London is a wonderful place. *makes a random statement* The other day, I was having a stroll down my new neighbourhood to catch some rays before the sunset. It was around 6 PM and the sun was still up, meaning the (actual) spring is just around the corner. So, I’ve decided to (randomly) stop by the newsagent on Chiltern Road and have a peek at the latest news. Erm… Long story short, the world is in chaos and confusion. *puts down a newspaper* Let me go back to my own little bubble and never come out. *lol*
Whilst walking around Marylebone, I was thinking about my life and asking myself… Am I going in the right direction? *looks both ways*
It’s been almost 4 months since I’ve been blogging full-time. I am sooo lucky to be able to make a living out of it, you have no idea! Last year, I realised that a comfortable 9-to-5 office job is just not for me at this moment in life. So, I had to take risks in order to find my happiness and fulfilment.
Also… These past 2-3 months, I was going through some big changes. I moved to Marylebone, ended all toxic relationships and invested my time in people who really care about my wellbeing. It’s not worth staying somewhere you don’t feel happy or sticking around people who drain you.
So, what is missing? To be quite honest… It would be nice to finally meet someone new.
One of my biggest regrets in life was having fear of trying. I held myself back from pursuing my dreams for so many years because I wasn’t confident enough to overcome that fear. We often get sabotaged by our inner-saboteurs and for some reason, they creep on us when we are most vulnerable.
When I moved to the UK almost 9 years ago, I somehow lost my way. I was going through a complicated relationship where I masked those negative feeling by going to parties. One party after another and I saw myself going through life like a sloth trapped in a bamboo tree. Years went by and my ambitions drifted away from me because I forgot the reason why I started it all.
It was like this until mid-2016 when I started to grab life by its balls. I realised I couldn’t change my past but I can learn from my mistakes and use that to my advantage (a.k.a. turning negatives into positives). *ding ding ding* After a while, I discovered my idols and followed their footsteps to success. I invested in my craft, spent months creating things and the rest is magic. *throws glitter in the air*
So, ask yourself… What do you really want? Go beyond the obvious one or the one that you think you want but not sure about. What gets your heart pumping and scares the crap out of you at the same time? Yes, THAT is what I’m talking about! That is your heart’s deepest desire. Take some time to go through all the reasons why you “can’t” or “shouldn’t” go there and start your journey towards it!
Taking Control of My Self-Confidence.
Guess what? Self-confidence is not genetic and you don’t have to be reliant on others to increase it. *shook* If you believe you’re not good enough, don’t worry because that can be changed over time. So, here are my 15 daily actions to help boost your self-confidence:
Groom yourself. This might seems like an obvious one but getting into a daily skincare regiment can make such a difference in a long run.
Dress nicely. Try on many things and see what looks nice on you. Retail therapy also contributes to your overall wellbeing… Except for your credit card. *oops*
Eat well. It all comes from within, you know!
Change the way you think about yourself. All of us have a mental picture of ourselves and that determines how confident we are in ourselves. Therefore, if it’s not a good one – Facetune it! Try to find out why you see yourself that way and fix it.
Think positive. And kill your inner-saboteur! *scrolls up and reads the first paragraph again*
Get to know yourself. Start listening to your thoughts and write them down. Analyse everything. What are your limitations? Find ways to overcome those too.
Be kind and generous. Like the saying… What goes around, comes around. So, be good to everyone, especially to yourself! *aha*
Know your principles and live by them. Sometimes you have to go back to your roots to find the true meaning of life.
Focus on solutions. Rather than problems.
Increase your competence. It takes time to become competent in something. Therefore, study and practice every day.
Set daily goals and achieve them. Start small then work your way up. I used to fail miserably by making goals that are hard to achieve. Now, I make small goals so I can achieve them quickly. That makes my life a better place!
Change a habit. No, not a drastic one like quitting alcohol or cigarettes. Instead, focus on a small one and change it. For instance, I struggle to wake up in the morning for the gym. So, I set my alarm an hour early and put my phone somewhere where it forces me to get out of bed. *cancels his gym membership*
Exercise. Your body is a temple, so keep building it.
