My First Week at Uni

Well I've done it. I've survived my first week of lectures at university and I've made it to the end of Freshers week and what a few weeks it has been.

As I left home on Saturday I was so excited but the closer we got to uni, the more nervous I got. However, these nerves soon dissipated when I picked up my key and made my way to my new home. The Fresher's Angels were lovely and helped me move everything into my room. With bags and boxes everywhere I wondered how I would fit everything in. Somehow I managed it and began to arrange everything nicely while my parents did a food shop for me. 

Thankfully I'd already found a few people in my building on facebook and we had a group chat so we arranged to go for a walk to main campus to get our freshers' wristbands for the Student Union nights. It was good to put names to faces and I actually found it was so easy to get on with everyone. By day 3 it felt like we had known each other for so long, having a bit to drink and going out definitely helps break the ice. If all else fails, you can never go wrong with a good drinking game! 

I went out, either to the Student's Union or into town, 7 nights out of 8 which is a record for me in a week for sure but I loved every night. My favourite nights were the Paint vs Foam night at the SU, a night at Bar Thirteen which played proper pop and R&B music (so up my street) and the night that Jonas Blue came to play on the final Saturday night. Each night I made new memories with this new group of people I'm now able to call my friends. 

During the first week I had some introductory lectures which i went to the majority of and some were fairly informative so I'm glad I did attend. They also helped me gain a bit of perspective of the campus and where everything is however I still enter campus and wonder where the hell i'm going! I'm sure I'll be fine in a few weeks. All the lecturers I've met so far have seemed really nice, my personal tutor is lovely and my academic tutor seems quite funny. With each lecture I go to I'm meeting more coursemates but there are around 180 people on my course so I really don't think I'll meet them all this semester even! I feel bad but I've met so many people whose names I've already forgotten but it's so difficult when you're meeting new people allllll the time! If there's not a really super distinctive feature about them (no offence) it is harder to remember them. For example I remember the name of one girl who has a really quirky personality but I can't remember the girl who was sat across from me at the welcome tea but didn't really talk! 

With Freshers' Week is over I was well and truly hit by Fresher's Flu and it seemed like the majority of people I know have too. The amount of people who were coughing in lectures was almost funny. Being ill and away from home was soooo tough though because there was nothing I wanted more than my mum to bring me a massive cup of tea, some toast and a tonne of chocolate! It's all part of growing up and I know I'm not alone here but it is easy to feel alone when you don't have the energy to move from bed to socialise with people (and you have a very quiet slightly unsociable flat anyway *sigh*). 

Properly starting lectures was daunting but also exciting. I had my first lecture on biological basis of psychology and this really excited me for the rest of term. I thought bio basis would be the worst of my lectures but it actually sounds like it could be one of my favourite! One huge downside which I forgot about is the cost of books. OH MY GOD. I spent £45 on one statistics book. I've looked in the library for the rest of my books but there are generally about 20 copies of each book, only 150 short of the number of people on my course. The likelihood is I will need to buy majority of the essential reading books but at between £30-40 each this is not going to be cheap and I'm really concerned about how I'm meant to pay for all of these without a job and with a student loan which doesn't even cover my accommodation. 

For the rest of the week I had more lectures, workshops and tutorials with the main focus being an introduction to the module and what to expect. I have some really nice lecturers and learning a bit about each module so far is really exciting me. I didn't expect to enjoy all the modules but I hope I continue to enjoy them. 

I've already been given my first essay which is due for three weeks! My plan is to go at it just like an A-level essay but with a tonne more detail basically. I'm not expecting to get 90% already but I'm really hoping I do okay. I like personality, which is the topic it is on, and I think I understand it pretty well so fingers crossed for me! 

Something I've really struggled with though is tiredness. In all three of my first lectures I very nearly (but not quite) fell asleep multiple times. Lots of late nights with not a lot of sleep, lots of alcohol and poor eating will do bad things to your body and biological clock. 

I've managed to explore the town near uni as well and I've fallen so deeply in love with it. Every shop I want they have. Everything I never knew I needed but definitely do, they have too! There are cute little pubs, fancy shops and the classic high street shops and standard restaurants. What more could I need (well actually a better primark please). 

