only about 3 months in but it does feel longer for some. Keep reading though, you might find something useful in this post, I am just trying to get someone to read my blog really. What else are you going to do at home anyway? I had other blog posts that I wanted to write about but at the moment I've been thinking about what's going on in the world like everyone else. I am writing this blog post from home. I am currently sitting in my lounge with some music in the background as I write this and I am typing on my laptop. I just thought I would give you a description of my day. Just wait for the update when I go to the toilet or make a coffee step by step or make a meal. Actually I have done those things already so you get out of those exciting stories. It's cloudy in the Uk at the moment - you have to talk about the weather too. It has been mostly sunny recently though.

This is how things changed for me. One minute I was in Barcelona at the beginning of March having a nice holiday and the next I got back to the Uk to extreme panic buying. My friends had sent me pictures of empty shelves of toilet paper while I was away. I left Spain just before the virus spread rapidly. I got back to the Uk and went to a shop and found empty shelves of toilet paper and pasta and other things. To most in the Uk maybe they have never experienced this before but it was familiar to me because we had our food shortages in Zimbabwe. This wasn't even a shortage. In fact the shops were much better stocked even at the height of panic buying compared to Zimbabwe when the shelves were very empty at one stage and you couldn't even find essential items. It brought back the memories of other things I have faced in my life.

As the virus spread things progressed to restaurants, cafes, retails stores and many other businesses temporarily closing. Then we entered lock down where we currently are. However what we are facing is something different to anything most of us have ever experienced. There are people all around the world infected mildly or severely by this virus. I even know of people infected. There have been deaths. It has shocked the world and taken the world by storm. I didn't realise myself how serious it was until later.

The bottom line is that we can all help. We can stay home except for valid reasons to prevent the spread of this virus. While you may be worried about what is happening in the world and what it means for your future plans, it's a small price to sacrifice a few plans to keep safe so that we can have a future. It's a small price to pay to stay home while there are others in many countries that have lost loved ones or they themselves are infected. I can't speak for all the world but here in the Uk most are home with electricity, wifi, running water, food and just have leisure time at home mostly. That's a small price to pay.

There are those in healthcare that have to work and help those infected and work long hours due to a lack of staff. There are those that work in supermarkets or those that are drivers or carers or support workers or paremedics or police who are working throughout, keeping people fed, doing deliveries, keeping people safe and supporting the vulnerable. There are lots of people still working in all kinds of professions in order to help people. The more you leave your house and the more you are around people, the more chance you have of catching the virus and spreading it. I work in healthcare as a support worker and I still have to work throughout. If you have the opportunity to stay home more, within the comfort of your own home with food and everything else and be at less risk, that is a small price to pay. 

There are people where home is not a place of comfort and going out of home is actually an escape due to abuse etc. There are people around the world who have businesses that wont recover after this. There are people who lost all income and have no help from their government. If your only sacrifice is staying home and missing out on future plans consider yourself very fortunate right now. I had plans too this year that at the moment wont happen. 

Wherever you fall as we are all in different circumstances it's important in times of trouble to hang on to hope. Yes there is a lot going on and it's hard to process everything, it changes daily. However we will reach the other side, we have just have to hang on. We have learnt a big lesson on what we all take for granted in this world. We have seen kindness in those who are social distancing and showing they care about others by following guidelines. There have been a lot of people following the guidelines. We have also seen people who don't and who do ridiculous things but we are always going to get those people too. Hopefully everybody learns something from all this. There is a lot of bad in this world but there is good too.

If you are bored here are some fun things to do at home:

Make a card for Nicola (to give later on when things settle down)

Do a funny video for Nicola

Read Nicola's blog posts

Call Nicola

Clean your house

Empty your bin

Count to 100

Watch the clock

Exercise 

(I would also say buy Nicola food or presents that's fun too but put those on your list for when things settle down). See even planning for the future. I told you that you might find something useful in this blog post. 

I like music and lyrics. I listen to music every day. You may realise I like music if you have me on social media, I post some songs I like. I do have a point in this. I found this song that you can listen to, it's called It's not over yet by for King and Country:

Saw this online, it's true:

I found this link to this post that has some really great words for you to read you can read it here --Always be grateful for what you have no matter how hard life gets

Just remember that everything that is going on in 2020 - it's not forever. We will make it through this and reach the other side. 

