30 Day Writing Challenge

Aloha

So I took part in the 30 day writing challenge and normally you’d do it daily (because that’s how you do these things) and I did do it daily, but I decided to post the finished full project on my site.

(Bear with, it’s alot)

Day 1 – List 10 Things That Make You Really Happy

1 – Writing
2 – Reading
3 – Buying books
4 – Hearing children laugh, seeing them smile, watching them grow
5 – Creating stuff from nothing
6 – Going to work
7 – Music
8 – Nature
9 – Elephants
10 – Family & friends

Day 2 – Write Something That Someone Told You About Yourself That You Will Never Forget.

I was once told by someone I was friends with in a chat room (a very long time ago, can’t remember much of them now) that I should never change.

Who I am, as a person. Nothing.

And I think that’s a very good thing to always remember.

Never change who you are to suit others. Never compromise yourself or your standards to conform.

Stay true to yourself and who you are.

Always.

Day 3 – What Are Your Top 3 Pet Peeves

The one thing that annoys me the most is when people hack up phlegm and spit on ground, or just spit on the ground in general. The noises they make absolutely gross the hell out of me. It is literally THE most disgusting thing to me and I wish people would stop doing it publicly. Like just don’t do it at all!

Another thing would be loud and noisy people on public transport.

One other thing would be judgemental people.

Day 4 – Write About Someone Who Inspires You

I thought long and hard about this, and to be fair, I have a lot of people in my life who inspire me, but at this very moment, I just want to give myself a little shout out.

The last 3 years have been incredibly hard for me. I moved to a different country with all these hopes and dreams for a better life.

There were times when I thought that I was setting myself up for disappointment and that I should just start facing the reality of things.

But here I am, 3 years later and still here. Still trying, still pursuing. I haven’t given up. Not on myself and not on trying to give myself a better life and future.

I started out with very little and I now I have soo much. A place I can call home, a job I love, friends and family that I’ll treasure for life.

Things for me now sure are a lot better than before. I’ve fought really hard and navigated through a whole lot more and I’m really proud of myself for all that I’ve achieved and how far I’ve come.

I still struggle with daily life, but I’ve got such a great support system both near and far and I just want to thank you all for being there for me and continuing to be with me on my journey.

Day 5 – List 5 Places That You Want To Visit

For the longest time I’ve had this desire to want to travel. To just go everywhere. Visit every place. See everything. I’ve always said that if I ever had the chance, I’d literally go anywhere and everywhere.

Not really sure where the desire for travel came from. Maybe because I lived in a small town and just hated alot of things about it, I’m not really sure.

But I’ll give a few places I wouldn’t mind visiting.

Australia – I’ve always loved anything to do with Australia (thank Summer Bay and Home & Away for that)

New Zealand – I’ve got a friend who lives there and it’d be nice to go finally actually get to meet her after years of email and phone call exchanges.

Spain – Again I love anything Spanish. I’m learning Spanish, or trying to here and there. But yeah, I’d love to go there and experience the cultural side of things.

Greece – Again just because it looks amazing there and I’m drawn to certain things about the country. I don’t know a lot about Greece but it’d be nice to learn a litttle more about another country.

Another place I’d love to visit is Egypt. I just think the country as a whole is so rich and diverse and colourful. And the history is never ending. There’s so much I could do and learn there. One of my favourite all time movies is “The Prince Of Egypt” and I am really genuinely fascinated by Egyptology.

Those are just a few, there’s soo many more places I’d love to visit, like I said I’ll go anywhere given choice and opportunity 😊

Day 6 – 5 Ways To Win Your Heart

Gosh how do I even begin to answer this question? I feel there’s many different ways and directions to answer this question so I’ll try have a little fun as well as try to answer the question as best as possible.

Now I’m a simple girl, it don’t take much to please me. I love cake, savoury sweets, books, music and animated movies.

But on a more serious side, I am human after all. I want the same things as every body else.

To be respected.

To be honest with. There’s nothing worse than a liar or pretentious person.

I love music, art and creative things, history, nature and all those kinds of things. If you take a genuine interest in anything I’m interested it, you’ll score major brownie points.