So far I'm enjoying university and it's definitely different to what I expected but I'm enjoying it. All that's left to do is get healthy and settle into a routine! Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading

Charlotte

XO

What do you find beautiful?

Beautiful: 'Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically'


The sea with its deep blue rolling waves

Puppies 

Tall, dark, handsome guys

Cake

Friends meeting after a long time apart

Rowing on perfectly still water 

Hugs

Music

Autumnal trees

Sunsets

Sunrises

Forests

Lakes surrounded by mountains

Guys with facial hair

Making someone laugh

Christmas trees covered in lights and decorations 

London

Kindness towards you 

Giraffes

Rainbows

Walking along the Thames at sunset 

Entire movie days lying together on the sofa

My friends

South Africa

City skyline

Parks in autumn 

Kind strangers in the street

Snow

Books 

Horses

Stationery

2am dancing in a club with close friends

A perfect blue sky

Jewellery 

Nice eyes

Countryside walks

Travelling 

Harry Styles

Dolphins

Pizza

Charitable people 

Playing scrabble with my mum and a few glasses of wine

Confidence

A kind heart  

Ryan Reynolds

Being selfless 

Smiling

The arrivals area at the airport

Best friends

Cocktails on the beach in Portugal 

Family holidays with lifelong memories

Love. 

This post was inspired by a youtube social experiment video I stumbled across during a late night binge watching session. I loved hearing what people found beautiful, and generally it wasn't appearance or looks but an actual thing. There is so much hate and anger in the world it was nice to see some happiness, love and beauty. This blog post is just an attempt to help to spread some beauty! 

What do you find beautiful?

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte

XO

Life Update: Uni

Almost a year ago to this day I wrote a blog post about growing up. This was just as I'd had confirmation of my gap year placement as a rowing coach after I'd missed my grades meaning I missed out on uni. I had thought my life was over and uni became a fairly distant thought in my mind, until I had to redo my UCAS of course. But I am now finally able to say I'M GOING TO UNIVERSITY.

The evening before results day had been very relaxed, perhaps due to some rather strong mojitos and a much needed catchup with a very lovely friend but as soon as I got home I knew a relatively sleepless night was waiting. I spent a lot of the night trying to hold off a panic attack as I almost rehearsed how I'd feel after I knew I wasn't going to uni again. I tried to think of what else I could do instead of uni, perhaps more coaching? or an internship? Or just go straight into the world of full-time work. I didn't know what I'd do or how I would face my parents but either way I was 98% sure I wasn't going to university. 

Well how wrong I was! I woke after 3-4 hours on and off sleep to a text from the University of Surrey informing me that my place at Surrey was confirmed. I refused to believe it was true so I immediately checked UCAS and to my complete and utter shock it was. I was going to university. Straight away I ran into my parents' room to wake them up and tell them the good news. I have never felt such relief than when I saw the acceptance on UCAS, I didn't even care what was in the envelope of my results now. It didn't matter, I got into my first choice university! Despite really working hard I didn't go up significantly in Biology but I did go up 10marks in Psychology which I was so happy about as that's what I'm studying. 

Shortly after the university confirmation I was given my accommodation and thank god I got an ensuite room. Tt's located near the multi-million pound sports park which I'm certain I will be spending the majority of my time in! Soon I began finding flatmates and people on my course which I'm sure is going to make the initial moving in and meeting everyone so much easier. I've met one girl who is super similar to me and is on my course so we're hoping we are neighbours! The next step is buying everything for my room, I'm trying not to go crazy and just get essentials but I'm so excited to decorate my room with cute fairy lights, photos and make it nice and homely! 