May you all stay safe and take care,

With that I shall love and leave you,

Until I write again,

Nicola Hill

What I've learnt in 30 years

I wrote a blog post on this blog when I was 25 called "What I've learnt in 25 years."

You can read it here:

http://nicolathewriter.blogspot.com/2014/05/what-ive-learnt-in-25-years.html

That's all I wanted to say, I haven't learnt anything new now that I am 30. Therefore that's what I've learnt in 30 years too. I just decided to stop learning because at 25 you know everything. It's the same when you're 16 or 18 and you think you know everything. The truth is in life you are constantly learning and growing. It does not stop. As you get older, you actually realise how different you are compared to when you were younger. How much differently you value things and how your outlook on the world changes and how you as a person are different.

I've had quite a few topics on my mind recently that I want to write about and I am going to write more blog posts but I thought I can include some of it in this post. I didn't know what kind of blog post I wanted to write tonight but then I thought I have turned the big 3-0 this year in April (April 14th to be exact - add it to your calendar haha) and I haven't written about my wisdom now that I am 30. I am just pretending I have wisdom, you have to gain something from turning 30 right? On a serious note, yes I am more serious now I am 30 (let's all laugh together) but on a serious note you do learn more and more as the years goes by. I am just sharing what I have learnt in my life so far.

Let me start with Friendship. I thank God for the people in my life and the new people that come in to my life. I have met and continue to meet such amazing people from all sorts of places and backgrounds on this journey. I will write more about friendship in another post but this is a highlight.

In life what you value in friends changes. We all want people that we get along with, that we can rely on, that make effort and that we can talk to. Having a laugh with friends is one of the most wonderful things too! The greatest thing I have learnt about friendship is like with any relationships is it takes work. Another thing I have learnt too is that it takes patience. People are not available all the time but friends will make time for you when they can. One of the most important things about friendship is that it takes effort from both sides.

I have also learnt that you and your friends are not perfect. Sometimes you go through struggles with your friends and sometimes you know a true friend when you've been through a lot and you're still friends. A lot of people look or expect this great friendship from someone but no one is perfect and it's also about what you are giving to your friendships too - friendship is a two way street. One of the other most important things about friendship is listening. Always listen to the whole story. Sometimes you need to hear everything, you don't know what someone is going through or what they are trying to explain. You don't know where they are coming from if you don't listen.

Everybody is friend-worthy. Remember that. No matter who you are the best thing is to be yourself. People who will value you for you are the type of friends you want. Never think that you don't deserve a friend or you aren't cool enough or whatever you think - you deserve great people in your life who love you for who you are! Never value your worth from people that don't see your worth. Have people around you that build you up not bring you down.

Next let's go on to Relationships. I've done online dating. I've been on quite a few dates this year and over the years and I've found what I looked for in a person when I was younger to now has changed. I've learnt that choosing a person to spend the rest of your life with should never be a rushed decision. Don't date someone just because you are lonely. Don't date someone you don't see it working out with long term. Don't date someone who you can't trust. Pay attention to any warning signs early on.

One of the most important decisions you will make in your life is who you will spend your life with. Remember with relationships and in life you are not on anyone's timeline. Just because some of your friends or family may be married or are in relationships or have kids doesn't mean you have to hurry up! I am sure you will meet someone great and it will happen but don't rush it. Relationships also take work. The honeymoon period ends. It takes two people working together to keep things together. Be with someone who wants to work with you. Be with someone who brings out the best in you and you can be yourself around and enjoy life with.

Let's talk about good old Work. They say do a job you enjoy. I've met a lot of people who don't enjoy what they do and I have met a lot of people who enjoy what they do. I am happy to have a job I enjoy. Whatever job you are doing I have learnt that there are times you need to work but also make time for life too. As they say work to live, don't live to work.

If you want to do something, do it! I saw this quote below online and I really liked it! I saw it and could relate to it in my life because I started doing things that I've always wanted to do. Whether it's going on new adventures and travelling, finding a new career or job or moving or whatever you want in life - if you make a start and do something it is the best feeling! I always wanted to travel the world more and this year I have been doing that and I am loving it! I've done solo travel too which I will write more about in another post sometime.