If I’m dating someone, again I want them to be genuinely interested in everything about me. Care about me, treat me right, be honest with me. Communicate truthfully with me. I like to think I’m a really good listener when I need to be. Please don’t lie to me and make me lose trust in you. Love me for who I am, with all my weird, strange and wonderful quirks. We all want to be appreciated by the person we’re with.

But don’t please me or do things for me just to hush me up, I’ll see right through that. Do it because you want to show your appreciation.

This is turning out to be a lot harder 😱 🤯 I literally can’t think of anything else to add. I’m not even sure if this post even makes sense 🤷🏽‍♀️

There is something that I will add as a last note. I love to laugh and I can laugh for hours. I also love to make people laugh (for some reason folk seem to find it very easy to laugh at me 🤔) I always joke that God made funny and not smart. If you can make me laugh and we have a laugh together and have that connection, it’s a good step in the right direction to something beautiful 😁

(Sidenote – Yes I’m still in a relationship, no the last part isn’t me putting myself out there for potential suitors, lol. I was speaking in general hypothetical terms).

Day 7 – List 10 Song That You’re Loving Right Now

In no particular order..

1) Zak Abel – All I ever do (is say goodbye)

2) Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes

3) Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry

4 ) Sean Kingston – Peace Of Mind

5 ) Major Lazer – Que Calor

6 ) Major Lazer – Can’t Take It From Me

7) Major Lazer + Rudimental – Let Me Live

8) Shawn Mendez – There’s Nothing Holding Me Back

9 ) Jonas Blue – Mistakes

10 ) Dermot Kennedy – All of his songs on his album “Without Fear”

Day 8 – Share Something You Struggle With

Something that I struggle with.. besides all the other things I’ve mentioned before?

Well there is something that I started doing about a year..maybe close to a year and a half ago, may have been two years ago, im not too sure when it started.

(I’m not even sure I should even be saying this)

But anyway, so this thing I do…I don’t struggle struggle with it, at times i don’t even realise I’m doing it. The thing I’m talking about is playing with my hair and occasionally hair pulling.

I honestly don’t do it on purpose, I think it stems from my anxieties about every day life and stuff.

I have noticed this issue and I have tried to make less of the habbit by always getting a hair cut (sometimes just grabbing and cutting it myself, I got no problems with looking like a boy because of my very short hair) I even got my hair braided to stop me always trying to touch it and stuff. I guess I just don’t really like the current state of my hair (I hardly take care of it and it’s really bad y’all) I was actually planning on going to get my hair seen to by a professional so I can get tips on how better to look after it, but then rona came into our lives and blew all plans out the water 😂 I don’t really like going to hair dressers because anxiety and I honestly hate the way hair dressers have judged my hair in the past so I just don’t bother.

So yeah, that’s something that’s become a really bad habbit of mine.

I’ll end this by saying this…yes I know my habbit is an actual real legitimate serious condition. What I do isn’t at the extreme point, I do it due to anxieties. And yes I know I’m not helping control my anxiety issues, but hey, I’m still working through things and hopefully I’ll stop doing this soon.

Maybe I should have spoken about the struggles of taking that step to making that phone call and actually talking to someone about my mental health issues 🤔🤷🏽‍♀️ maybe that’ll be a topic for another time.

Day 9 – Post Some Words Of Wisdom That Speak To You

I heard something the other day and it was.. “Be unapologetically you”.

I think I can relate to this phrase because throughout my life I’ve been judged..simply for being who I am and the way I was.

Anyway as I got older I stopped letting people’s thoughts and impressions of me get me down. There comes a point in life when you realise what’s important and what’s not.

End of the day, you should never have to apologise for being your authentic self (or having to keep explaining yourself to people who you owe absolutely NOTHING to!)

In the words of Madea (or whoever said these words first)…

“Folk gon’ talk about you ’til the day you die. Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it. But it ain’t what people call you; it’s what you answer to.”