While I am so excited for this new adventure, to meet new people, start training properly again, be nearer to London and actually be learning again I'm also kind of terrified. I'm not scared about surviving on my own because I did a pretty good job of that this year. But this year was different, I was on my own. I was moving to a job where I was the only new person and there weren't many other people my age or in the same situation as me and in a way that was easier because I didn't feel any pressure to be someone or do things. Most of my friends were older than me, with a lot of them getting engaged and married (making me feel extremely single!). I didn't mind the age gap because I've always been someone who feels older than they are so it was actually nice to be the youngest. But there is now a part of me that feels fitting in with people my age will be a bit more difficult. I know I'm not the only one who has had a year out and there are a lot of 19 year olds starting this year but I keep worrying I won't fit in. I know it's ridiculous but it's just how my brain works. I know there will be so many different types of people at uni and I'll find a fab group of friends on my course, in my flat, from rowing or whatever clubs I decide to join yet my stupid over-thinking brain sometimes makes me feel like I won't. 

I know once I've moved in and we start Freshers' Week I'll be absolutely fine. I probably will get homesick but I've got wonderful friends I can FaceTime and I know I'll make some great friends as soon as I'm there so I know I'm not alone. There will be other people who'll get homesick or will have similar thoughts to me so I know I'm not alone there either, I just need to get to uni and get on with it before I can overthink it anymore! Although I have got Bestival to get through first and I am extremely excited for that! 

Everyone has told me that university is the best experience of your life and I can't wait to start my new adventure! It's reassuring that all my friends have had the best first year at university so let's hope it bodes well for me too! Wish me luck! 

Thanks for Reading

Charlotte

XO

An Afternoon Adventure 2.0

Another free trip to London.... do you really think I'd say no to that? 

On a rather summery but windy day about 2 weeks ago I ventured down to London again, is time to explore Tower Bridge and the surrounding area as, despite it being a tourist hotspot, I've never really explored it. 

I took the Metropolitan line to Baker Street where I then changed to the Jubilee line and got off at Waterloo for what I was told would be a quick walk before reaching the Thames. It might have been shorter had I not started walking in the opposite direction to start with but the walk ended up taking me around half an hour through some rather dodgy streets! Eventually I found London Bridge, completely missing Borough Market, a place I've wanted to visit for so long, and wandered down through Southwark to Tower Bridge. 

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit this area was to visit one of the Team GB fanzones. The day I visited was one of the bigger rowing days of the Olympics and I thought it would be nice to watch some of the rowing on the bank of the Thames with a big group of people. So after walking as fast as I could and working up quite a sweat (nice) I got to the fanzone to find the screen wasn't working. Disappointed, I ventured to Leon and ordered none other than the halloumi wrap of course, took it to a bench on the side of the river and watched the rowing on my phone. It was a struggle not to get really excited when I watched Katherine Grainger and Vicky Thornley bring home a silver medal in the women's double. A few races later and a lot of iced tea later and I needed the loo (TMI? sorry). Now usually I'd have thought this issue was easy to resolve, hundreds of coffee shops and restaurants in London there must be a toilet in one of them? Well you'd be wrong. A 2-3 mile walk and 20 coffee shops later, I found a Costa near St Pauls Cathedral which had a toilet. By this point me feet were starting to really hurt and I was so dehydrated I was thankful to find a coffee shop anyway!

Feeling relieved and refreshed I walked back over London Bridge and smelt the most incredible food smells and realised I was near Borough Market so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. There is little I love more in the world than food so subsequently there's little more I'd love to stumble across than a food market as extravagant as Borough Market. Some of the food I saw (and smelt) made me want to buy the entire stall. But I knew I was going for a meal soon and not wanting to ruin my meal I decided just to stick to tasters, including a venison burger which was delicious. What I enjoyed more was that this burger stall was directly next to a vegan stall, the irony. 

Unfortunately my time in Borough Market was cut short and I could almost definitely have spent an entire day there trying everything from every stall but I was on to my next adventure. I walked (yes more walking) back to Tower Bridge and bought tickets to go up to the glass viewing point. Because I'm quite an active person and perhaps slightly crazy (and extremely impatient) I decided we would walk up the stairs to the top instead of waiting for the lift, something I would not recommend after a heavy week of training. At the point I thought was half way up I could feel my legs burning, at the actual half way point I wondered why I didn't have more patience but at the top I realised the view was worth it. From one side I could see all the way down to Greenwich where the O2 arena was sticking up above Canary Wharf. On the other side, the London Eye, St Pauls and HMS Belfast. Both sides have a glass floor which allow you to see down to the river and the road below, when tall boats come under it is the prime view to see the bridge open and close, something we were lucky enough to see. 