It's good to do things, it's also good to be sensible about it. Don't just do things suddenly and end up in debt or worse. Save, wait, do. They say don't make big life decisions when you are having a bad day or unhappy either. Do things that are going to help you. Remember you have the power. You can change your life. 

Don't take things at surface value. Things can appear good but after looking into to them, you may realise it's not what it appears. It actually reminds me of this meme I saw once of  a chocolate chip cookie but it was a raisin cookie! I always remember it because I am not the biggest fan of raisins and I would be unpleasantly surprised to find my chocolate chip cookie turned out to have raisins instead of chocolate chips. Be careful in life too, you may think you are eating a chocolate chip cookie but it's actually a raisin cookie! It can applied to people or situations or anything! If you actually like raisin cookies (really?)  just imagine a different example. I've actually just googled memes on it. See below, you're welcome.

Next let's talk about what I've learnt about Gratitude. I came to the Uk over 9 years ago and I didn't know what it would bring. Looking at my life now, I am so thankful for how it has turned out. I have had some tough times here too but I'm here, I'm happy and I'm thankful. In life we spend so much time hoping for certain things to turn out exactly how we picture them and we spend too much time thinking about the future and how things could turn out but think about the moments you are in now and all you have too. It's not about looking at life and measuring our lives by what we don't have but it's about looking around and seeing all the things we have to be grateful for. If you just think about your life you will find there is so much to be thankful for already!

I know we can easily say this but there are so many people in this world who would be so thankful for the life you have! I grew up in Zimbabwe, in a country that faced and still faces a lot of problems. There are other countries that are war zones. There are other countries where it's just a struggle to survive because of poverty. There are so many different struggles in this world. The little things you think you have, someone somewhere around the world could be praying for.

We will always want more or wish things would work out a certain way or we think about things that didn't work out but it's like that quote says it's not happy people who are thankful, it's thankful people who are happy. We find that happiness doesn't come in getting what we want but in appreciating what we have. I like this quote: Have an attitude of gratitude.

Life goes fast, treasure the moments! You know one day I was turning 20 and then I woke up the next day and I was 30. Life does go fast but there are great moments we have and we should treasure each one! One thing we know is we are all going to get older. I had some great fun in my 20's and I feel like my 30's will be the same or even more so because I think by the time you are 30 you know more of who you are. You get to know yourself more. There will always be great things I want to do! The things you enjoy definitely change throughout the years! What you liked when you were younger you don't like as much now or you like completely different things.

Thank God for these 30 years plus a few months so far. I write about God in my blog posts because God is an important part of my life. Without God I wouldn't be where I am now. I've had my ups and I've had my downs in life and God's helped me through it all. I've had my lowest points when I've felt further away from God. We never know when our lives will end, we do know that we all die one day. We've lost people already in this life and it has hurt. It makes you think sometimes that this life can't be it, there has to be more right? Whether you believe in God or not, I do and it's part of who I am.

Speaking of highs and lows - it's important to share how you are feeling. I know people going through struggles and if that's you too, talk to someone whether it's a friend, family member, therapist anyone you can confide in. Try do something you enjoy, spend time with people you enjoy, get some fresh air in nature! Eat a raisin cookie! Wait what?! Don't do that! If you want to talk to me, you can too.  Another thing I learnt from going through things myself at times in the last 30 years is that: Feeling low doesn't last forever and there are good things around the corner! Hang in there!

One amazing thing I have learnt in 30 years is the importance of loving others! I love people. I love that everybody is different. I love the unique things about the people I know that make up who they are. Everybody wants to be loved and feel loved. Love the people in your life! Don't buy them raisin cookies! Ok I know enough about the raisins now! I actually do eat raisins sometimes and I totally ok with you liking raisins, a dehydrated grape - yummy! I just like bringing it into the blog post for fun. I eat most things, some things I just don't like as much as others.

What were we talking about? Oh yeah loving people. Yeah just love them. Thank you. If you love me you will... NO! Love without conditions. Love unconditionally. People who love each other don't buy each other raisins. Woah where did that come from? I thought we were over that now! Excuse my horrible sense of humour. That's another thing about being me I have learnt in 30 years, I let my sense of humour out a lot more than in my younger years. I am just me. I can't be anyone else. I say and do the incredibly intelligent, amazing and never stupid things because I am me! (I do some stupid things sometimes). I am clumsy, I make mistakes, I fall over. Have you ever tripped up the stairs? That's me too sometimes but hey I am me. Another thing I have learnt is Be You!

