Personal Tales – Writing Your Story

Everyone, at one time or another, has wanted to express his or her story. Writing a memoir to read privately, share with family or friends, or publish is an emotionally satisfying way to gain perspective on your experiences while sharing your unique voice. We’ve all experienced feelings and events in our lives that we are longing to write down. Giving in to that urge can give you an outlet for purging any frustration, anxiety, or long-dormant feelings. No one else has to read it. You may even want to write your story without reading it right away. Satisfying the need to tell your story is not predicated upon your writing ability. It does, however take effort to write down the truth in detail. Your memories, captured on paper as descriptive scenes, sights, sounds, and scents, may at first seem disconnected or incomplete. But rest assured that you possess the ability to shape your recollections into stories.

Everyone wants to be heard. Reading your story to others can meet that need. Writing your story can also help you understand your life experiences. And when you finish writing, you may be surprised at what you have accomplished. Your story can encompass as much or as little of your life as you prefer. You may surprise yourself with new insights, or you may find yourself exploring your roots, your identity, and your future through your words. Allow your writing to guide you and write as truthfully as possible. Don’t worry about what others will think of your personal journey, your style of writing, or your words.

Research has shown that writing a personal narrative filled with feelings and perceptions can create long-term health benefits. As you write, remember to have compassion for yourself, particularly when writing about traumatic events. If you are a young person, you can add to your life story as you grow older. Your writing may help family members know you better, or they may understand themselves more through reading about your experiences. More importantly, you are expressing yourself in a permanent way, giving a gift to yourself, and letting your voice be heard.

The information in LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line – “This information was written by Leigh Woolnough. It originally appeared in “LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS” her blog, available at https://leighbeesbuzzwords.wordpress.com/.” Thank you.

Learning How to Love Yourself

 

Before we can embark on the exciting journey of falling in love we must first be comfortable in our own skin and love ourselves. To carry any previously un-dealt with negativity into a new relationship is unhealthy, but it is often the lack of love from others that can lead to insecurity and self-doubt. However we do not need to rely on relationships for love; now is the time to learn how to self-love, using these tips;

1. Try and look at yourself through someone else’s eyes to see what makes you exceptional. When you evaluate yourself in terms of how far you’ve come in life and your personal achievements, you open up a whole new side of you that, until then, you may have not noticed. This should make you realise how special you are as a person and just what kind of love you deserve. It may also make you want to treat yourself better and do the things you feel you now deserve to do. This could be giving yourself the day off to relax and unwind, or applying for a new and more challenging job.
2. Make a note of every compliment or positive praise you receive. This is nothing to feel embarrassed about; sometimes we need to be reminded of our own accomplishments to change our perception of ourselves. Compliments always make us feel more positive as others views of us are always different to how we view ourselves.
3. Do things for yourself. This can be anything; a nice relaxing bubble bath, a long walk, taking up a new hobby; anything that makes you feel good about yourself. It will remind you of your self-worth and reserving that bit of time each day just for you will be self-rewarding for all the hard work you do throughout the week.
4. Surround yourself with loving people. This may be family members, close friends or partners. If you keep only positive people around you and ignore those who try to bring you down you will become a happier, more confident person
5. Deal with negativity first. Sometimes we can’t just sweep nasty comments, work stress or family problems under the carpet. Dealing with these issues as they arise instead of when it’s too late will make you a stronger person and lead to self-belief. You can cope with anything that’s thrown in your direction; repeat that mantra whenever you feel like giving up.
6. Challenge yourself. Sometimes doing simple things ‘the hard way’ reinforces our self-belief. I find this in everyday tasks; whether it’s cooking a meal from scratch instead of ordering in or trying to fix a broken necklace rather than take it to be mended. Knowing that you can be self-sufficient and take care of yourself is a natural mood boost and can kick-start you on your journey to self-love.
7. “To love oneself is the beginning of a life long romance” – Oscar Wilde. Self-love cannot be achieved in a few days; unfortunately, there is no ‘magic fix’. It is something we have to work at everyday and fit into our lifestyles. It is also something that can not be forced; you have to be ready to learn to love yourself and this means you have to be willing to leave all negative thoughts behind. You do deserve this, and you can achieve it. Love is the most powerful emotion in the world, before you give it to someone else, make sure that they deserve your love and that you love yourself first.

The information in LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line – “This information was written by Leigh Woolnough. It originally appeared in “LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS” her blog, available at https://leighbeesbuzzwords.wordpress.com/.” Thank you.

The Importance of Being Pampered

In these busy and hectic times it is easy for many of us to forget about the little luxuries in life. Today, despite my pitiful bank account balance, I treated myself to the second manicure of my 23 year old life. I would never usually spend my money on something unlikely to give any long-term satisfaction, but I have to say it was really worth it. Even though I know that before 24 hours have passed my pretty pearlescent tips will be chipped and broken, for today I feel like a Princess.

Next week I have booked to have my very first facial (with the same beautiful friend who also joined me today for a cheeky manicure!) and I cannot wait. I firmly believe that all women are just Goddesses in disguise who would really love to be sitting at the top of Mount Olympus being hand-fed grapes and wafted with palm fronds by hunky gladiators but who simply don’t have the time.

Don’t fret.

It takes a lot less than a fabulous toga to make a girl feel like a Goddess these days. Pop down to your local salon where you can get treatments like manicures from as little as £10 and feel really special, if only for an hour every week or so. Or if you have a partner hint (or directly ask – lets be realistic!) that you are in need of a pampering session and let them treat you like the Goddess you are.

It may seem superficial to some but I think we all deserve a bit of me time, whether you simply run yourself a nice bubbly bath (with a suitably bubbly beverage to go with it!) or treat yourself to a mega-swish spa weekend. FYI my friend and I are treating ourselves to a facial and a massage AND we get to use the spas sauna and jacuzzi and all this for under £30 courtesy of www.travelzoo.com. So giving yourself a pampering treat need not mean breaking the bank.

Next stop – skin-eating fish! A new craze coming to a spa near you. Stay tuned to hear how that goes, I may come back minus a pinkie!

Treat yourself. You deserve it 🙂

The information in LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line – “This information was written by Leigh Woolnough. It originally appeared in “LEIGHBEESBUZZWORDS” her blog, available at https://leighbeesbuzzwords.wordpress.com/.” Thank you.