Just a selfie above the Thames

By this time we were hungry so made our way to Shad Thames to scope out the options. In the end we chose Ask Italian, mainly because we had a discount code, we're not cheap at all! An Aperol Spritz and mozzarella sticks later I actually felt like I was in a foreign country it was such a beautiful evening! The food was delicious and the evening sky was turning a beautiful shade of purple/pink so we wandered down the river bank slowly. 

Back at the fanzone the screen was finally working and a review of the day's Olympic competitions was on. Of course when the rowing was on I was completely engrossed and totally oblivious to the changing evening sky, the increasing wind and the loud music coming from the bar area. By this time it was around 10pm and definitely time to leave as we had a long drive home but it was another one of those moments which made me fall deeper in love with this magical city. 

I'm so excited to be moving closer this year (YES I GOT INTO UNI PEOPLE, more on that if people are interested to hear about it) AND I'm going to make sure I visit even more and I'll keep you updated on my afternoon adventures!

Thanks for Reading

Charlotte

XO

An Afternoon Adventure

When you're offered a free trip to London it doesn't really take a lot of thinking before you say YES. So without so much as a plan I headed off to my favourite place in the world. 

The one place I knew I wanted to explore was Covent Garden as, somehow, I'd never actually been there before. Walking out of the tube station I pretty much instantly fell in love with it. While it was busy, it didn't feel crowded but instead felt calm, just quietly buzzing. I had no idea where to go so I simply started walking without much purpose or agenda. I wandered around the shops and stumbled upon Apple Market. I spent a short time surveying the vintage stalls before browsing through some of the shops.

Blue sky over Covent Garden

By then it was around 2pm and my stomach was beginning to rumble so, using google maps, I found a Leon restaurant and headed there to gorge on halloumi. Sat in the window overlooking the bustling London street I felt completely content eating on my own, something I've never felt before. 

From Leon my plan was to head back to the shops but I somehow got diverted to Victoria Embankment, definitely not a bad diversion. Using the ever helpful maps situated around London, I decided to walk towards Trafalgar Square. Walking along the Thames was lovely until the heavens opened and rained like it hadn't rained all year. I quickly altered my route in search of shelter and somehow found Horse Guards Parade. I walked through to the other side (after I had admired the gorgeous horses of course) and into St James Park but not before I stopped to admire the beauty of the buildings surrounding Horse Guard's parade.

Trust me to find the horses!

It's been years since I explored this area of London and I forgot how beautiful it all is. There is a special quality to the Royal Parks in London, despite being in a huge, crowded city full of cars and buses, when you're in the parks you don't hear a thing. All you can see is greenery, pretty floral arrangements and wildlife, it's what makes London such a perfect city. Wandering through the park I saw signs for Buckingham Palace so of course that's where I decided to head for the next stage of my solo walking tour of London. This was where I found it got really busy, multiple school and tourist groups visiting one of the most famous London sights, it was no surprise. I was lucky enough to get there just as the changing of the guards took place so I stayed to watch that and just as I did, the sun came out and blue sky shone over the palace, it truly felt like summer in London. 

Buckingham Palace looking majestic

As Green Park is adjacent to the palace it was, obviously, my next adventure and it was a lovely walk through rows of trees which led me towards Piccadilly where I then ventured to Hyde Park corner, stopping of at a few war memorials on the way. I've never been the kind of person to take a whole lot of notice to war memorials, I failed and subsequently quit history in year 9 so my knowledge of all things war related is pretty slim and for a while I wasn't really all that interested. Yet I found it strangely comforting to read these names of random people who gave their lives for our country, one that now seems to sadly be falling apart. 

On my way to Hyde Park I found an exhibition of a car but it wasn't your standard car. This exact vehicle had been driven by a young man when he was hit by a driver speeding at 80mph in a residential street in Leeds. The young man lost his life and the car was totalled. The display of the awfully dismantled car was part of a campaign known as #RoadstoJustice. Seeing this car in such an awful state really hit home how dangerous speeding is and how fragile cars actually are. 