In Summary some things I have learnt are:

Everybody is friend-worthy.
You are not on anyone's timeline.
If you want to do something, do it! 
Don't take things at surface value.
You can change your life. 
Have an attitude of gratitude.
Life goes fast, treasure the moments.
Feeling low doesn't last forever and there are good things around the corner. Hang in there!
Be You!

And:
It's ok to like raisins and it's ok not to like raisins (phew that's settled)! 

I pray that God blesses you in your life. Know that God is there for you anytime, not just to pray about things or ask for things to but also to talk to too. You are never alone. May you find peace in your life.

I saw this online tonight and I really like it. I hope you get to or are at this place:

. 

With that I shall love and leave you,
God Bless always,
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill

The Background Story About My Writing

I wanted to write tonight and it was a very promising start. I got my laptop and then I went to turn it on and it had a blue screen and said erasing something and I thought "oh no" but it has turned on now which is good! I am actually home as I write this which is a place I have not been a lot recently, however we will get in to that in another blog post.

First I want to bore you with a bit of the background story about my writing. I don't always write that often but I write when I can and when I feel inspired, you may have even have forgotten who I am! Or you may be hoping my writing has improved over time, well we all hope for a lot of things we don't get. I am going to give you a bit of background about my writing now - are you ready? 

I first found my love of writing by writing poetry. I have written over 100, maybe over 200 poems in my life so far. Some of my poems are on my blog. I still love writing poetry and I have written poems for people too and in cards.

I did a lot of writing in my teenage years. I kept diaries as a teenager, some of which I still have and I wrote about my day to day life and poems and stories and about my feelings. I felt a lot of hurt and had a lot of struggles as a teenager and I found writing in diaries about my feelings really helped me. It helped me as a way of expressing myself. I could write about topics and express things that I couldn't always say. 

I started writing a book when I was about 17 - unpublished officially but I did self publish it and put it on Amazon Kindle. I had left high school and I was deciding what I wanted to do and my book kept me busy. It was fun to write and by writing it I felt it gave me a purpose at the time. I added a bit about Zimbabwe and things that went on there and created a fictional story around it. I do have a blog post on this blog about my book. I always find it hard to describe what my book is about to anyone who asks.

In the midst of the troubles we had in Zimbabwe at the time and deciding what to do with my life - writing my book gave me an escape. I told a few people that I was writing a book but I didn't really share it with many people and a few years ago I decided to put my book on Amazon Kindle because I thought what was the point of just keeping it all these years. I put my book on kindle exactly as I wrote it which probably wasn't the best idea as it needs a lot of correcting. I wanted to get it officially published but I never got around to completing it fully and correcting everything for it to be published. I did actually email it to a publisher once since I have been in the Uk. If you search on Amazon for "Home Sweet Home Nicola Hill" you should find my book on Amazon Kindle. I would love write more books in the future and I plan to.

I moved to England when I was 20 and started my first blog. It was a blog to update everyone on what I'm up to in England and other countries. It is called A Fresh Start - my news blog. I still write on this blog. I gave a highlight reel of my news last year. You can read about the exciting life of Nicola Hill. I thought it would be a good way to share with everyone what I'm up to as you don't always manage to update everyone individually.  

Later on I started another blog, my writing blog. This is where I write about any topics I feel inspired to write about. This is the blog,  the masterpiece you have before you now called Home Sweet Home. Or maybe the back of a cereal box is more interesting. Home Sweet Home was first the title of the book I wrote. I called this blog Home Sweet Home because wherever I am writing from is my Home Sweet Home because it is a place I feel comfortable in and happy to write. Writing also makes me feel Home Sweet Home. I think writing makes me feel at home because I feel this peace and happiness when I write. I go into my own world. 

I am really thankful that I have the opportunity to write and share my writing. If you would like to browse my blog please feel free! I like to inspire people through my writing. I write about things I care about or topics I'm interested in or anything I feel like. I write poems, I write about my family. I write about people. I write about being a Christian and God. Thank God that I can write and for my love of writing. I write about a lot of things because I am me. Our backgrounds, our lives, our experiences and ideas are what makes us as a writer. We can all write something. 