Day 10 – Write About Something For Which You Feel Strongly

One of the main things I feel very strongly about is mental health, but I don’t want to do another piece on it. Not because I don’t want to (because you can never have enough to say about mental health issues) but there’s other stuff I like to give my 2p about (Yes, that’s p for pence, not cents)

So I believe in going for what you want and desire, and doing it with conviction.

If you love something or love doing something and it’s your passion, I say pursue that desire. And do it with all your might!

It’s always difficult because when you’re really into something, you like to share it with someone. People don’t always look at things in the same way as you do, and at times, you will get laughed at in your face, and told all sorts of things.

You cannot listen to any of it!

If you honestly believe in your whole heart of hearts, in the thing(s) that you’re doing or want to do, you gotta keep at it and continue believing in yourself and your capabilities. And if things don’t work out, try a different route.

Never give up on what you want and what you believe in.

Oh yeah, always have a plan B, you know, just in case 🙂

Day 11 – Something You Always Think…”What If…About

I’m not going to lie, I do sometimes think about all the “what ifs” in my life.

What if I got that job..what if I made the wrong decision…what if that relationship did work out..where would I be..where would my life be?

But if I go about my life thinking about every decision I made that didn’t or did work out for whatever reason, I’d drive myself crazy.

One can’t go through life living like that. I have a few regrets in my life and wish certain things could have gone a different way, or worked out differently.

But you can’t change the past, you can only learn from it and move forward.

Or something like that 🤷🏽‍♀️

Day 12 – Write About 5 Blessings In Your Life

I don’t really know how to answer this question.

Is it regarding people..things..events?

I can’t really answer this question so I’m choosing not too.

I am however very lucky to have certain things and people in my life that have helped me throughout my life and the past few years, and I am and always will be very grateful for all of it and for what’s to come 😊

Day 13 – What Are You Excited About?

I’m excited about a lot of things..or rather the prospect of things.

I’m excited about going back to work, being outside freely, seeing everybody. Just normal every day stuff.

I also look forward to other things, like of I were ever to be lucky to get married and have kids (I’m 32 now, I ain’t got time to wait ages for babies 😂). These things aren’t important as such, but I’d still like them to happen at some point.

What else am I excited about? Honestly, just a better future for myself. Maybe I’m living in fantasy land (I know I do at times) but it’d be nice to live a happy life. I’ve been surviving for so long and now I just want to live.

I’m still going to work hard for things but I’d just like to enjoy the fruits of my labour a little more, and I think that’s what’s I’m going to try do more of.

Just learn more, do more, explore more and experience more.

Live life and be happy 😊

Day 14 – Post Your Favourite Movies That You Never Get Tired Of Watching

In no particular order…

Horton Hears A Who

The Princess And The Marine

The Freedom Writers

The Prince Of Egypt

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (1&2)

Australia

The Colour Of Friendship

Pearl Harbour

Armageddon

Ladder 49

Down In The Delta

Lords Of Dogtown

Coach Carter

Hellzapoppin’ (Looooove this movie! An old black and white movie from the 1940s)

Up

Holes

Machine Gun Preacher

Trolls

There’s soo much more that I enjoy but I’d be here for days.

Day 15 – Bullit Point Your Whole Day

Well before rona, it would be..wake up, shower, have a cup of tea, leave for work, but tea and or a sweet treat, get on bus, get to work, have ANOTHER cup of tea (can you tell I love tea?) Finish work, go home, change, eat (If I haven’t already eaten something at work after I finished work, maybe watch an episode of two of something and go to bed.

Now, thanks to rona, it’s this 😐

• Wake up

• Check email

• Reply to messages

• Scroll through social medias (Fb, wordpress, Insta, YouTube. Im still trying to work out Twitter and Snapchat 🤭)

• Have a cup of tea

• Play games on my phone

• Grab a snack

• Watch EVERYTHING on Netflix

• Drink more tea / juice (gotta stay hydrated)

• Eat dinner

• Sleep

At times I do my cross stitch sewing but I’m taking a little break from it.

Can we resume normal life now please 😓

Day 16 – Something That You Miss

What DON’T I miss lately?!!

I miss going to work, laughing and chatting with my co workers, I even miss being harassed by some (all in good fun, I used to annoy them too) hanging out with folk, going outside for long walks. Sitting in the sunshine.