Not even half of the damage done to the car!

Onwards into Hyde Park I walked to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, a place where I have a lot of fond childhood memories with my nan and little brother. Again, just like walking along the Thames, I found the water and the sound of it flowing around the fountain so calming, I could've stayed there for hours. My adventure then took me to Kensington Gardens to see the Peter Pan statue, the palace, a surprise wedding photoshoot and a bird whisperer handing out bird food to passers by. After some hesitation, I took some bird feed and parakeets soon flocked to me (pardon the pun). Surprisingly they were really gentle and their claws didn't hurt at all, only when the hundreds of pigeons also surrounding us and scavenging for food decided to fly up did I get slightly scared (probably more about being pooed on). 

My new bird pals

After leaving the birds, I walked towards the palace to see the prime position of the sun creating the perfect silhouette of the palace standing tall over the pond in front. A brief sit down in the last of the day's sun, watching a group of rather attractive guys playing rugby, a cute dog running through the grass and endless groups of people enjoying London in summer, it has been a while since I've felt as content and relaxed as I did then. 

Kensington Palace Gardens bathed in the dusky sun

By now it was around 7pm and I was hungryyyyy so, I decided to wander around Kensington High Street and found a cute little Mexican restaurant called Lupita. Here I ate one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life. Starter was literally rolled cheese on the most insane guacamole EVER. Then my main was pure mouth-watering heaven. I chose Steak Tortas which was made up of steak, Chihuahua cheese , tomatoes, lettuce and avocado in a really soft bun and a side of Mexican rice topped with even more avocado. One bite of the tortas and I fell into a food paradise, no words can explain the feelings that food gave me. It didn't look like much but in one bite I discovered how incredible it tasted. The tortas was fresh, cheesy, meaty and full of flavour with every bite. I certainly felt like I'd reached a food paradise. Dessert was, of course, churros with Mexican chocolate, I don't think I need to tell you how good these were, all I can say is visit for yourself! 

FOOD

The last stop before heading home was my heaven on earth, Whole Foods. There is nothing more I love than good quality, slightly exotic/different food (minus the ridiculous prices). I bought two fresh juices, two fancy-flavoured marshmallows, mint choc chip and strawberries and cream (because what else should I buy in a one-off trip to whole foods?) and two alcoholic iced teas (what a combination!). I could've easily bought the entire store. Walking down Kensington High Street in the dusky evening light was the perfect way to end my 8 hours in London. 

My love for this city grows every time I visit, and exploring it with no direction or real purpose was definitely the best way to see it and find the real London. I learnt a lot and had a lot of thinking time when I was exploring on my own and I am certainly not done exploring London, never mind all the other cities in the world! 

Originally I was nervous about being on my own but I loved it, I felt safe and at home and I didn't care about anything else. I really encourage exploring somewhere on your own, even if it's just for a few hours! 

Wow it's good to be writing again! 

Thanks for Reading

Charlotte
XO

An Explanation/Apology/Promise

I feel like I have a lot of explaining to do...... I haven't posted since March, almost 3 months ago. It's not that I haven't written anything, I have it's just never been finished or posted. I've started 2 favourites posts, 3 lifestyle posts and  a throwback style post. And nothing posted since March.

I love blogging, I started it as a little hobby to keep me entertained and I loved it. I still do but I've had to prioritise. A part-time-but-feels-like-full-time-job, intense training and revision for exam resits have taken top priority. Training and work I don't mind prioritising but revision..... no thanks. 

Once my exams are over I should be back into regular uploads (hopefully) full of inspiration for nice summery posts before I head off on my next adventures in September!!

I can't wait to start blogging more!!!!

Thanks for reading 

Charlotte

XO

Wabi

So I've been struggling to find the time to write anything recently due to work, training and revision and while I should be writing a psychology essay right now I feel guilty for not writing in about a month (oops). I found these words in a psychology article recently and they made me really happy for some reason so I thought I'd share them with you.