It's become a lot easier since people used feather pens and ink pots to write, now we have all this technology that helps us share our writing with people all over the world! Am I the best writer? I am not trying to be the best writer. I write because I love to. Sure I make mistakes and errors in grammar or other things sometimes or a lot of the time. I am certainly not perfect but I don't aim to be. I correct where I can, I do what I can. 

I have written previously that some of my topics may not be everyone's cup of tea but I do encourage everyone to keep reading my whole blog post and then see what you think. We all have different beliefs and views of the world and I write about mine. I am me (I actually have a poem called I am me too). If you would like to leave feedback anytime, you can. You can also subscribe to my blog by email if you dare. You can follow me on twitter and tweet to me. 

I love to write. Yes I know I needed to put that in bold because it wasn't obvious at all. I do though, it's the best feeling! This is a bit of The Background Story About My Writing. 

When I started this blog post I had a few topics in mind but I didn't actually have a title for it right away. I just started writing and it made me think about telling you a bit about my writing and here we have a blog post! I love how that happens!

I also have other things I want to write about, I always do! I know lucky you, you will get more of this! In the meantime, feel free to have a look around if you wish, I have a number of topics on here. 

This is my blog: 

Home Sweet Home - Here is where I am sharing my love of writing with you all.

With that,

I shall love and leave you,

Until I write again,

Nicola Hill

Rest

I always have things in my heart that I want to write about but none of it really takes form until later. Today's topic is "Rest". 

We live in a world where things are moving at such a fast pace. We have work, commitments, friends, household duties, shopping and that's just part of it. Everything takes up so much time and energy. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. This non-stop life with a fraction of time for the things we want to do. We want to get things done, we want to do fun things, we don't want to sit around and do nothing.

I felt this a lot in my own life lately. There was always things to do and I wasn't taking enough time for myself to rest. The result is that I felt both mentally and physically exhausted most of the time. As much as I love people and I love keeping busy, I didn't take that time to rest. I'm still recovering actually.

I went through a breakup last month and since then I've just kept myself super busy. I've had some great moments, it's not like I've only been feeling tired but I've felt a lot more tired than usual most days. Not only that I've had so much on my mind, I haven't been sleeping on most days either. You will be amazed what a lack of sleep can do to your life. It affects your concentration, your mood, your thoughts, your energy, everything.

When we are young we have an abundance of energy and time. I remember in my teenage years how much time I had to meet friends for coffee or make plans or do anything that I wanted to do. I remember I had so much more energy too. In those days we take that for granted. In our adult life our time gets consumed, most of it by work and commitments and a bit for friends/ activities.

What gave me the greatest time where I was able to rest last month was a solo trip to Madrid where I stayed in a hostel for my first time. It was great to switch off and explore a new place and meet new people. It was just nice being away from the normal routine of things. Sometimes travel is good for that, it gives you a nice break away.

You need to give yourself a break, you need to rest. It is so important. I can't do everything, I can't reply everyone or send messages all the time or call people all the time or post or like millions of things on social media. I am 30 now this month and something I realised in 30 years of life is life gets so busy. I am busy. There are so many of us who are so busy with our lives and the things we have got to do. I've spoken to people who find this in their own lives. We have all these commitments but where are we finding time for ourselves. Are we resting?

I can happily say today that I did rest. Look at that one day, what an inspiration. This will be one of many hopefully. I rested and I feel rested. I spent time reading and relaxing in the sun. My life got so busy I also didn't give God enough time either but I felt so much more connected to God today.

I want to make changes in my life where I can get more rest and I've already started. You see if you want to rest it's all up to you to make it happen. It's not always about how much you work or not it's about what you do in between, what are you choosing to do in your free time. Does it make you feel rested?

I found a song this morning while lying in my garden in the sun called I Will Rest In You by the Gardiner Sisters. That song really made me think, the closer we are to God the more rested we feel too because our focus is on Him, God at the centre. It's when we get caught up in the busyness (not sure if that's an actual word) of life sometimes that it gets too much.