Just everything you know.

But this is a rough storm that we just have to ride out and hope the outcome is better or worth it (not sure which word to use).

There are people that I miss, but if they don’t know that I miss them, then…🤷🏽‍♀️

Day 17 – Post About Your Zodiac Sign, And Whether Or Not It Fits You Or Not

I haven’t done enough research on my star sign, but I know bits and pieces about my sign, which is Sagittarius.

From what I do know, I do suit the sign.

This post was brought to you by- laziness

Day 18 – Post 30 Facts About Yourself

1. I’ve been in a relationship for 6 and a half years
2. I’ve lived in Botswana, Scotland and now England
3. I’m half South African
4. I love books
5. I love tea
6. I love writing
7. I have 2 blog sites
8. I love animated movies
9. I love elephants
10. I’m not very good at cooking
11. I’ve lived on my own for nearly a year
12. I love everything to do with the universe, the stars, the cosmos
13. Growing up I always had a pink bike
14. I work in a fast food restaurant and I love my job
15. I call trousers..pants..much to the dismay and amusement of my co workers
16. I love music and art and cross stitch
17. I find the crime channel and stories involving crime interesting
18. I was once stopped and questioned by a policeman about a missing person case (mistaken identity)
19. I love cake
20. I can’t eat strawberries
21. I haven’t been able to enjoy normal chocolate for 2 years. I can eat small amounts but it still tastes very weird to me 😞 I can only eat white chocolate now 😕
22. I’m an introvert
23. The last book I read was by Jessica Brockmole called “Letters From Skye. It was amazing
24. When I’m sick, I enjoy peach yoghurt and chicken noodle soup to make me feel better.
25. Sometimes I’m in denial about my age #sweet16
26. I enjoy historical facts
27. I like the colour blue
28. I don’t like cheesecake
29. My ringtone is “Let’s Go” by Calvin Harris & Ne-yo
30. Farm animals freak me out 😬

Day 19 – Discuss Your First Love

I’m not even sure I have or had a first love. I’ve had many deep, hard crushes but I honestly can’t say I’ve Not had a first love. Not that I can think of…

Whenever I like someone, I tend to fall hard for them. The love I thought I had for them, 90% puppy love 😂 but always genuine feelings for said person.

(It feels weird discussing a love for someone else while in a relationship 😳)

Day 20 – Post About 3 Celebrity Crushes

1. Professor Brian Cox 😍❤😍❤😍❤😍❤
2. Vin Diesel 🤗
3. Shemar Moore 🤩
And a bonus one just because…Guy Martin. I have no idea what he’s saying half the time but he is nice to look at and listen to 😁

Day 21 – What 3 Lessons Do You Want Your Children To Learn From You

I don’t have any children at the moment (I would looooove a few of my own some day) but if I did, I would want them to know this..

1. Always be true to who you are.
2. Always believe and trust in yourself – **Never give up on yourself**
3. Follow your heart (and your dreams)

Day 22 – Put Your Music On Shuffle And Post The First 10 Songs

1. Promises – Calvin Harris/ Sam Smith
2. Waste Of Time – MO
3. Stingy – Ginuwine
4. Younger – Jonas Blue/HRVY
5. Change Your Life – Iggy Azalea/T.I
6. Particula – Major Lazer, DJ Maphorisa, Nasty C, Ice Prince, Patoranking, Jidenna
7. What Love Is Made Of – Katy B
8. Sunday Morning – K-OS
9. Everything – P -Money/Vince Harder
10. Solo – Clean Bandit/Demi Lovato

Day 23 – A Letter To Someone, Anyone

Dear JB

I came across your book by accident, but it was by far the best accident.

It caught my eye in the charity shop that I used to volunteer in. I scanned the front and read through the synopsis and I was immediately hooked! (I love and am very interested in anything historical and to do with the war).

I have never read a book like yours. It was so beautiful and the story told was so captivating.

The more I read, the more I wanted to know what happened next. It was very hard to put down.

I loved every minute of this book.

Thank you for writing it.

