How Would you Like People To Think Of You ?

How would you like people to think about you?

Today we have a guest post from Jo Middleton. Read more from Jo over at her award-winning mummy blog, Slummy single mummy.

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I am staring at a blank screen, wondering how to start. I want 400 words of wit and charm, something to make people think ‘I like this woman, I’m going to have a read of her blog after this.’

Writing your own blog is easy - you waffle on in the same way you always have, people know what to expect, and regular readers forgive you if you have an off day or are a little on the dull side. When you’re writing for someone else’s blog though it’s totally different. Suddenly you have the chance to make an impression.

It’s quite scary to be honest, a bit like a first date. You start to imagine yourself as the person you have always wanted to be - these readers don’t know you, you can be anybody! Should I tell everyone I’m a size ten with thick, blond hair, who gets up at 5am every morning to run a half marathon? Let’s not be silly. But still, it feels like an opportunity, albeit a small one, to reinvent yourself.

The question though, is who do you want to be?

A few months ago I went to a Q&A with David Mitchell (The Peep Show one, not the Cloud Atlas one.) I asked him a question, a question I ask myself a lot.

“Would you rather be clever or funny?”

“Funny,” he said, without even thinking about. “I’d definitely rather be funny. I spend my whole life trying to be funny. Plus, I think it’s actually really clever to be able to make someone laugh.”

I agreed.

Thinking about this post then, I wondered how much of an effort I should make to be funny. I could tell a joke maybe? But then I only know that one about the monkeys falling out of trees, and no one ever laughs when I tell it. Maybe not.

Should I try to be clever? I’m not sure how to get that across in a few hundred words. No one wants to hear about my degree prize do they?

And then I check my word count and I’m already approaching 400. Damn it. That’s my chance to impress people gone.

How would you like people to think of you?

Why Don't You Just Get Lost ?

Just simply the best adventures 

The best adventures are the ones where you get lost , may be that unexpected turn will lead to adventure , it really never hurts to explore. So many people don't like to be lost or get lost and I do understand I really do , they don't want to feel vulnerable in a strange place.


I do understand this ~ It is like driving in a car ( for me it as a passenger ) say for instance the sat nav fails and then it is left to me to rad the map and be like the co driving rallying , with me reading the map we are more than likely to end up in the wrong place.

Life skills 

But the more I adventure and travel the more I realised I actually love getting lost not only will getting lost will enhance you but it will hand you life skills. Here is why


Problem solving skills ~ reading that map will help you and bring lost skills ( like orienteering to the forefront maybe ) There is no reason to be pig-headed over map reading it is just something you have to get over, you have to look at your situation in a different light , see it as an opportunity to improve your problem solving skills. You will in no time turn around a possibility devastating event into something most magical and romantic ~ a string to your wanderlust bow.


I can see family/friends travel companions arguments lingering in the horizon





It will help deal with your stressful situations , obviously it might not be helpful in the heat of the moment but the more you do it the more you will learn. I am not advocating that you have a full blown argument with everyone , looking back at reactions later on can be really could be of use.



If you want to get to know someone then travel with them 


Often getting lost will make for the best memories and stories 

Getting lost does not mean that everything will grind to a stop ~ for instance when we were in Berlin we had a landmark in view but just let our feet do the walking to it  , Mr T did tall talking just as well as he didn't hear me moaning about my poor feet ( I vehemently deny a lack of fitness at that pint in my life. If you are on foot see where that twisty lane will take you perhaps the best Parisian cafe in all of Paris or if you are travelling by car just going beyond the horizon will bring you to the best restaurant ever with the most amazing food that you don't instagram it , you just let your words lay down roots for people to travel and experience for themselves.


Tempus Fugit


Time flies when you are on holiday or travelling so don't over plan discover the un-discoverable by getting lost , unless of course you are on a tight schedule. It is an opportunity to be lost not a calamity.


Learning to relax by getting lost and going with the flow


Some of the best adventures I have had are by getting lost and they make the best stories the ones when people are hooked on your every word and it fires intrigue in their eye and a sense of I want to do that ~ I can do that . My approach to travel is never to assume that everything will go to will go to plan . My honeymoon for example there was travel with the plane and we had to stop overnight in Brighton and had  David Blanket's room as there had just been a party conference there , had the plan not been delayed then I wouldn't have had that opportunity. Even though we had been delayed flying out to Canada we arrived and went straight out to make the best use of out times by course getting lost.

Rules are there to be broken like your travel plans

Be Cavalier.

Adventure


I accept that travel isn't prefect , I love to push the boundaries and as as result I am relaxed . I wholeheartedly embrace getting lost for the very best soul building , more making adventures. Travel is a factor that can be changed by the slightest occurrence and going with the flow will enable you to enjoy the experience more.




Empowerment



Disclaimer


There are obviously situations you are not going to make yourself lost in i.e. placing yourself in danger. It can genuinely be scary getting lost in some situations and having been there I wouldn't jest about it.

DO get lost but please stay safe whilst doing so.

The Blog Song

The Blog Song


A blog song is not like a swan song but I read a post the other day from Maris world and it got me to thinking why and how we blog, Mari started her beautiful blog in 2010 and myself it was April 2011.