 This is their song below. They are actually really amazing singers, all sisters, you should look them up on youtube. I am reading a book by them at the moment called Sister Strong by Hailey and Mandi Gardiner. 

Take the time to relax and rest! Put your feet up! Go on a vacation! Exercise! Spend more time with your family and friends! Read a book! Listen to music! Go to church! Pray! Read your bible! Do whatever you need that makes you feel rested. Take time for you.

I hope you have all had a nice relaxing weekend and feel rested, except my friends in healthcare where we work weekends, no rest for us.  I am only joking. I was actually off this weekend. I do 14 hour shifts. Whether you worked or not, I hope you do take the time out of your "busy" schedule to rest, it will make you feel a lot better.

This blog post was brought to you by the switch off, relax and rest society writing about common sense that we should do as adults but don't.

It's funny how sometimes it's just simple things we need to do but we don't do. It just shows how the smallest things in life can make the biggest difference.

With that I will love and leave you,
Until I write again,
I shall give you some rest between by blog posts (but not too long),
Nicola Hill

Suffering

Happy 2019! I thought I would start my first blog post of 2019 with the title "Suffering". What a great way to start a new blog post for the new year! That word really brings such warmth and makes you feel great. It's like a hot drink on a cold night. I don't really believe that by the way, it's not a word that inspires warmth but it is necessary. Most of what people write in the new year are things like new year, new you! You can do anything! Reach for the stars! Or whatever. Then you get someone like me talking about suffering. You're welcome. Nothing like a bit of a depressing topic to start the new year off. As I say with most of my blog posts you just have to keep reading. I hope my blog posts actually don't depress you. I don't consider this a depressing topic actually and if you keep reading you may find out why.

Let's hope everyone has the year their social media shows most of the time - life is great and there is no trouble and they just have fun. Wow amazing. A trouble free life, people living it up. We all know though this is not the reality sometimes. It's the same outside of social media - in this place called the world. People who are struggling do that thing where they put on a "brave face". They will smile at people, they will act normal whatever their normal is, meanwhile they don't feel it. Or it could be that someone is openly going through a tough time and you can see they are struggling and seem down about life.

Well you know life is to be lived! That might make you want to slap me at this point. I actually just wrote that to be annoying because I know it is annoying. You don't want to hear that kind of stuff when you are not feeling it. All this positive rubbish. You might feel a bit concerned where this blog post going. Am I going to tell people to be comfortable with being negative, encourage heartache, encourage depression, encourage suffering? Of course.... not.

When you suffer it's like someone bringing you a healthy meal but you are already full of all the junk food you have been eating. Both forms of food fill you up but one is better for you body. You can't actually eat anymore on  top of what you've eaten if you are full so you've got to choose what to eat in the first place. The healthy food is what keeps you going and the junk food is your suffering.

Healthy food includes: spending time with those we love, exercise, doing the things we enjoy, focusing on what we have. Junk food includes: focusing on our problems, isolating ourselves from people, not doing anything we enjoy, focusing on what we don't have. I try to add different examples for you but if you don't get it or it's not very good, just humour me, just pretend you understand, thank you. Does anyone eat healthy food all the time? (Now I am actually talking about food). To answer that question: Heck no! While you can have it most of the time sometimes you do eat that cake or chocolate or a heavy meal or any other form of junk food. It's the same with life we all have the "junk food" sometimes.

We are not perfect. This is a 2019 realisation I am sure. We are not perfect. I had to say that again in bold. We go through struggles. We go through struggles. Everybody experiences suffering of some kind. Everybody experiences suffering of some kind. You need to accept that you will suffer in this life. You need to accept that you will suffer in this life. There is a reason I put it in bold and wrote it twice. That last point is what most people avoid - accepting suffering. You don't want to tell people that they are going to suffer because isn't everything about life meant to be amazing all the time! Get over your hard times, see the sunshine! Er no that's not that easy.

If you can't accept that at times you are going to suffer when you start suffering it will hit you even harder. By suffering it could be anything from words people say to you that hurt, or abuse of any kind or financial difficulty or breakups or losing anything from a person, to an object, to a job. I am sure you can find many examples of suffering. You can make a list now of all the times you have suffered, it happens and it will keep happening.

