New Year, New Skillz

Putting a 'z' on the end of skills makes me totally down with the kids, right? 

ANYWAY.

It's day 21 of January and I've already failed pretty much every single one of my resolutions. Yep. Still eating ALL OF THE FOOD, still getting myself a Grade A in procrastination and still not keeping up regular blog updates.

I'm too old for this new year, new me BS.

So, since I'm still nurturing my food baby (it's due in a week. Send presents), I decided I'd focus on a different mantra I'm trying out for 2015. 

NEW YEAR. NEW SKILLS. Or SKILLZ. Potato potata.

Nope, I'm not talking about breaking the World Record for how many Celebrations I can eat in one day (although I'd smash that tbh). I'm taking ACTUAL SKILLS. Sidenote: I haven't properly thought this through, because I felt like chucking all my ideas on here whilst I remembered them. A bit like word vomit. 

Whatever. I'm getting cheese fries.

Right. So, instead of thinking about how I'm going to change myself into some sort of flawless Beyoncé sidekick, I've decided that I'm gonna try and learn some new skills to make myself seem more interesting instead. That's the plan anyway. I'll keep y'all posted.

I've been staring at a blank screen for about three days now and I've only come up with three things so here goes.

1) Learn to drive. I've wanted to learn to drive since I turned 17, but my excuse was either not having enough money (I once got paid 82p an hour by accident...), not having time or just being scared. So, to give me a big fat kick up the ass, I ask for a few starter lessons for Christmas and TA-DAH. I have started to learn to drive. Two lessons in and I can officially go forward, turn left AND not run anyone/anything over or drive on the path. Call me The Stig.

2) Learn more pole skills. I stopped going to my pole fitness class in July last year after fudging up my knee somehow. I was ready to go back in September/October time, but again fear held me back. Fear of causing more injury, fear of being crap, fear of - well, everything really. And a hint of laziness as well.

I actually started going back to classes a few weeks ago, and although I've actually remembered a LOT more than I thought I would, I'm still a long way off where I left off. I'm pretty determined to get right back up there, so I've decided to learn one new trick or skill a week, even if it's something I learnt before and need to re-learn if that makes sense. I'm rambling. 

I've already learn new hoop and silks skills (fanceh) and done my first ever headstand, so I think I'm off to a good start. Until next week, where I'll probably spend the whole class falling off or something stupid.

3) Learn to ignore the #haterz. Figured I should learn some sort of new life skill too, so I've decided to try and stop reading comments on things I write and just let the haters, er, hate.

If you didn't know, I'm a freelance journalist, and I mainly write for Sugarscape and Yahoo Celebrity. As you'd probably expect, not everyone is always so keen on what I write, how I write it and why I write it, and some stories get some pretty brutal comments. Or I get tweeted telling me I suck and need a new career. Not exactly a confidence booster. 

SO, I've decided that I need to stop letting stupid comments like that get to me and realise that I'm actually doing okay as I am thanks (until I'm asked to change something by editors, of course). I'm not perfect, my writing's not perfect and we all make mistakes now and then. As long as I try my best and work my backside off, I figure I'll be okay.

Although the two sites I write for are keen for an 'informal' style of journalism (don't know if that's the correct phrase, but y'know), and like their writers to add personality in their writing, mainly in hinting at opinions on the story within the story. That probably doesn't make any sense does it? ANYWHO. I obviously try and stick to this style, but I also try and make sure I'm not being derogatory towards anyone, and I try to never, ever comment on whether someone's supposedly looking 'ugly' or 'fat' or something ridiculous, instead trying to focus on complimenting someone on looking like an absolute dream. 

Sometimes I get it wrong and sometimes people don't agree, but hey - at least I'm trying. And I would never, EVER lie in my work. Let's not tar all journalists with the same brush, eh?

That got a bit deep. THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

Alright, I'm blabbered on about nothing of anything importance for long enough so I'll end it here.

Oh, and don't worry. I'm not gonna start chucking my driving or poling in your face. I'm game for a tweet or whatever every now and then when I've achieved something because we all need to celebrate each other, right? But I just cannot stand being told every. Single. Time someone hits the gym, or goes for a run, or goes cycling yada yada yada. No. Keep it casj, guys. Chill.

Sorry if this is really boring and no-one cares, but I felt like venting things y'know? 

Let me know if you've got some goals for the year or if, like me, you've got a mild addiction to leftover Christmas chocolates. I'm on Twitter - @rachelpilcher :)

Thanks, and 'til next time,

Rach x

New Year's Resolutions

Resolution No. 1 - Start using this blog again.

Totally clichéd I know, but I'm quite honestly appalled at how much I've neglected this outlet for the past six months or so. It's not that I just can't be bothered (oh alright, SOMETIMES it is), but I really haven't had the time and I didn't want to warble on about something totally irrelevant just for the sake of it.

So, since I'm supposedly starting the whole 'New Year, New Me' thing tomorrow by obviously losing weight, never ever procrastinating, looking after my skin more etc etc, I figured it was as good a time as ever to make some sort of non-spectacular comeback and talk about that thing that looms over everyone's head as December draws near.

Yep, I'm talking NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.

Highlight from 2014 - MALTA

Originally, this was going to be some sort of self-indulgent post about all the resolutions I've made for 2015, how I'm totally going to succeed and how it's going to be the best year ever. Of course. But once I got talking to one of my closest friends about what the heck I was going to write it, she made me realise two things.

Firstly, the fact that aside from losing weight and procrastinating less, I really had made NO resolutions. And secondly, why should I feel so pressured to turn over a new leaf in 2015?

In fact, pressure's probably the reason I can't think to particularly change about myself this year. Sure, I've got things I want to achieve - driving, goals in work etc etc. But why should we feel like we HAVE to find something to change/achieve/do JUST because we're told we're should. If you feel passionate about doing something and changing for the better then I'm right behind you of course, I wish you all the best and I hope you can stick to it and achieve it this year. Insert some sort of encouraging emoji here.

However, if you're choosing to 'try' something just because somewhere, someone or some website has told you to, then are you REALLY going to stick to it? Do you really WANT to do it? Are you doing it just to please someone other than yourself?

Cool kids in Majorca

My friend made a really good point when I was still procrastinating over whether to do this. She questioned why we all wait until the New Year to make a change. If we put on a little weight from indulging in exotic foods and/or chips on holiday, we don't make a 'holiday resolution' to lose weight. We either choose to do it when we come home or we don't. Simples.

Life is far too short to be making resolutions and feeling completely guilty when we break them. Good luck if you're really determined to do something, but don't feel like you need to have a list as long as your arm of things you need to do this year. Just take it as it comes and live in the moment. My friend told me "resolutions are aspirations that people have that should come about in their lives." I like that.

Here's to more nights out with the best lot of friends I could ask for. CHEESY.

Sorry this got a bit deep, but I couldn't come back with any old crap could I? If you need me, I'll probably be here tomorrow afternoon, ruining my resolution as I stuff my face full of chocolate.

NEW YEAR NEW ME x