I started this post back in August 2019, just over a year ago yet feels like many more than that. Thanks for that 2020, you’ve done quite a number on us all haven’t you?
Back when I started the post the first paragraph read a little like this: “Hello, it’s been a while since I wrote anything brain-dump/personal so I thought it would be nice to have a little catch up. I’ll be honest, I’ve had this post sitting in drafts but a whole host of things have held me back and stopped me finishing it off and posting it live. So much so that frankly the photos are a tad late in the day to post… considering Summer is a long distant memory now. But overlooking that, I wanted to take a moment, spill out some words and have a little catch up. Even if the photos are a flashback…”
A year might have passed but the words are still accurate. I guess a little reminder to myself that maybe things haven’t changed quite as much as it might feel?
So before I get stuck back in, a little note on the snaps, they were taken back in August 2019 when I was fortunate enough to be part of a trip to the beach to celebrate the launch of the newest Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic fragrance. A male-female duo of scents celebrating the authentic self. The whole ‘authentic self’ thing sparked distant A-level Philosophy memories for me. But the whole thing is about bucking trends in favour of just being you – the cool, awkward, silly, friendly, passionate, natural you. Whatever ‘you’ is and whatever that looks/feels/sounds like.
The whole message of authenticity was definitely something that resonated (and still does) with me. As someone who spends a lot of time online/on social media every day. Having a profile online can also come with feeling you need to follow a pre-set path or fit into an existing mould. But reality is that trying to fit a shape someone else has set for you will never feel right.
Which brings me nicely on to the catch up side of things. Funnily enough the words I wrote this time last year very much still stand. I wrote about how I’ve gone through some real up and down phases with this blog and the social media platforms around it for quite a while now. Sometimes when you’re in the constant cycle of day to day life it’s hard to ‘see the wood for the trees’ as they say. If there’s one positive of 2020 for me (you have to take the positives where you get them, always and especially now) it’s that slowing down has to a point helped get some focus. It’s had some panic and confusion too, but let’s look on the bright side for today.
I think if there’s one thing I want to take away from 2020 as a lesson for myself, it would be that it’s ok to take the pressure off. I think I’ve realised I was trying to spread myself way too thin and it meant a constant feeling of failing in one direction or another. So with that in mind I want to ‘start the new school year’ (I know I’m not the only one with back to school September feelings that never leave) with a bit of a fresh perspective of focussing on what’s important to me and making that the priority. Not that I can always clearly see what is truly important to me, but the aim is to avoid being drawn back into the crazy busy life and keep things a little more balanced. I mean, who knows what else 2020 will throw at us all so at least keeping things less on the busy side might mean I can handle whatever that might be!?
I’m hoping to round out the last months of 2020 with a little more focus, a little more clarity and a few more healthy choices (my coping mechanism for lockdown was mainly snacks).
Photos taken on a PR trip to Camber Sands in August 2019 for the launch of the new Abercrombie & Fitch Authentic fragrances.