All of them are words from other languages which, in the English language, we don't have. All are words for 'positive emotional states and concepts' as the BPS article describes them. Here are some of my favourites but I really recommend reading the whole article because I think it's such language is such an interesting concept!

Nakama

Japanese

Friends one considers family

Vacilando 

Greek

The idea of wandering. The pure act of travel is more important than the destination

Gumusservi

Turkish

The glimmer than moonlight makes on the water 

Firgun 
Hebrew
Saying nice things to people to simply make them feel good 

Iktsuarpok 

Ivit

The anticipation felt when waiting for someone 

Gigil

Philippine Tagalog

The irresistible urge to pinch or squeeze someone because you love them so much 

Kilig 

Philippine Tagalog 

The butterflies felt when interacting with someone you find attractive

Sarang 

Korean

The wish to be with someone until death

Mudita 

Sanskrit

The reveling in someone else's joy

Tyvsmake 

Norweigan

To taste or eat small pieces of food when you think no one is watching, especially when cooking (i'm such a culprit of this) 

Ullassa 

Sanskrit 

Feelings of pleasantness associated with natural beauty

Wabi

Japanese

Imperfect beauty

The last one is my absolute favourite, it's so simple. I like that there are so many words we don't know in the English language which describe feelings most people have/will feel. They're also a lot more beautiful than most English words.

Which is your favourite??

Thanks for reading

Charlotte

XO

Nostalgia

Nostalgia: 'A sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past'

I've recently come to realise I am an extremely nostalgic person which I guess has it's positives and negatives. 

I recently tweeted this:

Do you ever think back to a really happy memory and how amazing it was but then get really sad because you'll never experience those exact feelings you had in that exact moment. No matter what fun or exciting things happen which bring you the same level of happiness you'll never be able to feel exactly how you felt in that moment and that moment will never ever happen again' 

Without realising it I'd basically summed up what I think is nostalgia, or at least how I see it. I am really happy with life right now, it's not perfect but I love my job, I love rowing and training and I'm surrounded by amazing friends and family and really that's all I can ask for. Yet I keep finding myself looking back through my Facebook to see old photos or watch old videos which bring back such strong memories of my time at school. I really miss school, I miss my friends, the simplicity of life (even though I didn't realise it then) and the blissful ignorance I had to the world. I simply went to school, spent time with my friends, rowed and went home and I was okay with that.

Now I'm in a position of huge responsibility, I have a salary but I have to prioritise food, fuel and essentials over things I simply want, no matter how beautiful they may be. I have a job which puts me in a position of power and, again, responsibility over a large number of students. I have to sort appointments, book my car into the garage when something goes wrong, the list is endless and seems to grow with each week. And I am okay with that, I've always been quite a mature teenager and so I like independence and responsibility but it's also not easy. Constantly having to think about what to eat or when something must be done by is tiring (my nap frequency has increased dramatically, but that's another story). 

I love being able to remember these memories so vividly, it makes them feel really special but I think there is a negative aspect to it. I worry that because I think back to these memories, I'm perhaps not living in the moment, maybe I'm not enjoying everything around me in the current moment and maybe I won't remember it like I do with my past memories. I hope I am, and I think I am living in the moment but I think my nostalgia is holding me back from being completely grateful and happy about where I am now. 

So, while I love being nostalgic and I will continue to be I think it will be a less frequent occurrence so that in 2 or so years time I can look back on this time with nostalgia as strong as it is now! 

Thanks for reading

Charlotte

XO

19 Things I've Learnt in 19 Years

Just over a week ago I turned 19 and entered my final teen year. Even though I'm obviously not old I feel old, with a job, increasing responsibility and a childhood that now seems a disappointingly distant memory. As I was driving home (my general thinking time) I thought to everything I've learnt and come to realise in my 19 years on this planet. I don't remember my childhood at all until about 7 years old I think and since then it's definitely been an up and down journey to get to where I am now and so I think it's worth sharing everything I've learnt so far!

