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