Always be prepared. I often find it hard to be confident when I don’t think I’ll do well in something. So, I spend some time preparing for it because life is full of tests.
Keep your space tidy. This one tends to work for me really well because it’s something I can easily keep under control.
What do you think of this list? Would you follow any of these steps? Let me know in the comments!
Well, I finally made it home for Christmas and couldn’t be any more excited! *does a quirky Christmas dance number again* As you probably know, I’ll be spending the next few days eating my body weight in Nana’s home-made fish cutlets and explaining my relatives what I do for a living… But trust me, it takes me even longer to define the word ‘influencer’! *tries to make sense of every word but fails miserably with Google Translate*
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to enjoy a snow day in Kaunas. Everyone knows that capturing the beauty and magic of snow is rather difficult. Pictures often end up being overexposed and blurry. *the struggle is real* So, I brought along my one and only mirrorless camera for this experience and couldn’t be any more happy with the results. You can see every single snowflake whilst the portrait lens perfectly catches the right object (a.k.a. me, the king of this idyllic blogging oasis).
Since I moved to London, snow was a very rare occurrence that doesn’t last long. Therefore, seeing so much snow yesterday awoke a kid in me. I matched the enthusiasm of kids building snowmen and making snow angels nearby. *refuses to ever grow up*
Year One.
On December 24th, 2016, I published my first ever blog post on Mr. Salt and Pepper. *throwback alert* I had no idea that my whole life will change so much in such short period of time. Since I was 14, blogging was something that I really enjoyed doing. But only last year I had the confidence to do it properly.
Thanks to my blog, I was brave enough to leave the job I didn’t love to pursue a career in influencer marketing and blogging. I overcome my obstacles and I can proudly say that I finally live the life I always wanted to live.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received this year: everyone’s journey is different. Take your time to find what you love and just go for it. But don’t compare yourself to others – focus on YOUR journey!
Here’s to even better year two. I’m sure it’s going to be a fun ride. Merry Christmas everyone!
… or otherwise known as, the most life-changing years of my entire existence!
Last weekend, I turned 27 years old. It was both a nerve-wracking and exciting time for me as I was patiently waiting to turn this age for years. Why, you might be asking? Well, I’ve just entered my Saturn return phase! *ermmm, Saturn what?!* From now until my 31st birthday, I’ll be going through some changes that may or may not be that life-changing.
Saturn Return is an astrological phenomenon, best known for shaking up your entire existence. It’s the moment when Saturn completes its orbit around the sun, landing in the same spot it was in when you were born. The whole process takes about 29 and a half years to complete but the influence of it is considered to begin when you turn 27. *yikes* However, Saturn return will not take you into a new era of maturity with a snap of a finger. From your job to your relationships – everything in your life will be tested. So, be prepared… I mean, who am I kidding??? We are all doomed! *hides under the bed*
Whilst it can be a stressful thing to go through but all these experiences can lead you to be a stronger and happier person. I’m so so excited to see what is coming my way in the next 4 years. Hopefully, it’s going to be a fun ride!
I’m no life expert (actually, the opposite) but I want to share some insights of what I’ve learned so far and what I expect to do during my Saturn return phase. Are you ready?!
So, here are my 27 things I’ve learned in my 20s so far and hoping to implement on my Saturn return *puts on a kettle* :
You will make a lot of mistakes. But remember to use those bad experience to your advantage and learn from them.
Surround yourself with people who lift you up, not drag you down.
Take your time to find your tribe. Then nurture them with your presence.
When it comes to your job… Be patient and work hard.
Play harder than #TeamBritain at the World Cup.
Live life on a budget. You may not be able to save a lot of money in one monthly paycheck but putting some money aside each month can go a long way. Have you heard of Monzo?!
Love yourself. Never let anyone judge you for the way you look or the way you act. Therefore, show them the door!
Treat yourself at least once a week. Whether it’s a Starbucks or street food market on a Friday, make that little investment to your overall happiness.
Ask a lot of questions. Being curious is the way forward to success.
The best advice I have ever received: never take yourself too seriously.
Don’t lie.
Be honest.