1. Look after your body- You only have one body and looking after it by eating healthily, exercising regularly and drinking lots of water you'll feel so much better (and look better). Your skin will clear up, hair and nails will become stronger and you should feel happier! 
2. Exercise is the best medicine- Whenever you feel down and craving chocolate go and exercise. Even if it's just a 15 minute walk the fresh air will do you good. You may not feel like exercising but the endorphins released will lift your mood! 
3. Live YOUR life in your time-  Everyone reaches milestones at different times whether that's biologically or socially (first boyfriend, first job etc). So don't judge your life based on other people's. I honestly believe everything happens for a reason (even though you may not realise it at the time) and so don't worry if it hasn't happened for you yet. It will, at the right time, with the right person, in the right place! 
4. Don't deny yourself simple pleasures- While I'm always trying to eat healthily, if i want cake or chocolate, I'm going to eat cake or chocolate! If I want to lay in bed all day, watch movies and eat a tub of Ben and Jerry's I probably will! The amount of pressure we are all under whether it is school or work, family and relationships, we all deserve a break or a treat! 
5. Spend time with your family- While you may fight and argue a hell of a lot, your family love you and they will always be there for you. No matter how old you get you can still call your parents and have a cry to them or simply just for a chat they'll never let you down! 
6. Don't live on your phone-  This is something I'm rubbish at and extremely guilty of but you don't need to constantly be updated on social media. Spend time living in this world, we live in a truly incredible and beautiful world yet we are all culprits of spending our heads down, focussed on our phones! Everyday try to make time for no phones/social media. Just read, meditate, do yoga, make food, eat food, listen to music or see friends WITHOUT YOUR PHONES!! 
7. Push your boundaries, you're stronger than you think- Honestly you are so so much stronger than you think. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to so push yourself to do things and you'll surprise yourself (and be even better for it!)
8. Failure isn't a bad thing- A lot of people see failure as the end of the road but I can promise you it isn't. Look at it as a bump in the road, a slight step back but success is never going to be a straight line. Failure will make you stronger, fall down 6 times, get up 7 and you'll realise you can be successful. 
9. Smile at something everyday- When you feel stressed or upset it is easy to find yourself in a constant down mood but it's so important that you know what or who can make you smile and maybe even laugh a little. Whether it is music, a TV show, a funny picture of you and your friends that brings back a good memory or simply a movie and a hug from your best friend. Smiles are contagious and instantly make a person look good! 
10. Music is your saviour- Music can be used as an escape, a motivator, a relaxation method, a mood uplifter or a party starter. Music is one of my most favourite things in the world and I honestly couldn't live without it. 
11. Your parents know you best, always listen to them!- They know you better than you think and have known you longer than anyone so when they say that they know best, it is quite likely that they do. Now I'm not saying they have to tell you what to do for the rest of your life but if they give you a little advice just listen to what they have to say and I think you'll be surprised by how right they often are! 
12. Not everyone will like you, it doesn't make you a bad person!- You will never please everyone and so not everyone will be your friend but it really doesn't mater. You're only human and so obviously you have flaws, some people will love you nonetheless but there will always be people who don't/won't like you and your uniqueness, that doesn't mean there is something wrong with you!! 
13. Kindness is key- Kindness costs nothing and can often make someone's day. Don't waste your time being rude or grumpy, people are a lot less likely to be nice to you if you are! 
14. Your sibling (s) is/are your best friend(s)- Yes you may argue for the first 16 years of your life but as you both grow up you'll become closer than you ever thought you would, tell each other secrets you don't tell anyone else and just get each other because you've spent almost everyday of your life with them so they know you inside out! They have no reason to judge you, having seen you at your complete worst so they really are one of your best friends! 
15. Cooking can be enjoyable- Cooking healthy, hearty and of course tasty food doesn't have to be a slog and you can use it as a time to relax, put your phone away and dance around your kitchen (I do this and it is rather enjoyable and highly recommended). The feeling of success when you sit down and take the first bite of your creation and it tastes a little like heaven is a wonderful feeling. 
16. Mental illness isn't weakness- Mental illness does not mean you are weak and it does not make you a bad person or that you should feel ashamed of it. It's not your fault and it doesn't make you any less worthy. Be strong and don't be afraid. 
17. Push yourself out of your comfort zone-  This is something I used to really struggle with but the more I've done it, the more I am so much more comfortable outside my comfort zone! As cheesy as the quote is, 'life begins at the end of your comfort zone'. 
18. Grades aren't the be all and end all- Obviously you should work hard at school and try your hardest but not everyone is academically talented and excel at school and that's fine. There is waaayyy too much pressure on school kids now to get 10000 A*s but that's not achievable for many so don't fret about your grades. You'll find your niche eventually and it doesn't have to be uni. There are so many options out there for you, apprenticeships, internships, jobs, the army, the list is endless.  
19. Just be happy- At the end of the day happiness is the most important thing in life. Happiness with yourself, your job, school, relationships, friendships and all other aspects of life I may have missed out. If all else fails do what you love and don't sress about the rest!! 