This is what I wrote so you can think about it:
We are not perfect,
We go through struggles,
Everybody experiences suffering of some kind,
You will need to accept that you will suffer in this life. 

That is what you have to realise. Life is great sometimes and it can be hard too and sometimes this is because of our own doing or things that happen to us. If you expect to live a life where nothing bad will happen - I am just about to ruin your 2019 - bad things are going to happen sometimes.

We have become a world of hide your pain and put on a brave face and because of this some people's suffering goes unnoticed. I am not saying walk around with a sad face all day and let everyone know something is up with you. There is a time to be strong but there is also a time to share our suffering. That's it, everyone gets a free batch of suffering for reading this blog post - sharing is caring right? That's not the kind of sharing I had in mind. The only way you are going to deal with things is to deal with them. Not to hide from them or to pretend it's not there or to pretend everything is ok. Certainly some things you need to work out on your own or only share with those you want to but if you are living in a loop of suffering and it's just not working you need to to something about it.

The reality about people is like the quote :  The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You have just got to find the ones worth suffering for.  ~ Bob Marley

The reality about life is things aren't always going to go as planned and there are going to be times of suffering and surprises we didn't expect and I don't mean the good kind of surprises. 

The only problem about suffering is the length of it. Sometimes it's short and only lasts a few hours or a day and sometimes it goes on for days, months, years. Yes sometimes things will hurt for a while but it's up to us how long we prolong this hurt. How long we allow ourselves to suffer. The only person that can bring you out of your suffering is you. How long are you going to let yourself suffer? It takes time to feel good again sometimes but it does happen only if you take the steps to make it happen. 

Suffering can also be a gift sometimes. It's through our trials that we grow. It's through our suffering that we learn to appreciate when things go right because we know what it's like to experience things when they go wrong. Some of the best stories and autobiographies are because people learnt from their suffering and their suffering made them a stronger or better person. That makes you feel great doesn't it, suffering will make me strong - yay! Actually no quite the opposite. No one wants to go through the hard times at all but you are going to go through them.

You aren't going to have it all. You may have a lot of what you want in your life but you will never have absolutely everything you want out of life. You are going to have to face some harsh truths about yourself or what you expect from life. You are going to fail if haven't already, you will fail at something. You are not going to be happy all time. You are going to be disappointed. You are going to be let down. 

Maybe now you are thinking but I have done well at some things and not failed and I have got things I want out of life and I have felt happy and I have been disappointed but I have also had things go my way and I have been let down by people but I have also been helped by people. See there is still good in your life even with the suffering. 

While many think about dieting, think about the diet you need to live life. Eat the healthy food. Sometimes you will be eating junk food too and that's ok. We all can feel hurt sometimes. What's not ok is letting it control your life. Don't let it control you, you must control it.

I wrote this on my twitter recently: You make choices every day. And sometimes it isn't your fault when certain things happen but you choose how you are going to respond. We are responsible for our happiness.

We are responsible but if you think you are going to be happy all the time, you aren't but you can choose where your focus is.

Think about it, you have just suffered now. Yes you have. You have been suffering this whole blog post by reading this junk but sometimes we have to put up with the junk. I hope in the midst of this blog post you've got something out of it. I do believe that you can live your best life but even the best life doesn't come without suffering.

We have all experienced different amounts and different levels of suffering. Some experience it daily. I don't know what you've been through in your life. I am sure you have had really difficult times. You may be going through some hard times right now. Sometimes things take longer than others to deal with. There are hard things that happen and sometimes you carry them with you. Sometimes you have scars. I just hope that whatever you are dealing with or dealt with you aren't letting it define your life. There will be times when you look back on your suffering and it still hurts but don't let it stop you living your life. If you need to share your suffering share it. If you see someone suffering maybe they need help.

Thanks for reading and if you would like to suffer through anymore of my blog posts feel free to look around.

Just found this quote to add to this post:
Although the world is full of suffering. It is also full of the overcoming of it. ~ Helen Keller

I keep adding a bit more to this blog post... I have got through many things in my life through prayer, God's help, reading the bible and taking steps in the right direction. You may or may not have a belief in God but I do. Whatever you do in life, don't dwell on your suffering because there are so many good things waiting for you beyond your suffering. God's got great plans for us.

With that I shall love and leave you,
Until I write again,
Nicola Hill