Yours sincerely

Me 😊

Day 24 – Write About A Lesson You’ve Learned The Hard Way

I guess when it comes to love I always learn the hard way.

Sometimes I fall too quickly and let things take over my mind. Other times I haven’t thought at all and just gone with it.

I do and have always gone through the scenarios and the what ifs and all of that. Whenever I fall for someone I’m committed (sometimes too much) but I think it’s just because I’m such a feeler about certain things.

I love to love, and when I love, I love, I love haaaaard with all my everything. (Again, sometimes tooooo dang much!)

I’ve been burned, I’ve dumped. Never been dumped (been ghosted but let’s not get into that 🤣).

Actually now that I think about it, when it comes to love, I never really learn 🙈🤭

Day 25 – Think Of Any Word. Search It On Google Images. Write Something Inspired By The 11th Image

So this one was a weird topic but I’m going to twist it up a bit. The word I thought of is laugh. I chose that word because 1..I love to laugh and with everything going on now, I’d rather we all be laughing for a little bit to make our day better.


Sooo instead of me writing about the picture, if you’d like to share a funny story, feel free to 😊

Day 26 – Write About An Area In Your Life That’d You Like To Change

There’s a lot of things I’d like to change but I think the one thing I should probably get a handle on is..my procrastination.

I am the queen of starting things and then either dragging the process out to only the half way mark or at times just barely starting and stopping right there.

Sometimes I put soo much energy into the thought and idea of something and by the time it comes to the action if it, I’m all out of steam and motivation and I’m done.

But I’m working on changing my ways and that’s always a good start 😁

Day 27 – Conversely, Write About Someone That’s Kicking Ass Right Now

I was going to say myself but I’m going to give a shout out to all in mind.

This is for anyone going through some situations. For those struggling through some things. For those feeling lost, worried scared.

This is for the worriers and the warriors.

I’m a huge believer in hope and faith. I don’t know where it stems from, maybe from my own personal hardships 🤷🏽‍♀️

I don’t particularly believe in the whole..”everything happens for a reason”..but I do believe in the fact that things have a way of working themselves out.

So to those going through things, I got 3 words for you..you got this!

Don’t stop believing that things will get better. Never lose hope and never give up. On things or yourself.

Trust the process that somehow things will be alright and that you too will be alright.

Day 28 – Post 5 Things That Make You Laugh Out Loud

1 – “You’ll never get a man unless you can cook” . That always makes me laugh 🤣 (jokes on me, he can’t cook 🤭)

2 – Botched (inside joke, we laughed for hours)

3 – “Why do you call all margarine Rama?” (Another inside joke and stil makes me laugh)

4 – Drunk/tipsy me 🤷🏽‍♀️ (that makes everyone else laugh, lol) please no reminders🙊🙈

5 – umm..this? https://youtu.be/HPKXirjhTmQ 😂

Day 29 – What Are You Goals For The Next 30 Days?

My goals for the next 30 days (or 31 because May has 31 days) would be to just keep on keepin’ on.

I don’t have much to focus on but the things I am focusing on are still my priority.

I’m still enjoying my sewing, playing the odd game here and there. Don’t get me wrong, as much as I enjoy all that, I am still very very BORED!

Living alone was great because I only came home to eat and sleep because I was out most of the day and I got to see people and hang out with them and do as I please on my days off. But now I’m home, every day, all day, by myself. And it gets soo frustrating at times.

But anyhoo, we have to do as instructed. Gotta stay safe and protect each other, and if that means getting frustrated and being overly bored with having nothing to do, it’s just what I’m going to have to do to get through this mess.

But I’m honestly doing alright so far. I’m a big girl who knows how to handle herself and her affairs and isn’t afraid to be alone.

(Still would have been a lot easier to get through this with some company lol)

Here’s to getting through the next month with better news worldwide 🤞

Day 30 – Your Highs And Lows of The Month

Well I made it to the end of the month.

It’s been an alright month apart from all the outside world stresses.

I’ve been very bored, very lazy and very frustrated.

I haven’t had any highs this month, but I have had a few lows.

What can I say, April came and gone and I can only hope that May will be better.