I hope these life lessons have been helpful for you! My first 19 years alive have been quite amazing, especially the past 3 or so years. To think that in 19 more years I'll be 38 is rather daunting but just as exciting (yet also slightly scary because I don't want to get old!!). 

Thanks for Reading!
Charlotte

XO 

Little Reminders

Winter is never a rower's favourite time. Endless ergs, unrowable rivers and dark evenings all take its toll on an athlete. You sometimes end up wondering why you even do it, why put yourself through the pain, bitter cold and tiredness?? But then something will happen and you fall back in love with it instantly. 

I've been struggling with my erg scores for around 2 weeks, my legs have felt heavy yet empty and powerless and I will admit I was struggling and in need of a real pick me up. Thankfully having two really positive outings was the remedy I was so desperately in need of. For once the rain had ceased, the sky was blue and the water was flat- perfect rowing conditions. 

First outing was long with 3' rate changes and while it took me about 2k to get back into the rhythm I'd found before Christmas, soon the 8+ was picking up and it felt good. The second session, also in the 8, was the true reminder of why I love this sport and why I allow myself to occasionally be tormented by it and why I put myself through such physical (and mental) pain. All we did was low rate, steady paddling for 6k but it felt amazing. The boat just seemed to gel and yes, we did have a few wobbles occasionally but the strokes where we got it right and worked in unison to move the boat felt so good. It was, of course, by no means perfect, it was a scratch crew with all 8 of us having individual aspects to work on but it was such an uplifting session. We have 2 months until Women's Head of the River on the Tideway and a lot of work to put in if we want to perform well then so having sessions that make you feel this good are exactly what you need to bring back the drive and motivation you may have temporarily lost. If these crew can feel this good in one outing, imagine how it will feel in 2 months time! 

Another time, just before Christmas, that gave me a little reminder of why I do this sport and commit to the training was rowing in the dark one evening. I'd done it before at school a few times but for some reason this felt different. At first I felt (and probably looked) completely useless and like I'd never sat in a boat before but I eventually found my rhythm and I started to feel a slight sense of euphoria.  The darkness (obviously) resulted in limited vision so I couldn't see the person I was following which made me more reliant on my other senses. The biggest part was feeling the boat and the movement around me, it was a lot like rowing with your eyes closed which is an exercise I love anyway, but also hearing the movement is important too. The sound of all 8 blades entering the water at the same time. All 8 sets of legs driving at the same time and all 8 people finishing the stroke together, as a crew. 

I'm not over-exaggerating when I say it almost felt magical. Aside from the sound of the coaches launch and the occasional words from the cox, there was no sound other than the boat, and that is a sound I absolutely LOVE. It's so difficult for me to put into words but I loved it so much and I rowed most of the way back with a smile on my face (despite tired legs).

What I'm trying to say (in a not at all concise or brief way) is that we occasionally lose sight or forget what we love, or why we love it. These little reminders are so important to put us back on track or give us that boost of energy to keep striving for our goals or working towards our dreams. 

So next time you feel a little lacklustre or a bit down, remind yourself of what you love and go out and do it. I promise you'll feel 100000% better for it! 

Thanks for Reading

Charlotte

XO