A blog is now a buzz word and the spirals on the other mediums leave me spinning , vlog it , surprise reveal it ,Instagram ,it press trip the possibilities are endless they really are, my head is spinning I am not sure about yours. SO I am asking is you can the old fashioned blog be sustainable I like it to Betamax V Video or E book versus real paper.

My world I admit splintered last year when I had my depression  breakdown too many friendships in too many areas and it imploded inward and outwards, I lost friendships you give yourself and someone will trample upon you. I have picked myself dusted myself out and I am on the up life is too short. I have stepped back this year from the blogging treadmill of the constant events and have only gone to a couple.


So arrived the blogging hipster the fresh young things who know their stuff and why not ...

But there is me having dabbled in vlogging and left that alone for the minute , I spoke to my nice who is 10 and asked did she still watch Zoella "No not really " and there you have it the social media is a fast pace world.

Though is the old fashioned blog the constant the old guard that will still have a place in the blogging world.

Blogging is like being in the Matrix.

"Do you want to download jujitsu"

"Hell yeah"

Dreaming.

We all have blog dreams of where we want to be , these may or not come true.



Have I though about giving up , I'd be a fool if I didn't say I hadn't.


I am not just the crazy cat lady as I used to be called ~ I am me

The fact that my cat is crazy is just an added bonus.


I am the quirk that is the unique the variable in the blogging mix.

The other day I switched off from everything and went out for a meal with my family and I didn't blog about it, Facebook it or even Instagram it.

So did it even happen ?

Yes it did , I conveyed my though and opinions by good old fashioned talking , if I had had a Polaroid camera on me then I may of done that.


Stand still long enough and you 'll be in a linky , linkies are a good way to meet people and to develop content but you know what I sort of feel like Jacob Marley with all the links of a chain round his name bogged down by the need to pump out for needs be sake.

There are some great linkies out there and sometimes I do join in , I must guide myself and not feel compelled to do everyone !


My child is a teen so surely I shouldn't be blogging as I won't be able to tell you what is the new must be have toy , or what yogurt to eat. In my early days I din't have blog some strange reviews but I have since wised up and what I do know is relevant to me and hopefully.

Have I won an award?

Have I heck!

I blog for me , I blog to inspire I blog as I do am I a blogging dinosaur?

Am I the elephant in the room.

No doubt.

What am I reminded of is this.

No matter how old or I or other get .. for the record I am 42 and it is only hip to be coming up to 40 so it appears * could be a lie


I am reminded of real friendship like from Mari and so many others who ground me when I get flighty or sad, the beauty of real writing no matter how trendy the blogging gets , hell I haven't even got my own hashtag.


Keeping in real in 2015

And no my grammar doesn't get no better than this. * joke please don't kill me with a dictionary !


Word UP


I met a wonderful blogger at the first Britmums and next minute she was up receiving an award and was a key speaker the outstanding lady was Hayley from Downside up , this lady has been my friend since 2012 , I feel as if I have known her forever.

Then at another Britmums I met the amazing Fiona from Coombemill  whilst calming down an upset blogging , it is what we do , and who we are blogging is family.

Planning A Kitchen

I'm starting to look at new kitchens and I'm gob smacked at the prices . I think kitchens are the Bermuda Triangle of money so looking around beckons you 've all sorts , one chappy has been round with his tape measure it was a big one and I got to hold it ; the tape measure that is.

My tops for kitchen planning so far :

1. I'd like to win one I have high hopes of this .

2. I believe in dreams.

3. See 1 & 2.

Despite me not having a kitchen till 2 years , I like to plan forearmed is forearmed as they say.


Now I know that kitchens are not cheap but I think I can plan well enough and cut down costs instead of having a breakfast bar replaced by cupboard , I can instead save money here by having a free standing unit. Also the cats will be mighty grateful as in winter they toast their little paws on the radiator sucking up the heat like a rather fluffy mad tempered sponge.

At the moment I am looking at Ikea for ideas I think I like things higgledy piggledy , from what I see from when other people have have there kitchen done , it is quite the hair tearing out process.


Have you got any ideas or recommendations where I can look? and any ideas how I can save money would be most welcome , I am not beyond getting Mr T to tile and lay a floor ( after all he has to work make sure we keep home)

I am going to make the most of those pesky corners and have a carousal fitted to make life easier for me !





I really want to keep a kitchen under £6,000 as about the same as the kitchen is going to be going on my son will be planning to go to university and then I really will have no money!

There's A Packet Of Dinosaurs On The Window Sill

Dinosaurs.

There's a packet of dinosaurs on the window sill , there's a charity bag I'm sorting. I can't let go it seems of summer days and video jamming days.

There's a packet of dinosaurs by the window sill you see.

Amongst the kitchen untensils they hide the packet of dinosaurs they survive ; seeking adventure and joy ooh to be dusted off please.

There's a packet of dinosaurs on the window sill you see.

You and I we've seen Toy Story 3 where the toys are gleeful at being free, free from the prison are they. The dinosaurs in the packet are looking at me , I feel a twang of sadness ooh when you were 3.

There's a packet of dinosaurs on my window sill you see.