Category: Appreciation

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22.12.21 – I’ve only gone and done it!

On By theempressdiariessIn Appreciation, celebrations, keep pushingLeave a comment

Dear diary,

After months and months of applying for new jobs…

After months and months of rejections and minimal interviews

I can finally say….I HAVE A NEW JOB!!!

You are now looking at a Content Writer!

I cannot believe it 😫

It’s been a hard slog, let me tell you!

I’ve been a Teaching Assistant for 8 years and it’s been the most amazing job!

The children I’ve taught over the years have such a special place in my heart but it’s time to move on and start a new career

2022 is gonna start off with a bang!

I’ll fill you all in once I start ☺️

Peace

Xoxo

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28.8.21 – Chronicles of Covid-19

On By theempressdiariessIn Appreciation, gratitudeLeave a comment

Dear diary,

It’s been a minute since I’ve written anything.

Tbh, I’ve been slacking on the creative side, but once I got my mojo back, I was slapped in the face by coronavirus!

I’ve been walking around since the start of the pandemic, untouched.

I was going to work, mixing with 50+ children and adults. Going to the supermarkets. Seeing friends and family where the restrictions allowed us.

Now, I will be honest, I thought I was invincible. I thought either – I wouldn’t get it OR it wouldn’t be so bad when I did get it.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

As soon as the restrictions were lifted….BOOM!

I was hit like a ton of bricks.

The feeling came over me so fast, I just thought I was feeling the effects from the free bar at the wedding the night before.

It was horrendous!!

My cousins kept telling me to take a covid test but why would I need to? I don’t have covid…👀

I don’t know if all my followers have had C-19 yet but everyone I have spoken to so far have had different experiences.

Here’s how my experience went

It started with an extremely bad headache.

I had a horrible pain behind my eyes and I was sensitive to the light.

I had the worst back pain.

I had a slight shortness of breath but nothing too alarming.

My skin was sensitive to touch.

I was nauseous.

I threw up.

I lost my smell.

I had diarrhoea.

I was constantly dizzy.

Fatigued.

I lost my appetite and had the chills. Surprisingly, no fever!

The only thing I could keep down was orange energy drinks.

The worst part had to be the dizziness and the constant back pain!

The aftermath

Finally, 21 days after contracting C-19, I can say I am feeling about 90% better. I still can’t smell, I still get tired quickly and sometimes a shortness of breath will come on if I do too much BUT compared to the beginning of the month, I’m doing all right!

Guys. I’m no doctor, no medical professional nor no scientist.

But what I will say is this…Please look after yourself and stay safe.

Do whatever you can do to stay as healthy as you can be.

I do not want to experience that ever again.

I was grateful that, although, my experience wasn’t pleasant, I was able to bounce back. For some of us, that hasn’t been the case 😔

Take care

xoxo

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28.3.21 – Wonderful Wellness

On By theempressdiariessIn Appreciation, gratitude, Wellness, YogaLeave a comment

Dear diary,

Yesterday, I experienced some wonderful, well needed wellness!

This week, whilst scrolling through social media, I came across a page called mind walk yoga.

They were hosting a wellness retreat online that included yoga and a sound bath!

I’m a big believer in the universe gives you what you need when you need it, so obviously, I was meant to see this post!

I love yoga and have always wanted to experience a sound bath so I whipped out my card and bought a ticket.

The session lasted for 2 hours and it was magical! We did some breathing and flowing practice with lovely Zakiya, floor/chair postures with empowering Karen who ended with a beautiful poem which made me emotional! (nothing new there!) and we finished with amazing Cherelle who transcended me to a calm and clear state of mind with the sound bath.

Now I know this may not seem like everyones cup of tea, but this was honestly the first time in a while, where I was able to have a free mind, my body still and I could release all the tension from within.

It was weird, I came out of the session feeling tired because I had relaxed so much but equally, I felt energised.

I was able to relax, control my breathing, appreciate the now and not worry about the future – although the thoughts did try to take over my quiet time. I connected to myself again and I haven’t done that in so long.

My mind has felt semi clear since the session and I can slowly feel all my worries and busy thoughts returning, but I am very grateful for these three incredible women for creating a safe space to allow me, and others who need it, a break.

So, for everyone who is feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or stressed – take some time for you! Even if its 30 minutes. Sit in silence, clear your mind, meditate, put some calming music on, focus on your breathing and really try to connect to you again and give yourself the attention you need!

I read a quote today that said ‘if you don’t pick a day to relax, your body will pick it for you’ – And boy, ain’t that the truth, Ruth!!!

Be kinder to yourself

xoxo

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20.2.21 – Well, How Do You Do, 32!

On By theempressdiariessIn Appreciation, celebrations, gratitude, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Dear diary,

Today is my 32nd birthday!