Known fact: life goes faster as you get older. Therefore, be spontaneous and be present in your life.
Have a laugh, see point 10 again. Thank God I have a good sense of humour, people around me literally die… and live longer too! *giggles*
Life is too short for bad jobs, bad relationships and bad circumstances. You’re in charge of your own destiny!
Dream BIG!
If you want something – don’t be afraid to ask for it, but make sure you are ready to give something back. Because… No one likes a user abuser. *wink wink nudge nudge*
Sometimes, silence is the best policy.
Gossiping is a really bad habit.
Go on a lot of dates! They may go nowhere or may go ALL THE WAY… But most importantly, have fun and don’t overthink things.
Explore the person you want to be and just go for it!
Think about life. Take a deep breath. *ommm*
Everything happens for a reason.
Staying in on a Friday night might be the best decision you’ve made all week.
That one special person might be closer than you think. Look around.
Age is just a number.
Never chase a trend. Be one!
Thanks to Glyn Davidson (@glynif) for taking these pictures. Check out his company website here.
Love dressing up as Freddie Mercury for Halloween? Then you’re in luck because all of November is dedicated to bearded men! Yes, that’s right. During the wonderful month of Movember, you get the chance to grow a beard or a fab-looking moustache – all for a good cause. So, put away your shaving foam and razor – it’s time to get a little bit hairy!
However, Movember isn’t just about bearded men celebrating their unique facial hair. It’s about raising awareness of men’s health and wellbeing. Therefore, here are a few things we all need to know.
The meaning behind Movember
Although having a month dedicated just to growing facial hair sounds like a lot of fun, but things aren’t as simple as that. The idea was founded on a couple of very important issues that just needed a way to get into the public eye. Organising an event with a silly name such as “Movember” sounded like the best idea ever. But, once you start exploring the intentions behind it, you’ll realise there’s so much more to it.
The issue of men’s health has become quite problematic because men, in general, don’t like to discuss their health problems. They also don’t like visiting the doctor either. That’s why lots of them are left untreated and ultimately die – they were too afraid or lazy to schedule an appointment.
That’s the essence of Movember: raising the awareness of men’s health and wellbeing, including three of the most talked-about ones: testicular cancer, prostate cancer and depression.
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is one of the most serious threats a modern man is facing at the moment. The biggest problems aren’t the dangers that come with it, but the fact that most men don’t pay enough attention to early signs. Something similar is also happening to millions of women around the world who don’t seem to care enough about the breast cancer. So, this issue has been gaining lots of attention and the current situation is, luckily, much better than it was just a decade or two ago. But, what about the men?
This kind of cancer, as the very name suggests, attacks your testicles and presents itself as a lump followed by swelling and strong pain. Should you feel these or other signs, react immediately and visit your doctor because only early detection gives you a fighting chance of survival.
Prostate cancer
This is another major threat to any man’s health and something we all need to take quite seriously. However, unlike testicular cancer, this one isn’t as easy to detect and the chances of you noticing something’s wrong early on aren’t that big. What you can feel is the pain in your prostate or a feeling of discomfort, but months can pass before you see a doctor. By that time, it may be too late, and the process of metastasis could already be attacking other parts of your body.
Regular check-ups are the best way to go and talking to your physician about the state of your prostate is crucial. Only by continually monitoring your own health will you be able to notice changes as soon as they occur.
Depression
Mental health is one of the problems even the most open of men don’t like to discuss. It’s the issue some Movember fans focus on the most. Depression and other mental issues go undetected and unnoticed for quite some time, often too long, which is why the suicide rate in men today seems to be higher than ever.
The reason for this outcome isn’t just the way men feel, but the fact that some of them are unable to express their emotions adequately. That’s why we need to encourage them to open up and talk about what bothers them. Only this way we will be able to make a difference in the world of men’s health.
Movember may technically be just one month long, but its effects are quite amazing and can last throughout the year. Helping men realise their problems and starting to tackle them definitely is one of the best things we can do. So, grow a mo and save a bro today!
Thanks to Peter Minkoff for guest-writing this blog post. Check out his previous post here.