As I blow out the candles of my beautiful tasting birthday cake, I wanted to let you in to my birthday wish!!

I am so blessed to have made it this far in life and I pray I see another 32 plus years more.

This year’s goals I wish to complete are – Lose 2 stone! – Your girl needs to shift some serious covid weight!!!

Volunteer/Help those who need it using my own resources!

– Start a business!

I am so thankful for all the opportunities that have come my way and that are soon to arrive. I am thankful for everything that pushes me out of my comfort zone and enables me to grow – no matter how uncomfortable it is. Thank you for my family, for my love, for my friends, for my jobs, for health, for laughter, for happiness, for everything me and my family have! Appreciation in abundance!

It’s officially my year anniversary on WordPress ❤️ Thank you to all who read and continue to read. More content is coming and most importantly, more consistent content!!! Speak soon!!!

Xoxo

  • My 31st birthday cake 😍
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10.5.20 – Gratitude and Appreciation

On By theempressdiariessIn Appreciation, gratitude, positivity2 Comments

Dear diary,

During the last 6/7 weeks, I’m sure I am not the only one who has been up and down mentally. One minute I am loving my own company and not wanting the lockdown to end, the next, I am missing my loved ones and missing the old normal. Last week, whilst doing some reflecting, I decided to create a list of things I am grateful for. I think a lot of us take so much granted and I wanted to remind myself that if I look at the bigger picture, I am actually very blessed.

10 – My bed! Now for some of you, this might seem like a silly one. I work in a primary school and I help children from all walks of life. Unfortunately, some of the children I help have nothing in their house except the bare minimum. The bare minimum does not mean furniture! They have a cooker, fridge/freezer and a washing machine but no couch or bed. They sleep on duvets and blankets on the a cold floor. So you can understand why my bed is on my list.

9 – My garden! With the current lockdown, I have been blessed that I have a garden I can sit in whenever I feel suffocated. I sit listening to music or the birds chirping away. I allow my mind to clear and I become present and embrace the moment. I allow the sun to hit my skin and charge my soul to allow me vibrate higher. I never really sat in my back garden. As I have previously mentioned, I work 6 days a week so I was never really home to enjoy it. A lot of my friends and family live in flats and don’t have a garden, so I really feel for them on days when they want to sit and relax outside.

8 – My car! My anxiety has been sky high recently and I really don’t like going for walks. I was trying to encourage myself to go for early morning walks (which I did 3/4 times) but I just feel safer at home. To get myself out of the house more, I’ll jump in my car and take a small drive.It might only be to the supermarket or my Nans but it got me out of the house. If I didn’t have my car, I don’t think I would leave my house.

7 – A roof over my head! This one goes without saying. It is no secret that homelessness is an issue in the north-west and no doubt across the UK. I never really understand how in 2020, there are still people being left without a roof over their heads. If I had a genie with 3 wishes, getting everyone off the streets is definitely what I would wish for. We all deserve to be in a warm, safe space that we can call our own.

6 – Warmth! Linking with number 7, I think being warm is another thing that can be taken for granted. To be cosy and toasty should be a privilege for everyone! I can’t imagine people would choose to be cold, wet and freezing. However, I could be wrong. I personally love being warm. The heating is always on, I love beach holidays, I have 2 duvets on my bed; you get my point 😂

5 – Food and water! Again, linking to the last 2 reasons to be grateful, it seems like it should be a given but I don’t think most people give thanks before putting good food and clean water in their bellies.

4 – Technology! What would we have done during this time without technology? We are blessed to be in a time where we have smart phones to video call, laptops to keep us working and to have zoom calls! TV’s to help keep us entertained. Apps to help us track how fit and healthy we are, to help us bake the perfect banana bread as well as helping the children with their school work. Thank you technology!

3 – My jobs! During the pandemic, according to the news, 1 out of 20 people have lost their jobs. The most affected being accommodation and food services. I am blessed that I still have work.

2 – Good health! I can’t even imagine how many are feeling as Covid 19 sweeps over the world and causes damage to many people’s lives. Not only has this virus taken people far too soon, but there are still millions suffering with many other viruses and illnesses and can’t get the treatment or operations they need due to the coronavirus. I have always been grateful about being in good health before Covid 19 and I will always be grateful.

My top reason to be grateful – I woke up this morning! Waking up is one of the most underrated reasons to be grateful. So many people, didn’t wake up this morning. A lot will not tomorrow. As soon as my eyes open, I am so blessed that I get to enjoy another day of life. Sometimes, its not always happy times but I look back at my list and remember, although I may not be the richest when it comes to material things, I am rich in love, I am rich in blessings, I am rich in opportunities.

I hope everyone starts to make gratitude lists! Let us focus on the positive points in our life, not always the negative. A new normal is coming but that doesn’t mean that our lives are over.

Sending positive energy and vibes to all 😘